The Hoop Dee Doo Review: Which Category Should You Pick?

The Hoop Dee Doo Review is the best dinner show in Disney World.  It's goofy humor, great atmosphere, and decent food have made it a fan favorite for over thirty years.

Like most things Disney the Hoop Dee Doo Review has different categories.  In this case there are three different categories.  Category one are the tables closest to the stage.  Category two is a little further back and consists of most of the floor.  Category three are a few tables with obstructed views and the second floor.

For category one the the price is rather high considering what you get.  You get a great view but it's hard to justify the increase in price.  Also you cannot book category one if you are on the dining plan.

Category two is a nice balance between what you get and what you pay.  your view can be very good depending on where you end up.  Also if you book the latest showing you can use two dining plan credits.  Here are a couple of examples of the view you get from a category two seating. You can click the photo to see a larger version.

It's hard to argue against a category three seating.  If money is a consideration then do not hesitate to book a category three.  The Hoop Dee Doo actors go all through out pioneer hall.  Just because you are in the back or on the second floor does not mean you are left out of the fun.  You still get a great amount of entertainment and the service is just as good if not better than than the other categories.  I don't know if it's the location or what but when we booked a category three we got the best service we ever got at the Hoop Dee Doo.  Here are a couple of examples of the kind of view you get from a category three seating.

 

Now if you are concerned that the photos are zoomed in then check out this video.  It's not zoomed in and it gives you an idea of what the view is like.

Now for the bad of a category three - it's really uncomfortable.  If you are on the second floor they put you on seats that swing around so you can see.  This sounds good but you are packed in so close to the people next to you and the table that you cannot swing all the way around.  To see you have to turn as far as you can go and the crank your back and neck around to see.  When you book a category two you do not run into this. 

So there are the three different categories.  No matter what one you pick you get a great experience.

Another View of the Hoop Dee Doo Review

On my 2008 trip to Disney World I did the Hoop Dee Doo for the first time in ten years and I loved it. On my 2010 trip I did it again but this time from a different seat and a much different show time.

Last time I did the 9:30pm show. There were a couple of problems with that. The first was the transportation doesn’t run that late so they have to make special arrangements to get you back to your resort. The second problem was the parents who kept their kids up that late with predictable results.

This time I did the 4:30 show. Most of the kids were ok but most of them really needed a nap. The crowd really doesn’t change much. It’s about the same at both times. The kids are a little fresher so you have a choice. Spend time with kids or spend time with kids who are half dead. The show itself doesn’t change a whole lot either. It was still good.

The food was as good as I remembered it. The ribs and chicken are great. The corn bread is some of the best anywhere. The beans are top notch. Even the salad is good. This time instead of beer I did Merlot. It was an ok Merlot. It was cheap but not so cheap that I got a headache from it. My wife did the sangria and enjoyed it.

Last time I sat off to the side and got a good view of most of the action. This time I was in the middle and could see everything. Both times I bought category two. That category seems to be the most bang for the buck. One key to getting a good seat no matter what category you are in seems to be showing up as soon as they start checking people in. They almost always change your table when they check you in.

Pioneer Hall hasn’t changed at all. It’s still a classic. It’s a nice inviting building that is perfectly decorated. You have to love it.

Is the Hoop Dee Doo worth doing again? Yes. I’ll do it every time I got to Disney World. It’s the best dinner show in Disney World. In fact I can’t think of a dinner show that beats it anywhere but then again I haven’t done a lot of them.