There is no shortage of magical shows to enjoy at Walt Disney World, from nighttime spectaculars to singing animatronics and 4-D films. All of them are on somebody’s “must-do” list, but is there one that stands out as truly unique – an experience unlike any other? Something that is a guaranteed good time no matter what ages and sizes your kids come in?

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Disney’s Fort Wilderness

For my family there sure is. An old-fashioned, baggy-pants vaudeville-style masterpiece called the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue that has delighted my family as littles, tweens, and teens. And since this is dinner theatre, it’s also one of our very favorite special dinners out when visiting Disney World.

Traveling to Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

Buses, Monorails, Skyliners… Disney moves people as quickly and efficiently as possible. Unless that is, you happen to be going to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, where time seems to move at a very different pace. Your best bet is to travel by Disney transportation from your resort to the Magic Kingdom, where you will catch the ferry to Fort Wilderness.

Guests of the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue are urged to allow 90 minutes of travel time, just in case, and if you are like me, that might have sounded like a deal-breaker at first. Truth be told, the ferry ride from Magic Kingdom is a wonderful, unhurried experience that is as much a part of the adventure as the meal or the show. Enjoy some together time, with the wind in your hair and the sound of the waves gently lapping at the hull. With three shows a day, at 4 PM, 6:15 PM, and 8:30 PM, your journeys can be a unique and memorable part of the Hoop-Dee-Doo experience.

All-You-Care-to-Enjoy Dinner Theatre

As soon as you hit your seats, you are greeted by your server and a basket of delicious corn bread. Resist the urge to fill up on it if you can, there is so much more on the way! Served family-style, the delicious, all-you-care-to-enjoy feast includes crispy fried chicken, smoked BBQ ribs, salad, cowboy beans, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, and coleslaw, with strawberry shortcake for dessert worth singing about (which happens).

Unlimited beer, wine, or sangria is available for those of age, but don’t worry, this crowd will be spending too much time eating and applauding for too much drinking to be done. All of this is underscored by the brilliant stylings of musicians playing piano and banjo, who fill all of Pioneer Hall with cartoon-like, manic energy before the stars of the show even make their entrance… and when they do, we’re well and truly off to the races!

Since this is dinner and a show, pricing is a bit different (and will depend on where you’re sitting). Sitting on the main floor costs $74 for adults (or $44 for kids 3-9). Balcony sections range from $66 to $69 for adults (or $39 to $40 for kids). If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, you’ll be charged two table-service meals for the experience. Check out availability and pricing here.

Don’t Overthink It (Because They Aren’t)

In our visits to Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, this is the only discussion we have ever had about the plot:

“Wait a second,” my son said, gesturing with a drumstick. “If this is Pioneer Hall and they are the Pioneer Hall Players, why were they going somewhere else in a stagecoach?”

“Shut up,” his sister said, not unkindly.

“Ah, touché,” he replied.

All you need to know is that six tremendously talented cast members have come to entertain you; Jim Handy and Flora Long (the singers, though they all sing), Claire de Lune and Johnny Ringo (the dancers, though they all dance), and Dolly Drew and Six Bits Slocum (the comics, though they are all hilarious). You will be serenaded from the Great American Songbook, and “My Darling Clementine” will be well and truly ruined for you.

There is an excellent chance that you will end up “helping” in the show, particularly if you are celebrating an occasion, or if you can make a “toot toot” noise like a train. If you can pass for a Scout, a Texas Ranger, a can-can dancer, or Davy Crockett’s angel, you may well wind up on stage in a major role and be presented with a certificate which I covet deeply. If you think that is somehow less than utterly delightful, please visit as soon as possible to marvel at how deeply wrong you were.

Mac and Cheese Counts as a Vegetable, Right?

There have been a few changes to the menu recently that will please many. Cornbread-crusted Macaroni and Cheese has been elevated to the standard menu, taking the spot of seasonal vegetables, which in our experience always seemed to be corn. There is also an impressive menu of Plant-Based items available upon request, including BBQ Jackfruit, green beans, crispy cauliflower, and plant-based Italian sausage. I have no reason to believe that they are anything other than delicious, nor have I any radical plans to find out.  

Recent Changes to Hoop-Dee-Doo

Hoop-Dee-Doo was closed for an extended period during COVID, and came back with a few other small changes made (and we all know how Disney fans often feel about that). (I once met a fellow Hoo-Dee-Doo fan who still bemoaned the change in desserts that necessitated the swapping of songs performed when they were served. Apple Pie Hoedown was replaced by Strawberry Shortcake Walk. In 1979.)

Even my own children were briefly outraged to learn that the fried chicken and ribs would now be brought to the table in a skillet instead of tin buckets, as they always had been in their experience. It soon became clear that the skillet made it easier to see when supplies were running low and in need of seconds. Sometimes change is good!

What hasn’t changed is the joy that the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue has brought and continues to bring to countless guests who come together to celebrate with laughter, song, and a feast that will not soon be forgotten.

The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue must be booked in advance and offers a variety of performance times and seating options. Visit Disney.com for booking information.