Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue if you don't speak perfect English?

[annichan]

Hi everybody,

I realize that most DISers are from the States or Canada or the UK and thus native English speakers, but maybe someone could still give me a bit of advice?

The thing is, my DH and I are both German and don't speak or hear much English in our everyday lives (except for watching TV series in English with German subtitles a lot ).

I would love to go to Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue during our next trip to the World. We have never been there before.
I am not really sure whether I will be getting all the jokes, but I'm pretty confident that that won't be bothering me much. Now unlike me, though, DH has always focused on science instead of foreign languages in his studies (he knows more stuff that I ever will even if I keep studying for years and years!), so he is not completely fluent in English.

I mean, he understands stuff pretty well usually but I'm really not sure about this show. Will it all be spoken so quickly and in such colloquialisms that he won't understand much and will be bored? Or is it just fun to watch and soak up the atmosphere even if one doesn't get every single joke?

And even more importantly, how about the audience participation? I read that the actors try to involve their audience in the show to quite a high extent. Would it be okay, say, if they asked him something and I just bent over and explained that he does not speak that much English, or would he be laughed at then or ridiculed?
I do realize that this show will always be about making jokes at someone's expense to some mild extent, and if one cannot deal with this he shouldn't go there. But do you reckon he would feel silly or left out at all?

Thank you everybody for your advice and have a great day!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I would recommend going to youtube and searching for the Hoop-De-Doo Revue. It will give you an idea of the show itself and if your husband will like it. I really enjoy the show, but personally think they talk extremely fast and I have missed some of the jokes along the way, and English is my native tongue. It is a really fun night, so check it out and then make your decision. I went to youtube and there are quite a few hits. Good luck.

 

[santa's surpriz]

First I have to say you have beautiful English! Your grammer is excellent in your post, probably better than most native English speakers. I would not worry about it too much, laugh and have a good time! (Just watching them and hearing the music will put a smile on your face!)

 

[TillyMarigold]

I can promise you that they will absolutely not make fun of him for not speaking English. I am sure that's a quick and certain way to get fired if you're a Disney employee. IIRC, something like 25% of all guests are from non-English-speaking countries. (By the way, I've seen reports from non-native-English speakers at places like Whispering Canyon and '50s Prime Time Café that their servers don't even try to joke with them.)

I agree that you should try to watch it on YouTube. I'd actually be more worried about appreciating the sense of humor in terms of the silliness and over-the-top-ness than the actual jokes.

 

[Faldred]

I seem to recall that there are a fair number of puns, which of course are very language-dependent. But mostly a lot of slapstick and running gags. You might miss a few jokes here and there, but I doubt it would significantly impact the overall experience.

 

[beachbunny]

Since there is a lot of visual comedy, I think you'll both have a great time.

As a similar example, my husband and I went to Hoop de Doo at Tokyo Disneyland. It was in Japanese with some songs partly in English. I'm fluent but my husband doesn't speak a word. He seemed to get most of it and had a great time.

 

[2Tiggies]

First I have to say you have beautiful English! Your grammer is excellent in your post, probably better than most native English speakers. I would not worry about it too much, laugh and have a good time! (Just watching them and hearing the music will put a smile on your face!)

I wanted to post the same thing! I cannot believe that English is a second language for you - it is PERFECT!!

Often in a different language it is not so much not understanding what is being said as cultural differences that make humor differ - and that is the big challenge sometimes. If you watch American comedy type movies and enjoy the humor I would say you are well on your way to enjoying a night at HDDR

 

[WEDWDW]

I just wanted to say your English is GREAT!I only know English,so I am always impressed by people who know more than one language!

I have met International Cast Members at World Showcase with FIVE flags before!(For anyone who doesn't know,Cast Members at WDW wear "flags" below their name tags signifying each language they speak other than English.)

Your use of the word "reckon" was VERY impressive!

I think you should go to The Hoop!If your Husband's English is close to as good as yours,I think he will have a good time.If nothing else,I think he will enjoy the food!

I always enjoy using the boat from Magic Kingdom as a fun way to go to Fort Wilderness.

 

[annichan]

Thank you all so much for your kind and informative answers!

I would recommend going to youtube and searching for the Hoop-De-Doo Revue. It will give you an idea of the show itself and if your husband will like it. I really enjoy the show, but personally think they talk extremely fast and I have missed some of the jokes along the way, and English is my native tongue. It is a really fun night, so check it out and then make your decision. I went to youtube and there are quite a few hits. Good luck.

That is actually a great idea, I hadn't even thought of that. We will check it out on youtube tonight.

First I have to say you have beautiful English! Your grammer is excellent in your post, probably better than most native English speakers. I would not worry about it too much, laugh and have a good time! (Just watching them and hearing the music will put a smile on your face!)

Oh thank you for the compliment!
And your last remark (about just watching them and hearing the music) is pretty much exactly the reassurance I was looking for!

I can promise you that they will absolutely not make fun of him for not speaking English. I am sure that's a quick and certain way to get fired if you're a Disney employee. IIRC, something like 25% of all guests are from non-English-speaking countries. (By the way, I've seen reports from non-native-English speakers at places like Whispering Canyon and '50s Prime Time Café that their servers don't even try to joke with them.)

This is very reassuring, thank you. And come to think of it, you are exactly right with your example about the Whispering Canyon Cafe, I should have thought of that myself (since we were one of the couples at the Whispering Canyon Cafe who the servers didn't even try to joke with, so you might have read that in my own trip report among others ).

I seem to recall that there are a fair number of puns, which of course are very language-dependent. But mostly a lot of slapstick and running gags. You might miss a few jokes here and there, but I doubt it would significantly impact the overall experience.

Sound great! Like I said, it doesn't matter if we understand every single punchline, as sometimes I don't even in German

Since there is a lot of visual comedy, I think you'll both have a great time.

As a similar example, my husband and I went to Hoop de Doo at Tokyo Disneyland. It was in Japanese with some songs partly in English. I'm fluent but my husband doesn't speak a word. He seemed to get most of it and had a great time.

Very good example, thank you! (Sore ja, Tokyo Disneyland de mo "Hoop-de-Doo" ga arimasu ka? Sugoi desu! )

I wanted to post the same thing! I cannot believe that English is a second language for you - it is PERFECT!!

Often in a different language it is not so much not understanding what is being said as cultural differences that make humor differ - and that is the big challenge sometimes. If you watch American comedy type movies and enjoy the humor I would say you are well on your way to enjoying a night at HDDR

Wow, thank you everybody! I really wasn't fishing for compliments here

Your use of the word "reckon" was VERY impressive!

I always enjoy using the boat from Magic Kingdom as a fun way to go to Fort Wilderness.

Really? What is it with the "reckon"? Well I think I might have picked that up in Australia, certainly not in English class at school .

And you are so right about taking the boat to go to Fort Wilderness, we love that too! What we like even better is, hop off the boat at the Wilderness Lodge and then take a walk along the lake on the jogging path to Fort Wilderness, then take the boat back. It is such a pieceful round trip, and we have seen lots of animas while walking there, even deer!

 

[TillyMarigold]

You're right, I did see it in your report! Although not just yours.

It's not quite the same, but I did have a wonderful time at Disneyland Paris and I speak only about enough French to ask for a cup of coffee or the bathroom (I do speak Spanish though, so that helps). And of course most Paris CMs speak English, whereas very few Florida CMs speak German.

When I was a CM, I used to feel bad about the fact that I only knew the languages that I needed to be able to yell at unruly teenage tour groups (Spanish, Portuguese, and French--I knew it a lot better when I was speaking it every day). I met a lot of German, Japanese, and Hebrew speakers, but I never needed to yell at them so I didn't bother to learn their languages beyond "Hello"!

 

[DonaldTDuck]

Ok, since you are German, I have bad news for you about Hoop de doo, the beer that comes with the meal is Bud Light.
Seriously, the audience participation will likely be in the form of a cast member asking where you're from, then another will come up with a quick 2 line tune with a rhyme for Germany. I've been 8 times and never seen anyone made fun of. Now, some shy folk might be bothered if asked to come up on stage, but that's the most fun I've ever had at a dinner show.

 

[WEDWDW]

I was impressed because "reckon" is not a "first-level" word in English and I don't think many people whose "first" language is not English would know that word(or how to use it).

I see that besides being an expert in English you are also an expert on Walt Disney World!The reason I know this is because of your knowledge of the path along Bay Lake between Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness.

Only a "seasoned" WDW Fan would know about that path.

I know you weren't fishing for compliments,but I MUST compliment you again.

Your knowledge and correct usage of the term "fishing for compliments" is,again,VERY impressive!

 

[beachbunny]

annichan: Tokyo Desunilando no "Hoop de Doo" wa choto chigau kedo totemo tanoshii desu.

 

[annichan]

When I was a CM, I used to feel bad about the fact that I only knew the languages that I needed to be able to yell at unruly teenage tour groups (Spanish, Portuguese, and French--I knew it a lot better when I was speaking it every day). I met a lot of German, Japanese, and Hebrew speakers, but I never needed to yell at them so I didn't bother to learn their languages beyond "Hello"!

Okay, great, I guess I feel flattered that German teenagers apparently do not need as much yelling at as other nationalities! Not sure my parents would have agreed, though

Ok, since you are German, I have bad news for you about Hoop de doo, the beer that comes with the meal is Bud Light.

OMG, we'll never be able to cope!!!

No, really that's quite okay, at least that way if I get invited on stage I won't have any trouble walking there on my own two feet!

I see that besides being an expert in English you are also an expert on Walt Disney World!The reason I know this is because of your knowledge of the path along Bay Lake between Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness.
Only a "seasoned" WDW Fan would know about that path.

Yay, I'm being called an expert! That it should ever come to that!
You know, I've only been to WDW once (except from a couple of times as a toddler, which I barely remember), but I'm a really compulsive planner - and it also helped that we spent two weeks at WL so we couldn't help but accidentally stumble upon that beautiful path sooner or later

annichan: Tokyo Desunilando no "Hoop de Doo" wa choto chigau kedo totemo tanoshii desu.

Oh dear, I'm reaching the end of my Japanese knowledge there. "Chigau" to iu no wa doo iu imi ... Yes, you're saying "even though it's a little different from the WDW version it is very good", right?

(Mental note to self: Stop bragging about your Japanese knowledge when you can't even understand a one-sentence answer )

 

[dancin Disney style]

OP...I'm also very impressed with your English.

I think you can't help but enjoy the HDDR. The show is mainly singing and dancing which in my book has no language barrier. When the cast go to an audience member to participate it is done quietly and if you do not wish to play along they will move on to someone else. We were 'made' to get up and dance thanks to our kids....there was no way out of that one.

 

[annichan]

OP...I'm also very impressed with your English.

I think you can't help but enjoy the HDDR. The show is mainly singing and dancing which in my book has no language barrier. When the cast go to an audience member to participate it is done quietly and if you do not wish to play along they will move on to someone else. We were 'made' to get up and dance thanks to our kids....there was no way out of that one.

Thank you! I only just noticed that there is another reply to this thread, otherwise I would have dropped by and said thanks earlier.

Anyway, just wanting to let you all know that I have told DH about this thread, plus we've had a look at some Hoop-Dee-Doo videos in youtube ... And now I am thrilled to say that DH is perfectly happy with going there and I shall be making the ADR in a month's time

So once again, a big thanks to everybody for the kind advice that helped us make up our minds!