Hoop Dee Doo Seating Help

[aaair_ric]

Hi everybody!

I've been reading the forums here for a while but this is my first post. All the information is awesome, what a cool online community!

I have a question about hoop dee doo seating. Two couples (gf me + friend and his gf) are going to Disney early June. We're scheduled right now to be seated in Category 2 seating. Last year just my girlfriend and I went and we were seated in Category 3, on the 2nd floor up front on the right, and I thought it was a great seat.

What I'm curious about is does category 2 or 3 seating have 4 person tables where you can face each other while you eat? Because it seemed like everybody was just seated in a line kind of like "bar style" eating from what I remember in my category 3 seating, and then everyone would turn around to watch the show.

The only reason I ask this is my gf likes being close to the front, which would mean category 3 seating, but I want all of us to be able to interact, not just sit in a line.

Regardless of category pretty much every seat in Pioneer Hall is a good one isn't it?

Thanks!



P.S. Just on a side note, we are going during the first few days of June. Last year we went during mid-May and I rarely saw a child over 5 years of age because most schools weren't out yet. Is there a noticeable difference in how crowded it is between that and early June (4-9)? I was told that the heaviest times were late June through July.

 

[mhmcduff]

Category 3 is upstairs and in a line- We have done this twice and enjoyed it but we have a 4 and 6 year old boys and the break from constant questions and having them just watch the show has been okay with us those times- Good view too
I agree I like to sit in front so we have bought category one 3times
2 times great
1 time- this past New Years Eve - we paid for category one but were put at table 86 second to the last row?? I complained but it was basically take it or leave it?? These are normally category 2 which I would take upstairs over those tables as you can still see but having other (one man God bless him who was at the table right in front of us that was very large and others) can be a distraction to the show- If you are only 1,2 or 3 tables deep it is not that problem. My thoughts
Category One first choice but confirm you will be in front
Category Two No
Category three second choice

 

[aaair_ric]

Category 3 is upstairs and in a line- We have done this twice and enjoyed it but we have a 4 and 6 year old boys and the break from constant questions and having them just watch the show has been okay with us those times- Good view too
I agree I like to sit in front so we have bought category one 3times
2 times great
1 time- this past New Years Eve - we paid for category one but were put at table 86 second to the last row?? I complained but it was basically take it or leave it?? These are normally category 2 which I would take upstairs over those tables as you can still see but having other (one man God bless him who was at the table right in front of us that was very large and others) can be a distraction to the show- If you are only 1,2 or 3 tables deep it is not that problem. My thoughts
Category One first choice but confirm you will be in front
Category Two No
Category three second choice

ahhh i see, so since we only are going to have the choice of Category 2 or 3 (as we are on DDP and don't want to go to the 9:30 showing) we should opt for Category 3 then?

 

[mhmcduff]

That would be my choice - better viewing and since there is little time to talk during the show shouldn't be a big deal- Actually you have got me thinking now how much I like 3 and going to see if I can change my Category 1s in May for 3s- I am on Cash so save some cash and know I have a front row (upstairs) seat? I am going to check it out!

 

[AgassiFan]

When I made my ADRs I mentioned that Cat. 3 was fine, but the CM said, "oh I can get you a great seat in Cat.2 " Should I call back and change? Is 2 that bad? It will be me, DH, and DDs (6 and 3 yrs).

 

[scrc2000]

I have ADR for HDDR also and the CM gave me category 2 and said it was good seats should I ask for category 3? We are on the DxDDP also!

 

[CDN Prince Charming]

This might help. As you can see, the Cat. 2 seats on the floor in the back aren't the most desirable seats. At least by booking Cat. 3 seats you are guaranteed to be sitting upstairs somewhere.
FWIW, our family prefers the Cat. 3 seats upstairs along the sides to even the upstairs Cat.2 seats in the middle.

CPC

 

[aaair_ric]

Changing to Category 3! I had those last year and thought they were great, we were 3 tables from the front on the right side.

Thanks for the help everybody!

 

[AgassiFan]

I called to change from Cat2 to Cat3 and the CM kinda of gave me a hard time about it and pretty much insisted Cat2 is fine and it could also mean that I am middle balcony or right behind Cat1, that there is no guarantees. I just gave up and kept my Cat2. I hope I don't regret it.


Oh bother, should I call again.

 

[aaair_ric]

I called to change from Cat2 to Cat3 and the CM kinda of gave me a hard time about it and pretty much insisted Cat2 is fine and it could also mean that I am middle balcony or right behind Cat1, that there is no guarantees. I just gave up and kept my Cat2. I hope I don't regret it.


Oh bother, should I call again.

They did it to me too, for some reason I feel like the cm I talked to had never been there though...

If all I had in front of me was the pricing for each category, I would insist as well that Category 2 is better, because purely based on price you would think it is. Thats why I think they insist cat2 is better, and the reason I posted the original question since people say cat3 is better, haha.

Based on what people said there isn't reaaaally a bad seat (and from what I remember) in the house but I guess Disney puts more value on being in the middle then being up front on the sides. Either way it seems like it'll be enjoyable but I personally like being closer to the front

 

[MagicMe]

Be careful what you wish for. We were a group of 6 and were seated in the round table at the very front to the side (opposite the piano). We were very excited until the show started. Half of us had to completely turn around in order to see the show and the other half couldn't always see the stuff directly on stage because of props (especially difficult near the end of the show when the group is pretty much sitting or kneeling on stage). We had this before they went to the category seating but were very early in getting our ressie. My son and his girlfriend were there last DEC (her first time at the show) and they got the table for two right in front!!!! They had a great time!

 

[SunnieRN]

I'm just curious....how do you know where you will be seated...ie if you are category 2 how do you know if you are up or down stairs...and category 1 how do you know how many rows back you are...
Also cat. 3, how do you know how many tables back you will be? Thanks

 

[Kim in PA]

I'm just curious....how do you know where you will be seated...ie if you are category 2 how do you know if you are up or down stairs...and category 1 how do you know how many rows back you are...
Also cat. 3, how do you know how many tables back you will be?

Yes, I would like to know this too. We requested the 9:30 show so we could get the Category 1 seats (we are on Deluxe DDP) but the CM was not able to tell me where in Category 1 we would be sitting.

One poster suggested checking with the CMs about what table we would be at , but how do you do this if they say they don't know? If I know we will have good seats in the middle of the action then it is worth it to me to try to keep my yongest up until the later show, but if we are in the row just in front of Level 2 I would rather go to an earlier show. So, how can I find out where our seats are?

Thank you!