Disney Dining and Dinner Shows

Some of the best things about going to Disney World are the dinner shows. These are great but they are costly.  Yet you should try to do at least one during any adventure.  Now a dinner show is different than the other categories of meals that Disney has.  We break down the dining categories into four separate categories, quick service, table service, buffet and dinner shows.  Some of these categories get blended together depending on where you are at.  The Disney dining plan breaks their meals down in a different manner, basically putting the meals into a different type of four categories, snack, quick-service, table-side service and meal events that cost two table-side meals.  We have never used the Disney dining plan. We have never found it to be worthwhile. We just don’t eat that much food and we think we would end up spending everyday trying to get to the next meal.  Plus we are pretty aware of every dining option and what they cost so we are able to figure out what we are doing without any problems.  However, in the event you are going during a time when the plan is bundled into your offer you might as well take advantage of it.  On the other hand, I think if I got that deal I would probably just use all the available meals to get the big meals (also not good for the waistline). Including both the dinner shows.
Now the dinner shows are different than the character dinners, etc.  Character meals are decent and obviously are meant for the kids, but you are typically paying for the characters not the food.  The same could be said for the dinner shows to some extent, but they tend to be more fun than just people in costumes. Plus, if you are interested, unlimited beer and wine (standard faire) then they are worth it; especially if you have to take part in the show, which has happened to us.
There are two main dinner shows that we go to.  One is the Sprit of Aloha, which used to be simply called the Luau when we were kids and the other is the Hoop Dee Doo review.  Both of these shows are located at resorts so you will need to take Disney transportation or drive if you happen to have your vehicle.  Unless you are staying on the monorail loop or the Wilderness Lodge, getting to these dinners is going to require a trip to a park, then a transfer to a bus or boat going to the hotel.  Your best bet is to take transportation to the magic kingdom and head from there to get to any of these two meals.  Bear in mind you have to travel back. Of course your best bet is to be staying at the Polynesian or Fort Wilderness, but not everyone is so fortunate, or willing to potentially rough the outdoors in the case of Fort Wilderness.  You have to be sure to allot a bunch of time (about an hour and a half). The question then is which one to do.
                                                                   
                                                               Hoop De Doo Review
                                                                   

                                                               Spirit of Aloha
                                                              



We are split on this one.  If you like good solid American food, i.e. ribs, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, etc. as well as a completely goofy and corny show, then the Hoop Dee Doo Review is for you. If you prefer pulled pork, a more Hawaiian faire and some dancing, I would suggest the Spirit of Aloha.  The Spirit of Aloha also gives you a chance to hang out at the Polynesian which can be a lot of fun, or at least more so than Fort Wilderness, although there is a playground at Fort Wilderness that the kids can play on.  Food wise I feel you get more food at the Hoop Dee Doo Review, but it could be that it is just heavier.  Regardless, whichever one you go to you are going to you will leave full.  I recommend that you try and hit at least one of these meals if you are at Walt Disney World, especially if you are there for more than four days (assuming you are spending a day at each of the four main parks). 

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