Review: Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review

At Disney World, guests can enjoy three dinner shows. One of the most popular choices for families is the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review. It’s located at the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds.

Ambiance

Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue takes place in Pioneer Hall at Fort Wilderness Campgrounds. It’s a large two-story venue filled with tables facing the Pioneer Hall stage. A very rustic dining hall reminiscent of a log cabin with wood beams and candle-lite lantern chandeliers. Tables are set with red table clothes, metal plates and checkered napkins, which you’ll be encouraged to use during the show.

Time to set the stage so to say. The Pioneer Players (Six Bits Slocum, Dolly Drew, Claire de Lune, Johnny Ringo, Flora Long and Jim Handy) are a traveling actor troupe stopping by Pioneer Hall for the night (not really, but that’s the story). Some might consider the show to be a little bit corny, but it’s funny and sarcastic. Both families and couples enjoy the comedy.

Those napkins I mentioned, you’ll be encouraged to swing those around during one part of the show. So don’t get them too messy! That’s not the only crowd participation, they also look for those with birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. If you’re shy, you’ll definitely not want to sit near the front of the stage. You never know who’s going to be chosen to be part of the show. If getting on stage has been a dream, well for the finale you might even be picked by the performers to join in.

Menu

The menu consists of American fare and it’s all-you-care-to-eat so you won’t be leaving hungry. Everything is served family-style. Guests will enjoy a garden salad, corn bread with butter, mashed potatoes with the skins, cowboy beans, fried chicken, smoked barbecue pork ribs and for dessert – strawberry shortcake. The menu also includes all-you-can-drink soft drinks, lemonade, ice tea, milk, apple juice. For guests 21 and up, there is draft beer, wine and sangria.

Food/Drink

Drinks arrive first in Ball canning jars, followed by the food in heavy, metal buckets. Since the meal is served family-style, if you want more of anything all you have to do is ask (this includes the beer, wine and sangria!).

Moonshine seems more like what you’d have to drink in the pioneer days but I’ll settle for beer, wine and sangria. The sangria was delicious, but a bit sugary. After the sangria, we switched to the Merlot.

Typically, we have a little bit of the salad and then dive into the good stuff. The salad was good enough to have seconds. The cornbread was good. For Southerners who know good cornbread, this will even be enjoyed.

Sides include mashed potatoes with the skin included (but without gravy), corn and Cowboy beans. All were good, but the Cowboy beans were great! These smoky beans didn’t stand a chance. We finished them off and asked for seconds.

Your meat options include chicken and smoked pork ribs. Ribs can often be too dry and chewy. These ribs, could quite possibly be the some of the best we’ve ever had. I typically would have had one rib and then head straight to the bucket of chicken, but I found myself going back to the well for more of this succulent ribs. They were just so tender! The chicken was good too. It was moist with a crispy skin, just the way fried chicken should be.

For dessert, an American favorite was on the menu – strawberry shortcake. The strawberries had almost a jam-like consistency and were topped off with shortcake, whipped cream and a slice of fresh strawberry. It’s a must-save-room-for dessert! For guests who are on a special diet and can’t have sugar, a sugar free brownie and vanilla ice cream is served. Just make sure you mention this when making your reservation!

Service

The service is great! Often in restaurants that are family-style you become a little bit forgotten about, but not at the Hoop-Dee -Doo Musical Review. Our server was fantastic! She made sure we never needed anything, including alcohol. She was friendly and a lot of fun.

Overall

When I had my first visit a few years back, I was a little hesitant about the dining experience. To my surprise, the food and entertainment were not only good, but  fantastic. The menu isn’t anything unusual, but it is really good for what it is. You’ll definitely be entertained by the actors! I’ve had the opportunity sit on the bottom floor and up in the balcony. Both are great places for viewing the show.

If you’re family enjoys fun, silly entertainment then this is the dinner show for you!