Best Dinner show?

G00fyDad · #1 (**permalink**) 12-07-2008, 02:24 AM

What's the best dinner show and why? We have only ever been to the Hoop Dee Doo Revue but for our next trip we think we may want to try a different one. So, what's your favorite and why?

Winkster · #2 (**permalink**) 12-07-2008, 04:56 AM

I'm starting to think I'm a bit of a miserable kiljoy!

I love eating out but find that, often, dinner shows compromise both the food and the entertainment (not to mention service).

I find you get better food at a good restaurant and better entertainment at a good show - so I prefer to one or the other - or both, one after the other.

Combining the two never seems to work as well. Dinner show food tends to be mass produced with the emphasis on speed, not quality - and you never get attentive service. Entertainment is often very mixed with some very good but some just corny and tacky.

In my opinion, whilst dinner shows can often be good fun, there's generally much better to be had by picking your own restaurant and your own show.

GrumpyCOdad · #3 (**permalink**) 12-07-2008, 12:03 PM

My family loved Mickey's backyard BBQ...both the food and the music. My kids were dancing the whole night, my in-laws loved the food and the wife and I had a great time as well.

And after reading many of your posts Winkster, I am beginning to agree with you!!! LOL....playing of course!

disneyprncss77 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-07-2008, 11:59 PM

I think it depends on what you're looking for to decide which one is the best. I've been to all 3 and only 1 was a disappointment and I like the other 2 for different reasons.

Hoop Dee Doo - this was the first one I went to and the most disappointing. I didn't like the food very much and they seemed to rush us through it. There was no time to eat all I wanted even thought there was plenty. The show was nice, but nothing that really WOWed me.

Spirit of Aloha - just getting to the dinner show through the Polynesian is great because the setting is right off the lagoon. There is assigned seating for this one, but only the server knows where you're going. The food is the BEST of all the shows. We go to Ohana when we want that style food but not the time involved with the show. The show is a luau with hula dancing and fire eaters. Very entertaining!

Mickey's Backyard BBQ - This is the best character experience by far! Being able to get right next to them and dance and take pics while the music was playing was too fun!! The food was good too and plentiful. I was so stuffed I had to take the ice cream with me for the boat ride back to my resort!

I do like character dining at times, but not all the time. I highly recommend going to all the shows at least once and then decide for yourself! Have fun!!

Winkster · #5 (**permalink**) 12-08-2008, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrumpyCOdad

And after reading many of your posts Winkster, I am beginning to agree with you!!! LOL....playing of course!

LOL - Terrible isn't it!

I think the problem is we don't have with kids and so aren't interested in the family or kids stuff that a lot of people love.

I'm sure if we did have kids, we'd do all the character stuff for them and I wouldn't come across as half as miserable.

That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it anyway!

mberenato · #6 (**permalink**) 12-08-2008, 03:58 PM

dont listen to anyone else the Hoop is the best... Just kidding... it really is a great show that you can see over and over.

RyanCooper76 · #7 (**permalink**) 12-17-2008, 10:58 AM

LOVE the Hoop - T - Do

Curious Alice · #8 (**permalink**) 01-23-2009, 03:26 PM

Skip the dinner show and do something else! I've never even been tempted to go to a dinner show. Like, Winkster, I don't like combining the dinner with the entertainment.

Winkster · #9 (**permalink**) 01-23-2009, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curious Alice

Skip the dinner show and do something else! I've never even been tempted to go to a dinner show. Like, Winkster, I don't like combining the dinner with the entertainment.

Hmmm -

- maybe that marriage just might work after all.

You might even grow to like the Carousel of Progress!

G00fyDad · #10 (**permalink**) 01-23-2009, 10:08 PM

We love dinner shows. Dinner at Disney should be fun. Not stuffy and closed off without any Disney interaction.

But I think we have decided to go for the Mickey's Backyard BBQ.

Winkster · #11 (**permalink**) 01-24-2009, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G00fyDad

We love dinner shows. Dinner at Disney should be fun. Not stuffy and closed off without any Disney interaction.

But I think we have decided to go for the Mickey's Backyard BBQ.

I think you're right - if you have kids or if you just enjoy that kind of thing.

A "good" restaurant doesn't have to be stuffy though - in fact I really dislike stuffy restaurants. I'm sure many people do like them though (although they'd probably prefer to refer to them as sophisticated, refined or elegant - but stuffy's good with me!) and fortunately, Disney offers restaurants to suit all preferences.

My favorite restaurants are those that are casual and chilled out. Great service and great food in a relaxed atmosphere is what I look for - not characters leaping around, singing and dancing and kids screaming with excitement.

We don't have kids and, with the greatest of respect to those who do, I never want them. I'm not a character fan and so the thought of combining characters with average food and excited kids makes many of the Disney dinner shows (or worse, character meals) my idea of hell on earth.

I get enough Disney interaction during the day although I do think that, especially during a 14 night vacation, you can overdose on Disney. I think there's nothing wrong with a bit of variety and getting away from all that in the evening occasionally for some rest and relaxation.

I do however also appreciate that your priorities are different when you have kids and the best part of a meal (and indeed your vacation) is seeing your kids having a great time.

Dinner shows often offer an entertaining way to eat and give the kids (and often therefore the parents) a great time. In my opinion, without doubt, dinner shows are a hugely important option in Disney's vast array of dining alternatives.

I just prefer it when the kids are having a great time somewhere away from me! And as dinner shows are a great way of doing that - I'm a fan!

Enjoy the BBQ!! I've read so many good things about it (despite the interesting poll result here) that I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

DigDis · #12 (**permalink**) 03-12-2009, 07:09 PM

I love the show in Germany at Epcot and the food is great there!

Dismom · #13 (**permalink**) 03-13-2009, 05:08 PM

I have only done the Spirit of Aloha and we enjoyed both the show and the food. I am not sure about the others since I have never done them, but perhaps in the future.

We liked the Spirit of Aloha, hubby has stated he wants to do it again on next visit and I am planning on taking my mother when we go in September.

Now speaking of stuffy, we had dinner at Wolfgang's on our last visit, while the food was tastey and there was more than enough my hubby did not enjoy it at all and I think that could be the reason, it was stuffy or snoby feel to it for him, now I felt it was fine, but felt underdressed, keeping in mind I never wear jeans or shorts so my attire was not very causal, but with wearing tennies, well made me feel underdressed. If I was to ever do it again, I would have to go back to the resort and at least change shoes before going there, but since hubby does not want to go there again, well not much chance of that happening.