Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
I am for any and all Christmas overlays..... Now you did it! I MISS the Osborne lights!
-
The new WDWMAGIC iOS app is here!
Stay up to date with the latest Disney news, photos, and discussions right from your iPhone. The app is free to download and gives you quick access to news articles, forums, photo galleries, park hours, weather and Lightning Lane pricing. Learn More -
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
MK Country Bear Jamboree is getting new songs and acts
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
Chester&Hester Enthusiast
Well-Known Member
I gotta say... I'm basically a hardline purist with very little love for any of the soulless corporate crap modern WDI churns out these days and I fully expected this to be more of the same, but I'm beyond relieved to say that I found this new show absolutely delightful. It is very clear that the team responsible for this has a great deal of affection and respect for the Bears.
I'm also very much not understanding the couple complaints that they took all the humor out? I found myself laughing multiple times throughout. The smoking fiddle, afraid of swings bit, "get the hook!", Wendell rising up from the mist and off-key crooning the opening lines to Whole New World? All very funny and cleverly timed. I also feel like the soul of the original was preserved. This just feels like another overlay like Vacation Hoedown. They don't even mention the fact that they're singing Disney songs now, it's just another show for them.
If I had any criticism, I might have preferred that they mine the catalogue a little deeper and used a few less well-known songs.
Overall a very solid update, though. And the bears/theatre have never looked better! Like, I'm absolutely flabbergasted at how much I enjoyed this.
I'm also very much not understanding the couple complaints that they took all the humor out? I found myself laughing multiple times throughout. The smoking fiddle, afraid of swings bit, "get the hook!", Wendell rising up from the mist and off-key crooning the opening lines to Whole New World? All very funny and cleverly timed. I also feel like the soul of the original was preserved. This just feels like another overlay like Vacation Hoedown. They don't even mention the fact that they're singing Disney songs now, it's just another show for them.
If I had any criticism, I might have preferred that they mine the catalogue a little deeper and used a few less well-known songs.
Overall a very solid update, though. And the bears/theatre have never looked better! Like, I'm absolutely flabbergasted at how much I enjoyed this.
JediMasterMatt
Well-Known Member
As expected, any change creates strong emotional reactions.
My 2 cents - this type of change is exactly what every attraction should go through the scrutinty of. I love the original Country Bears Jamboree; but, I'm not going to sit and pretend that it was pulling it's weight in a park that still is in dire need of capacity.
Of course, I could insert the ad naseum Walt axiom about the parks not being a museum; but, in this case - there was a piece of prime real estate in the park that could either undergo a wholesale makeover into something completely different or even worse - get shuttered like so many other things around the resort when they can't pull their own.
What I immediately picked up on with this makeover versus other attempts on different attractions is that the tone and framework of all the show beats that worked in the classic version are still present even if what was being sung or said has changed. It still 100% feels like the Country Bears. It's just they are now singing a different tune. In this case, change is good.
In the long run, this is exactly what should happen with every under performing attraction as history has already shown us that true addition to the parks (by actually adding new things without taking away) is very, very infrequent. Simply, TDO is adverse to spending more on labor and maintenance and would rather steer crowds around the parks to what is already present (with the exception of what lies beyond Big Thunder and in Adventureland as they've finally given up on trying to keep people out of MK and instead just want to cram more in).
Thinking this makeover through and applying the lessons learned here to other updates think of the Imagination attempts. They have failed because they were changes for the sake of changes. The quality and tone couldn't match or exceed what was there before even when they attempted to make the second attempt closer with the addition of Figment - the tone of the attraction and character were still different.
Hopefully, this version of Bears will be a success and steer some crowds its direction and when it stops doing that - simply revisit it again. The Bears weren't broken... they just needed a new coat of fur and tunes to bring people back.
In short... don't throw the Bear out with the bathwater. Simply lather, rinse, and repeat.
My 2 cents - this type of change is exactly what every attraction should go through the scrutinty of. I love the original Country Bears Jamboree; but, I'm not going to sit and pretend that it was pulling it's weight in a park that still is in dire need of capacity.
Of course, I could insert the ad naseum Walt axiom about the parks not being a museum; but, in this case - there was a piece of prime real estate in the park that could either undergo a wholesale makeover into something completely different or even worse - get shuttered like so many other things around the resort when they can't pull their own.
What I immediately picked up on with this makeover versus other attempts on different attractions is that the tone and framework of all the show beats that worked in the classic version are still present even if what was being sung or said has changed. It still 100% feels like the Country Bears. It's just they are now singing a different tune. In this case, change is good.
In the long run, this is exactly what should happen with every under performing attraction as history has already shown us that true addition to the parks (by actually adding new things without taking away) is very, very infrequent. Simply, TDO is adverse to spending more on labor and maintenance and would rather steer crowds around the parks to what is already present (with the exception of what lies beyond Big Thunder and in Adventureland as they've finally given up on trying to keep people out of MK and instead just want to cram more in).
Thinking this makeover through and applying the lessons learned here to other updates think of the Imagination attempts. They have failed because they were changes for the sake of changes. The quality and tone couldn't match or exceed what was there before even when they attempted to make the second attempt closer with the addition of Figment - the tone of the attraction and character were still different.
Hopefully, this version of Bears will be a success and steer some crowds its direction and when it stops doing that - simply revisit it again. The Bears weren't broken... they just needed a new coat of fur and tunes to bring people back.
In short... don't throw the Bear out with the bathwater. Simply lather, rinse, and repeat.
Last edited:
montyz81
Well-Known Member
I would have liked to see some original music. It's the same argument I have for ROE being replaced with a show that includes all IP-based songs. ROE was an original story told by imagineers with no constraints. To constrain an imagineer is the anti-definition of "use your imagination."
Comming soon: Sonny Eclipse to be refurbed and sing only IP based songs.
For sure it could be done but today's Disney that is not likely.
Blue Christmas was a part of the original Christmas Show.
MK-fan
Well-Known Member
The Little Man of Disneyland? Lol
Attachments
JohnD
Well-Known Member
Unless times change again and they find something "problematic" of the just-reworked version in 20 years time.
JohnD
Well-Known Member
For Goldilocks, it's probably not "just right" but neither is it too hot or too cold. Maybe a little tepid and will suffice.
the way sone people describe this show as Hollowly initiating the original is the way I feel about japans tiki room get the fever. There’s a version of yhe show in English and man is it rough. I think it’s worse than under new management. Because at least that show has some reedeming qualities, it’s fun to laugh at and it’s enjoyably bad imo. This just makes me feel nothing. sure it has the tiki room don’t and the Hawaiian ear chant, but it just feels like there isn’t emotion in it.
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
What’s that old saying, “quit while you’re ahead”
Ik the saying, but what’s that supposed to mean? I know any sort of permanent show change is not going to be for a loooonnng time.What’s that old saying, “quit while you’re ahead”
Seabasealpha1
Well-Known Member
Just watched video of what they've done. Why. Just. Why.
The Leader of the Club
Well-Known Member
After reading everyone’s takes about the music choices the past two days, I wanted to see if I could do any better. Here’s a rough set list I made of more obscure choices, sticking solely to Disney songs. I decided to leave Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and Bare Necessities because I haven’t actually heard anyone complain about those picks. Here’s what I came up with:
- “Welcome” from “Brother Bear” performed by the Five Bear Rugs
- “I Won’t Say I’m In Love” from “Hercules” performed by Trixie with Bunny, Bubbles, and Beulah
- “Lonesome Cowboy” from “Toy Story 4” performed by Romeo McGrowl
- “Rainbow Connection” from “the Muppet Movie” performed by Wendell & Teddi Barra
- “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from “Mary Poppins” performed by Ernest the “Dude”
- “I’ve Got A Dream” from “Tangled” performed by Terrence “Shaker”
- “Baby Mine” from “Dumbo” performed by Big Al
- “Best of Friends” from “Fox & the Hound” performed by Henry & Sammy
- “The Bare Necessities” from “The Jungle Book” performed by the entire company
- “Come Again” by Henry & Sammy with Max, Melvin, & Buff
MK-fan
Well-Known Member
Does anyone know if Peter Renaday was contacted to try and play Henry and Max? I saw a video of him voicing Henry in fall of 2022 and he still sounds really good. It’s a shame that he wasn’t involved considering he has such a great legacy voicing Disney theme park attractions?
All fun choices but with only an already hectic 12 minutes, would not fit the entire agenda of what was done. The now almost deep cut but iconic in theme song that the show had did not even remain.
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
Just making a joke referring to the Splash to Tiana change, that is not going so well technically and since they made this change so far no technical difficulties, quit while ahead
I will stick with my opinion, its better than losing the country bears altogether, and that was a real possibility for a while.Just watched video of what they've done. Why. Just. Why.
It’s not likely they’re gonna make any changes to Tiana, right? Either that or I’m really dumb and can’t read your joke. Is this referring to how they won’t change Tiana even with all these issues?Just making a joke referring to the Splash to Tiana change, that is not going so well technically and since they made this change so far no technical difficulties, quit while ahead
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
They changed Splash to Tiana and there are many technical problems.
The changed the country bears and it seems to be working with no issues. Quit while you are ahead and make no further changes to the country bears.
Yes, I know they are very different in scope, but just saying the country bear change seemed to go smooth so let it be.
But who knows? Lets see if country bears starts to go down now that they have messed with it.