Amidst the back woods of Walt Disney World, inside the Wilderness Campgrounds, there is a theater that boasts the longest running dinner show in the world. Period. Not just in Central Florida, or even the United States, I said the WORLD’s longest running dinner show! Actually, believe it or not, it’s the longest running musical in the history of American theater (google it!), and has been entertaining audiences from all corners of the globe for well over 40 years, packing the Pioneer Hall night after night, proving it’s self to be top in first-class entertainment – Western Style! So grab a seat and get ready to rustle up some grub, sing along, and yell out yee-haw! The show is about to begin.

And what a show it is! All your senses will be delighted here as you are affectionally herded like cattle over to a table that is pre-set with wonderful cornbread and a huge salad, covered with some of the best house-made balsamic dressing in the west (…eeeerrr….East?)! The corn bread, served with a pound of honey apple butter should be called corn cake and I had a slice, or-two, or-three…

The salad was a mix of fresh iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumber (such good cucumber!), and parmesan cheese. The balsamic vinaigrette was sweet and tangy, and the salad was drenched in it (I guess that was “mama’s” way of saying: you better like it!) Luckily I was able to order a small salad with the dressing on the side for myself.

With the delivery of our drinks (yes- served in “Ball” Jars!), the show began. Alcohol was included, so if you’re so inclined, I highly recommend the sangria! It set the stage for the hooting-holaring, rooting-tooting, yippie-ki-ay!, show ahead! I promise I won’t give away [too-many!] spoilers, but the basic story-line is that a traveling troupe of actors have come into town to perform for you this evening. The cast of characters is truly something else: two characters who are clearly the comics, two characters who are the show’s love-struck dancers found in Chicago (“between engagements”), and two actors who are your typical “beautiful people” — the “leading man and woman” in the show.

These performers are full of quick wit and constantly on their toes! Talk about a show where a talent for improv is necessary from the get-go as the cast walked about Pioneer hall asking people where they were from. They even stopped at our table (several times!) to have some fun!

With our first course cleared, the Pioneer Hall Players declared we must eat “Mama’s home-made fried chicken” served up hot and right. With the song ringing out “MORE CHICKEN”, there was a big clang as a huge pot of all-you-care-to-eat southern fried chicken was clanged down onto our table, plenty for sharing.

Quickly following came the pork-ribs, wonderfully amazing mashed potatoes, the sweetest sweet corn, baked beans, and finally macaroni and cheese served so hot none of us could pick up the bowl. The chicken was succulent and tender and all the sides played in complete harmony, striking all the right notes for full chords during the course of the meal. Southern frred yumminess right here in Central Florida folks! Come and get it:

Soon the actors returned for the second half of our show. They inquired to the audience about any birthdays, and being that there were 3 at our table, the Pioneer Hall Players paid special attention. Complete with a specially ordered Birthday cake as they sang Happy Birthday! (Which I only had video of- and wordpress doesn’t allow .MOV files. Boo!)

The show continued with much audience participation and jokes for all ages. The Pioneer Hall Players are all amazing actors with enough talent to fill a Broadway stage- special props goes out to the tech crew too who work hard to make sure that spotlight is always in the Just-the-right-place.

Then came the icing on the cake….. DESSERT!

Straw!

Straw-Berry!

Straw-Berry-Short-Cake!

Enough. Said.

During dessert the story of Davy Crocket is told, complete with (yet again- you guessed it!) audience participation! Talon, my boyfriend’s nephew, was asked to come on the stage with his dad, Matt, to play the Ranger and the Indian! It was too cute, as Talon got a kiss- he just quickly wiped it off though!

Sadly, it was then time to say good-bye to Pioneer Hall. But the fun did not end there! One of the things I adore about Disney is the little moments when you can find something fun to-do that is “off the beaten path.” We took some time to take the kids to the playground, swung on some swings, had a hula-hoop competition- all in the name of Disney-style Family fun!

For more information on how you can save your seat at the Longest Running Dinner Show on Earth please call 407-WDW-DINE.