Hoop Dee Doo or Mickey's Backyard BBQ?

[tyzzle]

Which would you do? It will me hubby and I, a five year old, one year old, and grandparents. The kids and I haven't done either, but grandparents and hubby have been to Hoop Dee Doo. Any help would be great

 

[pepe of ohio]

That said, the barbecue never interested us....based soley as it's a character interaction.....and the venue is in an open arena...depending on when you're going, sitting outside with just fans over head stirring the hot air, just doesn't appeal to us...neither does the menu.....

The HDDR is fantastic, though we've seen the same show as many times, we always enjoy the antics and music and the whole house gets into the swing of things....food is more of what we rather eat, we like being served family style....just the overall feeling of this show enlightens us plus it's quite cold in there and it's easier to don a jacket than try to escape the heat of the barbecue......personally, everyone has a preference...but ours is the HDDR..

 

[dburg30]

Mine pretty much echos pepe's.. The idea of dealing with a busy, packed outdoor pavilion open to the weather. Just doesnt do it for us. And if I want to do a character thing, it would be chef mickeys or something like that.

That being said, I'm just a smidge nervous that they have changed part of the HDDR. Not that change is bad, it's just the other HDDR had been around for who knows how long, so I'm just a bit nervous.

 

[Pixie Princess]

HDDR definitely! I think you're whole party will really enjoy it. My nearly 4 y.o. nephew loved it when we went last year, and talked about for some time afterward.

 

[tyzzle]

Thanks, my one question is has anyone brought a toddler? My daughter is generally well behaved or we wouldn't consider it, but wondering how tight people are packed in, just in case she does get fussy, I would want to be able to get her out so she doesn't bother anyone.

 

[Pooh2]

We did Hoop Dee Do on our 25th anniversary trip and LOVED it!
Looking forward to taking my son and his girlfriend to this show on our trip next year.

We have not done the bbq but Hoop D seems like a much better value for my money than dining on picnic benches outdoors in the heat. The menu at HDR was much more to our liking as well.

 

[dburg30]

Thanks, my one question is has anyone brought a toddler? My daughter is generally well behaved or we wouldn't consider it, but wondering how tight people are packed in, just in case she does get fussy, I would want to be able to get her out so she doesn't bother anyone.

At HDDR, there are lots of people, but they are at tables, so it's a controlled crowd lol.. You could get up / out pretty easily if you needed to. But with the music and food and other stuff, you will probably be ok unless it was an exhaustion induced fuss / melt down Then from what I've seen, Mickey himself couldnt stop those from happening lol..

 

[mdelano4]

Thanks, my one question is has anyone brought a toddler? My daughter is generally well behaved or we wouldn't consider it, but wondering how tight people are packed in, just in case she does get fussy, I would want to be able to get her out so she doesn't bother anyone.

To answer that question, we have sat Cat 1 and Cat 2 and don't think it is too tight to be a problem for you.

As for the comparison between MBBBQ and HDDR, we have done both and I can give you my observations.

We love HDDR and will do it again and again, however, our kids are several years older than yours so they have a different perspective on the show than younger ones. When DD was 4 they picked her to be in show and that was absolutely the highlight of our trip.

As for MBBBQ, we don't regret doing it, but will not return because 2 of our 3kids weren't interested in it (too juvenile for them). I would probably stay away from this if I were you because the only real character interaction is on a very corwded dance floor, which is probably not for a 1 yr. old. Also, all seating is on picnic benches. I know I never would have been able to keep my kids there at 1 year.

As for food, it's not even close. HDDR is far superior.

Enjoy!!

 

[pepe of ohio]

Thanks, my one question is has anyone brought a toddler? My daughter is generally well behaved or we wouldn't consider it, but wondering how tight people are packed in, just in case she does get fussy, I would want to be able to get her out so she doesn't bother anyone.

A couple of trips ago, our daughter, son in law and baby went along with us to WDW and we did the HDDR, granddaughter was 9 months old.....she laughed and giggled thru most of the sitting but past out before the end....dozed off......there was enough antics and noise plus the music to keep her occupied and it's very easy to get up if you must and leave......since the meal is served family style, servers have to move about the tables freely so there's ample room to get up and about...

 

[Sprite74]

Great thread, you helped me make a decision on my ADRs as I was considering the same thing...

 

[tink76]

We did the Backyard BBQ in 2010 and had a great time! It was me, my mom and DD (3) In fact my mom just asked if we were going to be doing it again this year. We had a ton of character interation that trip so DD had a lot of fun dancing etc. even without the one on one time with characters. We would do it again.