Why Change Country Bear Jamboree? | Magic Kingdom Theme Park | Walt Disney World

[@BenLaurence]

I’m just glad the bears are staying… The only reason we’re afraid of change is cause Disney hasn’t executed a good change in YEARS.. Also the reasoning for the changes aren’t always valid which makes the end result even worse. Prime example would be The Great Movie Ride Also want to add, this was a great breakdown of Country Bears and all the changes!

[@retrospectrum]

Hey thank you! I think Great Movie Ride was a huge lost BUT Runaway Railway is a phenomenal ride that has largely received positive feedback from park goers. Plus from Disney's perspective they own Mickey (mostly) where as the same can't be said about all the IP's on the great movie ride. That said the GMR is like Haunted Mansion to me and could have stayed forever. IMO most of the changes in the parks (over the last decade or more) have been positive. Guardians was a huge improvement over Ellen. Toy Story Land and Galaxy's Edge are extremely popular. The Fantasyland expansion was great and I never cared about Avatar until Pandora.

[@BenLaurence]

@@retrospectrum runaway railway is perfect in toontown but as the centerpiece of Hollywood Studios!? Taking away a 15-20 minute experience with sets, animatronics and live actors for runaway railway 🥴 I don’t know man it just doesn’t make sense… a great Mickey ride would have been 10 times better!!! Or leave movie ride and use the old animation building for a Mickey ride, that would be awesome! Can’t argue about Galaxy’s Edge haha I love it!!

[@retrospectrum]

@@BenLaurence ironically I like pandora more than GE. I’m a Star Wars fan who prefer the avatar land.

[@ultimatedisneycruiselinefa5112]

I’m gonna miss the old show, but I’m excited since the bears will still be there!

[@retrospectrum]

I love them bears!

[@jamesl1130]

All 3 were wonderful in different ways

[@retrospectrum]

I agree

[@marksousa3363]

When I was little, my mom & dad would take me to Disneyland. We always went to see the Country Bear Jamboree ❤️❤️ My mom and I loved Big Al. As an adult, I’ve really grown to love the 5 Bear Rugs

[@retrospectrum]

Ya they cut one of the song by the 5 beat rugs that was in the original attraction. It’s one of my favs

[@geekacres]

Love the bears, and I’m glad they’ll continue to pick & grin. Course my favorite part of the show was always the peanut gallery, just hanging around!

[@retrospectrum]

If the peanut gallery doesn’t return, we riot.

[@CECmass0325]

I was told by cast members that liver lips is still his name. It is still what is being used by Disney to name the character. Romeo is just a stage name/nickname used in the newer show. I just got an autograph from liver lips a a few weeks ago. Also, there was shirts with his name on it that just came out so I will go with that.

[@retrospectrum]

Interesting. I’d be surprised if they kept it honestly. It would be an easy rebrand.

[@charliemacsart]

They might just be keeping the name until the new show opens. The meet-and-greet bears will apparently be out in Frontierland still, as today Liver Lips was walking around and a cast member said the bears weren't hibernating. So, they'll be the same up until the new show opening, which then I'm assuming they'll be changing the costumes too- it was always weird that costume Liver Lips was bald while animatronic Liver Lips had bushy hair, so it'd be even weirder to keep the old costumes when the new Liver Lips is getting even more hair.

[@retrospectrum]

@@charliemacsart very cool. Yeah McGrowls appearance changed in the holiday/vacation shows as well. He became more similar to Elvis which is what I think they are going for with Romeo.

[@ClaerisGames]

Also: I hope Big Al sings let it go, that'd just be hilarious xD

[@retrospectrum]

That would be wild

[@charliemacsart]

I'm trying to be optimistic for the change- we're still keeping the bears, which is great! Always a win to have park-original characters. But reportedly, according to MickeyViews, they'll be singing Disney songs that are just "popular songs, stuff in Happily Ever After". Not even purely bear themed songs, just anything that's popular enough to make it into fireworks shows. I'm hoping it's actually a mix of country music and Disney, but we'll see. If it is Disney, I'm hoping it's older stuff because I can't imagine a country cover of "Let It Go" sounding great at all, lol.

[@retrospectrum]

I'm def hoping for a good track list.

[@natestrong4512]

Disney sent out a sneak peek awhile ago, it mostly looked like Disney songs in Country/Western styles. I do hope they kept some things from the original show, just updated.

[@retrospectrum]

@@natestrong4512 that would be great!

[@sophiehanssel2017]

​@@retrospectrumIf they don't do "Let it Go" they will likely do something else from Frozen, such as "In Summer", but imagine if they did something from Encanto

[@retrospectrum]

@@sophiehanssel2017 Encanto has better music IMO

[@JP-1990]

I could deal with Splash Mountain and the Country Bears being different rides in both WDL and WDW. But having them sing already well known songs instead of their own original ones kinda bums me out more than anything. I really wish the higher-ups simply accepted the fact that the original attractions for the parks are just as much IP as the movies they make and produce.

[@retrospectrum]

@@JP-1990 So I definitely understand/agree with the IP comment but also realize the people are often voting with their wallets (and IP’s sell a lot more merch). In the end the higher ups will alway chase the $$$. Also worth noting that the Country Bears sang “cover songs” in both the Christmas Show and Vacation Hoedown.

[@JP-1990]

@@retrospectrum I would posit that people can be convinced to vote any way you want them to. It's all about marketing.

[@retrospectrum]

@@JP-1990 maybe but marketing cost $$$ so they may just focus on biggest return for lowest cost. Disney is often capitalistic to a fault, focused on short term gains. Btw not saying that’s a good thing, just an observation.

[@disneydanny2]

"Vacation? and "Christmas" were my favorite incarnations of the attraction I think Florida shoud have foolowed Tokyo's lead. Up until December of 2019,Tokyo offered all 3 shows seasonally, now, it's Original year-round.

[@retrospectrum]

Absolutely!!! I've always thought that!

[@PicMaker]

Huge fan of the Country Bear Jamboree. I miss ours in Southern California. So glad that at least Florida is keeping theirs. And I’m all in favor of updates. All three prior shows, including the Christmas one, have been loads of fun.

[@retrospectrum]

Christmas show gets bonus points for being Holly and Jolly.

[@PicMaker]

@@retrospectrum Yesssss!!!!

[@Mr17051963]

I loved all the Bears shows (since the original from 1970’s)! Hoping for the best for the new one! ✌️

[@retrospectrum]

Same. My favorite is probably the Christmas show. Then the original and Vacation Hoedown are tied for 2nd.

[@Mr17051963]

@@retrospectrum Christmas is the more “feel good” of them. I love it, too! And Big Al as the New Year makes me laugh just remembering . 😄

[@BadDaddyB]

The Christmas and Vacation Hodown we’re both amazing, I’m not worried that this new version will also be amazing. It was originally designed for Tokyo, Disney. Everything is reused at Disney, or used even if it’s canceled at one of the other parks. Everyone should not worry the Bears aren’t going anywhere.

[@retrospectrum]

I think you’re probably right

[@MyelsDickinson-oe6eb]

At least we still got all the bares coming back in one way or another

[@retrospectrum]

With so many Chuck E Cheese getting rid of the animatronics, I think its fun the bears are sticking around.

[@kyleh698]

been waiting for good video like this!

[@retrospectrum]

Wow thank you!!!

[@ClaerisGames]

I watched someone's last day video and a recent full show, and now seeing YOUR old footage, I'm just amazed at how much articulation they used to have! The only time I ever saw the show in person was at Disneyland in 1992, so I don't remember fine details like that fluid movement, but it's a far cry from how they were at the end. I hope the actual bots get fixed up or even upgraded during this re-theme. The ones on the main stage used to move SO much more

[@retrospectrum]

Someone mentioned they’ll be next gen animatronics. If that’s true I’m all for it.

[@AuthorCertifiedGoof]

I do think the new show could be a lot of fun, and I agree that change can be good though lately I feel Disney’s track record with that hasn’t always been great… Sure Vacation Hoedown and Country Bear Christmas were revamps, but you could always expect that the original show would come back for us to experience it. The revamps were seasonal. With this new version, the original show will be completely gone and we won’t be able to experience it ever again. I think that makes the announcement a little bitter sweet. Thankfully, I have the soundtracks for all three versions of the country Bear shows. The Christmas one is on my playlist every year. I also LOVE the song “The Great Outdoors” from Vacation Howdown. “Got on my old camp t-shirt! Still fits! Kinda… 🤣😂 And we’ll always have KZbin vids to watch those original versions. It would just be nice to get to experience the original show live every once in a while. Like you admitted, I know those songs and the dialogue well!

[@retrospectrum]

Actually Vacation Hoedown wasn’t seasonal. It replaced the OG from 86 - 92 in WDW. It stayed in Disneyland until the park closed.

[@JohnGYoung]

Not mentioned in this video, which I really enjoyed, is that all of the animatronics will be replaced with the next generation version. Looking at this video it’s pretty clear how clunky looking the animatronics have become over the years. So, if that’s what’s really happening, we’re getting Beauty and the beast level animatronics in the new show, what more could we ask for? They could have just retired the whole thing instead of reinvesting into it.

[@retrospectrum]

That’s an outstanding point!!

[@CosplayCore]

I’ve just seen a new photo of Bunny, Bubbles and Beula and they don’t seem to be new animatronics. They did receive beautiful new skins though.

[@JohnGYoung]

@@CosplayCore i’m a little concerned myself that you may be right. Perhaps they will keep some of them and replace the host? I’d be OK if a couple of them were the new 100s. I had heard they were replacing them because the older animatronics breakdown a lot, and the newer ones are more efficient.

[@tristanwilliams4180]

i am interested in the new Country Bear Jamboree

[@retrospectrum]

Me too

[@HardLuckStudio]

I love the country bear jamboree and my favourite version is ether the Christmas version or vacation hoedown and my favourite character is liver lips

[@retrospectrum]

I’m not sure who my favorite is. Big Al is iconic (obviously). I love Buff but they cut much of his lines. Maybe Teddy Beara?

[@randyb1211]

I think the change is partly driven by demand and money. Country Bears has been a short wait time, easier to get into attraction for quite a while. Changing the show will create new interest and therefore higher wait times. That means they can add it to the Genie Lightning Pass and make some money for guests who will buy it. Creating demand and lines makes money now since Fast Pass isn't free like it once was.

[@retrospectrum]

I hope it’ll help eat up crowds. It’d be nice if it gave us new CBJ merch as well. $$$

[@retrospectrum]

How many versions of the Country Bear Jamboree have you experienced? Which one is your favorite?

[@cecanimatronicguy7403]

Just in case if the new refurbished won't go well through the whole year. I been writing my own refurbishment for the country bear Jamboree to submit to Disney

[@retrospectrum]

@@cecanimatronicguy7403 that’s awesome!!

[@cecanimatronicguy7403]

Yep, it's a Disney Junior Era show that teaches kids and people the history of music from centuries ago. Plus with Bears performing their favorite music that's also their personalities. And a redesign for Trixie, and Teddi.@@retrospectrum

[@retrospectrum]

@@cecanimatronicguy7403 that’s so fun!!

[@Balootoyoutoo]

Because they’re a bunch of fidgets that can’t help themselves always trying to fix things that aren’t broken

[@corbythehalloweenhag392]

My favorite songs we’re exactly in the same order as yours lol

[@retrospectrum]

Obviously

[@splittieful]

I Like the Sun Bonnets the smallest bears on the show and what's great is there song and they sing together and is cute agree?

[@retrospectrum]

They are the best. If you’ve ever read the original concept by Marc Davis, it tells us they spend their off time knitting a scarf for Big Al.

[@TheElvisJamboree]

I hate to say it, partner. Them bears went from heroes to zeroes. Big Al's crying over it, Trixie's been demoted to a side singer rather than her own big song, & poor Liver Lips has to go under a new identity because Bobby won't let him use his proper name. Now I know what Pixie Dusters may say, after all, The Mouse leaving lil' doughballs of cash at their door, but the point is is that these bears aren't at their best no more. They've been whipped by the Disney Circus & told to start singing their songs from all these films. That said, I say, in 10 years or less, we'll hear those foul words... "OH NO! COUNTRY BEAR HALL HAS BEEN CRUSHED!" As the bears move out of WDW, & get replaced by Pocahontas... & where will the bears go then, you ask? Well, to the land of the rising sun of course, a place that takes us all back to a Disneyland 20 to 10 years back. Redheads, Jessica, Hanging Man, & all. Even ol' Br'er Rabbit is welcome over there. So remember, if ya want to go to Disney, but can't afford it in the states, it's cheaper to go to Tokyo & go to their Disneyland. We don't talk about Paris though.

[@retrospectrum]

@@TheElvisJamboree IDK I (like many of the people who have experienced it) enjoyed the new show. I like the polish it received and it feels right at home with alternate versions like vacation hoedown and the holiday show. Only time will tell if the relevance of Disney songs will have a positive effect on attendance, but if we are honest with ourselves, attendance was not great before the change. so it’s quite possible the show would have been shutter it the future anyways. That said, Japan is a great option! Headed there myself next year, but I’m not sure that’s an authentic comparison. Doesn’t Japan have the original full length country bears rather than shorter, watered down version we’ve had for the last 20years? Not only that but I believe they still change the shows, cycling through Christmas and Vacation Hoedown as well. It’s really only a matter of time before they bring out the new version as part of the rotation. After all, they love Disney music! So I don’t know, I think it at least worth while to engage in the information honestly. We all can still have an opinion, but let’s make sure we aren’t curating the facts to fit our own bias, partner.

[@TheElvisJamboree]

@@retrospectrum Easy, partner. No need to fire the cannons or portside wherehave ya. Merely a generalization, if the new ones hit & those crowds go up in WDW, alls the better. I'll eat my own hat if it does I will say this though, since, you are right we all do have opinions, & my opinion is that Tokyo is by far the better park, though that's my own take, & since I am one to see other opinions, I do suggest others to other sort of speak... Have ya seen That Park Place? Perhaps a bit of WDW Pro? Clownfish TV ain't bad either though. Like I said, just suggestions though. No harm to be had. All in good nature. Now- uh- Before we get into too much a ruckus like Henry singin' over Al's part, I think this here's a good place to leave it at. That said, there's only one thing left to say... Well folks, this concludes our show.

[@retrospectrum]

@@TheElvisJamboree Being analytical shouldn't be perceived as an attack. Everyone should definitely make their opinions known. Arguments (made in good faith) are encouraged but so are counterpoints. That said, I think Japan is the gold standard which is why I’m excited to visit. Admittedly, I’m somewhat fascinated with their consumer culture (like Japanese 7-11 and McDonalds) they seem to enjoy everything and invest in quality. I imagine they’ll eventually add the new show to their rotation but who knows. Honestly, I’d love it if WDW brought back the rotation but.. I doubt they’ll invest in it. It was one of Florida’s few holiday overlays, and I also grew up with Vacation Hoedown.

[@lonesoul663]

They may be singing Disney songs 😒 but at least it's based on real Nashville country music and singing bears. I still hope they sing some non-disney country songs. I would really like to hear Rocky Top.

[@retrospectrum]

I agree 100%.

[@MoonwalkingKingdom]

They should keep The Bear Serenade and Come Again.

[@CosplayCore]

They’ve done Rocky Top before, I think it was in the Vacation Hoedown. It was pretty awesome!

[@lonesoul663]

@@CosplayCore yup they did

[@baileyjanssen8911]

Most of the time Change doesn’t work out for the better but this is one of the few times it actually worked the show is awesome the old will is good but I think the new one is way better

[@retrospectrum]

Thats great to hear!!!!

[@SpeedyCrabbit1533]

Firstly, Country Bears Needs to be updated to a modern audience towards a family demographic. Secondly, If they left country bears alone then the family demographic wouldn’t know who each character is. Thirdly, if the show is popular now when it opens then they must bring back a reimagined holiday & summer show with old and new songs for the overlays

[@retrospectrum]

I would love a holiday show (new or old)

[@SpeedyCrabbit1533]

And the new holiday show would have old and new music from the Christmas special and new and it would be called the country bear musical holiday jamboree

[@retrospectrum]

@@SpeedyCrabbit1533 I need this in my life

[@kenzihenderson5258]

My only concern is if they're keeping the sun bonnet sisters, I don't see their advertisement on the poster! Their song is my favorite, and I don't mind them trying out reimaginings as long as all characters are present. I don't want any bears cut. After all if enough people hate the new show theyll just do as they did for the tiki room and bring the old show back

[@retrospectrum]

If they get rid of the sisters, we riot.

[@JESmith]

They are on the poster just listed under Trixie

[@retrospectrum]

@@JESmith I see it now.

[@kenzihenderson5258]

@@JESmith oh thank goodness. I cudn't read that tiny print on my phone

[@briandonegan8480]

Song royalties. A lot of that music was written by other people. I am sure it was probably the most expensive attractions to run because of the royalties they had to pay out for each performance. Now all of it will be in house with music they own.

[@retrospectrum]

You know, I never even thought of that.

[@PeterPumpkinEater75]

The original show is absolutely outdated these days. However I doubt this update is being carried out for any purposes that relate to a love and admiration for the attraction and it’s characters, I’m sure this is just a way to remove anything “problematic” from it. I’m not convinced that the new show is going to appeal to fans and may possibly even do worse than the current one if there is none of the tongue in cheek dark humour included. Whilst I am very glad that the bears are staying in some form I would have much preferred a resurgence of vacation hoedown as I have little faith in modern day Disney and imagineering

[@retrospectrum]

I mean… if hoedown was on on the table I’d take that in a heartbeat. That said, I can’t hate on the modern imagineers that gave us Guardians, Galaxy’s Edge and Pandora.

[@DarkwingDuckandThreeCabe-yz4nv]

The bears are back and better than ever I hope

[@stephenfreitas8546]

Why not?

[@retrospectrum]

Fair Enough

[@JavaCake]

I just hope it’s not a tiki room under new management situation

[@retrospectrum]

I mean… that was 25years ago now. More likely the imagineers from ETRUNM worked on the original Country Bears replacement than will work on this modern incarnation. That said, ya I hope it’s good.

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Put some respect on Tiana's name. I love Tiana she is my favorite princess. My bday is march 31st and I pray I meet her for my 40th birthday. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@retrospectrum]

The folks in my community are thrilled to see Tiana get her own attraction.

[@FrappeInsider]

Gonna be honest.. if they did this 10 years ago I wouldn't be worried about it, but disney really can't make good changes anymore. I would honestly consider this show doomed.

[@retrospectrum]

Objectively, Imagineerings park offerings have been widely well received. Toy Story Land, Rise of the Resistance, Pandora... heck we swapped out Ellen's Energy Adventure for Cosmic Rewind (arguably Disney's best coaster).

[@FrappeInsider]

@@retrospectrum for each good there has been two bads lol

[@retrospectrum]

@@FrappeInsider For example?

[@FrappeInsider]

@@retrospectrum Addition of Genie +, failure of promises at D23, that free bus is paid, wokeness at disney, removal of splash mountain, removal of frontierland, new bad movies, lightning lane, indiviudal attraction reservation, webslingers, lack of working goggles at avatar, and more. I don’t even visit disney and I know about all these problems

[@Balootoyoutoo]

@@retrospectrum please stop giving Disney a pass to be sub par

[@jrimmer4987]

W

[@PINKHORSES1]

Change is good…let’s move on to the next generation of children for the future of Disney

[@retrospectrum]

Ya. I think change is mostly good. You’re right this will hopefully be for the next gen of park goers.

[@MsDisneylandlover]

It would be funny if they made it r n b and hip hop lol bears or rocks lol..

[@retrospectrum]

lol I can’t even imagine. That should be an entirely new attraction

[@Brandon-qd2lb]

Cause it’s very outdated and needs a refresh

[@retrospectrum]

Fair

[@oaklandasfan2090]

Horrible

[@MsDisneylandlover]

It not needed

[@TheVCRTimeMachine]

Meh. I’d rather have no Country Bears than see them relegated to a Disney movie songs cover band. It’s a lazy update

[@retrospectrum]

@@TheVCRTimeMachine It’d be disingenuous to objectively look at the work that went into this and call it a lazy update. Every version of Country Bears showcase “cover songs”. It’s not like Marc Davis called in the Sherman Brothers to write original songs for the original show. That said I definitely understand if people prefer the original show to the current iteration. The OG CB is still my favorite but that hasn’t been around since 2011. Let’s be honest, the 2012 edit of the original was in fact lazy, wasn’t well received either. I’m happy to see that version replaced.

[@jilliantavares8249]

This revamp is just awful! It takes away the charm of the Disney songs we all know and love. What were you thinking, Disney? Just STOP! Stop erasing all of Walt’s hard work! The animatronics needed a revamp but the show did NOT!

[@retrospectrum]

Maybe but Walt didn’t touch Country Bears all that much tbh. Most of what we know as CB was produced after his death. Heck the Walt version wasn’t even meant for a theme park and would have featured rotating show rather than a single show for a decade or more. Changing the show is arguably more in line with Walt’s version than a single show on repeat til the end of time. Food for thought.

[@shawnokeefe1580]

Because until this week it played to empty seats and people walking out early...it's dated and inappropriate

[@retrospectrum]

Thats fair

[@Horizons1]

Change is fine, but when the change is to wokeify the show and to make the theme of the show Disney its lazy. We know we are at Disney, we don’t need the theme to be Disney. It’s change that is a step backwards, or even a leap, that causes issues. Look at EPCOT with its “historic transformation”; its trash. Splash has been destroyed because of Disney’s leftist push and virtue signaling. I’m sure people such as yourself who want to make videos that praise Disney will herald this renovation as amazing and true to the CBJ, and honestly that’s fine. But there are plenty out there who see this for what it really is: a lazy renovation made to push synergy on the basis of being lazy because the Disney of today is TERRIFIED to do anything original.

[@retrospectrum]

I’m actually more the center. I can objectively look at the changes that happened to EPCOT in the 90’s (way before America’s obsession with “Wokism”) and see how the park lost much of its luster. With that in mind, I think attractions like Soarin, and Ratatouille, and Guardians are huge steps forward for the park. The high attendance in the park as well as park goers reaction to recent changes have led me to understand that changes at the park have been net positive. In fact, I wish Disney was more motivated for change so that attractions like Journey Into Imagination or the former Stitches Great Escape could get an overhaul. Currently the ride capacity at the park is awful, and we could use way more crowd eaters or even more park expansions. But I admit, the “Woke” complaint has been a challenging one for me to apply logic to. Like I said in the video, this attraction has been changed several times in the past already, in fact this has been the largest gap in the shows history without change. Also, Disney has said nothing about this change being made for any type of social concerns. I think it’s more likely the attraction needed a lot of love and maybe they can increase attendance and sell some new merch. I’m confident that above all else, Disney is truly more concerned about $$$. That said, I DEFINITELY agree they could do a far better job of making money if they really listened to their fans. So that’s the long and short of it. I definitely have some negative critiques of Disney parks as a whole right now, it just isn’t centered on Wokism. To that point (from what I’ve experienced) the term itself really is a form of Virtue Signaling itself that a somewhat smaller group of Americans have latched onto. Looking at it from a socio-political viewpoint the Woke Outrage doesn’t really seem to land with most people which is why so many politicians have shifted away from using the term as often as they did say a year or two ago. I don’t think it’s been as affective in manufacturing outrage as they thought it would and I would guess it’s just because they over used the term. Case in point, labeling any and all change “Woke” because we don’t like it has help the term to lose its potency. Now I’m very comfortable discussing cancel culture. I’m by no means a fan of CC and recognize how extreme elements on both sides of the socio-political divide are responsible for that. I hope that makes sense and I appreciate your comment.

[@BadDaddyB]

Thanks for this historic account and hopefully enough people who are concerned will give the new version a shot. My favorite was the Christmas show. Hilarious.

[@retrospectrum]

Ya lately I’ve been addicted to Vacation Hoedown. The music is outstanding