Permits filed for new set elements at Country Bear Musical Jamboree

Apr 12, 2024 in "Country Bear Musical Jamboree"

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Country Bear Jamboree closed - January 27 2024

Posted: Friday April 12, 2024 1:38pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has filed a new permit this week for ongoing work at the Country Bear Musical Jamboree in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

The permit carries the description of "Install set elements and piping" and is assigned to Thermetrics Corporation, which specializes in HVAC and Chillers.

Country Bear Jamboree closed - January 27 2024

Work is also underway on the exterior at Grizzly Hall, with the attraction marquee now behind wraps to be updated with the show's revised name.

Looking ahead to the new show, which opens in the summer of 2024, Disney says, "The Country Bears are getting ready to put on a new show that pays homage to the Opry-style shows of Nashville. While the Country Bear Musical Jamboree will include easter eggs from the beginning to the end including a familiar tune fans may remember, the bears will sing new, reinterpreted Disney tunes in different genres of country music – like bluegrass, pop-country, Americana, rockabilly and other styles."

New Country Bear Jamboree 2024 poster

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Mr. Sullivan10 hours ago

I know Disney hasn't been the king of smart decisions as of late, but I really don't know that they would've gone through the time and effort of completely redoing this show, new music and all, if they didn't intend for it to stay there for some time. They're especially not going to want to take anything more than they have to offline at Frontierland while they're doing a multi-year project in the area. I honestly don't think there's any chance the Bears go away for several years, but even if there was, I wouldn't bet on it happening until both the Cars stuff and Villains stuff are all done which could very well be well into the next decade.

EagleScout6102 days ago

Take the songs they covered that people knew, they added a little touch of whimsy to make it more than "Oh cool, the bears sang ". My favorite example is On The Road Again with Wendell's vacation slides showing his vacation going worse and worse before he takes a picture of the crowd and gets told off ("There's no flash photography during the show, and that means everybody, WENDELL!"). They didn't do that for Musical, except for Try Everything, but the joke misses because Trixie was never the adventurous type before. Wendell was the loveable dork who would naturally have a bad vacation.

prberk2 days ago

What you are both describing is what made the difference in the past: attention to detail and understanding what made the genre work to be entertaining, especially in the “old west/traveling medicine show” aesthetic of the jamboree. I recommend everyone at least support the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue in Fort Wilderness while we still can find even that.

EagleScout6102 days ago

My other issue is that they tried to do the "Big Al comes back after his number" gag again, but after the others have already sang the final number. The original finale worked because everyone was trying to outsing Big Al and in repsonse got really rowdy and loud, perfect for a finale.

Surfin' Tuna2 days ago

This is a great point. Disney really seems to have lost sight of what people of all generations love. They want to be entertained. The novelty of the bears singing songs will eventually be lost, but many of us saw the old shows many times. It always seemed fresh and funny.

EagleScout6102 days ago

I've done some thinking, and I think my issue with Musical Jamboree is how little dialouge any of the characters have beside Henry, Sammy, and the heads. I think the only other dialouge is Shaker going "Huh?!" and Big Al sobbing. In the original the characters talked to each other during acts and made snide remarks at each other, or there was a gag after the curtains close (Ernest getting stung by bees in Vacation, or McGrowl's yodeling and proceeding to fall down). Thos little things gave so much whimsy to the original three shows. It all just feels very stilted and scripted in Musical and like they just rush through performers til the end.

Professortango13 days ago

I love the traveling show aesthetic. I work as a magician and have had the pleasure of performing on some really well designed stages in that motif. I just wish they had kept that visual storytelling and details in Country Bears.

prberk4 days ago

I agree about the curtain details and similar things. What they were mimicking in the original was old Western and traveling medicine shows like that described as “The Royal Nonesuch” in Huckleberry Finn, which fits Frontierland. I can say, though, that for now at least you can find that kind of detail and show experience, including the changing rolled mural backdrops, in the “Hoop De Doo Revue” in Fort Wilderness. Check that out. You will appreciate the trip back to 1869, albeit with A/C and bathrooms, lol.

gerarar5 days ago

Saw this a couple weeks ago on Sunday (9/1). Overall thoughts are that it's very enjoyable and fun. My party had 2 people that never seen the show (previous iteration) and they loved it. They, along with the other guests in the audience, were all laughing, clapping, and smiling throughout. We ended up seeing it twice in one day since we all liked it a lot, and it's a nice way to beat the heat (or rain in our case). Standout parts for me were A Whole New World and Remember Me. They brought out most of the laughter. The side comments in between songs were also on point imo. Also supercalifragilisticexpialidocious was another favorite of mine with the smoking fiddle gag. And now here's some pics I grabbed: 815327 815325 815326

TalkingHead5 days ago

It’s an attraction with a small footprint that generates no added revenue in a highly traversed walkway. The show’s appeal was always nostalgia and its early WDW vintage. Now that’s gone; popularity will decrease further. A few years from now they’ll be looking for any way to goose more spending from guests. Shut down the unpopular show that costs money for AA upkeep and add an experience or whatever WDI calls these things for an added cost. Who’s going to care at that point?

Jedi145 days ago

I could see at the next Destination D23 them announcing at least a new Christmas overlay.

Sneaky5 days ago

What even makes you think they will? Is it just pessimism for pessimism sakes?

Disgruntled Walt5 days ago

Or they'll have to expand the DVC club they're building next door.

TalkingHead5 days ago

The question you should be asking is will the show even exist in five years. Seems just as likely it’ll be closed for an upcharged meet and greet experience.