News Country Bear Jamboree is getting new songs and acts

[Casper Gutman]

There was no reason in the world to get rid of the Bear Band Serenade. The replacement is terribly bland. It’s like getting rid of Grim Grinning Ghosts.

Most of the show is inoffensive - for better and worse. Most of the humor that works is copied from the original. The Big Al joke - the entire reason for his existence- is botched fairly badly.

On the positive side, Kiss the Girl works nicely.

The positive reaction genuinely surprises me. I think Tiki Room: Under New Management was a significantly better makeover - it preserved the core of the original while bringing new, effective humor to the show - and that was universally and passionately reviled. It seems like a mark of how low Disney has pushed our standards.

 

[Bocabear]

I didn't think it was bad at all...The only song I didn't care for was A Whole New world because it put Teddi Bearra as a supporting player instead of a star position... But all in all I thought it was cute... Nice to have a bit of a change-up...and I guess they could always change-up shows during the year....which would be nice. I do wish Dolly had voiced one of the bears and had her own song... All in all, cute.

 

[mickEblu]

There was no reason in the world to get rid of the opening Bear Band song. The replacement is terribly bland. It’s like getting rid of Grim Grinning Ghosts.

Most of the show is inoffensive - for better and worse. Most of the humor that works is copied from the original. The Big Al joke - the entire reason for his existence- is botched fairly badly.

On the positive side, Kiss the Girl works nicely.

The positive reaction genuinely surprises me. I think Tiki Room: Under New Management was a significantly better makeover - it preserved the core of the original while bringing new, effective humor to the show - and that was universally and passionately reviled. It seems like a mark of how low Disney has pushed our standards.

I think the bar is just being lowered with every project. TBA just opened and this isn't that. Still reminds people of Old Disney. People are also just happy the Bears are still here. So basically just people trying to be optimistic. Seems that the only thing current WDI can improve is tech. Everything else like story, charm, humor and showmanship gets downgraded with every change.

 

[Brer Oswald]

New show looks and sounds great. The smoking fiddle is a great touch for the song it’s played with. Very impressive considering the, what, 5 month turnaround?

The smoking fiddle is the best part of this show. It feels like a classic Disney gag.

 

[PK2]

I like it. I will miss the old show forever, and wish some more of it was retained (neither Bear Band Serenade nor Blood on the Saddle is a shame and I think one could have been kept), but I think this is a fine replacement that does everything it possibly can to honour the legacy it's adopting and is a MILLION times better than potentially losing the bears for good. It'll hopefully be enjoyed for many years to come. And hey, maybe they can update the tracks used over the years! (ha ha ha ha ha not likely)

And yes, the smoking fiddle is an absolute CLASSIC bit. They could have slipped that exact scene into the original show and nobody would have bat an eyelid.

That said, do a tribute to the original show in 5 or so years with the upgraded AAs for a party night or something and I am flying right across the Atlantic for it.

Tiki Room: Under New Management was wholly cynical and disrespectful in its execution. Its central conceit was that the classic show sucked. Whereas I feel like this, within the remit they had, does a great job of acknowledging and retaining the tone and character of what came before as much as possible. If it had to be done, I'm glad they did it like this.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I really have to ask - how is this any better then Tiki Room: Under New Management, one of the most hated attractions in Disney history?

Yes, the smoking fiddle is the best new bit.

 

[Stripes]

I don’t notice any humor that really worked. Or charm. Or flow. Or anything that made the previous show good and engaging. Just recycled songs sung with a twang. Stale.

Was the previous show engaging? I didn’t find the previous songs catchy nor could I sing along to them. It also wasn’t memorable.

The crowd did laugh quite a few times so clearly the humor is working for some folks.

I’m definitely looking forward to seeing this show in person. I can imagine some people with nostalgia missing the old show but I absolutely think the typical park guest will enjoy this show far more than the old one.

 

[The Leader of the Club]

The positive reaction genuinely surprises me. I think Tiki Room: Under New Management was a significantly better makeover - it preserved the core of the original while bringing new, effective humor to the show - and that was universally and passionately reviled. It seems like a mark of how low Disney has pushed our standards.

I think Big Al singing “Remember Me” is more tasteful than the Tiki Birds singing “Hot, Hot, Hot.”

 

[Surferboy567]

I really have to ask - how is this any better then Tiki Room: Under New Management, one of the most hated attractions in Disney history?

Yes, the smoking fiddle is the best new bit.

It doesn't have an annoying premise, it also pays homage to the original without being so “hip” and in your face that’s it’s spitting on the original. Songs fit (mostly) some outliers in there. Bears kept their personalty, AA’s look good etc.

I was pretty critical of Bayou Adventure this is definitely not that. It’s worth noting I almost never went in to see the bears in their original state. I didn’t ”hate“ the show it was just kind of tired. Some stuff in the original I liked more but buy and large I think this is a definite upgrade.

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

haha so was the Big Al statue outside Grizzly Peak River Run a sign of things to come?

 

[doctornick]

I really have to ask - how is this any better then Tiki Room: Under New Management, one of the most hated attractions in Disney history?

Yes, the smoking fiddle is the best new bit.

Off hand (and I don't remember UNM well) but the difference seems to be that this isn't making fun of the previous show. The premise of the Tiki Bird revision was kind of saying "if you liked the old show, you are lame, he's something better". This just seems to be something new entirely and don't insult you if you preferred the previous acts.

 

[GhostHost1000]

I can't believe they didn't sing Secret Spice from TBA. The magic is ruined.

 

[Moth]

I really have to ask - how is this any better then Tiki Room: Under New Management, one of the most hated attractions in Disney history?

Yes, the smoking fiddle is the best new bit.

The current hosts of Bears aren't actively taking the out of it, saying the old show was 'boring' or 'dull' and playing radio pop songs.

Disney songs in Disney World? Fine. But Under New Management relied on songs that you could find on the radio mostly.

Under New Management was a cynical mess trying to one-up the original, this feels like a respectful continuation of the original show.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Okay watched it now. What a fun new show! This is really going to engage people, and hopefully keep the theatre packed for years to come.

It feels like a loving refresh, and a lot of care went into the show itself. It’s never looked better.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Its central conceit was that the classic show sucked.

Not really, Iago thought that it did. Which fit his character.

 

[Moth]

haha so was the Big Al statue outside Grizzly Peak River Run a sign of things to come?

There could be something big and furry heading to Cali in the next few years. Won't be a show.

 

[doctornick]

As I've admitted before, I have never been a big fan of CBJ - I didn't hate it or anything, but it never particularly "connected" with me. I couldn't tell you the name of any of the characters and it was probably something we only did every 3rd or 4th trip or so. So, that's the background.

I like this version. I don't love it or think that it's an improvement (I would agree with the original being superior) but I think it surprisingly works well given the premise of them singing Disney songs. Even though I know the songs, they still sound crisp and original to some degree being countrified and they really don't seem as way out of place as I feared when I saw the songlist. The humor is okay, not as good as I had really hoped but fun enough. I'm happy that they kept a similar style of humor instead of trying to be too "hip" and make fun of the old show.

Would have been nice if they had kept a few more of the old songs or added Zip (man, I would have loved that) but it's okay. I at least don't feel like they destroyed a classic attraction and made it horrible like they did with say Imagination.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Off hand (and I don't remember UNM well) but the difference seems to be that this isn't making fun of the previous show. The premise of the Tiki Bird revision was kind of saying "if you liked the old show, you are lame, he's something better". This just seems to be something new entirely and don't insult you if you preferred the previous acts.

That really seems like something fans who hadn’t been beaten down by lackluster IP overhauls brought to the show. The jabs came from Iago, who… is a jerk. That’s his character. I’m not sure how removing every song, including the very familiar theme, shows more meaningful respect for CB then Management did for Tiki. Is turning CB into a derivative IP showcase respectful?

 

[Andrew C]

Was the previous show engaging?

Yes

The crowd did laugh quite a few times so clearly the humor is working for some folks.

Yes, the ones who wanted to be some of the first to see it.

I can imagine some people with nostalgia missing the old show but I absolutely think the typical park guest will enjoy this show far more than the old one.

That is the excuse used now for the bare minimum and delivering less. "The typical park guest will like it." No more aiming to go above and beyond.

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

There could be something big and furry heading to Cali in the next few years. Won't be a show.