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.

Photo of the Week - Hoop Dee Doo Review

If you've never been to the Hoop Dee Doo Review at Fort Wilderness, go. It's the best diner show in Walt Disney World. It's fun, the food is decent, and it's all you can drink alcohol. If you base the ticket price on Disney's alcohol pricing you'll make your money back right there.

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.

Coming Soon to CMDTA!

My WDW trip is fast approaching. All the plans are set. I have my resort, ADRs, airfare, tickets, and a spouse who is mostly willing to go with me.

So what’s on the hit list? Here are the reviews / posts that will be coming:

The Brown Derby: Worth the Money?

Tusker House Review

Tusker House or Yak and Yeti?

California Grill: One Hit Wonder?

The Crystal Palace: Is it Good or Pooh?

San Angel Inn: Second Thoughts

Garden Grill Review

Le Cellier: Is It Over Hyped?

Chef Mickey’s: Back After 25 Years

Hoop Dee Doo: Still the Best?

Kouzzina Review

Is La Nouba Worth $200

CMDTA on the Loose!

Mexico’s Tequila Bar

Down Town Disney Review

There will be more too. I’m sure to have plenty of stories to add on top of these. I’ll have a load of new pictures and videos too. You’ll have to stay tuned to see what happens.

Upcoming Restaurant Reviews

I really don’t fit in when it comes to planning a Disney vacation. Most people book a vacation, and then figure out where they are going to be, then plan the dining. I plan where I’m going to eat before the vacation is even booked. It’s fun. Try it sometime.

Here are some of the locations I’ll be hitting up on my next trip. I’ve somewhat ignored other reviews and feedback so don’t complain that some of the places have a bad rap.

1 – Mexico – Repeat visit – You’ll get to see if the San Angel Inn maintains, gets better, or gets worse.

2 – Garden Grill – First Visit in nearly 20 years. I’ve eaten here before but I remember next to nothing about it. I hope Chip and Dale pick on my wife. She doesn’t understand the whole character thing.

3 – Momma Melrose’s – I like Italian. I’ve worked at three different Italian restaurants and I’ve never eaten here. This should be interesting.

4 – Brown Derby – I think they only reason we are going to the Derby is for the salad and the grapefruit cake.

5 – Crystal Palace – I ate there once over ten years ago. It wasn’t impressive. Let’s see if that changed. Maybe I can tip Pooh and the gang to annoy my wife.

6 – Tusker House – All I can say is, it has to be better than Yak and Yeti.

7 – Tapan Edo (or whatever it’s called) – My wife watches that food network show about this so we might as well go here.

8 – Le Cellier – The last time I ate here you could walk in whenever you wanted. If we get in here you will get a review.

9 – The Norway Breakfast – If Scopa can do it, so can I!

10 – California Grill – Return visit – Can the Grill possibly match its last performance and keep in the top spot in WDW?

11 – Hoop Dee Doo – Return visit – Will the Hoop Dee Doo stand up against multiple visits or is it a one hit wonder?

12 – Kazunna – My wife loves Iron Chef so I don’t have much of a say in this one. At least she’s my favorite Iron Chef.

There you have it. These are subject to change but they shouldn’t change a whole lot. You might see some additions too if we end up on the dining plan. Right now we are not using the dining plan.

Also please keep in mind – it could be years before I get a chance to do these. It all depends on what kind of promo Disney runs.

One of the Best Dining Deals in Disney

How do you find a great dining deal in Disney World? It’s not easy. The prices are high, the food quality varies, and the service can be all over the place.

For this overview I’m aiming for the overall package. For the money what gives you the best combination of food, atmosphere, entertainment, value, and service?

First of all most “Signature Dining” locations are eliminated. The price point is too high to really fall into the value category. I’m not saying some of them are not worth the money. They are just don’t fit the bill for what I’m looking for.

What about buffets? You can stuff yourself silly at an ok price.

Buffets don’t fit the bill either. The service isn’t that great, the atmosphere at most buffets isn’t good either. Then there is the food. Buffet food has never been top notch.

One of the best values in all of Disney World might surprise you. It’s the Hoop Dee Doo.

You might balk at that right away and say that’s too expensive. Consider this:

Atmosphere – Pioneer hall is great. It’s a nicely themed building and is very rustic inside.

Show – It is arguably the best show in all of Disney World.

Food – The ribs are the best I’ve had in Disney World. The corn bread is great. The salad is fantastic. The chicken is decent. Even the beans are good. The strawberry shortcake is awesome. Plus it’s all you can eat.

Service – The servers are very good. They even take part in the show.

Wild Card – Yes the Hoop Dee Doo has a wild card. It’s the wild card that makes it the best value. It’s all you can drink. Last time I was there, I put away four beers. At Disney prices that’s about $30 worth of booze. Considering that, I paid about $25 to stuff myself with great food, watch a great show, and get great service. Plus the tip was included.

The Gap

People who read this blog know that I went to Disney World in December of 2008. That was my first trip in ten years. Why was there such gap between trips?

I graduated high school in the spring of 1998. I didn’t really find a job that fit me until a year later. It goes without saying that Disney wasn’t an option during that time. When I started at my job I barely had two pennies to rub together. I could get by but not much else. When you don’t make much, Disney isn’t really an option.

I got married two years later and for the next few years our vacations were cruises. Disney was never an option during that period. One big reason for that is that my wife doesn’t like Disney. She says she does but if any Disney fan engaged her in a conversation about Disney they would quickly realize that she’s not a fan. She went once when she was a teenager with her sister, brother in law, and her niece. They didn’t stay on property. She wasn’t really impressed by the experience.

I brought up Disney a few times over the years but always got the same response. She didn’t say no but she didn’t have to. Her look said it all.

In December of 2007 I booked a trip for December of 2008. That gave me a year to try and sell my wife on the idea. I managed to get her to somewhat excited by selling her on the dining.

She made fun of me for booking the Hoop Dee Doo. She kept calling it the Whoop Dee Friggin Doo. She kept doing that until I informed her that it was all you drink wine or sangria. That changed her tune a little.

We did the trip and we stuffed ourselves silly. We had some good dining experiences, some bad dining experiences, and some average dining experiences. I also ran her into the ground. She was so wrecked by the experience that she had to take another vacation a couple months later to recover.

Did she have fun? In some ways she did. It wasn’t her idea of a vacation. She liked the food and did end up enjoying the Hoop Dee Doo.

Are we going to go back? I wanted to take advantage of the deals they are running in the fall however; with my wife’s work it’s impossible. It would take an act of god to get me to go back during the Christmas season. Summer is not an option. The crowds and heat would kill me. That leaves January to April. Take out school vacations and spring break and the window is small.

This year we are going on a cruise. For a Disney fan like me that’s hard to get excited about. Honestly, I get far more excited thinking about a Disney fantasy then a cruise that is completely paid for. I don’t know why. I’m sure the cruise will be fun but any Disney fan knows it’s not Disney.

Knowing the costs and people involved, it wouldn’t surprise me if another ten years passed before I make it back to Disney. Until then I have the podcasts, websites, pictures, and videos to keep me going.

Finding a Gem

Every now and then I run into or experience something that really surprises me. It can range from things I run into in my day to day life (like the burping troll of Walmart) or things you experience while traveling (an airline employee who is actually helpful).

On my first trip to Disney World over 20 years ago (when I was a little poo flinging monkey) it was everything. When you’re a kid everything blows you away. Over the years different things struck me and most of the time is was something I almost skipped.

First on this list was Splash Mountain. Before I went on this ride I did not like rides with drops or any kind of thrill ride (It’s not weird a lot of kids don’t). Splash Mountain became my favorite ride. Every time I hear the music now it brings a smile to my face. I think one of the reasons this stands out is because you experience it with your entire family and can walk away with a picture of it. The picture on this ride stands out. The Tower of Terror has a decent photo but most of the time it includes a lot of people you don’t know. Other rides may not show your entire group. The amount of people in the picture on Splash Mountain seems to be the right balance.

Next is the ExtraTERRORestial Encounter. This ride blew me away. It was the perfect match for a fifteen year old. It had effects that were so new I’d never experienced them before. The tap on your head, hot breath on your neck, and crazy sound effects left a lasting memory. They should have taken your picture when you got tapped on the head. If you are going to be poked or prodded on a ride it has to be done right. This one was perfect. It’s not like the “It’s Tough to be a Bug” show. That one goes over the top. The poke in the back is just unpleasant even if it is funny to see how parents start running for the exit with a screaming kid after.

I rode Body Wars shortly after it opened. You can imagine that I was quite young then. I’d never ridden a ride like that. I was amazed. I also thought it was funny that it made my dad sick. He could ride anything and not get sick but that really got to him for some reason. I loved the storyline too. It seemed solid or at least it worked for me. Sadly at times there are some rides that come out now that are a little lacking in the storyline or don’t even try.

It’s not a ride but the Hoop Dee Doo Review is memorable no matter what age you are. I was very young the first time I went to the Hoop Dee Doo. It’s one of the few attractions that seems to get better with time. Each time this show has amazed me. The first time when I was a kid my dad got picked to be the Fairy God Mother. A few times later I battled my brother in law and a friend of mine in a rib and chicken eating contest. My brother in law won but he had to lay down at the bus stop because his stomach hurt so much. I was pulled out early because I got picked to be the Indian on stage. By the time I was done my brain told me how full I was and I couldn’t eat my strawberry shortcake. The last time I went, it had been about eleven years since I had seen the show. My wife thought it was going to be corny but went with me after I told her about the “all you can drink” beer or wine. I forgot how funny the show was and how involved the actors get with the show. I was completely charmed again.

Mexico is hard to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it. Walking in there when I was a kid I was overwhelmed. I just thought wow. The Imagineers broke the mold when they did the Mexico pavilion. It really seems like you are in an open air market at night. The Pyramid in the background is awe inspiring. The restaurant on the river is worth the money just because of the setting.

I was not going to go on Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. My wife and I were walking by it, saw there was no line, and decided to give it a shot. I was shocked. It was really funny. They do an amazing job at actually making the show funny. At first I thought it was going to be mainly for kids. It’s not. It’s funny for everyone. Most of the people they pick out of the audience are adults too. If you have avoided this ride in the past, don’t, it’s a very fun experience. On second thought, if you’re weird looking avoid this ride. They’ll probably pick you out tease you.