Walt Disney World Beyond the Parks: Hoop Dee Doo

For guests not staying at Fort Wilderness there are a few options for transportation to Pioneer Hall. Guests staying at the resorts around the Magic Kingdom (Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge, or the Contemporary including Bay Lake Towers) or for guests coming directly from the Magic Kingdom you can take a boat to Fort Wilderness Campground. From the boat dock it is a short walk to Pioneer Hall. Guests coming from the Grand Floridian or Polynesian may wish to take the monorail from their resort to the Contemporary, Magic Kingdom, or the Ticket and Transportation Center so that they can take a boat directly from that location to the campground.

Guests that are not staying near the Magic Kingdom do still have a way to get to the Fort Wilderness Campground. You can simply take a bus from any theme park, water park, or Disney Springs directly to Fort Wilderness Campground, just make sure that you are getting off at the right bus stop. If you are unsure of where to go simply ask your bus driver, they will be able to get you to where you need to go.

Guests that would prefer to avoid the wait for a boat or a bus can try out the new Minnie Van service. Disney has partnered with Lyft to offer guests a way to avoid the wait to get to where they are going. You can't miss the vans, they are red with white polkadots. Get it? Minnie van.

If none of this is making any sense, or you do not feel comfortable navigating the complex transportation at Walt Disney World that is fine. You don't need to spend any money for a ride share services. Just talk with the front desk staff at your resort, they will be able to help you organize your transportation plans.

For guests that are not staying on Disney property I strongly recommend taking a boat from the Contemporary, Transportation and Ticket Center, or the Magic Kingdom. You can drive directly to the campground, but there is not parking directly near Pioneer Hall so you will need to either walk or take a bus to get there.

As far as getting back to where you need to after the show you can take a boat or the bus. A few Magic Kingdom buses are ran for a little while after the show to make sure everyone is able to leave the campground. From there just take a bus to wherever you need to go.

So, you may be wondering what is there to do besides the Hoop Dee Too Musical Revue. Well, at the specific part of the campground there is a lot to do. You can visit the ponies that pull Cinderella's carriage. The stables close at 5pm, so if you want to get a really up close look you will have to make sure to plan your visit accordingly. You can take a ride on a horse drawn carriage. You can make reservations in advances or take your chances when you get there.

There is a rather large play ground just after the boat dock. The little ones that were in my group were immediately enticed by the play ground upon arrival. If you remember to bring a ball there is a volleyball court right on the beach of Bay Lake. For that matter you can soak in some of the Florida sun right on the shore of Bay Lake. There is also Crocektte's Tavern is also just outside of Pioneer Hall. There are plenty of rocking chairs on the porch that are perfect for relaxing before dinner.

So, I am sure you are wondering what's for dinner. Well, it is down home American classic comfort food. Fried chicken, barbecue ribs, baked beans, corn, corn bread, salad, mashed potatoes, and strawberry shortcake. Thats quite a bit of food. If you are still hungry after first servings you can ask your server to bring you more of anything you like. If you only like chicken wings they will bring you an entire bucket of wings. Get the picture?

On an important note for guests over the age of 21. There is a selection of beer, wine, and sangria that is included in the price of dinner. Including refills. You heard me right. Alcohol is included with dinner. If my boyfriend and I had known that we wouldn't have spent $20 on two beers before dinner at Crockette's Tavern. Sure it was nice to relax, but I would have saved my money and had a second glass of wine at dinner. That being said, the wine was good.

The fried chicken is very good and I just love the cornbread. That being said the rest of dinner is alright. The dessert is great, but I am usually too full to eat as much as I would like. To be honest it is most likely a good thing because I would eat the entire pan of the strawberry shortcake if I could...

The table next to us had a guest that had a food allergy. When the food was being brought out for the rest of the table the chef himself brought out a plate made specifically for the woman with food allergies. He made sure that it was to her liking and let her know that he would be happy to bring out more of anything she would like. I thought that was very nice. She seemed to enjoy her meal, though I wasn't able to get a good look at what she had. I didn't want to be creepy and watch her eat.

We had several people at our table celebrate their birthdays at dinner. In addition to giving the birthday person a shoutout before dinner (you'll know what I mean when you go) you can go a step above and have cake brought out. Of course, there is an extra fee for the cake. The cake was super cute and was very good. Though, I would expect nothing less from Disney.

The show is cheesy, and loud, and full of songs that you will most likely already know. But, you know what, that is what makes it so much fun. The entire audience was laughing and really getting in to the moment with the actors. There is singing, dancing, stand up comedy, and even a chance for guests to get involved in the show.

The actors are fantastic, and the chemistry between them is always amazing. The different ways they bring the audience in on the show if great. For the most part each time I have seen the show whoever they have become a part of the show goes along with it, which makes it even better. Of course, they do take some artistic liberties to make the show more family friendly. For example: they have a number about Davey Crockette. They mention that he goes to the Alamo and they do mention that he dies, but they portray is death as being from an illness after the battle of the Alamo rather than being killed at the Alamo as it historically happened. And in keeping with the family friendliness they have plenty of humor to make sure the show is never too heavy at any point.

It is a great way to just relax and be a kid again. The entire night is good clean family fun that everyone can enjoy. The show itself lasts for about two hours, so make sure that you are planning your day accordingly.

I have seen the show many times. Sometimes the food is just alright and others it is amazing. Typically, the fried chicken is very good and the rest of the meal is pretty average. The show is loud, and some parts might be a little much for younger guests or those that are prone to headaches. My little brother had a concussion a few years ago and is still sensitive to loud noises, he found the end a little much and needed to leave. My boyfriend, who does not have any headache problems, found the end to be a little much for him. But, all of the kids in the audience loved making all the noise they could on the washboards.

It can be a little bit of a hassle getting the the campground. I would recommend going on a non-park day if you are concerned about missing time at the parks. I would also plan on spending time at the campground relaxing. Let the kids play on the playground, get that drink at the tavern, take a walk around the barn. It will help get you in the mindset of being in the old west.

I was a little worried if my boyfriend would like the show. It is very cheesy and can be very loud and in your face. He loved it! He was right there with me laughing and playing along with whatever the actors asked us to do. It was a great time. We both ate until we could not eat anymore.

All that being said, it is an expensive dinner. They offer different seating areas, which can effect the price. For more information I recommend checking out the Disney webpage for the Hoop Dee Too Musical Revue.

I do like this show. I don't feel that I need to do it every time I go, but I do enjoy it when I go. I will say that at one point when I was a teenager I thought I was too cool to really enjoy the show. Looking back it is a little silly, but I guess some people just go through phases like that. Now, I love it. If you are able to add this show to your plans I do highly recommend it.