After over 40 years of “foot-stompin’ fun” at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, the extended closure of select shows at Walt Disney World has resulted in the entire cast of “Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue” to be laid off amidst the latest wave of layoffs affecting the domestic Disney Parks division.
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue opened as a permanent show on September 5, 1974 and is regarded as one of the country’s longest-running dinner shows.
It’s unknown whether the shows will go dark permanently, but we hope to see the return of these extremely talented performers to the parks very soon. Select equity performers returned to Walt Disney World back in September after initial negotiations, but for the most part, the majority of entertainment across the resort remained dark, with performers on extended furlough up until the recent layoffs.
Why didn’t WDW lay off executives? Went to Disney a couple weeks ago and it still cost the same but for the first time in my life I felt ripped off and harnessed by rude cast members.
The investors need to demand an emergency board meeting and FIRE BOB CHAPEK, and any other execs that support these kind of insane actions! Chapek is committing corporate suicide, and it has to be stopped. I know they’re hands are tied on Disneyland right now due to Newsome, but DeSantis has basically given WDW and other parks in Florida permission to FULLY open back up. Everyone has seen the WDW crowds for the last month or so, and two weeks ago I was there for a week and saw them myself, and there is definitely not 6 feet between parties at all times…and there’s not been a major spike over it! If Chapek would take advantage of the opportunity that they’ve been given to either increase capacity or even fully open up WDW, I believe there’d be more than enough guests who would decide to go. But no, Chapek whines about Disneyland not being allowed to open, which is hurting people and Disney, but doesn’t take the opportunity Florida has given them. And the cast members he has short sighted lay laid off are vital and not easily replaceable! Just one example is them letting go of NYee Haw Bob. Well that bar and restaurant he s built a following at is not going to have nearly the business as it used to! Now all you’ve thought it would be good to do the same to Hoop De Doo, Festival of the Lion King show, and many more CM’s that have made, and have kept WDW special and worth the cost to visit. You can’t have it both ways Bob!
Next week they’ll be melting down the Partners statue.
Then they can get rid of walk around characters and put up screens for virtual character meet and greets.
Going to Walt Disney World was a special experience when I was a kid.
Now it’s Chapek’s Cut Cost City…
That’s sad! It was a corner show but a fun time, good food and a traditional classic. Hopefully it will be back with a new show that’s even better!