Hoop Dee Doo Worth Money

[ac_roo]

Hi! My family of 5 will be travelling to the WDW in January. I have read all kinds of great information on Hoop Dee Doo...however, it is a lot of money. I have 3 children..ages 8.9.and 11. Will they love it?

If we decided to do Hoop Dee Doo, when should we do it? first evening or middle of trip.

How is it different than Whispering Canyon? Both are slapstick comedy. I would appreciate any help.

 

[Disney1-30-98]

Just got back from HDD 2 weeks ago. I had done it before but wanted to take my 3 year old who loves to sing and dance. She had a good time. My one year old could have cared less, but he is only 1. The food was actually pretty good, it was last time as well. Big salad, bread and butter, ribs, fried chicken, corn ,beans, strawberry shortcake, and drinks. If your kids won't eat any of that then I don't think its worth it b/c it is very expensive. But if they will then its not that bad of a deal. The show is cute and fun.
When you go I don't think matters.
The Whispering Canyon is not a dinner show, food is similar. The servers do have a good time with you while you eat and they have some fun for the kids. Would be a quicker meal and cheaper.
All in all the HDD is fun and entertaining, just expensive if your kids don't eat that kind of food.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Just a note if you chose the Whispering Canyon. Make sure you ask to have a server who is into the fun/jokes before you get seated. Ours was pleasant and attentive but not into the jokes. This did not go over well with our 3 ds 15,13 and 11. We did notice and I posted this before and another poster agreed with me that it is mostly the female servers who are into the jokes etc. Also dont get seated in the fireplace section, its just too far away from the action. Also note that at trails end buffet for dinner they serve the same chicken and ribs that is at the HDDR. We heard a little of the music when we were there. It was muffled however.

 

[CamColt]

Weve been to the HDD in 2000, and 2002 and loved it both times. It does seem like a lot of money but when you look at what you get its practically a bargain. The food and drinks are unlimited and the show is really very good. For a meal, salad, appetizers, dessert, a few drinks, and a show you would be paying at least that anywhere else. And they werent stingy on the food or pitchers of beer. We more than got our moneys worth. Plus since my kids are picky eaters we were able to call ahead and they were given macaroni and cheese. Others have reported just being able to order it there, but I didnt want to chance it.
Good luck deciding.

 

[MinnieGi]

We really enjoy HDDR and think it is worth the money. We have seen the show twice now and have another HDDR night planned for our February trip. This past trip we took both sets of parents with us and they loved it! Its a fun interactive live show with an all you can eat menu. The food is familiar favorites with kids like fried chicken, ribs, corn, beans, bread and salad. Our 3 yo DD has always liked what is served but they did also offer her mac 'n cheese which she had a bite of too. The drinks are unlimited including sangria and beer. Its a really fun evening. We've done the 5:00 show in the past which works well with a little one. But since your children are older I'm sure they could do the early or middle show.

 

[Aisling]

How is it different than Whispering Canyon? Both are slapstick comedy.

This is a good question. I have HHD booked for July 2004 but am considering changing it to a Whispering Canyon's ressie. I'm gping to read all I can about both so that I can decide. The whispering Canyon's experience sounds like so much fun for half the price. Decisions, decisions!

 

[Pluto2003]

this past week. I have to agree with others, if your children do not like ribs and fried chicken, then the question becomes how much will you pay for a live show. My children would not of eaten a thing and as adults this trip we picked at the food. The show?, yes, corny jokes but I know I will not do that again. Had a server who was not into the "fun" at wispering canyon and would not eat there again either for the food or "entertainment" No guarantee you will get a "fun" server. Sorry no alternative suggestion either.

 

[marcyinPA]

My boys (3 and 7 at the time) loved the HDD! They didn't eat a whole lot, but they never do. I think my dh made up for what the boys didn't eat! LOL

We actually went for my 34th birthday, and it was during the middle of our trip. For the rest of the trip, the boys sang the HDD theme song...

They really had a great time!

As for dinner shows, my dh and I did the luau before we had kids, and if I had to compare it to the HDD, I'd say the HDD was much better...both food-wise and entertainment-wise. JMO, of course!

I've never done the Whispering Canyon, but I have friends who stay at WL and eat there every morning and LOVE it! They rave about the skillet breakfasts....Maybe we'll try it out on our upcoming trip...

 

[LibertyBelle]

As for Hoop Dee Doo I personally think it is worth every penny and then some. It is an actual show that is preformed on stage as well as in and around the theater. It has an actual storyline, with singing and dancing. The food is good and the service is great. My first expereince at Hoop Dee Doo was when I was 5 years old (1980) and it is the only thing that I remember from that trip to Disney World. Now we live in Central Florida and my husband and I go to HDD at least once (sometimes 2 or 3 times) a year. Whenever we have friends in town we go...the other night I started singing a song from it and hubby booked us for dinner the next night. We love it... can't say enough about it...Very fun...

Whispering canyon is a restuarant with Quirky servers. It is like the 50's Prime Time Cafe. It is not a "Dinner Show" like Hoop Dee Doo. The Canyon is fun and the food is good, but you can not compare the two as they are total opposite ends of the spectrum. The Canyon is all what your server makes of it, if they are the jokeing funny kind you can end up looking like the Statue of Liberty with straws in your hair (I did...) or you could ask for Ketchup and end up with 50 bottles on your table...if they are not you have a good meal and watch everyone else be embarrassed.

 

[Kapp]

last week and all LOVED! My wife was not very sure about it due the cost and that she had never heard of it ( I do ALL the Disney planning!) but she LOVED it the most!!!! My girls (5 and 9) laughed out loud and ate like they hadn't all week. They loved the food and the show. It was our favorite part of the trip.

We you figure in the meal, drinks (beer and wine!), tip and the very well-done show, it is really not that outlandish for the price.

Go for it, you will not be disappointed!

Kapp

 

[stacy6552]

If I could splurge ono just one thing it would be the HDDR!

Doo It!

 

[CarolynU]

The atmosphere is great at the HDD and I really think that you will come away in a happy mood. The food is more than edible and the cost includes drinks. I personally haven't enjoyed WC, because we got the skillet which was not too good, and came out cold. We ate there twice and neither time did our servers join in any fun. It's a bit hit and miss. Just a thought, how about Ohanas at the Poly where the meal is great and they have races for the kids around the room, and hula hoop stuff?

 

[lookingforward]

The HDDR was okay. Make sure you are really into the fried chicken and ribs. The show is corny but entertaining although we found the tables very crammed together. We did get a great seat up front though. This is classic Disney entertainment and people really seemed to love it. We are glad we went but in no hurry to go back. I think if we liked the food better it would have made it a great evening. FYI: the food is GOOD, just not our favorites. I would definately pick this over the Whispering Canyon!

The Whispering Canyon was a huge dissapointment for us. Our server did absolutely nothing special and we had three children with us. Not one joke. Nada. Nothing! They tried to put us in the back room and were very miffed when we insisted on being in the main room. Glad we did because they do some games with the kids in the main room. The food was a huge let down here, I think we had the skillet meal and it was very boring. Maybe we were there on an off night.

 

[lookingforward]

The HDDR was okay. Make sure you are really into the fried chicken and ribs. The show is corny but entertaining although we found the tables very crammed together. We did get a great seat up front though. This is classic Disney entertainment and people really seemed to love it. We are glad we went but in no hurry to go back. I think if we liked the food better it would have made it a great evening. FYI: the food is GOOD, just not our favorites. I would definately pick this over the Whispering Canyon!

The Whispering Canyon was a huge dissapointment for us. Our server did absolutely nothing special and we had three children with us. Not one joke. Nada. Nothing! They tried to put us in the back room and were very miffed when we insisted on being in the main room. Glad we did because they do some games with the kids in the main room. The food was a huge let down here, I think we had the skillet meal and it was very boring. Maybe we were there on an off night.

 

[Oh Kay!]

I think the HDDR is something that you should do at least once. I see that your oldest DS is 11 and the two younger ones are right behind him. My suggestion is to do it before he has to pay the full adult price. I think your children's age are perfect to appreciate the humor of the HDDR.

 

[dyingtodisney]

I booked a 5 pm show for our first trip "home" in June for me,dh,dd8 and ds4(5 then). I forgot though is tip included? Do you think ds will get the humor?

 

[figmentvi]

Hoop Dee Doo Worth the Money???? It was for us.

It's not every day that my children, grandchildren, MIL, and FIL get to see my 280 pound DH on stage dressed as a fairy/angel in a pink tutu

I know that didn't answer your question, but we laughed till we were ready to faint. Worth every single penny we spent

 

[LibertyBelle]

Originally posted by dyingtodisney
I booked a 5 pm show for our first trip "home" in June for me,dh,dd8 and ds4(5 then). I forgot though is tip included? Do you think ds will get the humor?

Yes Tip is included in the price... The kids probably won't get the humor, but the will enjoy the show. As I posted earlier, my first experience at Hoop Dee Doo was when I was 5 years old and it is the only memories I have of that particular trip to Disney World. When we would go back as I was growing up I would always ask my dad about the show not knowing what I was asking about. I would say stuff like, what was it that we went to that had the... and he would say that was Hoop Dee Doo. So they may not get the jokes, but I am sure the will remember the experience Hubby and I go at least once (sometimes twice a year) now...

 

[raidermatt]

Its definitely worth trying. I loved it, though there were those in our party who just thought it was ok. A little too corny for them I guess... But still, they didn't dislike it, just commented that they would want to try other places before going back.

Just allow plenty of time to get there if using Disney's busses...

 

[mattmommy]

HDD is very expensive for those of us on a budget. WC's dinner is good, but the breakfast is GREAT!!! Sit in the main room and go when it's the most crowded. That's when the most fun happens. We spoke about it to cousins and dragged them there for a late seating--not many people and not as much fun. I love the bottomless skillet breakfast. The price is right and the kids get entertained and fed. Bottomless OJ which is getting more rare in the restaurants these days. They make jokes and you sing and play games. We went here way before we had our 3 year old and only had adults in the group. If you get there early go to the front desk and ask about the hidden Mickey's. They'll give you clues and if you find them all you get a prize. Don't be shy about asking cast members at the hotel for more hints.