Hoop Dee Doo Show any comments would be appreciated

[iluvdisneywrld]

We are going to DW in January and wanted to go to the Backyard BBQ but it is not going during that month, so we have the Hoop Dee Doo Show as an alternative. We went to the Polynesian show last year, but we liked the fact that the BBQ was so interactive. I know there are no characters but is it very interactive or not so much. The kids are not babies anymore but still have fun getting in on the action. Any comments would be appreciated.
They also said with the DDP you can only get the section one on the last show, is it worth going to the last show to be in section one?
Thanks in advance.

 

[nbs2]

I've never been, but in trying to decide if we should go I found a lot of folks that: a) loved it and 2) preferred the balcony seating.

 

[CrabbyPatty]

You don't note how old your kids are, but my almost 10-yr-old LOVED Hoop-De-Doo. We were there about 10 days ago and she's still telling me jokes from the show.

We went to the 7:15 show with Category 2 seating and got on the main floor really close to the front, off to the right side underneath the balcony. Great seats, and the actors came down from the stage a few times and milled around the audience. During the song where they name off the states, one of the actors came to our table and ask where we were from - MINNESOTA! - and he sang a little ditty about Minnesota and shone the stoplight on our table. DD was mortified .....

They also did this inane napkin-twirling (which I just don't get as being super fun or exciting .....) and they pull people from the audience for the last number.

 

[clanmcculloch]

It's somewhat interactive. The performers do come out into the audience and even up onto the balcony. They highlight anybody with a birthday or anniversary. They hand out washboards after dessert so everybody can get into the songs. Even the serving of the food is sort of part of the show. They also get the audience singing and shouting along in parts of the show. It's a lot of corny but very fun humour.

I haven't been to MBYBBQ but I find HDDR to be more interactive than SoA and I hear that MBYBBQ is more interactive than HDDR.

The last show is VERY late if you have kids. If I wanted category 1 bad enough to re-arrange my schedule for it then I'd pay OOP for an earlier show before going to the last show to use DDP credits. We've sat in category 2 (downstairs) and category 3 (upstairs) and loved both locations. There isn't a bad location in the house. If you can book right at 180 days out then I can see category 1 being worthwhile because you'll be right up at the stage but otherwise I don't see the benefit of paying OOP just to sit there.

When asked where she wanted to eat to celebrate her birthday, my DD10 immediately chose HDDR (she was 8 when she previously ate there). It's definitely fun for all ages.

 

[sam_gordon]

I LOVE HDDR. However, the last time we went, DD(7) was VERY shy. She didn't want (although she did) to be singled out (including being called up on stage to do the washboard).

SPOILER ALERT: DD also started crying when they brought the food out. For those of you who've been, you know those (pewter?) plates and they smack the buckets on top of them? It scared the bejeezes out of DD! She cried for 10 minutes. Enough that the actress who brought the food to us came back and apologized. I felt so bad for DD (and the actress).

 

[iluvdisneywrld]

My kids are 10 10 and 6. I just didnt know if we could really see if we were in the cat. 2 or 3. I know 9:30 is late, but for us it is not that bad. We are usually up until 10 and 12 on weekends, but sleep in. We are a little backwards when it comes to our sleeping arrangements due to the fact that my husband doesnt get home from work until after 8 and the kids want to spend time with him. We homeschool so they can sleep in and we start school around 9:30 after breakfast and all.
I am glad to hear that Cat 2 and 3 are not so bad. I might just book it, but I was hoping that we could do it after all the parks were closed and had time to mosey on over there. Thanks for all your comments. I am glad to hear that so many kids were enjoying this show. Would someone elaborate on the food incident that caused tears???

 

[VAN]

For me, the HDDR is a Disney classic! Great music, great dancing, great entertainers and LOTS of food AND BEER/WINE! Gratuity is included in the price.

The show is about as interactive as you can be with a large room full of people in the midst of eating! LOL. A few lucky audience members will be singled out but you won't feel left out at all because the entire experience is very high energy.

The serving of the food is integrated with the show ... the intermission allows you to actually eat!

If you are looking for a quiet dinner ... forget HDDR! If you are looking for good clean family fun and food at a resonable price (remember, it includes all you can eat salad, bread, ribs, chicken, beans, dessert, beer, wine, soda AND gratuity + a show) then this is the place to be!

I like to go to the 5:00 show because I tend to eat a LOT and don't want to go to bed on a full stomach! Personally, I don't think there is a bad seat in the house.

 

[canoe86]

I love it. My wife loves it. The kids love it.

If I had ONE day at Disney, ONE, I would do the the Hoop Dee Doo. (among a few other things.)

Its fun, its musical, its comedy in a goody safe way. The food is decent, they bring a lot of it.

 

[staceycrouton]

We will be going to the Hoop Dee Doo Revue this November for the third straight year. DD10 and DD8 absolutely love it! We sat on the main floor the first time we went and last year we were center balcony. There really isn't a bad seat in the place. The performers are interactive with the balcony audience but not quite as much as if you had seats closer to the stage on the main level. Category 1 seating would guarantee you a ground level table. Category 2 could be center balcony or on a side on the main floor. I believe Category 3 is side balcony. If you are using the dining plan you can only get Category 2 or 3. You would have to pay out of pocket for Category 1. This is definitely a show worth seeing and the food is pretty good, too!

 

[clanmcculloch]

The food incident being mentioned is a VERY loud and unexpected noise as the metal buckets of chicken are LOUDLY slammed onto the pewter(?) plates during a song and dance number. The shock of the sudden and unexpected loud noise can be upsetting for some children. It always makes me jump.

Here's our category 2 view.

Here's our category 3 view.

I zoomed on on the category 2 shot and not on the category 3 shot. We booked right when our 90+10 booking window opened when we got the category 2 table (they hadn't gone back to 180+10 yet) so we had what I suspect is the absolute best category 2 table in the place. We were very happy with both locations.

 

[iluvdisneywrld]

Thank you everyone. I am sold. I will make ressies tonight!!

I am sure my kids will enjoy the show and I am sure I will enjoy the Sangria!!!

 

[CrabbyPatty]

ClanMcCulloch - I think we got about the same table as you did in Category 2. I booked HDD the first day I could for 180+10 ADRs, and then went back a week later and changed from the 9:00 show to the 7:15 show, and still got the table really close to the stage.

I was pleased with Category 2. Some of the Category 1 tables in the middle of the main floor looked pretty close to others - I liked sitting where there wasn't 20 other people with 3 feet of me!

 

[clanmcculloch]

CrabbyPatty, I was also thinking we got the same table based on your description. We were the closest table to the kitchen on the far side. GREAT view and you're right, no other tables surrounding us (well, my seat was the one backing onto the next table so I was a bit tight but nobody else at our table was).

 

[troynkasey]

We love this show too. We've been 3 times now. My DD5 loves the show. This year our DD2 had her first experience (last year doesn't count because she was sleeping) and loved it. The combination of music and jokes keeps the kids and adults entertained. We also enjoy the food. All you can eat ribs and fried chicken. The cornbread is pretty awesome too. My wife, sister and mom loved the Sangria and dad and I drink our weight in Bud Light. It's a great time and the strawberry shortcake at the end is a great dessert. I can't count how many times my wife or I will say "you know what sounds good? some Hoop Dee Do strawberry shortcake".

We've had category 2 and 1 seating and I acutally prefer the category 2 over the 1. With 1 we were right up front, but almost too close. Kinda like sitting at a movie theater.

In my opinion...this is a far better option than Mickey's Backyard BBQ. Enjoy!

 

[GeorgeG]

We used to go to the Hoop-Dee-Doo all the time, even twice on one trip, but have not gone in the past 8-10 years. That will change next Tuesday. We're going down for the day with friends who are relatively new to WDW and were trying to come up a fun place for dinner. Made the HDDR reservations just this morning.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

It's a great show, we did it once or twice when the boys were young and we all loved it! I like the last seating!

 

[sharadoc]

It is a true Disney World classic. We have always sat up in the balcony (Cat 3) and have enjoyed it. The tables are all up against the railing so you get a good clear view. The performers do come up there so you still feel part of the show. I think we always had a washboard to play but I can't remember if every table gets one or not.

The food is good and the strawberry shortcake for dessert is delish! When we had my hubby's birthday dinner at Trail's End this year, they brought him a strawberry shortcake, just like the HDDR version! Wonderful!

 

[honeydiane1953]

I try and go to WDW as often as possible. Once a month prob would be just about right lol. IF we go twice a yr we consider this perfect. I do HDDR about once a yr. Not every time. Good food, stupid slapstick humor and we ALWAYS enjoy it. One yr took my gk then 11 and 8 and could only get the 9;30 show. I will never do the late show again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We had fun and ate but the gk were soooo tired. When they say 9:30 they don't mean 9:28. It was late when it was over.

 

[Lehuaann]

Great show! Our kids loved it so much they keep asking to go back. No, it's not worth the late show for Cat 1. We did the 9:30/Cat 1 and if we do it again it will prob not be Cat 1 at any show. We sat right smack in the front/middle...way too close for me. There's really not a bad seat in the house. Food is good; ribs, fried chicken, baked beans, etc. However, the real gem of the meal was the cornbread. They gave us SO much food (tons of fried chicken left in the bucket) we barely touched the strawberry shortcake. My only real complaint was the service, hardly got any refills. Def is a must do at least once. Be sure to bring a major appetite!

 

[MarriedToAPrince]

We have been and it is tons of fun! We actually sat right at the stage in area 1 and there was a lot of interaction with the performers and there are props that they use to get the audience into it. I definietly recommend it! The food was good too!