5 Fun Facts About Country Bear Jamboree
These days everybody talks about what’s new and exciting at Disney World, but it’s important to look back and give credit to some of the attractions at are steeped in tradition and still giving vacation-goers joy. So here are five facts about our favorite Country Bear Jamboree:
The First Replication
The Country Bear Jamboree has been a part of Disney World since 1972 as one of the first attractions at Magic Kingdom, and has remained an iconic attraction since. It comes as no surprise then that the popularity of it was so great that it was replicated for a wider audience to enjoy and was brought to the Disneyland park in California. It is no longer there, but can be found at Tokyo Disneyland.
Alternate Versions
You might have been lucky enough to see two different seasonal versions of the Jamboree. From 1986 to 2006 in Disney World and in 2001 in Disneyland, there was a Christmas version of the show called the “Country Bear Christmas Special.”
It included holiday songs and special outfits to get park-goers excited for the holidays. There was also a summer version of the show that now exists in Tokyo Disneyland. It was called the “Country Bear Vacation Hoedown” and included songs such as “On the Road Again” while the bears decked themselves out in Hawaiian shirts and bikinis.
Familiar Voices and Faces
There are characters and voices you will recognize from the Jamboree. Thurl Ravenscroft voices Buff, but you can also hear him in the Enchanted Tiki Room, the Haunted Mansion, and the Pirates of the Caribbean. Loulie Jean Norman, who voices the Sun Bonnet Trio’s Bubbles, can also be heard as the opera-singing ghost in the Haunted Mansion.
Peter Renaday voices Henry the host. He can currently be heard in the Hall of Presidents, but was formerly featured in Snow White’s Scary Adventures and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. If you’re at Disneyland, turn around just before the entrance to Hunny Heaven on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride. There you’ll find the taxidermized heads of the bears Max, Melvin, and Buff.
It Inspired a Movie
Believe it or not, there was a 2002 film called The Country Bears inspired by the popular animatronic show. It was the third film to be made based off of a Disney attraction, the other two being Mission to Mars and Tower of Terror.
The film follows the breakup of the Country Bears after many years of success, and the efforts of a fan named Beary to bring them back together for a benefit concert that will save Country Bear Hall. Some of the actors in the movie include Queen Latifah, Christopher Walken, and Haley Joel Osment (who did a voiceover).
A Goodbye from Walt
The Country Bear Jamboree originated from one of Walt’s last projects. It was originally supposed to be part of a ski resort as a variety show for the guests. Walt seemed to be excited at the idea and loved the sketches of the bears.
Unfortunately, Walt died before the ski resort could be completed, so the idea was scrapped. However, they decided to take the idea of the animatronic bears and make a new show out of it, which is how the Country Bear Jamboree was made.