YankeesFan
Member
Can anyone offer any advice on whether or not attend one of the dinner shows with a 17 month old? He's very well behaved....... :hammer: :hammer:
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Luau or Hoop-Dee-Doo with a 1 1/2 year old
- Thread starter YankeesFan
- Start date
ClemsonTigger
Naturally Grumpy
Definitely do the Hoop de Do Review. Food is better for all ages and tastes, show is more lively and the environment is better themed.
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slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
I've never done the luau. Personally, I wouldn't risk spending that kind of dough-re-mi on something where I'd have to bring a child that young. Sure, your kid is good...usually. But in the Orlando heat all day, off his regular routine and filled with Disney sensory overload, who knows how he'd react. Plus, to my recollection, I'm not sure how much of that food is appropriate for kids to eat. Hell, I'm not even sure how much "regular food" a 17 month old can eat, but I sure as hell wouldn't think ribs are good for a kid his age, even the mild-spiciness of the Disney ribs. The chicken is very fatty (part of what makes it so tasty), the salad is drenched in a tart dressing...I would suspect you'd have to try to have alternate foods ready for him.
Then there is the show itself. It's all good fun, but sometimes, people are loud, YEEEEE-HAAAAAA!!! kind of loud. I can't remember if there are pistols fired or not. I think not, but I can't honestly remember. But the singing can get loud, and the audience can sure get loud. Plus, add the factor that some people will be taking advantage of the all you can drink beer & sangria, and you might have some people being kind of scary-drunk for a kid to be around...and of course, Heaven forbid your kid just gets fussy, or wants to roam around while the performers are doing their thing (which often involves audience intermingling, imagine a kid getting caught underfoot during a show by a distracted performer)
I don't know much about the luau. I'm just assuming that it'd be more peaceful, but not necessarily sedate. Maybe sometimes, the music gets loud (and rhythmic), or the dancing becomes fevered...
Like I said before, I just think you really, REALLY risk not getting your money's worth & not enjoying yourself, bringing a kid that young to a dinner show. Depending on the crowd and the performers & how well-behaved your child remains, he could even be a distraction. I'm not down on dinner shows, and I'm sure you'll hear from other forum members who brought wee tykes to dinner shows and had a blast. I just think it's too much of a risk. If you're going to do anything (and if they're happening when you're there), I'd say do the Mickey's BBQ @ Fort Wilderness. It's a little cheaper and geared more for kids anyway.
Then there is the show itself. It's all good fun, but sometimes, people are loud, YEEEEE-HAAAAAA!!! kind of loud. I can't remember if there are pistols fired or not. I think not, but I can't honestly remember. But the singing can get loud, and the audience can sure get loud. Plus, add the factor that some people will be taking advantage of the all you can drink beer & sangria, and you might have some people being kind of scary-drunk for a kid to be around...and of course, Heaven forbid your kid just gets fussy, or wants to roam around while the performers are doing their thing (which often involves audience intermingling, imagine a kid getting caught underfoot during a show by a distracted performer)
I don't know much about the luau. I'm just assuming that it'd be more peaceful, but not necessarily sedate. Maybe sometimes, the music gets loud (and rhythmic), or the dancing becomes fevered...
Like I said before, I just think you really, REALLY risk not getting your money's worth & not enjoying yourself, bringing a kid that young to a dinner show. Depending on the crowd and the performers & how well-behaved your child remains, he could even be a distraction. I'm not down on dinner shows, and I'm sure you'll hear from other forum members who brought wee tykes to dinner shows and had a blast. I just think it's too much of a risk. If you're going to do anything (and if they're happening when you're there), I'd say do the Mickey's BBQ @ Fort Wilderness. It's a little cheaper and geared more for kids anyway.
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tigsmom
Well-Known Member
I brought my 18 month old to the Hoop Dee Doo. She loved it!
Yes she just picked at the food (no charge for kids under 3), but we made sure she had her own special food and drink to fill up on. She enjoyed playing the washboard and all the yelling... heck, thats what kids do!
Parents know their own kids. We made sure she had a nap before we headed out and she fell asleep on the boat back to the WL. We were all able to enjoy our food and the show.I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Yes she just picked at the food (no charge for kids under 3), but we made sure she had her own special food and drink to fill up on. She enjoyed playing the washboard and all the yelling... heck, thats what kids do!
Parents know their own kids. We made sure she had a nap before we headed out and she fell asleep on the boat back to the WL. We were all able to enjoy our food and the show.I would do it again in a heartbeat.
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daringstoic
Active Member
I've been to both over the last 2 years, and I'd definitely recommend the Hoop-De-Doo. It's my mom's favorite thing to do in the World, and we go to the show once every trip. I never remember having problems with any of my little siblings. In all likelihood, your kid'll have a blast playing the washboard and screaming to his heart's content.
The luau is definitely more peaceful, but not nearly as much fun. There is a part where they have all of the kids in the audience come up on stage and they teach them a little bit of a dance, but I'm not sure how much your son would get out of that since he's so young.
Judging just by the food, Mickey's Backyard BBQ has the best out of the three shows that have been mentioned. I didn't like the overall experience there, but it's definitely more kid friendly. They have a big dance floor in the middle of the picnic pavillion, and hot dogs, baked beans, corn on the cob, and some other classic American cuisine. I really wasn't a fan of the luau food at all, and the Hoop-De-Doo food is just alright (I have a weird thing about preferring my meat completely removed from the bone before I eat it...). I don't think I've ever seen anyone seriously drunk there from the unlimited beer.
Overall, the Hoop-De-Doo is my favorite. Sure the jokes are corny, but it's a fun time, and the straberry shortcake for dessert is really, really yummy.
The luau is definitely more peaceful, but not nearly as much fun. There is a part where they have all of the kids in the audience come up on stage and they teach them a little bit of a dance, but I'm not sure how much your son would get out of that since he's so young.
Judging just by the food, Mickey's Backyard BBQ has the best out of the three shows that have been mentioned. I didn't like the overall experience there, but it's definitely more kid friendly. They have a big dance floor in the middle of the picnic pavillion, and hot dogs, baked beans, corn on the cob, and some other classic American cuisine. I really wasn't a fan of the luau food at all, and the Hoop-De-Doo food is just alright (I have a weird thing about preferring my meat completely removed from the bone before I eat it...). I don't think I've ever seen anyone seriously drunk there from the unlimited beer.
Overall, the Hoop-De-Doo is my favorite. Sure the jokes are corny, but it's a fun time, and the straberry shortcake for dessert is really, really yummy.
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Mystic
Well-Known Member
Definitely take the Hoop-Dee-Doo over the Luau if you have a kid that young. HDD is much more kid friendly and the food is more suited to their tastes as well. Think fried chicken and corn. If you don't want to spend that kind of money with a young one like that but still want a good time, try checking out whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge. It's a family restaurant where the wait staff makes hats for people out of napkins. They do pony express rides for little kids around the restaurant and heaven forbid you want ketchup. The wait staff will stand there and yell out to the restaurant that you want ketchup so all the kids with ketchup on the table runs over and gives it to you so that you have every single ketchup bottle in the restaurant. It's great fun and not as expensive as HDD
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wired
Member
Hello, we went to HDDMR in January 05, my son was only 12 months, as soon as the show started he fell asleep, slept through the whole thing. I read alot about taking a young child to WDW and everything you find is great help. But for us 80% of the time my son slept. They were not kidding when they say young kids get brain overload and shutdown, that is what he did.
And if you really want my two cents, try not to plan to much, my wife did and was greating disappointed when things were not following. This was our first "adventure" with our first child. And though I carried him through most of the parks, the pictures we do have of him (awake), are the best and would no trade the experience for the world!
tw
And if you really want my two cents, try not to plan to much, my wife did and was greating disappointed when things were not following. This was our first "adventure" with our first child. And though I carried him through most of the parks, the pictures we do have of him (awake), are the best and would no trade the experience for the world!
tw
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Thanks to everyone for their advice. It looks like the majority of the posts have experienced a good time with their children. I guess once we get there we'll see if we could get in. If we go, we go. We're down there every other year so I suppose if we don't do the dinner shows this time around, then it'll have to wait until next time.
I think my immediate concern is to see how my son holds up with the drive down from Connecticut!!! That'll be interesting.....................
I'm sure I could do a thread search on this but has anyone ever done the Ricard Petty Driving Experience? Is it worth the big bucks to drive?
I think my immediate concern is to see how my son holds up with the drive down from Connecticut!!! That'll be interesting.....................
I'm sure I could do a thread search on this but has anyone ever done the Ricard Petty Driving Experience? Is it worth the big bucks to drive?
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