Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is Back and MickeyBlog was at the First Show!
The long-awaited Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is back! MickeyBloggers snagged reservations to the very first show.
We’re all so excited to take you along as we sample the sights, sounds, smells, and savory selections of this high-spirited and hilarious hoedown.
Where Hoop-Dee-Doo Has Been
“The Hoop-Dee-Doo” Musical Revue or just “Hoop-Dee-Doo” as it’s often referred to is located in Pioneer Hall at the Campgrounds at Fort Wilderness. The show debuted June 30, 1973, just three years after the campground opened. Until 2020, it was the longest-running show in the US.
Image Credit: Disney
Due to the pandemic, it closed along with the rest of the Walt Disney World resort on March 15, 2020. Later that year, the Pioneer Hall Players were laid off from the company alongside several other casts of performers.
Now that Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review is back, we’re one step closer to putting the pandemic behind us as we welcome back the cast of Hoop-Dee-Doo!
Cookery and Tomfoolery
Since 1974, Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review has been a staple, even a rite of passage for Disney World visitors. Guests enjoy delicious all-you-care-to-enjoy fried chicken, smoked ribs, savory sides, unlimited draft beer, wine, and sangria, plus their famous strawberry shortcake! But more importantly, guests return year, sometimes every chance they get, to laugh and cut up with the Pioneer Hall Players!
MickeyTravels Team Celebration at Hoop-Dee-Doo, 2019
Hoop-Dee-Doo features a variety of stage acts and fantastic western-style music that will have you clapping your hands and stomping your feet with the beat. When you make your reservations, you have 3 options to choose from, the main floor or two balcony options.
Photo: Disney
Back & Better Than Ever
Our MickeyBloggers arrived early to queue up at Pioneer Hall.
It’s great to see a bustle of activity at Hoop-Dee-Doo once again!
After check in we popped over to the outdoor beverage area.
This is a great spot for those waiting out in the heat for Pioneer Hall to open.
On the menu you’ll find beer, wine and soft drinks.
Just look at all of those icy cold drinks!
We love all of the little details.
Check out the lasso in a Mickey shape!
Let’s Head Inside!
MickeyBlog was at the 4pm seating.
It felt so wonderful to be back inside Pioneer Hall.
The upper levels were decorated with red, white and blue bunting.
The servers are just as excited as we are for the Musical Revue to be back!
A huge crowd that turned out for the first performance.
We can’t wait for the performance to start!
As previously, when guests arrive, the tables are wonderfully set.
Guests start with a series of light bites including tossed salads and Pioneer Hall’s incredible corn bread!
The food is just as wonderful as we remember.
The menu is brimming with home-cooking at its best.
Included during your dining experience is:
- Crispy Fried Chicken
- Smoked Barbecued Pork Ribs
- Mashed Potatoes
- Creamy Coleslaw
- Cowboy Beans
- Cornbread Crusted Macaroni and Cheese
- Strawberry Shortcake
Also included in the price of your meal are a selection of wines, beers, sangria and soft drinks.
There are also specialty drinks that you can order at an extra cost. This includes:
- The Giddy Up – Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Minute Maid Premium Lemonade and Freshly Brewed Ice Tea. $14
- Local Craft Beer – Chose from an assortment crafted by local Florida breweries $ 10. The list includes:
- 3 Daughters Beach Blonde Ale
- Central 28 UnderDark Lager
- Orange Blossom Pilsner
- Cigar City Maduro Brown Ale
- Cigar City Jai Alai IPA
- Tampa Bay Old Elephant Foot IPA
It is time for Greg and Elyssa to tuck into these delicious goodies and wait for the show to start!
Below is a quick video that shows the crowd getting ready for the show!
You could definitely feel the excitement in the air.
Showtime!
It wasn’t long before the Pioneer Hall Players took to the stage!
Let’s give a HUGE MickeyBlog “Welcome Back!” to Jim Handy, Flora Long, Claire De Lune, Johnny Ringo, Dolly Drew and Six Bits Slocum!
It wasn’t long before we were tapping our toes, stomping our feet and singing along.
The two hour show features a whole lot of dancing, singing and zany comedy.
I’ve previously described it as a little bit of Hee-Haw, a little bit of Vaudeville and a whole lot of fun!
The players perform a variety of skits and song standards while guests enjoy some BBQ.
The cast seemed just as excited as we were to be back!
In addition to the 4 pm show there is also a 6:15 pm and an 8:30 pm.
We did notice some small changes to the production.
Disney has previously said that they updated the lightning adding in a more efficient LED system.
Many of our favorite tunes were back not to mention the incredible costumes.
And yes! The washboards were back as well!
Most of the songs in the show were written by Tom Adair who’s other credits include the score for Sleeping Beauty and Mickey Mouse Club.
The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is known for its famous Strawberry Shortcake dessert. As a matter of fact, this treat is such an iconic part of the experience that it has its own song – “The Strawberry Short Cake Walk!”
Guests can expect a lot of awesome audience participation at the show as well!
Don’t be afraid to join in the fun!
If you love the humor of the skippers on “The Jungle Cruise” you’ll find the antics of the cast of the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue to be largely the same!
As a matter of fact, one of the reasons visitors come back time and time again is for the corny jokes, good food and lots of fun.
Are the jokes a bit cringe-worthy? You betcha but that’s one of the things that make it such a rip-roaring good time
Here’s a musical serenade that happens in the middle of the dining hall.
Its one of our favorite moments of the show!
It isn’t long before the cast returns to their regular hijinks.
Boy can the Pioneer Hall Players dance!
Here’s another video that is sure to have you tapping your toes!
Claire De Lune took some time away form the stage to give Greg a big Hello!
I still think she has one of the best costumes in all of Disney!
Now, let’s turn our attention back to the food!
Before COVID, the chicken used to come out in giant metal buckets. This sadly has not made a return but the food is still incredible and plentiful.
Pre-COVID, Disney reportedly dished up 900 pounds of fried chicken every night at Hoop Dee Doo. It took a team 6 hours a day just to bread the chicken!
To go along with the chicken are 400 lbs of pork ribs which are slow cooked in an outdoor smoker starting at 11 am.
Add to this the 400 pounds of potatoes and 30 gallons of baked beans and you’ve got a monster-sized feast!
It’s time to wave those checkered napkins in celebration!
Get ready for my favorite part of the night.
It’s Strawberry Shortcake time!
Greg and Elyssa said that this treat was just as good as they remembered!
As the show comes to an end, it’s time to grab those washboards!
Here’s Greg showing us how its done!
A highlight of the night was definitely the finale.
The cast got a bit emotional have come to the end of their first performance in two years!
Cast members were even a bit teary eyed.
It was a wonderful end to a wonderful evening!
We didn’t realize how homesick we were for this incredible show and are so glad that its back!
If you want to experience the magic of the entire Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue experience, you can check out Greg’s livestream here:
Don’t miss your chance to make Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue part of your next Disney getaway. Reservations can be made 60 days in advance. Prices start at $39 for children (ages 3-9) and $64 for adults.
