Is Hoop Dee Doo worth it?

[nikjd68]

We love it. When I was planning our upcoming June trip, I asked DD9 (who was then 8) if there was any particular restaurant or, specifically character meal she wanted to go to. She immediately said HDDR. DS14 likes the show a lot too.

Also, it gives you a chance to go to Fort Wilderness and look around before or after the meal. There is a gift shop across from Pioneer Hall that has stuff you might not find at other shops. DMiL found a bag that she had wanted (a friend had come back with one from WDW) but was sold out at the Main Street Emporium when our trip came around. The shop at FW had a bunch of them.

 

[Lisa F]

It's worth it to me but the transportation is not such a huge headache to me, and I'm not traveling with someone who is 'dealthy afraid' of water. To me that is a no-go on the boat unless you are overstating her fear. The disney boats run on sheltered artifical lakes, it's not open water with tides and wind and that kind of stuff. I live on an island only accessible by ferry and the disney boats are nothing compared to an open water ferry.

That said if fried chicken is your true goal, save yourself some hassle and go to either homecoming kitchen or 50's prime time cafe. Both have really good fried chicken. HDDR is great but if the travel is going to ruin it for you and you're not going to enjoy the show then there are other ways to get great fried chicken

 

[Tigger's ally]

Category 1: $72 adults, $43 children ages 3–9.; Category 2: $69 adults, $39 children; Category 3: $64 adults, $34 children. Prices include tax and gratuity.

And BEER ARGGGGGGGGHHHHHH

 

[Branflakes]

And BEER ARGGGGGGGGHHHHHH

And sangria.... I had A LOT, for review purposes. I mean it's included so

 

[Tigger's ally]

It's worth it to me but the transportation is not such a huge headache to me, and I'm not traveling with someone who is 'dealthy afraid' of water. To me that is a no-go on the boat unless you are overstating her fear. The disney boats run on sheltered artifical lakes, it's not open water with tides and wind and that kind of stuff. I live on an island only accessible by ferry and the disney boats are nothing compared to an open water ferry.

That said if fried chicken is your true goal, save yourself some hassle and go to either homecoming kitchen or 50's prime time cafe. Both have really good fried chicken. HDDR is great but if the travel is going to ruin it for you and you're not going to enjoy the show then there are other ways to get great fried chicken

Every time we have went, we have went by boat. Took resort bus to MK, walk to launch, ride boat, walk to Hoop. However, I do wonder this time (in May) if the change in security measures at MK will cost us a lot of time. Used to, we could walk straight to the boat launch without passing security. Now, we will have to go through it both ways. Think we still will do it this way, but will be sure and try and figure out how much extra time it takes each way.

 

[Tigger's ally]

And sangria.... I had A LOT, for review purposes. I mean it's included so

you can't just do it once for review purposes, you have to go back to see if the sangria gets better or not! Keep us updated.

 

[Lisa F]

Every time we have went, we have went by boat. Took resort bus to MK, walk to launch, ride boat, walk to Hoop. However, I do wonder this time (in May) if the change in security measures at MK will cost us a lot of time. Used to, we could walk straight to the boat launch without passing security. Now, we will have to go through it both ways. Think we still will do it this way, but will be sure and try and figure out how much extra time it takes each way.

that's true, anything involving the MK or a MK resort transport will involve security now. I wonder if it would be quicker to uber to the contemporary and then take the WL-Ft. W-CR resort loop there, no MK involved.

 

[Branflakes]

you can't just do it once for review purposes, you have to go back to see if the sangria gets better or not! Keep us updated.

Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to mislead. We go EVERY SINGLE TRIP. They've since added white sangria it's not as good or boozy as the red.

 

[Tigger's ally]

that's true, anything involving the MK or a MK resort transport will involve security now. I wonder if it would be quicker to uber to the contemporary and then take the WL-Ft. W-CR resort loop there, no MK involved.

We are staying at OKW and have thought about these options

bus to MK, boat to FW
boat to DS, bus to FW

Thanks for the reminder about the contemporary as we could boat to DS, Bus to CR and boat to FW. Not ideal, but would evade the security details and let us off right near the Hoop. Uber seems out of the question with a party of 10 (including a one year old needing a car seat).

 

[Tigger's ally]

Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to mislead. We go EVERY SINGLE TRIP. They've since added white sangria it's not as good or boozy as the red.

Oh, I know what you mean. I have deluxe dining plan which includes tip. I tell Cowboy/girl waiter that my tip is included when I get there, but also hint in a not so subtle way that if they keep the beer a flowing, I will have no problem leaving more. They usually comply.

 

[OKW Lover]

It seems clear it's worth the money/2 dining credits as it's reviews are almost all overwhelmingly positive. However, are the logistics worth it? I realize I'll have to get to mk then hop on a boat, then walk, then afterwards hop on a boat, maybe go to mk maybe go back to AofA.

Yes, it is worth the minimal hassle to get to/from there. If you are at the MK that day its very easy to take the boat to Fort Wilderness and walk a couple of hundred yards to the venue. When HDD is over, there will be bus service from there to bring you back to your resort.

 

[Golfjbc89]

I was going to post this in another thread but this one had some great info. I was looking at booking hoop dee doo for a non-park night for an all adults trip. we will also have a car so transportation is less of an issue. my question is does HDDR need to be booked 180 days out like other ADRs? The only reason im hesitant is because they require advanced payment, if i have to change/cancel is there a penalty?

Also whats everyone's favorite category to sit in? the price difference seems so little that i might as well aim for cat1.

 

[OKW Lover]

my question is does HDDR need to be booked 180 days out like other ADRs? The only reason im hesitant is because they require advanced payment, if i have to change/cancel is there a penalty?

Tables within each category are assigned according to oldest first. So, the Category 1 tables that are right at the stage are filled first (by reservation date) and then seating works its way back. Similarly with Category 2 & 3 although the differences in those two categories aren't huge.

 

[nikjd68]

Tables within each category are assigned according to oldest first. So, the Category 1 tables that are right at the stage are filled first (by reservation date) and then seating works its way back. Similarly with Category 2 & 3 although the differences in those two categories aren't huge.

We have booked it online, 180th day, within 10 minutes of the ADR window opening 3x's. Twice, our table for 5 touched the stage. The third time will be this June.

 

[ErinsMommy]

We've always avoided HDDR because we just think the jokes will go over DD's head and in all our trips, we've never even been to FW. This trip however, we added it to our ADR list and I'm actually excited to try it because its something new. So if you go into it with that mentality, you (and me both) may find it was one of those must do's that we didn't do and have been missing out on all this time.

 

[dclpluto]

It's most definitely worth it.