Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground continues to be one of the longest-running dinner shows in the United States of America. This iconic Disney show entertains first-time visitors and long-time fans alike. Our Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue review covers everything you need to know for this infamous dinner show at Walt Disney World.
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue started back in 1974 at Walt Disney World. Except for some minor changes, the show marches on similarly close to the original. Assuming you have acquired an advance dining reservation, you should plan for a few important things to maximize your enjoyment. This “corny” dinner show features talented musicians and equally talented Pioneer Hall Players. The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue transports you to a Disney version of the past with singing and dancing. Oh, guests should be prepared to be part of the show also!
Keep reading for our full Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue review and a full overview of the dining information and entertainment at this popular dinner show.
Getting to Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
One of our best tips for our Hoop-Dee-Do Musical Revue review is for guests to plan enough time for traveling to the location. Since Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue resides off the beaten path for most Walt Disney World guests, you must plan for your arrival in time for the dinner and a show. Getting to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground and then Pioneer Hall where Hoop-Dee-Doo is located, requires different planning, depending on your starting location. So, allow extra time to arrive since the campground is a bit out of the way.
Guests have several options. You can drive to Fort Wilderness and park in the main parking lot. You will not be allowed to move closer to Pioneer Hall where the dinner show happens. At this point, you board one of the resort’s internal buses. This ten to fifteen-minute bus ride will take you back to Pioneer Hall. However, Disney states on its website, “Please allow an additional 30 minutes for bus transportation from your parking location to the event.” For example, if you have a 6:15 p.m. reservation, Walt Disney World advises arriving at Fort Wilderness by car by 5:15 p.m. Also, if you utilize a standard ride-share service, you will be dropped off at the front of the resort at the check-in area needing to use the internal bus transportation at Fort Wilderness.
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Boat from Magic Kingdom to Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
If you are at Magic Kingdom, a ferry boat will take you near Pioneer Hall for your dinner. Just so you know, during bad weather and peak times, this boat system will back up or stop running over safety concerns. Disney recommends budgeting one and half hours of travel time on their website when using this method. Though we doubt this method will take that long, you want to arrive on time for your dinner reservation.
If anywhere else on Walt Disney World property, the Disney bus service runs from Disney Springs and the theme parks to Fort Wilderness. Just to let you know, these buses will drop you off near the front of the resort. You will still need to take internal bus transportation to arrive at Pioneer Hall for your reservation time at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. Guests often show up late forgetting about the need to use the internal bus system.
Minnie Van
Finally, you can book a Minnie Van to feel like a VIP. Minnie Vans function like ride share. However, these vehicles can drive you directly from your Walt Disney World on-site location to Pioneer Hall. This allows you to skip the internal bus service entirely. Yes, Minnie Vans cost more, so budget accordingly.
Remember that after the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue experience, you must navigate a path back to your car or hotel. So, if you are planning something after this dinner show, you should budget for that extra transportation time.
In addition, when you arrive at Pioneer Hall, expect a queue to have already been formed to enter Pioneer Hall. Do not worry though. The cast members move this queue along quickly.
Pricing and Dinner Show Times at Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue requires advance dining reservations. Prepayment will also be required. Guests will be charged the total price for late cancellations. The pricing ranges from $66 to $74 for adults. Children, ages three to nine, cost $39 to $44. The pricing depends on your seat location. More expensive seats are on the main floor. Slightly less costly seats reside in the balcony area above and around the main floor.
This dinner show happens Tuesday through Saturday. Each day offers three seatings. Disney says, “Please arrive 30 minutes before reservation time to check-in. The doors open at 4:00 p.m., 6:15 p.m., or 8:30 p.m… Seating will begin immediately at these times; the show begins 20 minutes later.”
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue Review- The Show
The Pioneer House Players put on an outstanding show. Built on Disney efficiency, the performance and meal time with different courses arriving flows wonderfully. The show offers plenty of energy and the expected amount of corny humor. Guests should expect to be singing, clapping, and maybe even foot-stomping.
We desire not to spoil the show for first-time visitors. Nevertheless, audience participation should be encouraged. You might even find yourself as a part of the show unexpectedly. Keep a close eye on your napkin, which might be necessary during the show. Also, some old-fashioned washboards make a prominent appearance in this show.
This show will feature audience participation. Guests sitting closer to the main stage have a greater chance of being selected as a part of the show. Though all guests on the main floor are more likely to be picked on (or chosen for a part in the show), the balcony area will not be immune to being selected either.
If you have never seen the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue before and want to avoid show spoilers, skip down to the food section now…
Somehow with Disney magic, the Pioneer Hall Playters always arrive just in time via a stagecoach. They enter from the rear of the dining area. At this point, you should warm up your clapping hands. You will need them.
The opening song introduces you to the Vaudeville style of dinner show environment. In addition, the opening song introduces you to the main performers in the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue.
They use songs and some comedy bits to introduce themselves to you. Then, the table turns, the Pioneer Hall Players enter the main floor to find out more about the guests each evening. Maybe you will be lucky enough to be singled out as some best friends in the audience. The spotlight will follow members of the Pioneer Hall Players as they engage with guests.
Since this is the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, songs even happen when it is time to eat. In case you were wondering, the song, before your main entrees arrive at your table, reminds you that you can always ask for more chicken and ribs. Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue provides all you care to enjoy dining.
Miss Dolly
While you begin to enjoy your food during the main break in the show, Miss Dolly, of the Pioneer Hall Players, comes out to sing you a song. If you are expecting a calm musical number, Miss Dolly has some past issues she would like to sing about. As expected, her song matches the wonderful theme of the show.
After that, the show moves to a different pace while you enjoy your food. However, the entertainment and the audience participation never stop. Bring your dancing shoes if celebrating an anniversary though. While you enjoy your meal, a Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue version of dueling banjos might break out.
Main Section
After you finish your main entrees, the Pioneer Hall Players reappear to continue entertaining you. Some guests wonder “if that's what it's all about” during this portion of the show.
This more raucous aspect of the dinner show transitions to a slower song in an unexpected location in Pioneer Hall. Did we mention napkins? Those might be useful in this portion of the show. When the entire Pioneer Hall Players team make it back up to the main stage, a sad song awaits you. Well, a sad song done the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue way, dear Clementine.
After this, the Pioneer Hall Players leave Six Bits, the comic relief on this show, own his own to sing “Beautiful Dreamer.” The team went to set up for the big final part of the show. Things go up and down as you might expect.
Before the final big number, Six Bits and Dolly have a bit of disagreement. In typical Disney dinner show fashion, this disagreement leads to an audience participation song splitting the crowd in half. We hope you are on Dolly's side. Be ready to sing loud. Also, make sure your clapping hands and stomping feet are ready. As always, audience members can be consulted at any moment during this song. When you attend, there may end up with a dispute which side won, good luck!
Strawberry Shortcake
If you are a fan of strawberry shortcake, the Pioneer Hall Players agree with you. They will even sing you a song to celebrate the arrival of this popular dessert. After that, several semi-willing volunteers will come on stage. These “helpers” will be selected by a very careful process based on their incredible skills. Well, we hope they are selected based on that!
For this one 0f a kind presentation, the Pioneer Hall Players present “The Ballad of Davy Crockett.” Prepare for lots of jokes. Okay, attempts at jokes with be made. You will hopefully find them bear-able.
To conclude the show, the audience needs to display some washboard playing skills. If you have not played a washboard before, this will be a crash course for you during the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. After that, the Pioneer Hall Players will leave in much the same way they arrived.
Overall, this show rates as excellent for our Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue review. As you might expect, this show thrives on noise and audience participation. Unless someone in your party struggles with loud noises, this show will be incredibly entertaining.
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue Review- Food Overview
Walt Disney World Resort offers some of the top dining options around. A trip to the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue does not involve gourmet food where a world-renowned chef comes to your table to describe the care to prepare your meal. People dining at Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue should not expect cuisine at the level of some of Disney's best restaurants, like Topolino’s Terrace or California Grill. However, if you desire a down-home, mostly southern USA style all-you-care-to-eat comfort food menu, you selected wisely dining here. The style of cuisine matches the dining event. Did we mention that this meal qualifies as all you care to eat?
Much of the food arrives at your table served in metal buckets with unique style by your servers. This family-style dining experience will be entertaining in its own right. If you want more of something, you can ask your server. They will bring you more!
The all-you-care aspect extends to beverages also. The usual soft drinks, tea, and lemonades come included with this meal. However, limited alcoholic beverages are also included with the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. Alcoholic choices include wine, beer, and sangria. Yes, alcoholic beverages qualify as all-you-care style drinks. Still, guests will be cut off towards the end of the meal.
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue Review Dining
The first course at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue brought to your table will be the Hoop Salad, slaw, and house-made cornbread. In fact, when you enter you will find those items already on your table before the dinner show starts, The hearty salad starts the meal off nicely. The salad contains more quality ingredients than expected for an unlimited family-style dinner. Based on the menu, the salad qualifies as the only non-starchy vegetables offered. Yet, the flavor will be just average. Most guests will enjoy the cornbread and butter, though. If you are wondering, the cast members will continue bringing cornbread loaves. However, discerning diners will plan for the later courses.
The main entrée and sides arrive for the next portion of your dining adventure. Your table receives barbecued ribs, fried chicken, macaroni & cheese, cowboy beans, and mashed potatoes. Allergy-friendly and plant-based options can be enjoyed here also. However, you should indicate that when making your reservation. We have not tried them but heard good things from trusted vegan colleagues about the quality of the plant-based menu.
The ribs bring a reasonable flavor and quality. As you might expect, these ribs fail to reach the level of top-quality table service dining. Still, the ribs stand up well for this level of entertainment and all-you-can-get-eating dining. Still, the quality of the ribs falls below that of the chicken.
Fried Chicken
Speaking of fried chicken, these receive rave reviews here from many guests which is worth mentioning in our Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue review. Despite a large amount of chicken being produced for guests nightly, the crispy outer coating deserves respect. The chicken avoids the typical dryness issue sometimes found at restaurants serving a massive amount of people. The quality of chicken compares favorably to most other fried chicken on Walt Disney World property, apart from Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ in Disney Springs. However, comparing any other Walt Disney World fried chicken to Homecomin’ is unfair based on the quality of fried chicken served there. If you love a good classic style fried chicken, prepare to eat your weight in fried chicken.
The sides round out the meal nicely. The potatoes taste fine, but you rarely obsess about those food items on a menu. The macaroni & cheese grades as above average on Walt Disney World property.
Cowboy Beans
Nevertheless, the continuous criticism of this meal revolves around the cowboy beans. These beans feature a taste usually associated with baked beans in the northern section of the United States of America. They remind many people of B & M brand baked beans. In fact, some copycat recipes of these cowboy beans use that brand of baked beans. This brand of beans makes an excellent version of baked beans from the northern sections of the United States of America. Nevertheless, they make an odd choice for a down-home southern-style dinner show. However, these baked beans taste fine but do not expect them to star in this show.
Guests should not be coming to Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue expecting gourmet cuisine. You acquire this advance dining reservation for the dinner show that represents Disney entertainment well. However, the unlimited food and beverages, including alcoholic drinks, make this a worthy evening out.
Still, dinner and a show come with dessert. Strawberry shortcake completes your meal. This refreshing dessert caps off a nice family-style meal. The sponge cake holds moisture nicely, working as a suitable medium for the rest of this desert. Fans of whipped cream will adore this. Of course, in old-fashioned country fashion, the portion size of strawberries will make any strawberry fan happy. Unless you dislike strawberries, this dessert will please your taste buds.
Overall, the food makes an excellent piece for this dinner show. Obviously, the food by itself, even at Disney pricing, would be worth less than $60. Now, unlimited alcoholic beverages do improve the value of your vacation dining budget for beer drinkers. You do pay for dinner and the show, after all.
Is Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue Worth It?
If you enjoy a beer or two with dinner, love southern comfort food, and want to enjoy a classic Disney show simultaneously, then we answer positively to the question. Some people dine here yearly as a part of family and group traditions. The loyal fandom of this place is well-earned.
However, suppose you do not like alcoholic beverages, desire something besides ribs and fried chicken, dislike being part of a show, and hate places that demand so much extra time to reach. If so, avoid Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue.
The choice resides with you and your group. Nevertheless, many reasons exist for Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue to last so long at Walt Disney World. Logic dictates that there must be some excellent reasons this place regularly fills up the nightly reservation slots. We hope our Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue review helps you decide!
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