What happened to shows during meals?

[KCheatle]

Back in the good ole' days of the 80s and 90s, WDW had shows that would run in what would now be considered quick service restaurants. They had a show that ran repeatedly in the Diamond Horseshoe. At Epcot, they had a character show that would run while people ate at the Odyssey. I remember going to eat at these places with my family and loving the opportunity to chow down while watching a show. The only ones I can think of now are The Hoop-De-Doo review, which is not a quick service, and Sonny Eclipse at Ray's, which really isn't the same type of thing since it's an animatronic.

Any ideas why they went away from this?

 

[KraftServices]

I'm going to assume the cost of paying those performers was a major factor.

 

[DisneyJoe]

You can still see the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue as well as the Spirit of Aloha dinner show.

 

[AndyS2992]

Dinner shows are still around.. for a price.

 

[_caleb]

For some reason, I don't think we value live shows as much as we used to. Especially smaller, more intimate performances. Maybe we've lost our social skills, but now it kind of feels awkward to watch someone perform (while they're watching me watch them perform).

I miss them, though. I especially miss the ones you're talking about- fun live entertainment that maked even a quickservice meal special.

 

[correcaminos]

I remember Diamond Horseshoe so well. I actually liked it far better than Hoop Dee Doo. I remember the Odyssey as well but didn't really stand out to me as much as Diamond Horseshoe. I'm sure it wasn't as cost effective. Though in the Odyssey's case, it's no longer used for regular dining *sigh*

 

[Minnie Mum]

The Odyssey closed as a restaurant 23 years ago. The Diamond Horseshoe review ended 8?? years ago and is just open seasonally, if that, for food now. The Top Of The World dinner show at the Contemporary was one of our favorite places for a decent dinner and a Disneyfied Vegas style show. That ended 22 years ago.

Disney bean counters decided that not enough profit was coming from these venues. So they were either closed completely or the entertainment was axed to increase the bottom line. It always comes down to $$$

 

[CaptainJackNO]

You can still see the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue as well as the Spirit of Aloha dinner show.

This is true, just deposit your best functioning kidney as you enter in order to afford admission lol

 

[larryz]

The only ones I can think of now are The Hoop-De-Doo review, which is not a quick service, and Sonny Eclipse at Ray's, which really isn't the same type of thing since it's an animatronic.

Not really quick service, but it's a buffet, so it can be quick if you want... in Germany. Biergarten. Band plays for 20 minutes about every 45 minutes or so.

Any ideas why they went away from this?

$$$

 

[Bender123]

The Odyssey closed as a restaurant 23 years ago. The Diamond Horseshoe review ended 8?? years ago and is just open seasonally, if that, for food now. The Top Of The World dinner show at the Contemporary was one of our favorite places for a decent dinner and a Disneyfied Vegas style show. That ended 22 years ago.

Disney bean counters decided that not enough profit was coming from these venues. So they were either closed completely or the entertainment was axed to increase the bottom line. It always comes down to $$$

Broadway at the Top went out, not only due to money, but because it was a very dated dinner show that came from the 1970s lounge culture. Its not as "time removed" as Hoop de doo and Aloha...it was firmly planted in a time period. Imagine a dinner show in an old 1970s Pocono resort lounge. It was not a viable concept going into the 2000s. It was a holdover from the days WDW was sold as a resort destination that had theme parks, not a theme park complex with some resort style amenities. Back then, the golf courses, tennis clubs, water sports and other amenities were advertised to the same level as the Magic Kingdom. I remember going with my parents in the early eighties and you would go to the MK for a day or two and then spend a great deal of your time doing the other "resort" things that made mom and dad happy.

 

[75disney]

DL still does shows at the Golden Horeshoe Revue, a jazz band plays at the French Market, and a piano player at Coke Corner. Plan on hitting all three during the shows for some food and entertainment later this month.

 

[JIMINYCR]

It was a costly venture. Having to pay CM's for their performance time and having other CM's available to fill in when needed, hit the park budget. They discovered that they no longer needed a "show" to draw the crowds in and fill up the the restaurants to sell food. The show aspect was the Disney of Yesterday when shows and entertaining the guests counted for something. Now if you want a dinner show you pay for it. Not much is free anymore.

 

[Bender123]

It was a costly venture. Having to pay CM's for their performance time and having other CM's available to fill in when needed, hit the park budget. They discovered that they no longer needed a "show" to draw the crowds in and fill up the the restaurants to sell food. The show aspect was the Disney of Yesterday when shows and entertaining the guests counted for something. Now if you want a dinner show you pay for it. Not much is free anymore.

The taste of the public also changed...People just don't go to WDW for a show anymore. People are there because they want rides and spectacle. We would all love the old ways, but lets face it...we are the minority. Nobody wants to go sit in a restaurant longer than they have to and Disney doesn't want you to linger either, because they have limited space and tables and far more demand than supply.

Honestly, the best experiences I now have at the World is to eat lunch outside the parks and recharge...I love that places like Geyser Point exist, because its relaxing and away from the crowds. Sitting for a show at the Magic Kingdom is just not a preference for me and, likely, for many people..

 

[KBLovedDisney]

Raglan Road is still good and has a lot of toe-tapping shows. Other than that and Hoop-Dee-Doo, I can't think of any others.

I remember going to the Odyssey when it was a restaurant, but I was very young and don't know what show was going on.

Does anyone have pictures or possibly a link for that?

 

[KCheatle]

Raglan Road is still good and has a lot of toe-tapping shows. Other than that and Hoop-Dee-Doo, I can't think of any others.

I remember going to the Odyssey when it was a restaurant, but I was very young and don't know what show was going on.

Does anyone have pictures or possibly a link for that?

Not the best quality...but it was 1989, so...

 

[OliveMcFly]

For the longest time I remembered the characters in rainbow costumes and couldn't place it. As I got older I realized we were at the Odyssey.
In the 80's we would always see the Character Luau. I can't believe this isn't something that's still around.

 

[danyoung56]

I don't see this as a factor of changing times as much as a financial decision. It's much cheaper to NOT have the shows. Plus, as others have said, people will move in and out faster if they're not dawdling over a show. It's sad that we've lost this element, but then there's always Sonny Eclipse!

 

[75disney]

Not the best quality...but it was 1989, so...

Thanks for the video. I had forgotten about the show at the Odyssey. That would explain the pictures that my mom has of us with the characters in those costumes. Free character interactions at a counter service restaurant! Now Disney would charge $45 a person for that same meal/ interaction and you would need to book it 180 days in advance!

 

[Chef Mickey]

Thanks for the video. I had forgotten about the show at the Odyssey. That would explain the pictures that my mom has of us with the characters in those costumes. Free character interactions at a counter service restaurant! Now Disney would charge $45 a person for that same meal/ interaction and you would need to book it 180 days in advance!

They are smarter now...and Disney is just more popular.

Nothing wrong with capitalizing on your brand.