What are your experiences with the Hoop-De Doo Review and costs, etc?

[FairyDust2008]

I was looking at this for a night and some others like the Luau at Poly but I don't know if it is better to stick with just normal eateries like Whispering Canyon, Ohana's, etc and skip these "special" dinners because of cost issues. I just don't think the cost is worth it for the "special" dinners because you can't eat that much food to really get your moneys worth. I think I'll stick with character breakfast stuff and normal places at the resorts and stuff at the parks. Thanks for any input

 

[catalexander]

1. It's Disney. You have to adjust your "reality" as to cost v. value

2. You are NOT paying for "food". You are not paying for the show. You are paying for the "EXPERIENCE".

3. It's DISNEY. It's NOT inexpensive. It's priced at what the market will bear.


Given all that, we LOVE HDDR, and do it every trip (3 adults, 4 kids...it's a hefty hunk of change). Just like some SWEAR by CRT each trip. Again, you are not paying for FOOD or the SHOW.. you're paying for the EXPERIENCE.

It's obviously not worth it for you to pay the price for the show. No big deal. There are plenty of people willing to pay that price. Different strokes.


(ps... EVERYWHERE with Disney a "Child" is defined as 3-9... from park admission to dining to the cruise line... there has to be a line drawn, and with Disney, the line is 3-9... and as a mom to a 3 year old and a 10 year old, I'm really feeling it this year!)

 

[jenpan]

The HDDR is by far Disney's best dinner show. I have attended the Luau and Mickey's Backyard BBQ and nothing compares to the HDDR for a dinner show. The food was great and the entertainment was excellent. We have reservations for Feb. 8 and we have a table right in front of the stage!!! We can't wait!!!

 

[FairyDust2008]

Well, we might reconsider, I'm not sure. It does seem to get rave reviews but just not sure if it is something we want to spend money on whereas we could put that money to something else that may be more beneficial. I was just researching and all so I'm still in the booking a resort mode right now, the dining will come later I guess. No worries Thanks for the responses

 

[safetymom]

moving to restauarants

 

[Disney Fool]

If you decide to spend the money, you won't be disappointed or feel cheated. It's the longest running entertainment at Disney-so they must be doing something right. The kids love it; and the adults have a blast. It's corny, silly, and just plain clean fun. Food's pretty good, also. We usually will go with someone new to Disney just to set the mood for the trip.
If you have an annual pass you get get a discount on the 9:30 show, or if you have DDE card you can get 20%off 9:30 show.

 

[LMO429]

My boyfriend and I both 30 years old went to the HDDR last May (2007). I did a lot of research before our trip and decided to spend the day at the Magic Kingdom knowing that one of the easiest ways to get to ft. Wilderness was by taking the boat from the MK. This tip was right on. The other tip I had read was getting there about 5 to 10 minutes before the show started not the suggested hour to 30 mins they suggest when you purchase your ticket. The line was huge when we got there (7:05pm) but they do not let anyone in the hall until 7:15pm anyway...the only other thing you may of done while waiting was take a picture. (If you have kids there was a little mini park) that they wind up trying to sell you as soon as you sit down to eat.


While we were on line a couple behind us said it was there 10th time seeing the show!!! The gentlemen said he loved the all you can eat food and beer and his wife said its a family tradition..This made us so excited to see the show as well another great review about the HDDR.


We had category 1 seating. I liked being able to pick up our prepaid tickets at the Beach Club when we originally arrived at the hotel, it was a better idea than picking them up at the ticket window (which would of been another huge line to wait on). Our seats were to the left of the stage. Our waitress was super pleasant and efficient. There was corn bread and salad on the table when we arrived. The food we both thought was great! And then the show started and that is when our misery began!!!


We thought the show was SUPER SUPER CORNY!!!! After 20 minutes of the cast going around the room announcing birthday after birthday and anniversary after anniversary, my boyfriend and I could only look at each other and roll our eyes! I mean we love Disney, we go on the family rides, see all the shows and love every second of it but could it be this is just too over the top! Maybe all the hype we heard about the HDDR made this show a huge let down! While I'm sitting there, I kept trying to figure out what exactly is so great about all this that actually makes people go back for 9 or 10 times? Maybe if we had kids we would of liked it better? Maybe they is something wrong with us, how can so many people be wrong? Maybe people love it for the all you can eat booze and food? Our final straw was the point in the show when the woman on stage laughs and cackles for what seems like an eternity! At that point we had enough. Thank god everything was prepaid because we got up and LEFT! Would not recommend the show at all.

We did however go to the Character breakfast at Cape May Cafe, CRT for Breakfast and Donald's Breakfastasaurus and LOVE IT!!!!

Everyone's experience at the HDDR is completely different some love it others like myself truly disliked it!. I wouldnt discourage anyone from going anywhere but I think the HDDR would have been a different experience for us if we had children..(Maybe!) anyway im glad i did it to know i would never do it again.

i guess my point being is to read on the boards people different experiences about the places you listed and make a judgement call for yourself.

speaking for myself HDDR was not worth the $$$$ and the time to get there.

 

[Toot Sweet]

The first time my family went to Hoop, we laughed and laughed and laughed. We felt like it was the highlight of our trip, and that even included our DCL cruise!

The second time, four years later, it didn't seem as funny. Maybe because our table was WAAAAAY in the back and we didn't feel as connected to the show. Also our server had a strange personality. We still enjoyed it a lot, and the food was good, but we have decided we probably dont' need to see it again. I do think people should see it once if the price doesn't bother them.

 

[Kerri G]

Quick question: We are going to the 7:15 show in May. What time would you leave MK to get there? Than ks

 

[LMO429]

we got on the boat to Ft. Wilderness from the Mk around twenty to 7. we still got there with plenty of time to spare. Like I said in my above post they do not let you in a minute before 7:15 anyway because the previous show is inside. If you get there at 7 or 5 after 7 that is plenty of time.

 

[danny1649]

My DW loved it when I got picked to be Davey's angel in skit on stage.Just seeing me in pink tutu was worth the price of dinner and show for her. We have been several times and the main cast has changed but show is the same.So I say give it a try you may be picked to be in show and you will be a Pioneer Hall Player vet.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

We have been 3 times in over 20 visits. I think it is fun but something I would do about every 5 years or so. It is more fun with a large group and I would only do level 1 seating (near the stage). The food is OK. The show is corny but funny. If it were my first trip to disney I would have to weigh weather that block of time is worth the other things I could be doing instead. I do think it is the best out of all the shows. We wont return to the luau or the backyard bbq they just were not worth the money or time. So we are avid disney lovers that are not crazy about the show but we do enjoy it from time to time.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

We did Hoop-De-Doo last summer and it was fun.

My kids (17 and 12) thought it was goofy - but they still had fun - so it was worth the experience for us.

 

[DiszyDean]

Our family loves the show, likes the food and we have done it the last two years.

The show is pretty much the same as it was the first year as well as the food but it is one of the highlights of the trip for us.

The show itself is a little corny, yes. However, they do get the audience involved and it is funny.

The food is basic comfort food: fried chicken, BBQ ribs, cornbread, strawberry shortcake...Certainly not California Grill but we like it. Also, all of the beer and sangria you can drink for the adults, soft drinks and the like for the kids.

One of the funniest parts of the experience for us sometimes is the ride back to the resort on one of the many buses they supply to take people back.
Lets just say that most people are feeling no pain and some are kind of funny when they are a little drunk.

 

[Alphabetsoup]

Hubby and I went on our honeymoon...our first time. WE LOVED IT!!!

He ate two buckets of ribs, drank beer and felt like king of all he surveyed! *lol* I stuffed myself of ribs and chicken (what can I say, we are confirmed carnivores). The show was corny and fun. If we can afford it next trip we'll go again even with the price increase!

Of course my family used to go to the Diamond Horseshoe Revue every trip to MK until the show was canned. So if you have ever been to DHR and liked it, HDDR is like that only better!!

I give it 5 stars!! *****