Country Bear Jamboree 2012 Edited Version Video

[jcruise86]

I've noticed that the Country Bear shows were more fun with packed houses. Building twin theaters at Disneyland was a mistake because fewer shows were "sell outs." So having more shows per day might make the WDW shows less exciting if the shows are playing to depressing, half-full houses. On the least crowded days Disney World should bring back the countdown and have more time in-between these shows.


These bears are more personified than the Tiki Room (birds, flowers, totem polls, etc.), so it seems less impressive to me today because I think (And Flynnibus would disagree) that AAs should have advanced more and the bears movements should be more impressive & creative today. This ride was an amazing good time at WDW back in the 1970s. Now I guess I should go on it because we don't have it at Disneyland.


If AA advances eventually merit it, and if space could be made for it on the West side of the tracks near Disneyland's New Orleans Square train station, a jazz show similar to Country Bears (with no bears--well, maybe Big Al's cousin) could perform there. I'd like the human CM who starts the show to be a good singer and act as the MC and join in singing one song and in the finale. And maybe give microphones to a couple of audience members at one point after some pre-show auditions who could also join in a song and the finale. (When the Saints Go Marching In)

[steve2wdw]

Actually, ranting aside, I think this an important point to take a creatively critical look at, and I respectfully have to disagree that "even energy from beginning to end" is a good thing.

It was the lulls themselves-- the subtle ebb and flow-- the faster and slower-paced songs and interstitial chit-chat-- that gave the original show its originality, depth, interest and charm.

The original CBJ gave us remarkable insight into the personalities of Henry, Max, Buff, Melvin and all the other performers as well. They were a family-- distinct characters-- going all-out to put on a show, much like Kermit, Piggy, Fozzy etc. from the Muppet Show. You got to know them and love them. The chit-chat gave the characters depth and meaning-- literally brought them to life-- and added to the suspension of disbelief that these were just robots.

Now with all the character development stripped from the show, all that's left is... singing robots. The new Country Bear Jamboree feels like a reunion concert gone wrong. It's sad, shallow and totally devoid of depth. The bears are literally just going through the motions! Just like Chuck E. Cheese (or worse), but a heck of a lot more expensive.

So yes, the new show has "even energy." But without ebb and flow it's much more like a modern pop song than a classical masterpiece.

It used to be you could almost believe the bears were real-- and believe that every show they did was special, that they really enjoyed welcoming you to their playhouse. That's what true Disney Magic used to be all about, creating experiences that transcended and transformed.

But now it feels as if the bears have had enough. They're sick and tired of performing, and they're rushing through it all because they just can't wait for you to leave.

I think TDO truly believes that this is exactly what today's ADD/Walmart audience thinks it wants. And maybe that's true.

WDW used to work so well because experiences as varied as Space Mountain and CBJ provided variety, depth and texture. Now everything at WDW tries to race along at the same super-sugary, high-octane, hyperactive pace. The result is dull, robotic, and mind-numbing. The guest doesn't have a chance to catch their breath, relax, and take it all in.

Trying to make the Country Bear Jamboree speed along at the same pace as Space Mountain is a maddening, disheartening, monumental mistake. It's another chapter in the ongoing trend that reveals so very much about the lack of creative leadership at TDO and the Disney company at large.

Exactly....well said! As I watched the new version, I kept saying to myself, "Where's the fire?"

[Fukai]

I have been to the Tokyo Disney Resort three times in the past year and have seen all THREE shows: Jingle Bell Jamboree, Vacation Jamboree, and the original Country Bear Jamboree. There is nowhere else in the world where you can see all three shows in their entirety (though the Japanese versions of the Christmas and Vacation shows differ a bit).

The Audio-Animatronic figures are kept in remarkable shape--EVERY single thing works, and they have more movements and more fluid movements than the comparable figures in the US parks ever had.

The cutting of the Country Bear Jamboree at Walt Disney World is a desecration, just as is the reinstallation of the original Tiki Room show at WDW in a cut-down version with no water fountain in the center, just a cheap smoke machine.

It shows that the execs at Walt Disney World think that their paying customers are impatient and stupid--adjectives that should, in fact, be applied to those same executives. Slicing the heart, soul, and balls out of any show should get those jokers fired.

A terrible shame, and another reason to avoid the travesty of poorly maintained attractions that is the hallmark of Walt Disney World and instead travel to Disneyland in Anaheim and the Tokyo Disney Resort.

[Witches of Morva]

ORDDU: My sisters and I have complained to Pest Relations about the shortening of the Country Bear show and the explanation we received from a supervisor told us something we almost laughed about. According to the female supervisor, the show was shortened due to 'guest demand'. Supposedly the cast members who take survey information from random guests were told by too many guests that the Country Bear Show was too long.

ORWEN: We found that hard to believe because it just doesn't make sense that guests would complain about an attraction or a show being too long. When guests come to the parks do they really want to be rushed through everything so quickly? We don't think so! We think that was just another one of Disney's many 'corporate spins' which makes them sound like politians who want to be re-elected when they don't deserve to be re-elected! What a bunch of bogus nonsense they hand out!

[goofy donald]

ORDDU: My sisters and I have complained to Pest Relations about the shortening of the Country Bear show and the explanation we received from a supervisor told us something we almost laughed about. According to the female supervisor, the show was shortened due to 'guest demand'. Supposedly the cast members who take survey information from random guests were told by too many guests that the Country Bear Show was too long.

ORWEN: We found that hard to believe because it just doesn't make sense that guests would complain about an attraction or a show being too long. When guests come to the parks do they really want to be rushed through everything so quickly? We don't think so! We think that was just another one of Disney's many 'corporate spins' which makes them sound like politians who want to be re-elected when they don't deserve to be re-elected! What a bunch of bogus nonsense they hand out!

i can see how people would complain about that. it doesn't make it right but i could see how they would. blame that on the disney commandos and the culture they have created at the parks that I for one despise.

[SparkChaser]

Could be worse I had a nightmare where the Carousel of Progress was gutted and guess what was put in..............................A WALT DISNEY HISTORY EXHIBIT!!!!! Friends I say while we dislike some of the changes we must remember there were a many good attractions that suffered a worse fate than this (I'm looking at your Futureworld).

See ya walkin' right down the middle of o'l Main Street USA

[redrhino54]

Whewwww.....i thought you were going to say a meet and greet !.....lol....

[Virtual Toad]

Could be worse I had a nightmare where the Carousel of Progress was gutted and guess what was put in..............................A WALT DISNEY HISTORY EXHIBIT!!!!! Friends I say while we dislike some of the changes we must remember there were a many good attractions that suffered a worse fate than this (I'm looking at your Futureworld).

See ya walkin' right down the middle of o'l Main Street USA

You know, it's funny, but COP is actually (the?) one MK attraction that desperately needs TLC! Yet COP sits neglected year after year, WITH NO UPDATE SINCE 1994, while TDO goes out of its way to screw up just about everything else. But I guess we should be happy, because it's terrifying to think what they would do to COP if they did "update" it.

How about this, TDO. Put your time and money into things that actually need fixing and stop wasting time and money "fixing" things that AREN'T BROKEN. Ooh, that's so radical and revolutionary, I must be some kind of genius! "Leave the good stuff alone and spend the money fixing broken things instead? Brilliant!"

Barf.

The CBJ mess is a travesty, the inept and brazen destruction of an artistic masterpiece. Arguably as bad, IMHO, as what they did to Dreamfinder and Figment. Because even after that debacle, even with more than a decade of hindsight to see what Future World has become as a result of their "fixes," THEY STILL DON'T GET IT.

TDO could have spent a lot less time and money sprucing thngs up and bringing back the Christmas show and everyone would have been happy!

Instead, predictably, we get this. And they have the gall to say it's what the guests want. So let's just airbrush tattoos on the Mona Lisa and get it over with.

Regardless of the medium, any work of art that stands the test of time survives as a precious and amazing insight into the hearts and souls of the artists who created it. That's what's been stripped from what now remains of the Country Bear Jamboree. And it speaks volumes about the insecurity and ineptitude eminating from the halls of TDO.

[Skullington]

After seeing this video I have come to the conclusion that it's time for the show to go. Now, I LOVE the Country Bears. Always have. The thing is, I wish they could create a new show that's relevant now. It's just like the MSEP, going on decades old technology. I did notice that the bears looked better than ever, even though the fur looks like carpet instead of hair, but whatever. The problem I have is that the AA tech has vastly improved, and they could really go all out and create more fluid, and faster movements for the bears.

I think this edit was kind of a stop-gap measure. Spend as little as possible to freshen the show, while trying to cut down so people don't walk out, and you can run more shows a day. It's just too little too late for me. It's just a personal thing, I know quite a lot of people who would have just liked the show 100% unchanged. Me, I truly wish for an entirely new show that has more relevant humor and songs, and with today's AA tech for the bears. I do love the folk music they use, and I'm not saying they need to sing contemporary country music, but something more...updated.

The ideal show for me would be one that's randomized with different musical acts that would add to the repeat-ability of the attraction.

YES. This would certainly keep things fresh, and give people another reason to see it again and again. They could play a set number of songs every time and not have to worry about rushing through the whole show.