Disney World’s Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue was only supposed to last one summer

The fried-chicken-and-washboard dinner show at Fort Wilderness started in June 1974 with a cast of college interns. More than 50 years later, it’s still going.

Disney World’s Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue was supposed to be a summer fling.

The dinner show opened at Pioneer Hall in Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort on June 30, 1974, per D23, Disney’s official fan club. The first cast was made up of summer college interns, per WDW Magazine.

“At its inception, the show was only meant as a limited time offering,” WDW Magazine wrote in its history of the show.

Guests had other ideas. Disney made the Hoop-Dee-Doo permanent on Sept. 5, 1974, and it’s been serving fried chicken and corny jokes ever since.

When did the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue open?

June 30, 1974, as a summer show. It became permanent a little more than two months later, on Sept. 5, 1974, per D23.

That makes it one of the oldest shows at Walt Disney World, which itself opened in October 1971. D23 calls it “one of the country’s longest-running dinner shows.”

Who created the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue?

Writer Larry Billman wrote the show, per D23. Bob Jani was running entertainment for Disneyland and Walt Disney World at the time, per D23.

The idea was simple. Put the audience in a big log hall, feed them all the food they could eat and have a troupe of Wild West performers sing, dance and tell bad jokes on purpose.

The original six characters were Six Bits Slocum, Dolly Drew, Jim Handy, Flora Long, Johnny Ringo and Claire de Lune, per D23. Three men, three women, plus plenty of audience participation.

What food do you get at the Hoop-Dee-Doo?

The same comfort food the show has served for decades, brought to the table family style and refilled as you go.

The current menu includes salad, cornbread, coleslaw, beans, fried chicken, pork ribs, potatoes, mac and cheese and strawberry shortcake, per WDWMagic’s January menu. Plant-based and allergy-friendly options are available.

Back in 2014, D23 said the kitchen went through roughly 900 pounds of fried chicken and 400 pounds of ribs a night. Dessert wasn’t always shortcake, either. It was apple pie until 1979, per D23.

How many people have seen the Hoop-Dee-Doo?

Millions. By its 40th anniversary in 2014, the show had played more than 37,000 performances for over 10.5 million guests, per D23.

That count has kept climbing for another decade since.

How much does the Hoop-Dee-Doo cost in 2026?

It depends on where you sit. As of January, prices ran from about $70 to $78 for adults and $40 to $45 for kids, tax and gratuity included, per MickeyBlog. Category 1 seats on the main floor cost the most.

There are three shows a night, at 4 p.m., 6:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and each runs about two hours with dinner, per MickeyBlog. Prices change, so check Disney World’s site before you book.

How do you get to the Hoop-Dee-Doo from Magic Kingdom?

By boat is the fun way. Boats run from Magic Kingdom to Fort Wilderness, and from there it’s a short walk or shuttle to Pioneer Hall.

Buses run from other Disney resorts too, but give yourself at least an hour. Fort Wilderness is big, and the internal shuttles take time.

And don’t worry about knowing the words. By the end of the night, you’ll be waving a napkin over your head like everyone else.

Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• D23 (Sept. 5, 2014), 40th anniversary history: dates, creators, characters, performances and food

• WDW Magazine (Sept. 5, 2024), the intern cast and limited-time origin

• WDWMagic, January 2026 menu

• MickeyBlog (Jan. 31, 2026), prices, showtimes and transportation

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