To Hoop-Dee-Doo or not to Hoop-Dee-Doo?

[Scooter2376]

DH, DS6, and I currently have HDDR booked for our arrival day. Our flight leaves at 10:55 AM, lands at MCO at 1:20 PM, we'll take DME to the Poly, and we are booked for the second HDDR show at 6:15.

When I originally booked HDDR, I was thinking that it would be a fun thing to do to start the trip without using a park ticket that day, but now I am having second thoughts, mainly because of the transportation time to Ft. Wilderness. Disney recommends that we allow 1.5 hours for transportation and arrive 30 minutes before the show. That just seems like a lot of travel on a day when we will have already taken planes, trains, and automobiles just to get to WDW.

Doing it on another day isn't an option, so it's arrival day or not at all. I also realize that we are running the risk of not making the show because of a flight delay and losing our money, but I think I'm willing to take that risk if we decide we really want to go.

What do the wise DIS minds think? Is HDDR a can't miss or would you do something more low-key on your arrival day?

 

[OKW Lover]

HDD is a great dinner show. Highly recommended!

Suggestion for getting to HDD, take the monorail to the MK and then catch the Fort Wilderness boat which will put you a very short walk to the HDD venue. No need to get there early since the tables are pre-assigned and the doors don't open early.

 

[Scooter2376]

HDD is a great dinner show. Highly recommended!

Suggestion for getting to HDD, take the monorail to the MK and then catch the Fort Wilderness boat which will put you a very short walk to the HDD venue. No need to get there early since the tables are pre-assigned and the doors don't open early.

Thanks! So what time would you aim to be at MK to catch the boat to Ft. Wilderness for the 6:15 show?

 

[Aela]

The folks on this page recommended we drop out HDDR reservations since they were on arrival day. Our flight lands at 9:30am, and HDDR was at 6:30. If you are okay with paying for missed tickets, do it. But with your time table you might miss it.

 

[OKW Lover]

The actual boat ride is probably 20 minutes. The unknown is how long you'll wait at the MK for the boat to leave. I'd give it an hour total, so 5:15?

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Thanks! So what time would you aim to be at MK to catch the boat to Ft. Wilderness for the 6:15 show?

I would be at the MK, Ft. W boat dock no later than 5:30 pm. This gives you 45 minutes (typically no more than 20 minutes to catch a boat and then a 15 minute boat ride, if that). Doors won't open until 6:15 pm (as PP pointed out, tables are pre-assigned, so no need to go early). Even if you are a few minutes late, they start with salad and cornbread on the table and the actual show won't start until about 6:30 pm. If you are early, you can go to the playground, gift shop and/or stables which are all in the same area as Pioneer Hall. Would I do it on arrival night? We've been to HDDR twice and enjoy it, but I probably wouldn't do it on arrival day. As others have said, if there is a travel delay and you can't get there, that's a lot of money to lose. Personally, I would do a monorail tour and/or take the boat to WL and explore the MK resorts and just have QS. Geyser Point at WL is quite lovely if the weather is nice. Or see what TS is available after you land and book something then. I hate having reservations with money at stake on arrival days.

 

[patsfan101]

I haven't actually been to the HDDR since 1972...
But I say keep the reservation and if you're running late take a cab from Poly...there are always plenty there. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes to get to WL from Poly in a cab

 

[OKW Lover]

But I say keep the reservation and if you're running late take a cab from Poly...there are always plenty there. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes to get to WL from Poly in a cab

...but HDD is at Fort Wilderness, not Wilderness Lodge, and requires an internal bus to get from the parking lot back to Pioneer Hall.

 

[senadler]

Thanks! So what time would you aim to be at MK to catch the boat to Ft. Wilderness for the 6:15 show?

I would probably plan to leave the Poly by 5:00 PM at the latest, probably a little earlier. You can either take the monorail, ferry, or smaller boat to the MK depending on where on the resort you are located. Then take the boat from the MK to Fort Wilderness. The dock is very close to show, and as others have said, you don't need to be there any earlier than the start time.

Your son is the perfect age for the corny jokes in the show. At that age, my DS12 now, laughed during nearly the entire show. This is a great way to start your trip!

 

[rosiebean]

My family (aka, my two young "Disney Adult" boys) would prefer to hang out at our resort pool on our first day (and second, and third...). However, I think you have plenty of time to get to the show on arrival day if that's your concern. And as a bonus, your son will probably enjoy the ride (monorail or boat to MK, boat to FW) quite a bit as well...it's a great way to start off a vacation.

 

[caliope]

We've done the 6:15pm HDDR several times while staying at Poly. We typically leave Poly around 5:00 or so via boat, get to the dock at MK around 5:15-5:20, and are at Ft Wilderness with more than enough time. I don't think we've ever gotten there after 6:00pm. I definitely always over plan to ensure we aren't rushing, which means we end up waiting around Pioneer Hall, scoping out the stables or hanging at the playground.

An alternative, if you are running late, would be to take a Minnie Van from Poly. It's my understanding that they can deliver you right to Pioneer Hall, which regular cabs/Uber/Lyfft drivers cannot do (someone please correct me if I'm wrong about that).

Personally we love HDDR. Our DS is now 5.5 and he's been 3 times. We are planning to go again in March as well. I'm not sure if I'd attempt this on arrival day, but if you're willing to take the gamble and are traveling at a time with lesser risk of weather delays (so hard to predict), then it could work out.

 

[Scooter2376]

Thanks for all of your thoughts! It’s rare to find something at Disney that so many people agree is worth doing. I was mostly concerned that it would be a lot of hassle to get to and we would wish that we had done something easier instead, but it sounds like it’s worth it.

So my plan is to watch the weather report closely up until the cancellation deadline and if it looks like there’s a good chance of weather delays, we’ll cancel. If not, I’ll cross my fingers and take my chances with respect to other airline delays. Definitely not a foolproof plan, but it’s a plan!

 

[DisneyHardin]

We did HDDR this past fall and were staying at the Poly. We budgeted WAY too much time to get there and were super early. Once you get on the boat at the Poly, the ride to MK is very short. We lucked out and a campground boat was loading as we walked up, but even if you have to wait, the boats come pretty frequently. Once you get off the boat at the campground it is a 3 minute walk, tops, to Pioneer Hall (you don't have to take any internal buses).

We really enjoyed the show (it was the first time for us) and the food was excellent. I think it would be a great thing to do on arrival night since it is lots of fun, but not tiring after a day of traveling like going to a park would be.