Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue Return: Updates & ADRs
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is returning to Walt Disney World this summer! The dinner show will soon be back at Pioneer Hall, and ahead of that, Advance Dining Reservations have been released along with more information about the changes to the beloved family-friendly entertainment.
Let’s start with the changes, which Walt Disney World released in an update along with quotes from members of the live and creative entertainment teams. “I remember when I first walked out on the Pioneer Hall stage, cast as Six Bits Slocum, and saw how much our guests enjoyed the show,” said Tom Vazzana, now a creative director with Disney Live Entertainment.
“Over the years, I’ve seen the show grow with our guests and when we return, our hope is that guests truly see themselves reflected on stage and in our performances.” Guests come from all over for the funny jokes, good food and tons of fun, but they keep coming back for the tradition and to share this beloved experience with new generations.
This summer, Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue will return bright and fresh with a new audio and lighting system and a few updates to its script and scenery, while staying true to the experience guests know and love.
No specifics have been given, but presumably, there have been some minor rewrites and backdrop changes to remove some questionable lines of dialogue, music, and imagery in line with what Walt Disney World has been doing elsewhere over the last couple of years.
“We had the unique opportunity to really look at this show and take it to the next level for everyone involved,” David Moore, stage manager, said. “From switching the stage lighting to LED – which is better for the environment – to upgrading the audio for better sound quality, every little update is leading to a better overall experience for our guests and cast.”
“Our guests and cast are like family,” said Moore. “It’s great to see guests celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and vacations year after year. You get to know friends, couples, and families. You meet their children and grandchildren. Just seeing how much this show means to our cast and guests is an amazing experience and I love being a part of that magic.”
“I am so proud to work with an amazing team that has taken the time to make this ongoing legacy what it is today, especially during the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration,” Vazzana said. “And I can’t wait to see the audience’s expression when that curtain rises and the Pioneer Hall Players burst onto the scene once again with the same great fun family entertainment we’ve brought them all these years.”
The Pioneer Hall Players and Cast Members can’t wait to welcome guests back to this beloved frontier-style family fun experience and all-you-can eat feast!
Getting down to brass tacks, Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) are now available for Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue via DisneyWorld.com and the My Disney Experience for dinner shows beginning June 23, 2022.
These currently run through July 25, which is the normal 60 day window for booking ADRs. Tomorrow, they’ll go through July 26…and so on.
For the first two months, ADRs are already extremely limited for all of the seatings (three times nightly: 4 pm, 6:15 pm, and 8:30 pm).
In spot-checking availability just before noon eastern on the ADR drop day, there’s only a scattering of availability in July 2022 and nothing at all in June. Some of the dates that show available don’t actually have any seating to select once you get to that step.
Speaking of which, above is the seating chart for Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. As you can see, there are three categories, ranging in cost from $39 to $44 for kids and $66 to $74 for adults. Category 1 is obviously the best, but I’d rather sit in the front row of Category 2 than the back of the main floor. Category 3 can be fine, so long as you’re not too close to the stage as that can make for a tough viewing angle.
At this point, you’ll pretty much have to take what you can get, though.
Earlier this week, Walt Disney World also released transportation info for Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. None of this is really anything new–just a reminder that there’s no direct route between your hotel and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. The easiest option is driving your own car (this is the perfect use-case for Minnie Vans, assuming they’re back by then), but you’ll have to park at the front entrance and take bus transportation to Pioneer Hall. Allow 30 minutes for that.
Alternatively, you can take a bus to Magic Kingdom and then a boat to Fort Wilderness. Allow up to 90 minutes for all of that, from your hotel to Fort Wilderness. The best option is doing Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue during your Magic Kingdom day. The boat ride is a relaxing respite from the crowds, and gives you a chance to see sunset on Bay Lake, the Electrical Water Pageant, the evening lights of Magic Kingdom, or whatever else is happening–depends on which showtime you choose.
Ultimately, we’re excited for Hoop-Dee-Doo’s return. It’s a quintessential Vacation Kingdom of the World experience that every die-hard Walt Disney World fan should do at least once. Although we wish it would’ve been back by last October for the start of the 50th Anniversary, at this point, we’re just happy it’s coming back at all.
Like everything else, this has implications for Walt Disney World’s return to normalcy. Again, this has taken longer than expected, but we’re optimistic that by late summer or early fall, the parks and resorts will be pretty close to 100%. This also has indirect implications (or so we hope), as the return of Hoop-Dee-Doo should mean that Trail’s End can return to serving a good buffet. We are very ready for another dinner there, but refuse to support the current menu.
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Your Thoughts
Are you a Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue fan? Were you able to score an ADR for Hoop-Dee-Doo in June or July 2022? If you’ve done this Walt Disney World dinner show, what are your thoughts on it–both the food and the fun? Anxiously awaiting the return of Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
I’ve been checking on tickets over the next 60 days. What I’m finding is that as soon as a new date appears, it sells out very fast. August 3rd appeared this morning, but the 4pm and 6:15pm shows were immediately sold out. The 8:30pm show was available, but it sold out within the next hour. It seems every single show between now and August 3rd is sold out. I guess we’ll be checking early on August 28th, 60 days before the date we’d like to see the show.
This is timely. We have our first stay at Ft Wilderness this Fall around the party. We are totally newbies so if anyone has tips.
Does your hate of Trails End extend to the plant based menu? I think buffets are gross and would worry about cross contamination. I prefer the family style but I wonder if it will be gone by our trip.
By the time I read this post this evening, every single reservation, at every time, on every single day has been taken. There are absolutely ZERO reservation openings as of 7pm CST on May 26, 2022. *insert sad face emojis*
We are here at Ft Wilderness now and I was considering Trail’s End dinner later this week, I need more details about your thoughts on the current menu…
My Disney travel agent started at 0530 for a time during our prebooked trip June 23 to 27. There were no availabilities until July. The only reason we booked a Disney hotel was to be there for the opening. Had to cancel the hotel reservations and maybe make them after we get the Hoop De Doo reservation. It seems large groups had booked the earliest dates.
“…when we return, our hope is that our guests truly see themselves reflected on stage and in our performances.” This sounds weird. We’ll see…
Maybe it’s meant to read literally, and they’ve added mirrors to the stage?
Sounds like a nod to trying to be culturally responsive-I am guessing the cast and show will reflect more diversity? I have never been to the show but that’s what I thought the language meant
Is there any way to choose a particular location within a Category, like “the front row of Category 2?” It’s not clear when seating is allocated, so I’m unsure whether trying to check in ASAP the day of will work.
Also, I’m seeing a slightly different map on the screen to choose a Category than above, which is what you see on the main dining page. It may just be an odd artistic choice, or there may be more Category 2 seating; I just can’t tell.
Hello,
No they assign seats based on date booked. First to book gets the closest seats and so on
After an hour-long struggle, I got the date, time and booking category I was hoping for when bookings opened this morning, but my refreshing-game certainly got an intense workout! So looking forward to this–it will be a first for our family.
Any preference to showtime?
Can you make ADR’s for a whole week beginning at 60 days from the start of your stay, or do you have to make them one day at a time?
To Graig,
You can make ADR’s for your whole stay starting 60 days from your first day. Unless you’re doing a split stay and then it’s 60 days from the first day of each new resort. There is a way to get around that but I don’t feel comfortable suggesting it. It’s not illegal or even immoral but that’s just me. That said now that I’ve mentioned there’s a way, all you need to do is use the first part of the info I gave you and apply yourself and you can figure it out.
PS Craig when you start booking your ADR’s, the best chance at getting your more difficult ones (Spacce 220, Artists Point, Cinderella’s Castle, etc) is by booking them from your last day first. Example you’re doing one week at WDW from Sun to Sat (leaving Sun) then book Sat first, Friday 2nd etc.
Mickey – thank you! I’m still trying to figure this out, though, so that I’ll be ready when our 60-day window arrives. Hoop Dee Doo doesn’t even show up as an option when I click to make an ADR. I searched the website, and found it, but only up to exactly 60 days. Maybe once our actual 60-day window arrives, it’ll unlock the rest of our week on the calendar?