Hoop Dee Doo questions....

[cruiserkaren]

I've read it's 2 hours long, has anyone done this with a 2.5 year old? I'm concerned about DD getting bored/not interested, anyone with a 2 year old knows they have short attention spans!

Also is it a total pain to get there? We're staying at POFQ. I'm considering doing this for my parents anniversary if it's still available. We're going to be at MGM on their anniversary day (3/8) and they don't seem to have much to choose from. I told them all about CG and being there for Wishes...how romantic ....but they're not interested in that. They want something we can do together. Plus this sounds right up my dad's alley. We'd have to do the 5pm show, what time would we need to leave? TIA

 

[mommyintn]

Check out this thread on Hoop Dee Doo
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=989584

I have 2 boys (6 and turning 3 on Feb. 1st) and from the opinions of others it was interest holding for young ones since there is so much going on. We are going on 3/20 and I called a couple of days ago and had no problem getting a res. for 5pm show. They said 30 minutes before if you've picked up your tickets or 45 minutes if not and it's a pre-pay reservation.

 

[kimisabella]

We've gone two times, the last time this past October for my dd's 2nd birthday. It's a great time, your child won't be bored with all the singing/dancing going on. My dd's loved it, especially the end where the kids "play" the washboard. We also went with a group with ages ranging from 6 months to 60 and everyone had a great time, even my dh was laughing out loud!! We've always had a rental car, so we don't use disney transportation, so we just park at fort wilderness and take their interal bus system to pioneer hall.

 

[Cruz Family]

I dont think you will have a problem with a toddler, the experience goes back and forth from eating each course to parts of the show. I am sure it will keep her attention. It really is a wonderful show and even more fun with a large group (be sure to let them know about the anniversary!). Just as a note, you mentioned you were going to be at MGM and 50's primetime cafe is just excellent. Really good food and a whole lot of fun. Hope I could help. Let us know how it turns out. Melissa

 

[JERSEYGIRLINSI]

We've gone two times, the last time this past October for my dd's 2nd birthday. It's a great time, your child won't be bored with all the singing/dancing going on. My dd's loved it, especially the end where the kids "play" the washboard. We also went with a group with ages ranging from 6 months to 60 and everyone had a great time, even my dh was laughing out loud!! We've always had a rental car, so we don't use disney transportation, so we just park at fort wilderness and take their interal bus system to pioneer hall.

Hi,
We're going to do the same with the rental car-and I wondered what type of a process was using the internal bus system (long waits etc). When we made ressie, they told us to come 30 mins. ahead for preferred seating..does this include the time needed to get to the hall?
Thanks

 

[philaround]

We went to HDDR last May and had a great time. We did not have any little ones with us but did see many young children at other tables and saw no bored behavior. We were staying at POFQ and had returned to the resort for a late afternoon break. We left POFQ about 2 hours before showtime. We took the bus to the MK and took the boat from MK to Ft Wilderness and got there in less then 1 hour so we had a long wait time at Pioneer Hall untill showtime.

 

[cyndibelle]

uhh kimisabella....were you guys like the only people in the park when you had that picture taken ???





QUOTE=kimisabella]We've gone two times, the last time this past October for my dd's 2nd birthday. It's a great time, your child won't be bored with all the singing/dancing going on. My dd's loved it, especially the end where the kids "play" the washboard. We also went with a group with ages ranging from 6 months to 60 and everyone had a great time, even my dh was laughing out loud!! We've always had a rental car, so we don't use disney transportation, so we just park at fort wilderness and take their interal bus system to pioneer hall.[/QUOTE]

 

[WDW LOVR]

2 of our 3 boys were 2yrs when we took them to the HDD for the first time. They were completely entertained. Like an earlier post says, there is so much going on it keeps their attention.

I would also agree the way to get there is to take a bus to MK and then the boat to Ft Wilderness. As long as MK is open when the HDD is over I would also recommend doing that in reverse on the way home. If you attend the 5:00 or 7:15 show you can head over to MK for the rest of the evening. When the 7:15 show is over you might get lucky and be on the boat back to the MK when Wishes takes place. The couple times that's happened to us the boat Captain has stopped the boat in the middle of Bay Lake so we could watch the show.

The boat dock at the campground is about 200 yards from Pioneer Hall where HDD takes place. If you get there early there is a petting zoo close by. You can also grab one of the rocking chairs on the porch and a drink from Crockett's Tavern and enjoy the view. There is an arcade if the kids are a little older. There is a camp store in the same complex which has some Campground logo merchandise.

From our experience, taking a bus to Ft Wilderness (whichever way you get there) and then an internal campground bus to Pioneer Hall can be time consuming and confusing. It's also a mad house when the show lets out trying to get a bus back. I would highly recommend the boat from MK. It's a nice boat ride with great views of WL and CR and you cruise right by the old Discovery Island (populated by 100's of bird species) and the old River Country water park.

 

[betterlatethannever]

...Also is it a total pain to get there? We're staying at POFQ. I'm considering doing this for my parents anniversary if it's still available. We're going to be at MGM on their anniversary day (3/8) and they don't seem to have much to choose from. I told them all about CG and being there for Wishes...how romantic ....but they're not interested in that. They want something we can do together. Plus this sounds right up my dad's alley. We'd have to do the 5pm show, what time would we need to leave? TIA

If you will be coming from MGM, take the FW bus and it will drop you off right at the Settlement (where Pioneer hall is). Be at the bus stop no later than 3:45.

Ed

 

[polkadotminnie]

Are the seat assignments based on when you book or when you arrive? If I was considering doing this in mid-March, would I end up stuck in a balcony or in the very back? Can the CM's tell how full it will be when I call? Thanks for the help! We have done Mickey's Bar-B-Que and it was first come- first serve for seating.

 

[kimisabella]

uhh kimisabella....were you guys like the only people in the park when you had that picture taken ???


The park wasn't open yet when that pic was taken, we had an early adr for crystal palace and we took advantage of having the park practically empty and took some pics!

 

[kimisabella]

Hi,
We're going to do the same with the rental car-and I wondered what type of a process was using the internal bus system (long waits etc). When we made ressie, they told us to come 30 mins. ahead for preferred seating..does this include the time needed to get to the hall?
Thanks

Both times we went we never had a long wait for the internal bus. You park at the parking lot, walk to the bus station, takes you over to pioneer hall, then on the way back, they have buses that go to all the resorts, then buses that go to the parking lots. On the way back its more of a pain because they stop at all of the different campgrounds, that's from our experience. Also, there isn't really preferred seating, your seating is based on when you make your ressie, the earlier you make the ressie, the better your seats. You do need to check in once you get to pioneer hall, then they take a family pic, ect..

 

[wrldpossibility]

Are the seat assignments based on when you book or when you arrive? If I was considering doing this in mid-March, would I end up stuck in a balcony or in the very back? Can the CM's tell how full it will be when I call? Thanks for the help! We have done Mickey's Bar-B-Que and it was first come- first serve for seating.

My TA told me the seating is based on time of booking. That's why she recommended I book right at the year out cut off date. I'm planning my first trip though, so I don't have first-hand knowledge.