The Country Bear Playhouse attraction in DISNEYLAND park that features more than 20 audio-animatronic bears wielding banjos and fiddles and singing fractures tunes about their beary amusing adventures will lower the curtain on its 29 year run on Sunday, September 9th, 2001. The longtime attraction will be making way for an undisclosed future attraction that is still in development.
And with that, The Country Bears were given their eviction notice at Disneyland. Though man will mourn their loss, it was better that they go now in a heap of glory. You see this version was a copy of the one placed in Walt Disney World in 1971. The Walt Disney World version has been playing to full theaters ever since, too bad this was not the same with the bears in Anaheim. The Bears had two theaters in their California home but they could hardly keep the first one filled, so the second one just sat there gathering dust most of the year.
Why did this happen? Nobody really knows. Some attractions are more popular in one park then another. Take a look at the recent closure of Timekeeper. This was a copy of the one planned in Discoveryland in Disneyland Paris and could hold 1,000 people per show but could barely bring in 100. The again there are attractions that are popular around the world like Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
Which brings us to the future of Grizzly Hall and all of Critter Country. Though these are circulating rumors, they seem to be all very close to being true and confirmed. The new owner of Grizzly Hall is non other then that silly old bear, Winnie the Pooh. Pooh now has stakes in Tokyo Disneyland, Toad Hall at Walt Disney World, and Grizzly Hall at Disneyland. The guys at Disney plan to remove all Country Bear reference from the hall and make a Winnie the Pooh attraction. Not only that but all bear reference from Critter Country as well. Say good bye to Teddi Barra's Swingin' Arcade. The plan is to expand the Pooh Corner shop from 1500 square feet to 3000 square feet. The Hungry Bear Cafe will also get a revamp along with maybe a Pooh Character Breakfast. In fact, all of Critter Country will be redone to make way for Pooh. Expect a Hundred Acre Wood look to be in by Summer 2003.
Now this is not totally official just yet but sources to say that is sure looks that way, especially from insiders who work for Disney. The question is that if Disneyland has a tight budget, will the attraction be very cheap or cheaper then a direct copy of the Walt Disney World version? This is unknown at this time but word has got about that they had taken the bouncing effect out when you first meet Tigger but imagineers were able to get it back into the attraction.
All I have to say is that you should go see the bears while you still can, both at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Who knows how long they will be staying?
Coming Soon: The Muppets take over Disneyland.....and the Main Street Opera House?
Till then, See Ya!!!
And with that, The Country Bears were given their eviction notice at Disneyland. Though man will mourn their loss, it was better that they go now in a heap of glory. You see this version was a copy of the one placed in Walt Disney World in 1971. The Walt Disney World version has been playing to full theaters ever since, too bad this was not the same with the bears in Anaheim. The Bears had two theaters in their California home but they could hardly keep the first one filled, so the second one just sat there gathering dust most of the year.
Why did this happen? Nobody really knows. Some attractions are more popular in one park then another. Take a look at the recent closure of Timekeeper. This was a copy of the one planned in Discoveryland in Disneyland Paris and could hold 1,000 people per show but could barely bring in 100. The again there are attractions that are popular around the world like Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
Which brings us to the future of Grizzly Hall and all of Critter Country. Though these are circulating rumors, they seem to be all very close to being true and confirmed. The new owner of Grizzly Hall is non other then that silly old bear, Winnie the Pooh. Pooh now has stakes in Tokyo Disneyland, Toad Hall at Walt Disney World, and Grizzly Hall at Disneyland. The guys at Disney plan to remove all Country Bear reference from the hall and make a Winnie the Pooh attraction. Not only that but all bear reference from Critter Country as well. Say good bye to Teddi Barra's Swingin' Arcade. The plan is to expand the Pooh Corner shop from 1500 square feet to 3000 square feet. The Hungry Bear Cafe will also get a revamp along with maybe a Pooh Character Breakfast. In fact, all of Critter Country will be redone to make way for Pooh. Expect a Hundred Acre Wood look to be in by Summer 2003.
Now this is not totally official just yet but sources to say that is sure looks that way, especially from insiders who work for Disney. The question is that if Disneyland has a tight budget, will the attraction be very cheap or cheaper then a direct copy of the Walt Disney World version? This is unknown at this time but word has got about that they had taken the bouncing effect out when you first meet Tigger but imagineers were able to get it back into the attraction.
All I have to say is that you should go see the bears while you still can, both at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Who knows how long they will be staying?
Coming Soon: The Muppets take over Disneyland.....and the Main Street Opera House?
Till then, See Ya!!!