Last Friday (1/26) was the last day of the original Country Bear Jamboree in Magic Kingdom here in Walt Disney World. This opening day attraction is going to be overhauled to include Disney classics like the Bare Necessities. Same bears but different songs, which I am not sure how I feel about honestly. Thankfully, we got to go get one last show in with the original Country Bear Jamboree on Friday and it was magical! So I thought this week I would share that experience, a little Country Bear history and where the bears are headed!
The Last Shows
I think we all know you do not typically have to wait in line to see the Country Bear Jamboree but last Friday was a different story! The line was not only out the building but had switch backs and everything!! It was actually really cool to see so many people wanting to come see a classic one last time. We only had to wait for about 20 minutes to see the show and we ended up being one of the last shows because they had technical difficulties that resulted in the attraction closing early that night.
I do not think I can remember a time when since I was a kid that the Grizzly Hall Theater was PACKED like it was this night. Everyone was singing along with all the songs and cheering for the bears like they were at a concert, it was fantastic. It especially made me happy that so many younger fans knew the words to these songs and were so energetically celebrating the bears last show. It is something I will truly never forget and I am so glad I got to experience.
A Little Country Bear History
The Country Bear Jamboree was not only an opening day attraction in 1971 here in Walt Disney World. It was also one of only two opening day attractions that were completely original to Walt Disney World and not a remake of something already found in Disneyland (the other was the Hall of Presidents). It is even said that Walt Disney’s last trip to the WED or Imagineering department was spent checking in on the progress of the design of this very attraction. He would not live to see it come to life but he loved it before it was complete calling it “A winner”.
How It Started
Country Bear Jamboree or it’s original idea was not intended for Florida as that was all still in the works at the time. This attraction was part of the plan for Walt Disneys California Ski Resort to be called Mineral King. The Country Bears would have been part of a dinner show at the resort. This resort never came about after Walt’s death but it was full steam ahead on what they called “the Florida Project” so that is where the Country Bears came to life!
The Design
At the time, nothing like this had really been done. Of course there were animatronics on the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland but those were moving attractions and could easily hide if an animatronic was not working or malfunctioned. The Country Bear Jamboree would require these animatronics to be visible on stage for a longer period of time and maintain their “lifelike” appearances longer and better as there wasn’t a ride to distract from them. Each bear was designed to look like the song they were singing and embody that character, think about the classic country singers you know and love and how they too embody the character of their songs.
Did People Like It
The Country Bear Jamboree was a huge hit in 1971 with guests and critiques alike. The Orlando Sentinel had numerous articles stating the show was a “big hit” and “true Disney”. In 2021 these articles and others were republished to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World and the Country Bear Jamboree! In 1971 adults attending Disney World and watching the Country Bear Jamboree would have grown up watching the the Davy Crockett serials of the 1950’s that were part of Walt Disney’s weekly broadcasts so they of course knew the theme song by heart. This was part of the imagineering genius of this show because at the end when Henry Bear (with Sammy Raccoon on his head)sings this song, I’m sure you can imagine all the adults getting excited and singing along. Once again proving that Walt Disney and what he created could remind you of that child inside and bring it right out of you and back to life!
Changes
One of the things I find most interesting about the Country Bear Jamboree is that it has not gone through the same kinds of updates and changes as some of the other attractions. While the Disneyland version had some changes, the Walt Disney World attraction stayed pretty true to the original for most of the 52 year run. There was a brief period of time where there was a vacation hoedown theme put on it and a Christmas revue overlay added during the holidays but other than that it has been the same show for 52 years. And it has stood the test of time with people young and old still loving songs like “Blood on the Saddle” by Big Al and “All The Guys That Turn Me On Turn Me Down” by Bunny, Bubbles and Buelah (my personal favorite).
Meeting The Bears
Sometimes you can find some of the Country Bears roaming around the parks to meet and take pictures with. Big Al, Liver Lips McGrowl, Shaker and Wendell can all be found wandering around Frontierland at times and I even ran into Wendell in EPCOT checking out the UK Pavilion once! They may be country but that doesn’t mean they aren’t cultured! Hahahaha! Fun Fact: The little baby bear on stage with the Bear Band Bears name is Oscar and his teddy bears name is Mayer because Oscar Mayer was once a sponsor of the Country Bear Jamboree.
There’s a Movie??
YUP! In 2002 Disney released a movie title The Country Bears. It wasn’t great, well received or a hit so we can just leave that at that and not let it tarnish the classic that is the Country Bear Jamboree of Walt Disney Worlds Magic Kingdom….ok? OK!
Where Are The Bears Headed?
Well some would say onto a bigger and better show and that may be the case. In September at that D23 Expo the revamp was announced. Same bears, new songs. It was said that the show would take on a Classic Nashville Variety show vibe and Disney was even bringing in Nashville stars to to help make some of the new musical arrangements. A new poster was revealed which everyone in the audience received that day and the guests at the last of the shows on Friday also received one. We also got hear a new rockabilly version of the Bare Necessities from the Jungle Book that will be part of the show. The new show is scheduled to open in the summer of this year (2024).
Conclusion
Well…that was a fun little walk through Disney history, honestly one of my most favorite things. I love the Country Bear Jamboree and have really fond memories of going to see it as a kid. I feel like this was one of those attractions that I always noticed how much my parents enjoyed it. My dad always liked Liver Lips McGrowel and Teddy Beara the best. Now our kids have grown up enjoying it and knowing all the songs and said they feel like they got to be a part of history being there for one of the last shows on Friday. And they are right! They are part of the last generation to have watched the original Country Bear Jamboree in Magic Kingdom, unless you’re planning to go to Tokyo Disney where you can still see the original show. So while I am excited to see the new show and make new memories, I would be lying if I wasn’t a little sad that another little piece of my Disney childhood is now left to the pages of history.
I did film the entire show from last Friday and it truly was something to remember! If you would like to see it, I have added to our YouTube channel and you can watch it here:
I hope you all enjoyed this weeks post and enjoy the video of our last show with the OG Country Bears. Thank you all so much for being here and reading along, you are all the best! I hope you have a magical day!