Walt Disney World has so much to offer, including some of the finest cuisine in the country. So how does WDW make the best food even better? Easy, just add entertainment!
Dinner shows have been a WDW staple since the first Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review opened in 1974. Read on to learn more and you can make the decision if the combo of live entertainment and great eats is right for you!
The Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue: Performed 3 times a night (5pm, 7:15pm, and 9:30 pm) at Pioneer Hall in Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, this Wild West themed show is full of laughs and good times. The actors dance and whoop it up with the best of them, and even get the audience involved and bring them up on stage to join in on the antics. There is nothing classy about this show, so if you’re looking for a quiet, civilized dinner, you better go elsewhere! The food is served family style (meaning they will bring you as much as you want!) and consists of bread and salad, followed by ribs, friend chicken, mashed potatoes and baked beans, and finished off with strawberry shortcake for dessert. Simple and delicious food (the fried chicken is especially mouth-watering!), and the entertainment truly is funny and engaging. Prices range from $59-$68 a person for adults ($30-35 for children), and the more you pay the better your seats are and the closer you are to the stage and all the action! If you’re using the Disney Dining Plan (which I strongly recommend!), the Hoop Dee Doo costs 2 Table Service credits (and in my opinion is totally worth it!). Oh, and one more VERY important thing, they serve unlimited “adult” beverages too (Draft Bud Light, Chardonnay, Rose, Sangria, and Merlot), which is definitely a plus!
The Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show: This tropical luau themed show is performed at 5:15pm and 8pm nightly, and features hula dancers and a fire-knife performer! The outdoor setting is beautiful and magical, and the performers tell the story of a young native girl and her traditions and people. The food is delicious polynesian themed dishes like pork ribs, roast chicken, rice, and vegetables, with a special volcano dessert! As with the Hoop Dee Doo, the admission price includes soft drinks as well as unlimited beer and wine. Prices are $59-$68 apiece for adults, with child admission ranging from $30-$35, and the higher price will get you seats closer to the stage and all the action! For those on the Disney Dining Plan, this show also costs 2 Table Service credits per person. I personally prefer the earlier seating for this show, because once the show is done, I like to walk around the Polynesian along the paths and pretend I really am in someplace tropical and exotic! This show has always been a favorite of mine, and I remember as a kid learning to do the luau with the dancers, and it is a memorable experience for this of all ages!
Mickey’s Backyard BBQ Dinner Show: This one is relatively new to WDW, and is a dance party with live entertainment and…characters! So basically, a character meal with dancing, and delicious food! The buffet style meal includes chicken, ribs, hot dogs, corn on the cob, cornbread, baked beans, watermelon, cake, and all you care to drink beer/wine/soft drinks. Like the other 2 shows, the cost of the BBQ on the Disney Dining Plan is 2 Table Service credits, out of pocket you will pay $55 for an adult and $32 for a child. Unlike the other 2 shows, there is no better/preferred seating, there is 1 price for all seats. The characters (Mickey, Minnie and friends) come out to dance and interact with everyone, but one big difference here versus other character meals is that the characters do NOT visit every table, if you want an autograph or photo you have to approach the characters, which might work better for some people than others. Overall, it’s a good time, with great food, and who wouldn’t love to square dance with Mickey as their partner?
One thing I want to note is that reservations are HIGHLY recommended should you decide to partake in any of the dinner shows, so plan ahead and book one of these shows and you’ll be set for a night of great food, great entertainment, and great fun!
Related articles
- How to get onstage at the Hoop Dee Doo Musical (meetthemagic.com)
- Disney Dining Review: Mickey’s Backyard BBQ (mydreamsofdisney.com)
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