Former Walt Disney Imagineer provides more insight into the changes coming to the Country Bear Jamboree

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New Country Bear Jamboree 2024 poster

Posted: Saturday September 9, 2023 7:04pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Ethan Reed, a former Walt Disney Imagineer, has shared some additional background information on the work that has gone into the just-announced changes coming to Walt Disney World's Country Bear Jamboree at Magic Kingdom.

New Country Bear Jamboree 2024 poster

Ethan says that he originally pitched the idea in 2004 and was the conceptual Creative Director on the project from 2018 through 2020 until it was put on hold due to the pandemic.

Speaking today during the announcement at Destination D23, Disney Imagineer Chris Beatty said that when the new show debuts, the bears will be reinterpreting favorite Disney songs in different genres of country music. Imagineers envision the new experience as a homage to the classic musical revues in Nashville, and they're working with Nashville musicians to get the authentic country sound.

Disney says the Country Bear Jamboree will still have the fun and friendly tone fans enjoy with the same famous characters like the loveable Trixie, Big Al, and others.

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SomePixieDust5 days ago

It’s night and day compared to the US

PiratesMansion5 days ago

But it's not as good of a show, and WDW guests rejected it when it came out originally. The original show was back in Florida not that long after VH was introduced.

Cmdr_Crimson5 days ago

Did anyone EVER see Vacation Hoedown? That was so family friendly it should have been brought back like they did in Tokyo.

MadderAdder6 days ago

Tokyo has such good merch…

WondersOfLife6 days ago

No idea... I would imagine not since it has been about a year. But I could be wrong.

J.E.Smith6 days ago

Especially since over in Tokyo, the bears have gotten more merch than they have had in WDW in years, such as all the plushes and the dinnerware set. I also like how Tokyo has their own unique art of the bears instead of just reusing the Marc Davis art like WDW often does.

LittleBuford6 days ago

Do you know if these are still being sold at Disney Springs?

WondersOfLife6 days ago

They had these last year, they were pretty neat but sadly my wallet was tight. https://mickeyblog.com/2022/07/29/new-country-bears-merchandise-now-at-marketplace-co-op/

Cmdr_Crimson6 days ago

I do hope there is more merch for CBJ after this opens..I'm Surprise their hasn't been an uptick on the overpriced 3rd party items like spirit jerseys, loungefly and whatever they like to overprice with merch now.

sedati7 days ago

There was a downpour lasting several hours during our recent Magic Kingdom trip. We made it in to a completely full showing of the Tiki Room, and then a nearly empty showing of Country Bears. Most outdoor attractions had been shut down. People were standing under every awning. The line for Mansion was 45 minutes and exceeded the covered queue. As we exited and made a dash to Small World, we saw a cast member trying to coax those in the waiting area to come in for the next show with most content to stay put. A similar scene played out in Tomorrowland where the line for the People Mover extended out into the rain but we went in to a barren showing of Carousel of Progress.

LittleBuford8 days ago

Thank you! I hope you're right.

EagleScout6108 days ago

I would wager it goes in January. Keep it open for the Christmas party crowds, then pull it to reopen for summer. Keep in mind, Bears has high capacity

LittleBuford8 days ago

@wdwmagic (or anyone else): Do you have any insider info on when the current show may close? Is it likely to remain up and running until the end of this year?

Roger_the_pianist13 days ago

I thought it was just one the bears from the show out and about in Frontierland. Kinda like when the animatronics at Itchy and Scratchy Land turned against the humans 😛