Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue - Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort

On New Year's Eve, for the second year in a row, we went to the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort.  After braving the insane crowds at Epcot on New Year's Eve for the first couple of years we lived in Orlando, we decided that we needed a change last year.  I made our reservations exactly 180 days in advance, because the shows on New Year's Eve can sell out quickly.  


A chef came out to talk to me immediately after we were seated.  He told me that the salad, ribs, mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetable (corn), and cowboy beans were gluten free.  Instead of fried chicken, he offered me grilled chicken, but I asked for my favorite gluten free chicken tenders instead.  For dessert, the Hoop-Dee-Doo offers strawberry shortcake, which I cannot eat, so I was offered strawberries and cream as a substitute.  Last year, I was given an OMG...It's Gluten Free Brownie.  I asked if it was still available, and the chef said it was.  I don't pass up opportunities to eat these brownies, because they are so deliciously rich and fudgy.


The Sangria, which is one of the alcoholic selections included with your meal, is pretty good.  


The salad is probably my least favorite part of the meal, because the dressing tastes like bottled dressing.  I'm a "make my own dressing" kind of girl.  


Gluten free bread and cornbread are available.  No way was I passing up this delicious cornbread with honey butter.  


I pretty much had this bucket of ribs to myself.  My family of gluten eaters loves the fried chicken so much, they never touched the ribs, which means more for me!  If you are in the mood for gluten free fried chicken, you need to visit 50s Prime Time Cafe at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  Their fried chicken is amazing! 


I was shocked when my basket of gluten free chicken tenders arrived.  There were enough chicken tenders for several people, and a bunch of french fries were included too!  The grilled chicken I had last year was good, but the chicken tenders were way better!  


The mashed potatoes were delicious, and I enjoyed the corn too.  


I'm not a baked beans fan, but my family enjoyed them.  


My OMG...It's Gluten Free Brownie with strawberries was the perfect end to a great meal and show. 


We buy category 1 seats on the main floor, because we like to be close to the stage.  


Category 2 seats are in the back of the main floor, and category 3, the least expensive seats, are up on the balcony.  Pioneer Hall was decorated for Christmas, and Christmas music was incorporated into the show.  You can view the seating chart, prices, and check availability on Disney's website here.  Dinner shows run at 4:00, 6:15, and 8:30.  The Tables in Wonderland discount can only be used for the late show.  


The Pioneer Hall Players perform on and off for two hours.  Disney describes the Hoop-Dee-Doo as a "rousing Wild West dancing, singing and zany vaudeville comedy."  


I was worried about going to see the same show two years in a row, but we had so much fun! 


In future years, we might consider the first seating.  We all have a hard time waiting to eat until 6:15, especially my girls.  


After the show, we walked down to the dock and picked up some complimentary New Year's hats and noise makers.  In the past, my girls would have been driving everyone crazy with the noise makers all night.  They didn't even seem interested this year.  My girls are growing up too quickly! 


We had a great view of the Magic Kingdom's Holiday Wishes fireworks show at 8:30, and they were playing the music at Fort Wilderness, so we could enjoy that aspect of the show too.  We didn't stay to see the New Year's Eve Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks show.  That's way too late for us!  


Many of the guests at Fort Wilderness Resort decorate their campsites for Christmas.  We rented a golf cart and rode around looking at all the decorations after the show and fireworks.


All in all, it was the perfect New Year's Eve celebration, because we didn't have to fight the crowds in the parks, we enjoyed the food, and the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is always an incredibly fun and entertaining show.  This year, we also had the added bonus of viewing the fireworks, and renting the golf cart to see all the Christmas decorations at the campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort.  I want to go back again next year, hopefully with some friends or family.

January 14, 2014 Update

Two weeks ago, we spent our third New Year's Eve in a row at Disney's Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue.  Again, we rented a golf cart and chose the 6:15 seating.  I finally got to meet the famous Chef TJ, who works at both Trail's End Restaurant and the Hoop-Dee-Doo.  He told me that the same foods I ate last year were still safe.


I skipped the salad this time around, and drank some sangria while I waited for my gluten free cornbread.


I really need to ask what mix they are using at the Hoop-Dee-Doo, because their cornbread with honey butter is amazing.  


While my family dug into their fried chicken, I enjoyed the ribs, potatoes, corn and baked beans.  I usually don't like baked beans, but these were pretty good.  


Chef TJ brought me grilled chicken, even though I just wanted gluten free chicken tenders, which he was willing to make for me.  I am glad I asked for the chicken tenders, because the grilled chicken was tasteless.


The chicken tenders took a while, but they were definitely worth the wait.  I have eaten gluten free chicken tenders at restaurants all over Disney World, but these were some of the best I have ever had, because of the sweet chili sauce Chef TJ served them with.  


For dessert, I was served an OMG...It's Gluten Free Brownie with whipped cream and strawberries.  This year, my brownie was served with what looked like the strawberries that come with the strawberry shortcake.  I much prefer fresh strawberries without added sugar.  My second disappointment was that my brownie was not warm, and it was so hard, I could barely cut it with a knife.  I thought about sending it back and asking for a new dessert, but I was really full from eating all of my chicken fingers.  I was a little disappointed that I didn't receive one of the dessert towers that Chef TJ is so famous for.  


After dinner, we had hoped to see the fireworks, but we were told that we had missed them, and would have to wait until midnight.  Like last year, we spent some time driving around the campgrounds at Fort Wilderness looking at all the Christmas lights put up by resort guests.  


I hope 2015 brings you great joy and happiness, and lots of amazing gluten free eats!  Happy New Year!


2 comments:

  1. Your link to your pintrest didn't work. I have to eat gluten-free and love Disney so I love reading where I can eat that isn't Burgers Chicken strips a hot dog or there pizza that is always soggy crust.

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    1. Thank you so much!!! I fixed my Pinterest link. I thought I had changed it when I renamed my account.

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