Head on over to Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground Resort for a trip back to the wild west. The Pioneer Hall Players just came in on the stage coach and they've got a rolicking 2 hour show full of dancing, singing and zany vaudeville comedy to entertain you with at the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue. This Disney classic is one of the longest running dinner theater shows in the United States, recently having celebrates their 40 Year Anniversary on the stage.
I like to arrive at Pioneer Hall about 30 minutes before the show. A check-in podium is located right outside the theater doors, where you'll be able to confirm your reservation and pick up your table assignment. While the crowd gathers in the area there are small delights to enjoy as you wait to be seated. You can have a family picture taken by the PhotoPass Photographer, take a wagon ride, buy some delicious spiced popcorn to snack on, order a drink from Crockett's Tavern walk-up window, or just sit on the porch in a rocking chair while you watch the kids run around.
Once Guests are let into Pioneer Hall they're seated and welcomed by cheerful Disney servers who quickly take drink orders and bring out a tossed salad and corn bread for everyone to enjoy. The decor has a unique frontier charm, with soaring log beams and clear lines of sight to the stage, wagon wheel chandeliers raise and lower the lighting between acts. Red table cloths and checkered napkins nestle the pewter serving ware that comes and goes from your table during the family style service.
The show begins quickly with the players dancing and singing their way into the room. It's a fun musical romp through American history with classic frontier melodies and a kitchy script. The show is most enjoyable when the audience gets into the act, so be sure to go to dinner ready to be silly and have a lot of fun. The more energetic and interactive the Guests are, the better the show tends to be.
In between the scenes on stage dinner is served. The service here works like a well oiled machine, timed perfectly with the song and dance. The servers are always on their toes and move quickly weaving in and out of the tables.
The standard fare is buckets of all-you-care-to-enjoy fried chicken and smoked BBQ pork ribs that just keep coming. The smoked pork ribs were delicious and lightly sauced with a thin tomato and vinegar based sauce. The chicken was juicy with a crispy crunch to the coating. There's also a tossed green salad, baked beans, mashed potatoes, corn, fresh-baked cornbread and strawberry shortcake. When requested, we were also given a few vegetarian options to choose from and selected penne with marinara to complete our family style dinner. Overall it's good country cooking served up for a theater full of guests.
While my family did enjoy dinner, it's dessert that they continue to talk about. After joining the cast on stage for a sweet little celebratory number (after all dessert should always have it's own song and dance) he slid the most massive strawberry shortcake I had ever seen right into the middle of our table. I didn't get a picture of the strawberry shortcake - we were too busy devouring it. Luckily our friends over at the Disney Food Blog said we could use theirs.
Beverages, while included, are a little blase. Unlimited soda for all, draft beer, wine and sangria choices from house brands are included for Guests 21 years of age and up with a proper ID. For better cocktails and a larger selection of brews stop by next door at Crockett's Tavern before the show.
Want another opinion on the food at this Disney Dinner Show? Read what the Disney Food Blog has to say about this fun event suitable for all ages.
The Hoop Dee Doo is one of the few Disney dining experiences where pre-payment is required when you book. Seating is divided into three pricing tiers based on the view of the stage from your table, but I don't feel that there's really a bad seat in the house. We used the Disney dining plan and were put in Category 2 seating off to the side near the band. I was unsure about that when I booked, but I was really happy with where we were seated.
The Disney Dining Plan is accepted at this venue, and costs 2 Table Service Credits per person on a limited selection of seatings. The Hoop Dee Doo can be a tough reservation to get so booking 180 days in advance is highly suggested.
Have you been to the Hoop-Dee-Doo? Tell us your favorite part in the comments below! Mine has to be the Strawberry Shortcake kick line.
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