Marathon Weekend 2025

[nancipants]

Ok. Someone explain hoop dee doo to me. It’s dinner. And a show?? We are looking for some not-park things to do for this trip

Yup! You sit at picnic style tables and the food is family style with fried chicken, mashed potatoes, etc. (Same food that used to be at the Trail's End Buffet and it was SO good.) While you're eating, there's a show! I've never been there, but want to take my son when he's a little older. It's supposed to be great. Plus, we love Fort Wilderness in general.

 

[Barca33Runner]

Ok. Someone explain hoop dee doo to me. It’s dinner. And a show?? We are looking for some not-park things to do for this trip

I’d describe it more as being a show…and dinner; but, yeah, you kind of nailed it.

Kidding aside, I’d call it an Americana-inspired dinner show that’s appropriate to the theme of Fort Wilderness with musical numbers, comedic interludes, and some crowd participation. The meal is family style all-you-care-to-enjoy consisting primarily of fried chicken and ribs, accompanied by a lot of usual suspects (cornbread, salad, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, etc.). With strawberry shortcake for dessert.

In my experience, the food was good, not great and the show was great, not good. This is from someone who despises country music, can’t stand the idea of being picked for crowd participation, and isn’t particularly into the general aesthetic of Hoop De Doo. The players are really outstanding though and as good a time as I had, I can say the kids in my group enjoyed it even more. It’s somewhat pricy, but I think every bit worth experiencing at least once.

ETA: As with anything Disney, mileage may vary; but this is something that is about the furthest from my wheelhouse as it gets and I had a great time.

 

[Herding_Cats]

What is the timeline like for this? Ends pretty late? Trying to figure out if we decided to try it which night would make the most sense with 2am wakeups and all.

 

[Barca33Runner]

What is the timeline like for this? Ends pretty late? Trying to figure out if we decided to try it which night would make the most sense with 2am wakeups and all.

Three showtimes a day: 4:00, 6:15, 8:30. We did the 4:00 after the 10k a couple years ago and still made it to sleep at a very reasonable time (our show let out between 5:45 and 6:00, obviously they have to make room for the next seating).

Actually saw one of the Hoop De Doo cast as one of the DJs on course during the Half.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

What is the timeline like for this? Ends pretty late? Trying to figure out if we decided to try it which night would make the most sense with 2am wakeups and all.

The food is on the heavier side, so I'd say do it the night before one of the shorter races. I've been twice and both times were great. I'm thinking of fitting it in at Princess, but it takes 2 dining credits, so if I decide to do it, I'll have to shuffle around my plans.

 

[GollyGadget]

What is the timeline like for this? Ends pretty late? Trying to figure out if we decided to try it which night would make the most sense with 2am wakeups and all.

Personally I'd do it after the races so you can enjoy all the sangria that you want. At least that's my plan

 

[The Expert]

Also know that it can take some travel time to get there and get out, so calculate that into your time. It is in the back of the campground, near the water. If you can take a boat to/from MK that might be a better option than driving/bus. Even if you drive, you have to take the internal campground bus back to the venue. If it is anywhere close to showtime, you could end up having to wait a couple of buses for a seat. I suppose you could walk, but it is a fairly significant distance.

 

[SheHulk]

I’d describe it more as being a show…and dinner; but, yeah, you kind of nailed it.
The players are really outstanding though and as good a time as I had, I can say the kids in my group enjoyed it even more. It’s somewhat pricy, but I think every bit worth experiencing at least once.

ETA: As with anything Disney, mileage may vary; but this is something that is about the furthest from my wheelhouse as it gets and I had a great time.

We took my kids and niece when they were maybe in the 5-7 year old range and they really loved it! I don't know that its a must-do every trip, but everybody should do it once.

 

[Barca33Runner]

We took my kids and niece when they were maybe in the 5-7 year old range and they really loved it! I don't know that its a must-do every trip, but everybody should do it once.

Yeah, we’ve only been once a couple years ago. It’s something I think we will do again in the future but a few years in between viewings will serve us well.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Personally I'd do it after the races so you can enjoy all the sangria that you want. At least that's my plan

For me, wine is gross (I also hate grape juice, and wine is just disgusting grape juice) so maybe that's not the plan for me. Plus, my post-marathon tradition is an epsom salt bath, laying in bed until my appetite returns (usually 6-7pm) and then eating an entire pizza from the resort QS.

 

[Zutroy]

Ok. Someone explain hoop dee doo to me. It’s dinner. And a show?? We are looking for some not-park things to do for this trip

Each December I book a stay at Fort Wilderness and go to Hoop De Doo. I’ve seen maybe … 6 or 7 shows. The show has the same basic beats, but the actors improv a lot. The cast is so talented, and many of the actors have been there for a while (Johnny Ringo and Dolly). The last show I went to, the actor who played 6 bits was hilarious and got the other actors to crack. The menu has been updated a bit, but it’s a salad, fried chicken, ribs, corn bread, baked beans, mashed potatoes, Mac and cheese, green beans (?), and strawberry shortcake for dessert. It’s kitschy, it’s cheesy, but I’ve never left without a huge smile on my face.

 

[XoxoAmy]

Question for everyone - what's your go to dinner the night before the marathon? I've done plenty of half's at WDW, but this will be my first marathon - first Dopey! We will be at the new Poly Tower that weekend, so I'll have a kitchen. Not sure if I want to make my own dinner to have control, or if we should go out (I'd rather eat out.. prob at 4:30!)

I like a simple pasta dinner the night before a race. But there's no good pasta options on the monorail loop - do I really want Tony's Town Square at MK? Yikes.

 

[marty3d]

Question for everyone - what's your go to dinner the night before the marathon? I've done plenty of half's at WDW, but this will be my first marathon - first Dopey! We will be at the new Poly Tower that weekend, so I'll have a kitchen. Not sure if I want to make my own dinner to have control, or if we should go out (I'd rather eat out.. prob at 4:30!)

I like a simple pasta dinner the night before a race. But there's no good pasta options on the monorail loop - do I really want Tony's Town Square at MK? Yikes.

I honestly don’t have a go too. I do lean towards pasta but ultimately since this is usually a family vacation it can depend on what we are doing, what park we’re at, etc. I do try to keep it relatively light and healthy but I don’t overthink it (anymore).

Someone who’s stayed at Poly or the other monorail resorts can comment (I haven’t) but a lot of the resorts will have a pasta dinner available race weekend that isn’t on the regular menu.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Someone who’s stayed at Poly or the other monorail resorts can comment (I haven’t) but a lot of the resorts will have a pasta dinner available race weekend that isn’t on the regular menu.

THIS. We were pretty far from the QS at SSR in January, and opted to mobile order our meals and then then drive up while it was being prepared, and they DID have a pasta dish, but you could not mobile order it. I got ramen from the morimoto street food counter in DS.

 

[camaker]

Good afternoon RunDisney All-Stars! Welcome to this week's edition of Sundays are for Disney (SAFD). There have been a number of changes announced as coming to the Disney parks recently. Some of the changes have been well-received, some not so much. I'd you were in charge, what would you add to one of the WDW parks or what existing area/attraction would you modify?

SAFD: I was never a big fan of Mickey's ToonTown at WDW and I'm even less a fan of the area's current incarnation as Storybook Circus. I would take that area and split it into two parts. The first would be a recreation of Halloween Town from NBC with roaming characters a la Galaxy's Edge and they could even move the Christmas Store from Liberty Square, freeing up that space. In the other half I would keep a bit of the circus/fair feel, but reimagine it as "Hercules' Zero to Hero Training Ground" with carnival games and activities themed around Hercules, with an emphasis through inclusion of Meg that girls can do it, too. Meg and Hercules could roam and interact with the kids in the games, giving them encouragement and pointers. I think a virtual Hades dunking booth with Pain and Panic cheering you on would be awesome, for example!

 

[Naomeri]

Good afternoon RunDisney All-Stars! Welcome to this week's edition of Sundays are for Disney (SAFD). There have been a number of changes announced as coming to the Disney parks recently. Some of the changes have been well-received, some not so much. I'd you were in charge, what would you add to one of the WDW parks or what existing area/attraction would you modify?

SAFD: I was never a big fan of Mickey's ToonTown at WDW and I'm even less a fan of the area's current incarnation as Storybook Circus. I would take that area and split it into two parts. The first would be a recreation of Halloween Town from NBC with roaming characters a la Galaxy's Edge and they could even move the Christmas Store from Liberty Square, freeing up that space. In the other half I would keep a bit of the circus/fair feel, but reimagine it as "Hercules' Zero to Hero Training Ground" with carnival games and activities themed around Hercules, with an emphasis through inclusion of Meg that girls can do it, too. Meg and Hercules could roam and interact with the kids in the games, giving them encouragement and pointers. I think a virtual Hades dunking booth with Pain and Panic cheering you on would be awesome, for example!

Ok, you’re a genius on the training ground, and it could be more of a playground-like area when kids (or kids at heart) just need to run around a bit


SAFD: I would add Greece pavilion to Epcot and have a covered or indoor amphitheater area where The Muses tell an abbreviated version of the story of Hercules (like the Tangled story time at DL). This would add an extra area to sit down out of the sun to Epcot, and some more entertainment.

 

[Herding_Cats]

SAFD: I'd add more shade and standing tables to world showcase in epcot.

 

[DHSsenior007]

SAFD: Oooh this is a good question. I can think of so many things I would want to bring back (ex. Illuminations, Wishes, Maelstrom, original Soaring), but in the spirit of the question something I would add would be some type of ride or experience based on Up or another under-represented Pixar film.

 

[The Expert]

reimagine it as "Hercules' Zero to Hero Training Ground" with carnival games and activities themed around Hercules, with an emphasis through inclusion of Meg that girls can do it, too. Meg and Hercules could roam and interact with the kids in the games, giving them encouragement and pointers. I think a virtual Hades dunking booth with Pain and Panic cheering you on would be awesome, for example!

SAFD: I would add Greece pavilion to Epcot and have a covered or indoor amphitheater area where The Muses tell an abbreviated version of the story of Hercules (like the Tangled story time at DL). This would add an extra area to sit down out of the sun to Epcot, and some more entertainment.

SAFD: I LOVE both of these! Any and all Hercules representation is welcome. I'd also love to see an expansion of the "Princess" lineup, or at least more rotation between them in the parks, parades, etc. (Ahem, Merida.) It seems we get the same few all the time and others we rarely or never do. I'd also like to see them broaden the definition to include SHE-roes like Meg and Vanellope.

 

[PrincessV]

SAFD: SHADE AND SEATING - SHADED SEATING!!!! ALL OVER!!!!!!!