If there are two things that Disney knows really, really well, it’s entertainment—both off-screen and on—and travel. From film, TV shows, sports broadcasting, and on-and-off Broadway stage shows to theme parks, water parks, cruise ships, mini golf, and even small-group travel, Disney knows how to have a good time. But, if all the incredible restaurants and menus coming out of places like Disney Springs and Epcot are any indication, then I think it’s safe to say that Disney also knows a thing or two about food.
Enter the Disney dinner shows, namely the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. With all the food you can eat, bottomless beverages (alcohol too!), and hours of exciting, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny entertainment, dinner shows are some of the best places to eat at Disney World and a fun, memorable addition to any Disney vacation. (Updated July 6, 2023)
Make Mealtime Magical With a Disney Dinner Show
I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for dinner theater. To me, nothing says fun like comedy, drama, toe-tapping music, and maybe a little audience participation all served fresh with a side of tasty food and perhaps a boozy beverage or two. Looking for a memorable meal for your next family vacation that kids, teens, and adults alike will love? Wanting a unique date idea that’s sure to stand out from the rest? Try a dinner show.
Of course, the same can be said for a Disney dinner show. Disney World’s Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness Campground and other dinner-and-a-show offerings like fireworks and festival dining packages dish up yummy eats and family-friendly fun in equal measure, along with a generous helping of pixie dust.
Although each of the dinner shows at Disney World varies greatly in terms of theming, menu, and the show itself, they all come with plenty of tasty food. In fact, the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue comes with all-you-care-to-enjoy food and bottomless drinks, even beer and wine. That’s right, folks – if you’re looking for another place to enjoy alcohol in Disney World that isn’t drinking around the world, these are good places to start.
Add in palate-pleasing options for even the pickiest eaters, high production values, and your choice of either knee-slapping shenanigans set to a soundtrack of catchy tunes, a dazzling fireworks display or an awesome concert, and you’ve got a magical Disney World dining experience the whole gang will love.
So, whether you’re in the mood for a rollicking, Wild-West adventure, one of the theme parks’ famous fireworks shows or a special festival performance, these Disney World dinner shows should be on the menu for your upcoming trip to Orlando.
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad may be the “wildest ride in the wilderness,” but the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue definitely takes the cake when it comes to laughs. A true Disney World institution, the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue has been square dancing its way into guests’ hearts since 1974.
Nestled amid the towering pines of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, Pioneer Hall plays host to this sidesplitting, Wild West-inspired adventure, along with the multitalented Pioneer Hall Players. As you stuff yourself silly with cozy classics like ribs and cornbread, you’ll laugh, sing, and maybe even get pulled on stage.
Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue Menu
The Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue is all about simple, stick-to-your-ribs comfort food. So, while you may not be forced to eat with your hands like you are at Medieval Times, there’s a good chance you’re going to want to anyway. Best of all, there’s no need for a kids’ menu. Because honestly, who doesn’t love all of these things?
Pails overflowing with crispy Fried Chicken, savory Smoked BBQ Pork Ribs, and Tossed Green Salad. Dishes mounded with saucy Baked Beans and, sometimes, Mashed Potatoes and Corn on the Cob. Plates piled high with Fresh-baked Cornbread and Honey Butter for slathering on top. And be sure to save some room for that sweet, sweet Strawberry Shortcake. Wash it down with all the soda, milk, juice, tea, coffee, beer, wine, or sangria you can (safely) drink.
Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue Ticket Prices
The Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue costs between $39 and $74 per person depending on the guest’s age and which seating category you’d like. Pioneer Hall is a long, rectangular theater with the stage along one of the short ends and balconies overlooking from the other sides. Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue ticket prices are as follows:
Adults (Ages 10 and up)
- $74 – Category 1 (on the main floor)
- $69 – Category 2 (on the balcony on the far wall parallel to the stage)
- $66 – Category 3 (on the balconies perpendicular to the stage)
Children (Ages 3 to 9)
- $44 – Category 1
- $40 – Category 2
- $39 – Category 3
Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show
Disney World used to play host to a second dinner show, the Spirit of Aloha luau at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Sadly, after shutting down in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic, Disney announced back in March 2022 that it would not be coming back to the resort’s Luau Cove. Instead, the area will soon be the site of a brand-new Disney Vacation Club property.
Hoping to still get your fix of hula and fire dancing, bottomless pit-roasted pig and plentiful Hawaiian vibes on your next trip to Central Florida? Well, you’re in luck. While it isn’t at Walt Disney World, Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando still offers its Wantilan Luau every Saturday evening.
Fireworks Dining Packages
While it might not be a Broadway-style show, we think Disney’s nightly fireworks spectaculars make for some dazzling dinner entertainment. Better yet, with one of the Disney World fireworks dining packages, you don’t need to take precious time out of your day to enjoy an awesome view. All you need to do is make your reservation and take in the show from your dinner table or, for Fantasmic dining packages, simply head over to the reserved seating section and claim your spot.
If you’re looking to dine and shine at the same time, you can take advantage of a fireworks dining package at both Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They include:
Fireworks Dining Packages at Epcot
Guests can choose between two different Epcot fireworks dining packages, both of which are found in World Showcase: one at Rose & Crown in the United Kingdom and the other at Spice Road Table in the Morocco Pavilion. Each of these waterfront eateries boasts breathtaking views of the World Showcase Lagoon as well as the nightly Epcot fireworks. Here’s a breakdown of each.
Rose & Crown Fireworks Dining Package
Enjoy dinner beneath the stars and amid the glittering glow of Epcot Forever from the outdoor patio of Rose & Crown Dining Room. This shimmering dining package features a prix fixe menu of classic British dishes, which includes an appetizer, entree, dessert and a selection of unlimited beverages. The Rose & Crown Fireworks Dining Package is priced at $89 for adults and $39 for children ages 3 to 9, including tax and gratuity.
Spice Road Table Fireworks Dining Package
Savor the flavors of the Mediterranean while drinking in the sparkling scene over World Showcase Lagoon from the open-air dining area at Spice Road Table. Along with its romantic outdoor setting inspired by the Moroccan seaside, you’ll enjoy a prix fixe menu of two small plates of your choosing, a tagine to share, a dessert platter, and bottomless beverages. The Spice Road Table Fireworks Dining Package is priced at $79 for adults and $29 for children ages 3 to 9, including tax and gratuity.
Fantasmic Fireworks Dining Packages at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Fantasmic is one of the most popular nighttime spectaculars at Disney World. That also makes it incredibly busy and tricky to get a good spot. Fortunately, with the Fantasmic! Dining Package, you won’t have to worry about that. Although you can’t enjoy your dinner while watching the show at the same time, this dining package will score you some sweet seats in the reserved seating area.
Dining packages are available at several table-service restaurants at Hollywood Studios (sorry, no Roundup Rodeo BBQ yet), including Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, Hollywood & Vine, The Hollywood Brown Derby, 50’s Prime Time Cafe and Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. So, there’s an eatery for whatever you and your group are craving, whether comfort food or Italian cuisine, character dining or fine dining.
No matter which option you choose, your dining package comes with an entree and your choice of an appetizer or dessert or, if applicable, a full buffet, as well as a non-alcoholic drink and a guaranteed seating voucher for the reserved section. Prices range from $49 to $73 for adults and from $22 to $47 for children ages 3 to 9. Click here to check out your options.
Seasonal Festival Dining Packages at Epcot
If you happen to be traveling during one of the festivals at Epcot, you will also have the chance to try one of those special dining packages. Just like the festivals themselves, the entertainment you’ll enjoy will vary from event to event, like Disney on Broadway during Festival of the Arts or the Candlelight Processional during Festival of the Holidays. Festival dates also change yearly, so make sure you take a look at the calendar when planning your vacation.
Festival of the Arts Dining Packages
Running from the middle of January through late February, the Festival of the Arts is a must for lovers of music, art, theater, dancing and, of course, the culinary arts. The Disney on Broadway Concert Series Dining Package lets Disney music lovers and theater fans get their fix while also enjoying either lunch or dinner at select Epcot eateries. And, of course, don’t forget the reserved seating! Prices range from restaurant to restaurant, so check out your options here.
Flower & Garden Festival Dining Packages
The International Flower & Garden Festival takes over Epcot from the beginning of March through early July. At this fresh event, the headlining act is the Garden Rocks Concert Series. Similar to Festival of the Arts, Garden Rocks Dining Packages come with guests’ choice of either lunch or dinner—a buffet/family-style meal or three-course feast, depending on the restaurant—as well as guaranteed priority seating. Pricing varies for each restaurant, so look here to see which one strikes your fancy.
Food & Wine Festival Dining Packages
Held from the middle of July through the middle of November, the International Food & Wine Festival is a truly delicious time to visit Epcot. Along with the tasty eats, the Eat to the Beat Concert Series is one of the many highlights of this yummy event. If you’d like to get guaranteed seating for the show, which can feature performances by some incredible acts, the Eat to the Beat Dining Package is the way to do it. Diners can decide between a full-course breakfast, lunch or dinner at a select restaurant of their choosing. Prices vary greatly, so check out the website for the complete details.
Festival of the Holidays Dining Packages
Last, but certainly not least, the Festival of the Holidays brings yuletide cheer to Epcot from late November through the end of December. As we mentioned previously, the pièce de résistance of Festival of the Holidays is the Candlelight Processional, a stirring retelling of the Christmas story—complete with a celebrity narrator, a massed cast choir and a 50-piece orchestra. As you can imagine, this show is incredibly popular. So, the best way to secure a seat is with a Candlelight Processional Dining Package. Similar to the other festival dining packages, guests can enjoy lunch or dinner at select restaurants, then cap off their evening with guaranteed seating. Look here for prices and restaurant availability.
Dinner Theater Not for You? Try One of These Alternatives Instead
Like the idea of dinner and a show but not a fan of the ticket price? Hoping for something more kid (or adult) friendly? Need something with more flexibility or that isn’t as much of a time commitment? Give one of these Disney World dining options a try.
Disney Character Dining
While there might not be a stage, Disney character dining experiences certainly aren’t short on entertainment. Whether hobnobbing with Mickey and Minnie, seeing Snow White and some dwarves dance, or watching the Mad Hatter tease Winnie the Pooh about Piglet and bacon, there’s still plenty to enjoy during character dining in Disney World. Plus, not only will kids have a ball at Disney character breakfasts and dinners, but parents will love the cheaper price tag.
Live Entertainment at Disney Resort Hotel Lounges
And although they may not be official Disney World dinner shows, you can enjoy live entertainment as you nosh on something tasty (for a whole lot less, I might add) at a few of the lounges at the Disney World resorts.
Scat Cat’s Club at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter features live jazz several nights each week, along with Crawfish Etouffee, booze-infused Baton Rouge Beignets, and Big Easy-inspired cocktails. Next door at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside, Yehaa Bob Jackson tickles both the ivories and the funny bones of the guests at the River Roost lounge. This spot also dishes up Louisiana favorites like Southern Fish and Chips alongside refreshing Abita beer.
Savor the flavors of the Pacific Northwest as you watch the Electrical Water Pageant float past from Geyser Point Bar & Grill at the Disney Wilderness Lodge. Or, pay a visit to Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, an immersive tiki bar like none other, where the bar itself is the entertainment.
DIY Your Own Disney Dinner Show
You don’t need a specific dining package to enjoy dinner and a show. You can just create your own! Feeling like some fireworks? Epcot and Magic Kingdom fireworks shows can be easily viewed from outside the park. For Magic Kingdom, consider booking a table at California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort or grab something from one of the restaurants at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort or the Grand Floridian before making your way to the beach on Seven Seas Lagoon to take in the dazzling display. At Epcot, grab something to eat from one of the many quick-service restaurants in the park and post up around the lagoon or head over to Disney’s BoardWalk for a meal then see the show from there.
Watching a Movie Under the Stars at one of the Disney resorts is one of our favorite free things to do at Disney World. But, why not make it even better by adding food into the mix? Grab a blanket and something to eat from the hotel’s counter-service or grab-and-go locations for impromptu dinner theater on the cheap.
Well, foodies and theater lovers, that wraps up our review of dinner shows at The Most Magical Place on Earth. Have you gone to one of the dinner shows at Disney World? Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! Concerned about the cost? Make some space in the budget with our discounted Walt Disney World tickets.
