Hoop Dee Doo Review

[Tinkerbell 8]

My aunt and uncle just got back from the world Monday, they have been going every year since 1971, only missing one or two years, and every year they go to the Hoop Dee Doo. They said that this year was probably going to be their last year seeing the dinner show. They said all of the actors were new with the exception of six bits, and that they were not as expressive as previous actors were. They said the audience was hardly laughing at the jokes because of how bad the acting was. They also said a lot of the people were very disapointed with the change of songs, and the food was absolutly horrible, almost inedible. Has anyone been to the Hoop Dee Doo since the changes, and is this recap from them consistant with what you saw/experienced or was this just by chance?

 

[fractal]

We were at HDDR a few weeks ago for our first time and we loved it. I thought the actors did a fine job and we enjoyed our meal.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

I'll be there Saturday night.

I'll be sure to report back.

 

[worldfanatic]

I love Hoop-De-Doo!

But in an "every 4 or 5 years" sort of way.

If I'd been going almost every year for 40 years, I'd probably get a bit bored with it and go negative at some point.

If they take a couple years off and return, I'm sure they'll appreciate it again.:shrug:

 

[NYwdwfan]

We were at HDDR a few weeks ago for our first time and we loved it. I thought the actors did a fine job and we enjoyed our meal.

The girl and the guy in the yellow are the same as I saw in December 2010 and November 2009. The six bit is different than both. I don't know this for a fact but I would imagine they have several people for each part - I can't imagine the same people do 3 shows a daym 7 days a week.

Sorry to hear the bad review - hopefully it was just an off night?

 

[Korfar]

We ate there on 8/20 and had a good time. The picture above is not the same Six Bits we had. I though the show was good. I have nothing to compare it to since it was our first visit there. Everything but the ribs were good. The fried chicken was very tasty. I don't know that I would do it again though. It was good but way out of the way and pricey.

 

[kangaand2roos]

Reading a report like this makes me rethink our booking it this year. We took the kids the first time a year and a half ago and they liked the food (except the ribs) and the show. But I was very on the fence as to if it was worth going again this time, if they would enjoy it as much.

 

[PlutosPalace]

We went for the first time in 05 and loved it. We went back in 07 and 08 and had enough. It just wasn't the same without the woman that played Claire DeLune in 05. I swear, she had the funniest laugh! Other actresses have tried to pull that laugh off but none compared to her. I missed her...

 

[CnoteBflat]

I heard that the Six Bits in the picture is the substitute actor. He played Melvin Machizmo in the streets at DHS.

I've only seen the dress rehearsal of the new show, and I miss the opening song because it was catchy.

 

[menamechris]

I saw the new show, and it did seem like a had a bunch of new faces. They didnt seem to have the chemistry of previous casts, and didn't even quite seem to know how to deliver a joke. With that being said, it is my understanding auditions are being held for Hoop Dee Doo (either they just did or they will be recently). Maybe some people are being let go and new performers are coming in... As far as the new music....ughh... It's not as bad as when I first went to see it, but its still not as good as the original songs...

 

[ConstanceIrene]

When we first saw HDD years ago, my husband was quite taken with one of the "Claire's. Her real name is Miki. The first time we went to HDD and another Claire was in the show, he was slightly disappointed, but enjoyed himself nonetheless. I was always a fan of a "Dolly" named Desta. She was the best that I've seen and we've seen HDD over 10 times. The other dollies, however, were very good too.

That being said, the audience has to understand that people change jobs, get older, have time off for babies, etc.... Give the new actors a chance.
We saw HDD this year on August 8th at 5:00 and the cast was great. The Claire was adorable. There's a "Flora" who hails from Setauket, Long Island and she's terrific. I wish we had seen Tony Robinette as Six Bits (Melvin). My family enjoys seeing him on Sunset Blvd.

With the new song changes, the show seemed fresher. Its' a great evening of song, food, and laughs.

 

[Victoria]

I've only been to HDDR once and that was last August. The entertainment was clearly the best part of the experience for me. The food was virtually inedible. The performers were good but the audience wasn't receptive to it at all. I am assuming I saw the "old" version of the show since it was about a year ago. Maybe that was the beginning of the end for that version? :shrug:

 

[PlutosPalace]

That being said, the audience has to understand that people change jobs, get older, have time off for babies, etc.... Give the new actors a chance.

I understand that. I just loved the laugh that one particular Claire had. It was the best laugh ever. None of the others have been able to pull it off as well. The other actresses were just as good but the laugh is what I miss.

 

[Alison1975]

My aunt and uncle just got back from the world Monday, they have been going every year since 1971, only missing one or two years, and every year they go to the Hoop Dee Doo. They said that this year was probably going to be their last year seeing the dinner show. They said all of the actors were new with the exception of six bits, and that they were not as expressive as previous actors were. They said the audience was hardly laughing at the jokes because of how bad the acting was. They also said a lot of the people were very disapointed with the change of songs, and the food was absolutly horrible, almost inedible. Has anyone been to the Hoop Dee Doo since the changes, and is this recap from them consistant with what you saw/experienced or was this just by chance?

WOW.. We were at Hoop Dee Doo on August 23rd and the food was awesome, the service was perfect and as for funny.. well my 9 year old strained his diaphragm from laughing.. the show was hysterical and the entire place was laughing and having a blast!

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Saw the show last night, and can confirm multiple cast changes since last year, when I last saw the show.

The guy playing Six Bits in the photo above is the understudy, by the way.

I found the cast, which with the exception of Six Bits, was new, to be quite good, particularly the three women. Johnny Ringo was also a much better dancer than most of the guys I've seen in that role, and he was pretty easy on the eyes, too. The entire cast brought a freshness to the roles that I thought was missing last year (when many of the cast seemed to be phoning it in). The exception to this, ironically, was Six Bits, who was on auto pilot. Typically, he walks away with the show, but not last night.

As for the changes...they're inferior to what was there originally, especially the opening and closing number. However, people who have never seen the show before won't be bothered and still enjoy it. Those who've seen it with the original numbers, however, will understand how inferior it is. My waitress, Nancy, a blunt, bawdy woman said to me (when I played dumb and asked her about the changes), "They're terrible. Everyone hates them." When the manager came by the table I asked her about them, too, and she said it was "disappointing for all of us." She did claim that they hope the legal issues get resolved soon so they can go back to the original show.

Count me as someone who hopes that happens soon because I was not a fan of the revisions.

 

[PlutosPalace]

She did claim that they hope the legal issues get resolved soon so they can go back to the original show.

I'm going to go ahead and ask... what legal issues?

 

[Zummi Gummi]

I'm going to go ahead and ask... what legal issues?

The short answer is that Disney believed that they were using a "parody" of the song all these years (parody is legal), but one of the original writers (the other is dead) is claiming otherwise, and wants to be compensated for the use of his song in the show. Until the legal issues are sorted out, Disney is using a new, not nearly as good, song.

 

[PlutosPalace]

The short answer is that Disney believed that they were using a "parody" of the song all these years (parody is legal), but one of the original writers (the other is dead) is claiming otherwise, and wants to be compensated for the use of his song in the show. Until the legal issues are sorted out, Disney is using a new, not nearly as good, song.

Ahhhhh. I hadn't heard of that before. Thanks. :wave:

 

[menamechris]

The short answer is that Disney believed that they were using a "parody" of the song all these years (parody is legal), but one of the original writers (the other is dead) is claiming otherwise, and wants to be compensated for the use of his song in the show. Until the legal issues are sorted out, Disney is using a new, not nearly as good, song.

Yes, and I feel like I should add the changes that have been made have nothing to do with "freshening" up the show. It's a matter of Disney seeing if they can get away with still putting on the show without having to pay any licensing fees for the Hoop Dee Doo Polka. When I went to see the show and asked my waiter (this was about a week after the changes took place) he told me that the changes were permanent, and that there was no talk about trying to work out the legal issues with the music company. So....either the managers are just saying that to keep people happy that there is hope the original show will return - or perhaps - enough people have complained about the new numbers that they decided to maybe work out a deal with paying of licensing fees to use the song. I sincerely hope it is the latter...

 

[ConstanceIrene]

I understand that. I just loved the laugh that one particular Claire had. It was the best laugh ever. None of the others have been able to pull it off as well. The other actresses were just as good but the laugh is what I miss.

I'd bet you're talking about the same Claire that my husband loves. I asked about her this past August and was told that she fills in when they need a replacement. We actually saw her as Flora last year. She was as cute as always, but Claire is her role for sure.


Her laugh was the best! After a few sangrias, I usually copied it all the way back to our hotel; much to the chagrin of my family!