Let's Raise the Roof Inside the Hoop Dee Doo!

Audrey Willis4/26/20One of my family’s favorite dining experiences at Walt Disney World is the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue located in Pioneer Hall in Disney’s Fort Wilderness. This is such a fun show for all ages!Getting to Pioneer Hall, if you aren’t staying at Fort Wilderness, takes planning ahead. Check with your travel agent to make sure you know how to get from your resort or park to the Pioneer Hall. My favorite is taking one of the smaller boats from Magic Kingdom or Contemporary to Fort Wilderness. You want to check-in at least 20 minutes prior to your show time. The line for check-in can get long at times, but they usually have multiple hostesses available at the stand. There was a Disney PhotoPass photographer that took our picture with some props in front of Pioneer Hall when we were there in March 2019, different from past years when there was an actual photo area.Once the dinner bell rings you will give the ticket you received at check-in to a hostess and be seated. Your table already has a warm loaf of cornbread (more depending on your party size) and a bucket of salad. Soon after everyone is seated, you hear a loud rumbling as the stagecoach arrives with the Pioneer Hall Players, singing “Let’s Raise the Roof Inside the Hoop-Dee-Doo.” Enjoy an evening of old-fashioned songs and humor with Six Bits Slocum, Dolly Drew, Flora Long, Jim Handy, Claire de Lune, and Johnny Ringo. My personal favorites are Six Bits and Dolly! One of the things I enjoy about this dinner show is the inclusion of the audience in many of the routines, from songs about where people are from, to stomping your feet or giving a toot-toot, spinning your napkins over your head, and even playing the washboard.The main menu includes crispy-fried chicken, smoked barbequed pork ribs, seasonal vegetables (I have only ever had corn kernels), mashed potatoes, and cowboy beans. Dessert is a delicious strawberry shortcake. The food is All-You-Care-To-Eat, so if you need more of anything let your server know! My youngest child can eat his weight in cornbread.If you have food allergies, always check with your server and/or the chef.Our travel companion with a dairy allergy was able to share the fried chicken, ribs, corn and beans that the rest of us ate, but was brought out a baked potato in place of the mashed potatoes. She didn’t get to eat the strawberry shortcake, but did enjoy an allergy friendly cookie topped with dairy-free ice cream and strawberries for dessert!If you are on the Disney Dining Plan, Hoop-Dee-Doo counts as 2 table service credits and includes gratuities. For early shows, dining credits can only be used for category 2 or 3 and for the late show you can use the dining credit for all categories. Category 1 is on the ground floor and the closest to the stage with an unobstructed view. Category 2 is also on the ground floor, still has an enjoyable view, but you may have to move chairs to get a clearer view or may be under the balcony. Category 3 is on the second floor, smaller parties may have a normal table and look directly at the stage, but if you are seated on the sides, everyone sits on one side of the table and are seated in swivel seats to turn to view the stage. We have sat in all three categories and I actually preferred seating in category 3 rather than having to look up at the stage in category 1. If you have any questions about this fantastic dining show you can email me at audrey@wishesfamilytravel.com.