Spirit of Aloha or Hoop De Doo?

[ccigliano]

Please let me know which one you like better and why if you've done both. I've only done HDDR (several times) and as recent as last week so I am thinking of switching to the Spirit of Aloha for my birthday in May. Thanks in advance for your opinions.

 

[ccigliano]

Well I am leaning toward cancelling HDDR and trying out the Spirit of Aloha this time since I just did HDDR in December and March. If anyone has an opinion - please let me know.


Thanks.

 

[HunnyJar]

We haven't been to Hoop Dee Doo, yet - planning on trying that next year. But we have done Spirit of Aloha and really had a great time. You will see a lot of negative comments on it, but honestly everyone has different tastes. Not just in food, but in entertainment. Maybe it's because we have never been to an actual luau, but we enjoyed ourselves immensely. We thought the show was corny, but good. And the food was awesome! If we weren't going in the winter next year, my husband and son both wanted to do Spirit of Aloha again.

Whatever you decide - have a great time!

 

[cjdj4]

We did both in July. The food and the show were awesome at HDDR! The show was lame and the food was forgettable at the SoA. Well, the fire dancing was cool, but only lasts a short time. If you've already been to HDDR twice, and you're paying OOP maybe consider doing dinner at Wolfgang Puck and seeing Cirque? It would be a lot more $, but a nice birthday.

 

[ccigliano]

Thanks for the opinions. I hadn't thought of Cirq or Wolfgang Puck so I will go check them out.

 

[texasdisneygal]

Just got back from SoA tonight -- saw HDDR in 2008 -- hubby, daughter, and I all prefer HDDR and were reminiscing about it tonight as we were leaving Spirit of Aloha! Now, I will say that the food tonight was great, but the show -- not so much.

 

[LovinmyDisneylife]

I've eaten at Spirit of Aloha four times and Hoop Dee Doo twice. DH and I prefer Spirit of Aloha. We prefer the food at the luau. I actually enjoy seeing the different dances at the luau. Hoop Dee Doo to me has an awesome show as well. It has a great comedic value. The food is good as well. I definitely recommend Hoop Dee Doo for children more so than the luau. You really can't go wrong with either.

 

[SuzieN]

Hoop De Doo is waaaay better than Spirit of Aloha (IMO)!!! The luau show was long and boring and the food was eh......with a completely disgusting dessert. We went to the Hoop De Doo 4 years ago and my kids still mention it from time to time.

 

[ccigliano]

Thanks so much for the replies. I must say that I am even more confused than before. Decisions, decisions.

 

[KarBear]

We really love HHDR! My family even asked if we could see it twice while we were there. I would choose HHDR mainly b/c I have heard that the seating is hard to see things at SoA esp for kids if you are not near the main stage, but I personnally have never been. What ever you do - enjoy!

 

[disneyrunningmom]

We did the SoA last summer and loved it. My DD (9) and DS(12) and DH -- all picky eaters--really loved it (my DD ate the kid food). Yes, the show storyline was corny, but the dancing was great.
I haven't done the HDDR since I was a kid but made ADR for this summer. I'm a bit worried about it b/c my DD doesn't like any of the food that's served and I don't see a kid menu (ie: mac and cheese!). I'm hoping that she'll just try it.

 

[iloveeeyore]

We have done both. We absolutely ADORE HDDR, and try to fit it in every trip, or every other trip. We also really, really enjoyed SoA the first time we saw it, and thought it was just OK the second time. The dancing is absolutely enchanting (for us) and the food is surprisingly good (except dessert, blech! but we were so full by then we didn't need it anyway).

Having said that, we only go to WDW every other year or so. I doubt even we would need to do HDDR 2 times within a few months! So my vote goes to giving SoA one try. If you don't like it, you never have to go again, and at least you'll put your curiousity to bed. I definitely recommend Cat 1 if you decide to do it. Our GREAT experience was in Cat 1.

Good luck!

 

[PoohsFan1]

I actually just booked SoA for our September trip yesterday and we are all very excited about it. My DH and I remember going to the Luau when it was just called Polynesian Luau (not together, but with our own families), and I remember enjoying it then. I know my girls will love the food and they will love to see the hula dancers, plus we got a cat.1 seating so we will be closer to the stage .

 

[DisneyMim]

We've done both and love them!! We liked the food and shows at both of them, but obviously it's a personal thing. Not everyone will like everything and that's how it should be. I know this doesn't help much LOL!!! My best advise is what time of year you will going. SOA is outside and is canceled in bad weather. I wouldn't enjoy it much if it's cold out. HDD is inside. We did this at Christmas time and it was very cold out that night, so it was nice to be indoors. I don't think you can go wrong with either show.

Enjoy The Magic!!!

 

[disneymurtagh]

HDDR is great. The old SOA was really good but since the change in the show, not so much. I would suggest HDDR, great character interaction, the show is always a hit and the food is very good.

 

[ruthgator]

What characters are at HDDR??

. I would suggest HDDR, great character interaction, the show is always a hit and the food is very good.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

No ? for me HDDR is so much better all the way around

 

[ccigliano]

We have done both. We absolutely ADORE HDDR, and try to fit it in every trip, or every other trip. We also really, really enjoyed SoA the first time we saw it, and thought it was just OK the second time. The dancing is absolutely enchanting (for us) and the food is surprisingly good (except dessert, blech! but we were so full by then we didn't need it anyway).

Having said that, we only go to WDW every other year or so. I doubt even we would need to do HDDR 2 times within a few months! So my vote goes to giving SoA one try. If you don't like it, you never have to go again, and at least you'll put your curiousity to bed. I definitely recommend Cat 1 if you decide to do it. Our GREAT experience was in Cat 1.

Good luck!

I think you're right and I should give it a try - we've been to the old Lahaina Luau in Maui and one in Princeville Kauai. I will most likely book HDDR for my Christmas trip.

I actually just booked SoA for our September trip yesterday and we are all very excited about it. My DH and I remember going to the Luau when it was just called Polynesian Luau (not together, but with our own families), and I remember enjoying it then. I know my girls will love the food and they will love to see the hula dancers, plus we got a cat.1 seating so we will be closer to the stage .

I'll see if Cat 1 is available - thanks.

We've done both and love them!! We liked the food and shows at both of them, but obviously it's a personal thing. Not everyone will like everything and that's how it should be. I know this doesn't help much LOL!!! My best advise is what time of year you will going. SOA is outside and is canceled in bad weather. I wouldn't enjoy it much if it's cold out. HDD is inside. We did this at Christmas time and it was very cold out that night, so it was nice to be indoors. I don't think you can go wrong with either show.

Enjoy The Magic!!!

This will be in May for my 45th B-day, so the weather should be fabulous.
We will most likely go to HDDR in December.

 

[Jones_in_Wonderland]

If you have little ones then the Aloha dinner would be better. They get to go onstage and dance, my neice and nephew loved it. Plus there are characters there. The adults were a little bored when the kid's were not involved onstage. We also did the Hoop De Doo and the adults had a better time there. The humor at this show went over the little one's heads. However, they did like the food better at Hoop De Doo. Both were great in different way's!

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

If you have little ones then the Aloha dinner would be better. They get to go onstage and dance, my neice and nephew loved it. Plus there are characters there. The adults were a little bored when the kid's were not involved onstage. We also did the Hoop De Doo and the adults had a better time there. The humor at this show went over the little one's heads. However, they did like the food better at Hoop De Doo. Both were great in different way's!

What characters do they have at the Aloha? When we were there they didn't have any--the kids would have loved that!

In my opinion, they are 2 entirely different shows. I liked them both, but neither are something I would see every time I go. Since you haven't seen the Aloha, why not try it?