Hoop Dee Doo Revue

[shellybaxter]

It seems like they already tried to fix the problem. One you book a lesser category knowing that you would not get premium seats two when you got the lesser seating that you paid for you complained three Disney tried to fix it by refunding your money but you would have to forgo eatting. you could not expect to stay eat and get a refund. What you should be warning others if you have a big party and want to get good seats book the higher category.

Actually, it sounds to me like there was a problem that night with the seating. It appears that Disney might have tried to "skwish" people into tables that were too small because they somehow over booked? I don't believe it is normally necessary to book a higher catagory for a larger party - nor should it be.

I didn't even know that was an option, but I'll call and do that and hope for the best once we get there. Otherwise, my DH and BIL (two BIG over 6'5" guys) will have to help her get up the stairs. I just hope that there's a bathroom on the balcony level too. If not, then there's really NO WAY that we could be seated up there.

And it shouldn't be required to book a higher catagory for mobility issues either but it is. I was told that if I had mobility issues (couldn't climb stairs) I needed to book catagory one. You might want to reconsider and pay OOP for cat one so that your MIL will be comfortable. The only restroom is outside of the main room and is difficult to get to wherever you are seated.

 

[momof3poohlovers]

It seems like they already tried to fix the problem. One you book a lesser category knowing that you would not get premium seats two when you got the lesser seating that you paid for you complained three Disney tried to fix it by refunding your money but you would have to forgo eatting. you could not expect to stay eat and get a refund. What you should be warning others if you have a big party and want to get good seats book the higher category.

One- I was told I may have a table that was up in the balcony which I had no problem with, I was NOT told that I would have a table that was too small. Would it be acceptable for you to reserve a table for 8 and be seated at a table for 2? No, I booked a table for 6 not 4.
Two- I am not sure what your point was here?
Three-I guess I could have left the restaurant but where would we eat? It was the last night of our dining plan and this was 2 table service credits. I highly doubt I would have been able to find a 2 table service restaurant to accommodate us at the last minute. So I don't consider option three to be realistic. In all honesty, even if they had refunded our 2 table service credits after we ate we wouldn't have been able to use them so it wouldn't have done us any good.

If you had read all of my posts, you would have seen that my point WAS to warn others. I said that I would book either a Cat. 1 or 3 if I was ever to eat here again. I guess you must have missed that part. I was also trying to find out if this was standard policy to use these tables for 6 or not. I guess you overlooked that question as well. The problem that needs to be fixed is the tables need to be made larger not where you are seated.

 

[vicki_c]

Just be aware, that in my opinion, our 4 top table was very small as well in Category 1. Great seats, but with 2 adults and 2 children under 10, I felt totally squished at the table. And once they brought the food, there seemed to be really no room at all on the table.

Perhaps all the tables at HDDR are on the smallish size (all the better to pack more people in?). I think that's what you're getting at in your last post? So given that, you might not be happy in Category 1 or 3 either. Maybe the tables are just too small? I would have liked some more elbow room myself.
I'd say it's all the food "stuff" they bring, but it seemed like that to me from the moment we sat down.

 

[momof3poohlovers]

Just be aware, that in my opinion, our 4 top table was very small as well in Category 1. Great seats, but with 2 adults and 2 children under 10, I felt totally squished at the table. And once they brought the food, there seemed to be really no room at all on the table.

Perhaps all the tables at HDDR are on the smallish size (all the better to pack more people in?). I think that's what you're getting at in your last post? So given that, you might not be happy in Category 1 or 3 either. Maybe the tables are just too small? I would have liked some more elbow room myself.
I'd say it's all the food "stuff" they bring, but it seemed like that to me from the moment we sat down.

The 4 top table that is in Cat. 1 (the square one, not the round)is the same table that we had 6 people at and we had 5 adults(2 were teens) and 1 9 year old! That is why I was complaining. I agree with you though, I guess the smaller the tables are, the more people they can put in there.

 

[vicki_c]

Holy cow! No wonder you're complaining!

 

[momof3poohlovers]

The Hoop Dee Doo manager called back and said that there are only 4 tables that seat 6 in the whole restaurant, 2 of which are the 2 that are in the balcony. The other 2 are on the lower level in the back and are larger round tables but there is a pole blocking the views on those tables. He was very nice and I just explained that I felt that the tables were way too small and suggested that maybe they could add another 2 person table so that the people at the table would at least be comfortable. He said that he thought it was a great suggestion and look into whether or not this was possible. I am glad I spoke to him as a lot of times people don't ever make suggestions and so nothing is done to improve things. It seems the only time people complain is when they are angry, I am glad I waited until I wasn't irritated about the situation(thanks to being able to vent on here )and was able to have a great conversation. Hopefully they will add another table on or change the configuration somehow. At least those on here who are parties of 6 will know what to expect when dining in Cat. 2 at HDDR.

 

[disney-super-mom]

Ok, after reading all of the responses and getting it off my chest I decided to contact the Hoop Dee Doo restaurant while I am still on property. I spoke to someone who wasn't a manager but she agreed that the tables were small. She also told me that a computer assigns the tables so it's not according to when you made your reservation(which I believe is unfair, but oh well). She said that the table could accommodate up to 6 people although not very comfortably(my words)so she suggested I talk to the manager who is supposed to call me and let him know. I got the feeling they were aware of the problem and had received many complaints about this. At least now I know this wasn't an isolated incident and now others can be aware.

I am really glad that you contacted someone about the problem. It seems like so many people take an "oh well, nothing we can do about it, and Disney won't do anything about it anyway, so why even bother complaining" attitude these days.

I've never heard about this problem before, so I'm wondering if it's something new that they're doing......squishing 5-6 people at a table for 4 to get more people in there?

Anyway, at the very least I want to thank you for the heads up.
I guess we'll go in expecting to be squished, and if we happen to be at a large enough table, it'll be a nice surprise. (Boy, is that sad to say or what?!.....pay a premium price expecting to be squished instead of expecting to be comfortable?! Only at WDW! )

 

[momof3poohlovers]

Holy cow! No wonder you're complaining!

Imagine sitting 2 people on the short end of that table! Talk about being a "close" family. You could literally eat off everyone at the table's plates without moving!

 

[frdeb1999]

We have been in all cats as a table of 5 and have never had any issue's. We prefer the cat 2 seating and have been both upstairs and in the back on the floor. Both were very good area's. It honestly sounds like they over booked for that show...not that it's right in any way. With what you pay for HDDR you should always have a great time. Sorry your experience was'nt.

 

[vsimeone]

The Hoop Dee Doo manager called back and said that there are only 4 tables that seat 6 in the whole restaurant, 2 of which are the 2 that are in the balcony. The other 2 are on the lower level in the back and are larger round tables but there is a pole blocking the views on those tables. He was very nice and I just explained that I felt that the tables were way too small and suggested that maybe they could add another 2 person table so that the people at the table would at least be comfortable. He said that he thought it was a great suggestion and look into whether or not this was possible. I am glad I spoke to him as a lot of times people don't ever make suggestions and so nothing is done to improve things. It seems the only time people complain is when they are angry, I am glad I waited until I wasn't irritated about the situation(thanks to being able to vent on here )and was able to have a great conversation. Hopefully they will add another table on or change the configuration somehow. At least those on here who are parties of 6 will know what to expect when dining in Cat. 2 at HDDR.

I'm assuming that there are tables for parties BIGGER than 6 though. We ate here 2 years ago as a party of 7 and were not crowded at our table. I have an ADR for 12/22 (again a party of 7) and while I had to talk to someone special about having a large group, she didn't say anything about not being able to accomodate us. We are on the DDP but attending the 9:30 show (our youngest will be 17 so eating late isn't a problem) so we will be cat. 1 seating.

I'm sorry that you had this situation but am glad that you took the time to talk to the manager to perhaps help someone else out in the same situation in the future!

 

[sueh]

The Hoop Dee Doo manager called back and said that there are only 4 tables that seat 6 in the whole restaurant, 2 of which are the 2 that are in the balcony. The other 2 are on the lower level in the back and are larger round tables but there is a pole blocking the views on those tables. He was very nice and I just explained that I felt that the tables were way too small and suggested that maybe they could add another 2 person table so that the people at the table would at least be comfortable. He said that he thought it was a great suggestion and look into whether or not this was possible. I am glad I spoke to him as a lot of times people don't ever make suggestions and so nothing is done to improve things. It seems the only time people complain is when they are angry, I am glad I waited until I wasn't irritated about the situation(thanks to being able to vent on here )and was able to have a great conversation. Hopefully they will add another table on or change the configuration somehow. At least those on here who are parties of 6 will know what to expect when dining in Cat. 2 at HDDR.

Thanks for the heads up. Now I am concerned because there is 6 people in my party and we will be celebrating a birthday there.
Should be interesting but I hope they do not try to squish us around a small table as 2 of them are big guys.
For they $$ that they are charging I hope to be seated comfortable.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that this dinner works out for us.

 

[Luv2Roam]

OP -- thanks for warning others and I am glad you spoke to HDDR about this.
Does seem very unreasonable what happened. Don't blame you a bit for venting.

 

[momof3poohlovers]

I'm assuming that there are tables for parties BIGGER than 6 though. We ate here 2 years ago as a party of 7 and were not crowded at our table. I have an ADR for 12/22 (again a party of 7) and while I had to talk to someone special about having a large group, she didn't say anything about not being able to accomodate us. We are on the DDP but attending the 9:30 show (our youngest will be 17 so eating late isn't a problem) so we will be cat. 1 seating.

I'm sorry that you had this situation but am glad that you took the time to talk to the manager to perhaps help someone else out in the same situation in the future!

There are larger tables(I saw them and they were plenty big enough )I think the problem just seems to be with a party of 6. From what I saw, there were several large round tables for the bigger parties and then there were the rectangular 4 person tables. I think were also a couple of 2 person tables. The 4 person tables might have been "ok" if we could have put one chair on each end of the table but because the Cat. 2 tables up in the balcony butt up against the rail you can't put a chair at one end of the table so they put 2 chairs on 3 sides of the table, the problem is the end opposite the railing is only about 2-3 feet in width and this is why trying to squish 2 chairs here is almost impossible. Also the table itself isn't that big so the chairs that run the length of the table barely fit so the 2 people stuck at the end of the table can't put their legs under the table because the legs of the people on either side of them are there. I hope this makes sense! I think I even confused myself.

I also forgot to correct my earlier post about how they assign the tables. The manager said they DO assign them manually(the first cm was wrong)by the day you reserve them AND by whether or not you are paying cash or using the dining plan(I was actually surprised about this part). However, in the case of a Cat. 2 table for 6, because there are only 4 tables, obviously there isn't much choice.

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Our party of 7 had a round table with enough room, although with all that food, I think almost any table top would be crowded. Our seating was not crowded, though. (Cat. 1) Also, it is my understanding that seats are absolutley related to when you call in. The sooner you call in, the better your seat (for your party size). I called at 180 days, and got practically front row center (kind of 2nd row, but there wasn't a table directly in front of us).

 

[karenr766]

Does anyone know how they assign the tables here? We reserved this over 180 days in advance and yet we somehow managed to be seated up in the balcony section(we ate here on Sat. night). We were category 2 and I understood that we might get stuck in the balcony but my major problem is we were a party of 6 and were seated at a table for four. One side of the table was up against the railing so 2 people were seated at the other (narrow)end which at most should have seated one. I think it would even be a tight fit for 5 but it was ridiculous to have 2 chairs at the end of the table. My husband had to sit straddling my chair and there was no room to maneuver. There wasn't even room to put our food down so the server had to put the buckets our food came in on our plates and we had to take our food out of the buckets and stack them on the cornbread wood thing(not sure what it's called). Did we just get a night where maybe they overbooked tables for 6 or has anyone else had this happen? There was one other table like ours and they were angry too and when asked to move, they were told they didn't have any other tables for them.

We liked the show and thought the food was good but I would never eat here again unless we were category 1.

Sorry your experience was a bad one. We will be going in October and have category 2 seating. With a party of three we should not have the same problem. I am sure it was extremely difficult to enjoy the show with as little elbow room as you must have had. At some local restaurants we have had to be in "close quarters" and our dining experience suffered because of that. I don't remember it being that close.

 

[polineedyan]

Not the hoop dee hoo, but I actually LEFT the Luau. I called the manager from my room basically saying 'Im not normally one to complain, yada yada, but its 9 oclock on a saturday night in disney, and Im in my room watching t.v." I tried not to be too colorful, and he was very reasonable. I stated Id like him to refund my ticket, and he had no problem doing that.
Give them a call..

 

[skipperkim]

Not the hoop dee hoo, but I actually LEFT the Luau. I called the manager from my room basically saying 'Im not normally one to complain, yada yada, but its 9 oclock on a saturday night in disney, and Im in my room watching t.v." I tried not to be too colorful, and he was very reasonable. I stated Id like him to refund my ticket, and he had no problem doing that.
Give them a call..

So why did you leave the laua? I've been once and I'll never go again. Lousy food and mediocre entertainment. The service was nothing to write home about either.

 

[polineedyan]

Well, the issue was two fold, actually 3 fold. First off..my son asked for juice. Not a problem for me..but it seemed to be a big deal to the server. He really put me on the spot about it (over 2 bucks?..)
But, honestly, by then, I was already irked. We had been there probably 20 minutes, and no music no nothin. Our seats were barely in the pavillion (my fault, although I booked more than 3 months in advance.)
My dd was 2 1/2 and by about midway thru the meal, she was getting squirrely..again maybe my fault. But I THINK we had seen maybe 5 minutes of entertainment by THAT point, and we were 1/2 hour or so into the thing. The only words I understood were "welcome home." by the actors, who were WAAAY overdoing it. I am a former actor/singer, and this was the biggest load of crap Id ever seen. I was getting angry. Finally, at about the 35 minute mark, and no band, no nuthin. Not even MUSAK..they COULD have had at least RECORDED music playing. Nothing. Just a half hour of hearing people talk and eat. It was too much. I was bored, my family was bored, etc. I told the wife, im not trying to be a jerk, but Im taking her back to the room. Me and dd went back to the room and she promptly fell asleep.
Partially my fault, partially theirs. I admitted that to the manager. He did say many people really enjoy the luau. I said I agree, many do, I wasnt one of them. It was a lot of money to spend for something goofy. I had more fun at the torch lighting ceremony.
At about 9:30, the family strolled into the room and actually said I had missed nothing. They said they wish they wouldve left. They didnt care for the desserts either..
Some like it. Not me..

 

[disneymath]

The Hoop Dee Doo manager called back and said that there are only 4 tables that seat 6 in the whole restaurant, 2 of which are the 2 that are in the balcony. The other 2 are on the lower level in the back and are larger round tables but there is a pole blocking the views on those tables. He was very nice and I just explained that I felt that the tables were way too small and suggested that maybe they could add another 2 person table so that the people at the table would at least be comfortable. He said that he thought it was a great suggestion and look into whether or not this was possible. ...

Hopefully they will add another table on or change the configuration somehow. At least those on here who are parties of 6 will know what to expect when dining in Cat. 2 at HDDR.

Yikes! I hope they can follow through on your suggestion!

We have a Cat 2 party of 6 booked for our August trip ... 5 adults and a baby who needs a high chair - we're not not small people either! Oh well, at least we'll know in advance that it may be an extra cozy meal. (When I booked, I was told it was last table available for that seating ...)

 

[momof3poohlovers]

Yikes! I hope they can follow through on your suggestion!

We have a Cat 2 party of 6 booked for our August trip ... 5 adults and a baby who needs a high chair - we're not not small people either! Oh well, at least we'll know in advance that it may be an extra cozy meal. (When I booked, I was told it was last table available for that seating ...)

The manager I spoke with really seemed as though he would seriously consider changing the tables, I hope he wasn't just saying it to appease me.

If you are stuck at the same table we were, ask to speak with the manager and if he isn't available, do what I did and call and nicely explain the problem. If enough people complain about it, maybe they will change it. It wouldn't hurt to try!