Reviewing the Revue: Should You Hoop-Dee-Doo?

Here at Touring Plans we’ve done a lot of dining at Walt Disney World. And we’ve experienced plenty of character meals, signature restaurants, and food-focused events. But somehow, the loudest, silliest, corniest dinner show on property still manages to stand out as one of the most memorable and joyful meals in the World. Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is a full evening of entertainment, food, and laughter—and if you go in with the right expectations, you just might leave a full stomach, a grin on your face, and a song stuck in your head.

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue Logistics

Location and Transportation

Hoop-Dee-Doo is located in Pioneer Hall at Fort Wilderness, near Magic Kingdom. The good news is that if you’re coming from Magic Kingdom, you can take a boat to Fort Wilderness. Pioneer Hall is close to the boat launch, so you’ll just have a short walk to dinner. The bad news is that if you’re coming from anywhere other Magic Kingdom, transportation is a bit of a pain.

Your easiest (but probably costliest) option is to take a Minnie Van. Set the destination as Pioneer Hall, and the Minnie Van driver will drop you off just a short walk away. Otherwise, if you drive yourself, take an Uber/Lyft, or transfer on a bus from another theme park, you’ll need to catch an internal loop bus once at Fort Wilderness that will then take you to Pioneer Hall.

Super-secret bonus tip: At Fort Wilderness, you pay different prices based on the “category” of seating you choose. But your table within your category isn’t assigned until you check in. The earlier you check in, the better your table will be within your category. But this isn’t like other table service restaurants at Walt Disney World – you can’t just tap “check in” on the app. You have to walk up to the check-in stand across from Pioneer Hall. A line will generally form before the stand opens. Really, all tables have good views of the stage. But if seating is very important to you, arrive 45-60 minutes before showtime and get in line to check in.

Double-super-secret bonus tip: There is a playground very near to Pioneer Hall. If you want to arrive early, your kids won’t be bored. In fact, they’ll probably be delighted to have some unstructured play time while you stand in line for them.

Reservations and Availability

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is typically offered three times in the evening, usually at 4:00 pm, 6:15 pm, and 8:30 pm. The show is closed on Mondays and Tuesday, so plan around those days in advance if you want to catch it during your vacation.

The 6:15 pm show is the one that usually books up the fastest, so if that’s the time that works best for your party, you’ll want to book as soon as your 60-day reservation window opens. Reservations are almost always required, other than during the very least-crowded times of year. If you don’t like to plan in advance and are will to spend your evening in Fort Wilderness either way, you can check with the check-in desk 30-60 minutes before a seating and ask to be put on a waitlist in case reservations open up or a table doesn’t show up for their reservation.

Cost

At the time of this writing, pricing for dinner at Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue was priced by category:

• Category 1: $78 per adult and $45 per child (ages 3-9)
• Category 2: $74 per adult and $41 per child (ages 3-9)
• Category 3 (balcony seating, not wheelchair accessible): $70 per adult and $40 per child (ages 3-9)

But Annual Passholders can currently receive 10% off at this dining location. AND a not-so-secret bonus tip: tax and gratuity are included in all of those prices. Huzzah!

If you are using the Disney Dining Plan, Hoop-Dee-Doo is a 2-credit dining location, and that makes this one of the worst uses of 2 credits on the dining plan. Alcoholic beverages are already included in the adult price, so you’re not going to “get ahead” by ordering one. Use your credits elsewhere.

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue Atmosphere and Entertainment

The moment you step into Pioneer Hall, the vibe is already fun. Long communal tables, red-checkered tablecloths, and cast members in gingham costumes set the stage. The Pioneer Hall Players burst onto the scene in a flurry of song, dance, and comedy that’s part Wild West show, part musical revue, and part … pure chaos.

Audience participation is not just welcomed – it’s built in. Whether you’re clapping along, singing, or being pulled up on stage for the finale, it’s hard not to smile. And even the corniest of jokes land surprisingly well in this environment.

We were seated near the front of the main floor (the first table of Category 2) and had a clear view of everything. Performers also move through the crowd during the show, so every seat gets some attention. Kids at neighboring tables were absolutely beaming. And adults were just as delighted – at least in part thanks to the unlimited included alcohol beverages!

Hoop-Dee-Doo Food

Starters

Almost as soon as you’re seated, a cast member will ask for drink orders and bring your first round of food!

Hoop Salad

I’ll be honest – for a salad with its own name, I expected a little bit more. Here you’re getting an iceberg-based salad that could easily be found on a nondescript buffet almost anywhere. The vinaigrette dressing was nice and tart, which worked well for the adults in our party, but was a little off-putting to the kids who are more used to a ranch or Caesar.

House-made Cornbread

Thankfully that’s where the disappointment ended. This moist and flavorful cornbread is some of the best we’ve ever had. Paired with honey butter, it was the stuff bread service dreams are made of. It perfectly set the tone for the inspiration of the rest of the meal. If I wasn’t purposefully saving space for the rest of the meal, I could have happily filled up on even more cornbread.

Main Course

Crispy-Fried Chicken and Smoked Barbecued Pork Ribs

These are probably not the best fried chicken or ribs you’ll find on property. Still, the chicken was perfectly crispy (not like it had been sitting under a warming lamp) and moist. Just not particularly flavorful. And the ribs were a little tough, and again, not the most flavorful. It makes sense that an all-you-can-eat restaurant catering to large crowds every night wouldn’t swing for the fences on bold flavors. But a little salt and spices would take these meats to the next level.

Cowboy Beans, Creamy Coleslaw, Mac and Cheese, and Mashed Potatoes

The coleslaw finally saw the kick of flavor we were craving! It was creamy and tangy, and a great side. The cowboy beans were similarly a hit. They had a great balance of savory and sweet, and they paired well with bites of chicken and ribs. The mac and mashed potatoes are the sides that will help your pickier eaters fills up. Neither is going to win any awards for ground-breaking experimentation with flavors or textures. But if you like mac or mashed potatoes in general, you’ll like this mac and mashed potatoes. They’re executed well and very filling.

Dessert

Strawberry Shortcake

This dessert is so iconic that it has its own song as part of the show! I’ll admit, I’m someone who will always choose a chocolate dessert off the menu, so Strawberry Shortcake has never been my go-to. Still, it has a following and many copycat recipes for a reason. The cake is already moist, and with perfectly ripe strawberries, a copious amount of flavorful sauce, and a healthy dollop of whipped cream, it’s a pleasing and well-themed end to the meal.

Specialty Beverages

Opici Family Sangrias

The good news? Sangria, two wine selections and two draft beer selections are all-you-care-to-drink (within reason) and included with the cost of your meal. But honestly, this same sangria retails for about $10 per 1.5L bottle. And the two wine selections (a chardonnay and a merlot) retail for even less. By all means, get your money’s worth by drinking along with your meal. But this is not going to be the most astounding pairing of your trip.

Is Hoop-Dee-Doo Right For You?

1. If you’re looking for a quiet, upscale evening out, this is most definitely not the meal for you.
2. If you stress out about transportation or are wanting to maximize your park time during the evenings, Hoop-Dee-Doo should be a skip. It takes too long to get there and back unless you happen to be staying at Fort Wilderness anyway.
3. If you want belly laughs, on-theme food, and a high-energy night where everyone from toddlers to grandparents can have fun, Hoop-Dee-Doo should be high on your list.

There are very few places at Disney World where you get this much included in a single reservation: entertainment, food, drink, and pure joy. It’s a great value by Disney standards, even with recent price increases, and the kind of experience that sticks with you.

Have you been to Hoop-Dee-Doo? Let us know about your experience in the comments!