Hoop Dee Doo Question

[TW1]

I have not been for about 6 years, and a co-worker has just made ressies for HDDR in April. He had a few questions about seating that I could not answer (surprsed? me neither.)

Anyway, I recall enjoying myself quite a bit when we were able to get seating on the main floor, and not being too thrilled with seats upstairs. Way back when, I thought I recall that the main floor seating was given out to those that had made ressies the farthest out, thus good planning meant you had good seats.

Has this changed? How are the main floor seats given out now? Do you need to get there an hour or more before?

Thanks for the insights. I'm passing this on to a co-worker who has not been to WDW in 20+ years and bringing his pre-schoolers for the first time.

[ErinC]

We went about a year ago or so. The latest that I'm aware of it is still done by reservation request date, but... you can't get cat 1 seating if you are using the dining plan. I first booked with cash, and then when I called back and changed it to DDP we got bumped to cat 2 which is the back of first floor and the balcony. We ended up at the very first table when we walked in the door at the back of the first floor. It was fine, we had as much interaction as I wanted. My guess is, if he is paying cash, he'll probably be on the 1st floor.

[ErinC]

I meant to add, that I would think they would tell him when he makes the reservation where he'll be seated. It didn't seem to make any difference what time we arrived at HDD.

[TW1]

Thanks Erin. So when you make a cash ressie they tell you then that it is Cat 1 and Cat 1 is the main floor?

I'll ask him if he remembers if they mentioned this. Maybe he'll need to call back and confirm.

(9:20 a.m. positing for you! No school today? :Pokepoke: )

[idratherbeinwdw]

(9:20 a.m. positing for you! No school today? :Pokepoke: )

My kids are off today for Veteran's day (although the real holiday was yesterday). I'm surprised your guide didn't tell you. ;)

[TW1]

I'm surprised your guide didn't tell you. ;)
HEY! WTH! Time to make a phone call...

[fantasmic]

HDD is now tiered seating with each tier a different price. just saw it two weeks ago and it was great.

[gopherit]

Frankly, I'm glad they are doing it by "tiers" and price. And I find it hard to believe in that "first ressie gets best table" rule. I made ressies a few years ago and made them about 20 mos out - when I made the ressie, the MS person said, "WOW! You are the first and only name on the list!" I arrived at FW a good few hours in advance too - despite being told that my arrival there had no bearing on my table assignment, that it was already "determined". Well, we didn't have a bad table, per se... but we sho' weren't given a table that screamed, "We made our ressies nearly 2 years ago!" We were sort of to the side on the main floor, and several tables back. Not bad... but not great. If I could have rec'd a price break on some balcony spots, I think I would have gone for it - it's no cheap dinner, that's for sure, but so much fun....

[nono]

gopherit, 17 years ago it did work that way...we made our ressies for the last show of the night about 1 year out. We were first table dead center.

Holy crap! I think it's been 17 years since I've seen Hoop Dee Doo! OMG! :faint:

[TW1]

gopherit, 17 years ago it did work that way...we made our ressies for the last show of the night about 1 year out. We were first table dead center.

Holy crap! I think it's been 17 years since I've seen Hoop Dee Doo! OMG! :faint:
Exactly how I remember it. Make the ressie a year+ out and you got a table dead center. And/or, get there early and get that table.

I'm glad to see the tiered pricing as well. I did not like the cattle herding feel of waiting at the door and hoping to get to the podium first to beg for your desired table.