The sounds of a dinner bell ring while a group of Cast Members call out, “come and get it!” This is the greeting that starts the excitement of your journey into Pioneer Hall for a dinner and show that will have you singing and laughing for the rest of the night. For 50 years, Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue has entertained countless guests at the Walt Disney World Resort – and many have made it part of family tradition.
When entering Pioneer Hall, you are greeted with friendly faces that direct you to your table. Your waiter is standing by, ready with salads and the beloved Hoop-Dee-Doo cornbread. Before you even open your mouth to eat, you can hear instruments harmoniously playing in the background and the doors rattling. In a snap, the Pioneer Hall Players run through the audience and onto the stage to begin the show. That’s when the fun begins.
On June 30, 2024, I was lucky enough to have a reservation to Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. Little did I know when booking this reservation that my friends and I would get to have a real magical moment. I found out the morning of that Hoop-Dee-Doo was celebrating their 50th Anniversary. When my friend brought this to my attention I went to Google – this couldn’t be so perfect. But there it was: June 30th, 1974, opening date for Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue.
The excitement I felt after confirming this information was immeasurable. I have been a longtime fan of Disney’s Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve gone in the past eight years of living in Florida. So to be there on Hoop-Dee-Doo’s special day meant everything to me. We had reservations for the 8:30 show, the last show of the night. I wondered what they would do to honor this huge occasion. My friends and I had no idea what was to come next.
The history of Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Walt Disney World
Before I get into that, let’s talk about the history of Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue! It all started back in 1971 when Disney Legend Card Walker wanted to create more entertainment opportunities outside of the theme park. He decided to focus on bringing entertainment to the hotels. Pioneer Hall, at that time known as The Fort Wilderness Dining Hall, modeled after the late 1800’s US Northwest Territory Lodge, created a great space to hold a dinner show.
They wanted to keep with the rustic theme of the resort and the dining hall. Walker, along with his creative team, came up with the concept for a show that would revolve around performers who had a stagecoach break down as they were traveling to another engagement. While their stagecoach was being repaired, the entertainers performed for guests who were dining in the Fort Wilderness Dining Hall that evening.
Whoop Dee Doo, the original billing of Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, was not supposed to be a permanent Walt Disney World show. The idea was to have the show be there during the summer months. This would bring in more guests and therefore revenue to the resort. The cast was made up of college students that Walt Disney World held auditions for as a summer intern program. The program allowed these six college students, three males and three females, to earn college credit while doing an internship with the Walt Disney World Company.
The start of the famous Hoop-Dee-Doo
Thus, on June 30, 1974, the Pioneer Hall Players performed for the first time. Originally, the shows did not have large crowds. But, as word spread, the revue gained popularity. As popularity grew, so did the demand to keep the show as a permanent part of the campgrounds. Even to this day it’s one of the longest running dinner shows in America. Those six college kids had no idea at the time that they started a legacy that they are still a major part of today.
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue still has the original cast of characters that were created for the show: Dolly Drew, Flora Long, Claire De Lune, Jim Handy, Johnny Ringo, and Six Bits Slocum. They are the lovely crew that have you singing, hollering, laughing and most importantly, raising the roof at the Hoop-Dee-Doo while you chow down on an all-you-can-eat dinner that was cooked up by “Ma” in the kitchen. It’s a place where family and friends can come together and have a “rootin’ tootin’ good time.” There’s so much life and energy in Pioneer Hall. You can feel it from the time you walk in and that follows you the rest of your night.
Meeting the original cast of Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
One of my favorite parts is before you get inside. After you check in for your reservation, you either get in line or hang out in front of Pioneer Hall, waiting to be let in. This is where you can talk to people. You find out if it’s someone’s first time seeing the show. You watch other people’s excitement for what’s to come. Perhaps you help take pictures for others or just make some new friends.
Remember that surprise I told you about earlier? Well, a woman who was the literal embodiment of a ray of sunshine started chatting with me and my friends. She was asking us if we had seen the show before, expressing her excitement about the night. This mystery woman then asked us if we knew that tonight was the 50th anniversary of Hoop-Dee-Doo. By that time, we did. She handed us a card with her picture and name on it: Leslie Norris Townsend. “I’m an original member of Hoop Dee Doo,” Leslie expressed with such joy, “and we’re having a reunion tonight, me and the other original Cast Members!”
Talk about a real surprise! My friends and I thought maybe Disney would have created some special merchandise for today or maybe have the cast give a shout out during the show to honor the 50th anniversary. But never did we think we would get to meet an original Cast Member from a show we adore, let alone be in the same building as the entire original cast. At this point we were starstruck and speechless. Leslie may not be a member of the royal family, but to my group of friends and myself, she, and the rest of her fellow cast mates, certainly were.
“Keep the cornbread coming”
Inside, we sat down and began our feast by telling the waiter to “keep the cornbread coming until we pass out.” Our waiter dutifully listened. The room was filled with people dressed in their western best to celebrate this historic day and show. When the Pioneer Hall Players came running in the room, they electrified the audience. You could feel the excitement in the room which was on a monumentally different level than a normal show night.
The performing cast was having the time of their lives on stage while the original cast was seated not too far away. It was a beautiful sight to see with the original cast coming together sharing laughs and hugs while also being there with their loved ones. To bear witness to a moment like that is not only rare but heartwarming. It’s not often you get to see people who were part of creating something that becomes a core part of so many people’s lives. They not only got to see what their creation has turned into but they also got the recognition they deserved.
It felt like a movie…
Hoop-Dee-Doo had the show start off as normal. The cast sang, danced, told jokes and interacted with the audience like they always do. For those who are unfamiliar with the show, there’s a moment when Johnny asks the audience if there’s any birthdays then he proceeds to ask about any anniversaries.
At this part in the show, the cast was going around to those who put their hands up and had announced to the rest of the hall what the table of original performers were celebrating. Once everyone who had a hand up got some celebratory love from the rest of the audience, Johnny once again took over. He said today was a very special day for Pioneer Hall and how it has been 50 years of Hoop-Dee-Doo entertaining many audiences from all over the world during its run. Johnny then brought up how many Pioneer Hall Players have been a part of the legacy of the cast, and he let the audience know that the original members were with us to celebrate. The entire table of the original cast members then stood up and the room erupted into applause. It turned into a full standing ovation.
To see the faces of the entire original troop light up as we all clapped, cheered and waved our napkins in the air felt like one of those scenes you only get to see in the movies. Without them we wouldn’t have our beloved show and they deserved all the “Yaw-hoos” in the world.
The musical revue goes on
The rest of the night was filled with even more laughter. A couple of the cast got up on stage to tell the tale of Davy Crockett and the current cast made sure to include the originals as much as they could. Once the show ended my friends and I made our way over to where the original cast was still seated. We asked for a photo and were lucky enough to get two of the original swings, our newly-made friend Leslie, being one of them, and the original Dolly Drew.
The entire original cast, along with their families, were incredibly kind and gracious. They were ecstatic anytime someone asked for a photo with them and took photos with everyone who asked. You could tell how much the night meant to them but also even all these years later, how much the show still means to them. The memories each of them holds must certainly remain close to their hearts. They were a part of creating a solid part of Walt Disney World and American Theater history.
Here’s to 50 more years of Hoop-Dee Doo Musical Revue
It is remarkable people like the original Hoop-Dee-Doo cast, the current cast, and all the Pioneer Hall Cast Members that help create magic and bring joy to guests. It shows how laughter, joy and fun are timeless, while also showing how incredibly important entertainment is to the theme park experience. Allowing guests to be a part of the show and creating those memories is what makes places like Disney so, well, magical!
It was an honor for my friends and I to be at Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue on the 50th anniversary. Thank you to the original cast who started this amazing show. Without you the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue would not have continuously raised the roof for 50 years. To all those who are currently a part of the Pioneer Hall Players, thank you for sharing your talents with the world and helping to continue this incredible legacy. Most importantly, happy 50th to the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. May this show continue to entertain guests for generations to come.
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