Would you pay $300 for your family to see Hoop Dee Doo?

[Belle5]

17th trip to WDW. Never been to Hoop Dee Doo. (Wish we would have done it 5 years ago when our 5 boys would have been 4 "kids" and an infant as far as the per head charge!) It nearly kills me to think of spending $300 but I'm also thinking that next year will bring another "adult" onto the ticket. I'm also wondering if this might not just be this year's "big surprise" that will spice up the WDW visit and breathe some new life to it. What do you think? It's 3 weeks 'til we leave for Orlando so I'd probably need to "get on it" and make a ressie.

 

[Richyams]

You have to call right away....you may even be too late. They take reservations for this two years in advance. It is worth every penny. We have been many times and although the show really hasn't changed one bit since the first time I saw it in the early 80's, I will go again, again and again.

Each time that we visit with guests that haven't seen the show, we make sure we go.

 

[lookingforward]

Personally I don't think it is worth it. I have two boys and one daughter and the boys just did not like it that much. The food is okay (ribs, chicken, etc) served family style, and the show is well done but very country like (as you well know from the name!). I guess it depends if your boys like county ho-down kind of music and dancing. Just our experience... as I am sure many, many people LOVE it.

 

[BCV23]

I say go for it. It is really fun and a Disney classic. My boys have loved it since they were very small and through the years as they grew up. We do it only every few years as it is expensive and to keep it "fresh" for us.

BTW we're not into country music or dancing at all but I personally don't think you have to be.

 

[Disbug]

Let me tell you about our experience... We had been going to Disney for years and staying at Fort Wilderness for that matter and never been! Last year my family stayed at the Fort Wilderness Cabins and I decided just before the trip to make reservations for the 9:30 PM show for my two daughters (then 13, and 7) and myself. (DH stayed with Disney Baby and watched the Yankees!) Before the doors opened my older daugher was complaining because the mosquitoes were biting her and my younger one was tired and hungry (we still had 15 minutes to go and I was in "Dreading it Mode!" As soon as we sat down and started in on our drinks and salads, the fun began and it was Magic the rest of the night. My older daughter was laughing with her mouth open, and my younger one "couldn't breathe" for laughing so hard. Two totally different personalities, but the same opinion...this SHOW is GREAT! The food is plentiful and okay, but overall the experience just MADE that vacation a lifetime Memory. **If you are trying to save money, I would go to the 9:30 PM show. They offer a 20% discount to people with Disney Dining Experience cards and I believe a 10 to 20% discount for American Express and maybe even Annual Passholders.

 

[CamColt]

$300.00 for a family of 7? Yep! I wouldnt do it year after year, every trip, only because there is so much more to do, but once in a while, absolutely.
With all you can eat and drink(including soda, beer & sangria), plus the show, I look at it as a bargain. My family of 4, my DM and 2 nieces went last summer and between food, drinks, and laughs, we more than got our moneys worth.

 

[jeffemy]

You also get a discount with the DC card.

 

[BluOrchid2]

Good show, and the best fried chicken I've ever had! That's saying a lot, coming from this Southern Girl!

 

[>>^..^<<]

I would pay it... your family will have a great time and it will be a highlight.

Think of it this way... if the 7 of you went to Discovery Cove it would cost about 1,200.00!!

>>^..^<<

 

[sherry8253]

I was not impressed with the food at all the last 2 times I was there (12/02 & 12/00). We go every other trip because my husband thinks the show is a blast. I think it is just okay - although I may be in the minority. But for $300 I would consider my families' personality - do they like corny stuff like an overweight man running around in a pink tutu and corny jokes. If so they will really enjoy it.

 

[cinmell]

Yes! I think it would be fun for your family for reasons stated in previous posts!

 

[Lisa D]

I think Hoop-De-Doo is worth doing once. I'm in that minority that although I'm glad we checked it out once, I have no burning desire to go on every trip.

 

[Belle5]

Thanks for all the input! I have booked it for the 5 o'clock show midway into our vacation. If I have a panic attack about the money while there we have 48 hours before the show to cancel. I'm thinking we'll stick with it, though. My kids do have great senses of humor and would enjoy the corniness, I believe.

 

[dsneygirl]

We went to the 9:30 show on 04/05 and it was only about 40% full. My DH loves this show and has since he was a child. We went with my sister since there was a 50% off Cast member discount. I would probably pay full price every few years but not every trip.

 

[Terk-1]

The one and only time I went, I thought it was just ok, but totally not worth the money spent. The entertainment was good, but the food was so so. $300 is alot of money for one meal and I just don't think it is worth it, when there are so many other great places to dine.

 

[AZKathy]

Originally posted by Lisa D
I think Hoop-De-Doo is worth doing once. I'm in that minority that although I'm glad we checked it out once, I have no burning desire to go on every trip.

Ditto here. A friend treated us to it one year; I would not put out that kind of money for it. I know I am in the minority, but I was not crazy about the show for the price paid.

 

[K P & J's Grandma]

Glad that you have been able to make reservations for the Hoop Dee Doo!! You will have to let us know what your family thought of it!! We have always enjoyed the it. Yes. we have paid LOTS of $$$ over the years for this!! Our son has been picked twice for the 'Indian Brave' - our daughter-in law has been picked for the 'Can-Can Girl' & my husband ( dad - grandpa) was picked for the person in the 'tutu'!!!! What fun memories!!! Hope that you all have a GREAT TIME there. Just have to comment on having 6 boys -- what a challenge - but you will survive!! You might be like us & get your 'girls' when you having grandchildren!! We had 3 boys & how we have 3 granddaughters & 1 grandson. We are starting to think that the 'boys' are easier!!! Have a great vacation ---- Remember the Magic!!!

 

[Julia M]

to see the show. We had a great time two years ago. Now, having said that, if I did WDW everty year, I probably wouldn't see the show each time. But it will have been 3 years, and my sister and her family have never seen it.

I don't see much difference between paying the price for HDDR and someone else paying for a character meal every day. It's just what you enjoy.

Here was something from my trip review back then:

We had a very good table, just off center. Our table wasn’t touching the stage, but was in the next row, so our seats were excellent. We really enjoyed the show. We thought the food was quite good (which we weren’t expecting) My parents are quite good cooks and have eaten at some of the best restaurants in CA (unlike me-I think we have gone upscale if there isn’t a drive-thru!) and they thought the food was good also. (well, the corn was below average, but everything else!)

My kids LOVED the show. My oldest, Michael (who was almost 9) howled through the whole thing. He isn’t particularly a kid like that. Usually he's a more sober faced kind of child (not unhappy, just more subdued). He was just the right age to get all of the jokes and laugh at them. My dh Brian must have shot 10 pictures of him, because we have never seen him laugh so much. The adults enjoyed the show, also. My mom had paid for the show when we booked it (last June) and she said it was worth every penny, just to have watched our kids.

Julia

 

[Muffy]

It's a great show and we have seen it twice now. We also have no burning desire to see it again soon. But Cirque is another thing! That is a "must do" for us.

 

[franw]

Its worth it if your family is the clapping, foot stomping, laughing when other people get teased kind of family. We don't do it every year but it is always the highlight of our trip when we do go. Everone from great-grandparents to kiddos love it. I can't think of any other theater or show anywhere inside or outside the "world" that compares - so it would be a once in a life time experience for your family if they get into that kind of entertainment.