No X-Mas Country Bears Again This Year

[maelstrom]

Looks like I'll be sending out another email this year about CBJ. I did get a response to last year's email via phone and had a nice conversation with a CM who also really likes CBJ. Ah... what can we do to make them realize that they're being jerkfaces?

 

[WDWFigment]

Looks like I'll be sending out another email this year about CBJ. I did get a response to last year's email via phone and had a nice conversation with a CM who also really likes CBJ. Ah... what can we do to make them realize that they're being jerkfaces?

Send a letter, just as Screamscape suggests.

 

[mousermerf]

I'm bummed for you guys who like CBJ - it's not like they have something better to offer instead. I'm not a CBJ fan, but I dont see how not doing the Christmas show is any sort of forward movement.

 

[dxwwf3]

Could they neglect this great attraction any more? A rehab is long overdue and two years in a row with the Christmas version. I don't think anyone expects a Haunted Mansion-style refurbishment, just bring it up to standards. Last year we spent two days at WDW during the holiday season and this is one of the reasons we chose not to go to the Magic Kingdom. Yeah I know the turnstiles didn't miss our family at all, but this is one of the few things that the MK has for the Christmas season that isn't only available during the Christmas Party, which I would NEVER pay to go to.

 

[maelstrom]

Send a letter, just as Screamscape suggests.

Because that did a lot of good last year.

 

[WDWFigment]

You! Get out of here with your logic and reasoning!:lol:

Something tells me if Disney really wanted to do so, it would've taken well shy of two years to secure the rights to one song. It's a fairly lame excuse that one of the most powerful corporations on the planet can't do what myriad businesses the world over manage on a yearly basis.

Because that did a lot of good last year.

You said you sent an email last year?

 

[Zummi Gummi]

What a shame. They were a lot of fun. Although, if the music/rights thing is true, I can't say I blame them.

 

[culturenthrills]

Just when we think MK mgmt might be headed in the right direction they go and cut corners again. This is just disappointing. No wonder this park has no Christmas spirit at all. Well, unless you pay extra for it.

 

[YESMan]

I too am disapointed and send a letter I will. I actually sent them one a month ago, but another will be mailed out. It should be the goal of this and other Disney message boards to get the more letters the merrier.

I say we try to get at a minimum 100 messages sent to Disney from this site alone.
Please responde with this list and add your name after your letter is send via either format:
Guest Communications
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

WDWMagic's Quest to 100 Country Bear Christmas Letters
1. YesMan

 

[WDWFigment]

Great idea, YESMan. I am going to make this my personal quest as well (I don't normally shamelessly bump topics, but I'm making sure this one is near the top for a while).

WDWMagic's Quest to 100 Country Bear Christmas Letters
1. YesMan
2. WDWFigment

 

[JimboJones123]

3. Your Mom

No wait take that back. Does it cost any more than hiring 13 different Santas to play out in Epcot? Don't they just put it on the "c" side and throw up a few lights and add some hats and a scarf or two? I've done my share of decorating the fellowship hall for youth group dances, and I sure don't remember there being much more than a few dozen man hours invested into what would be a switchover. But since I don't have a job in park logistics -- guess I don't know what I'm talking about.

 

[DisneyNut2007]

You! Get out of here with your logic and reasoning!:lol:

Did you have to make fun of me?!


Umm, the smiley face means that he was agreeing with what you said, or at least noting that you might have a point, in a humorous fashion.

 

[prberk]

WDWMagic's Quest to 100 Country Bear Christmas Letters
1. YesMan
2. WDWFigment
3. Prberk

I did my own letter, not copying the above. I suggest everyone do that. More heartfelt.

Paul

 

[slowbee]

guess I'm going to have to walk up to Guest Relations in a few weeks and complain. We've had our christmas trip planned since June and thought about all of the cool christmas things we get to do... CBJ was one of them...

Since we're leaving in 16 days :sohappy: I'm planning on informing GS there at MK my displeasure over them cancelling it. My daughters loved the show 2 years ago and actually wanted to see it last year.

 

[kcnole]

Here's a copy of the letter I just sent.

To whom it may concern:

I wanted to take a few moments to put together a few thoughts I have regarding some of the changes which have taken place lately at the Magic Kingdom. I don't know whether my letter will be read by anyone or not, but I would hope that someone would listen and take my comments to heart.

I have been visiting Walt Disney World for my entire life. In fact both my father and my uncle worked at the park when it opened. Although I have never had the honor of following in their footsteps, I long hold out a dream that when I retire maybe I can find a place in the magic. Unfortunately over the last several years I have seen many changes that have taken place at the Magic Kingdom which have disheartened me a bit. I'd like to share those thoughts with you.

1. Small Declines by Degrees. Kevin Yee, an internet columnist has penned this term which fits my thoughts perfectly. Lately it seems that the park management has been more concerned with saving a few pennies here and there than with putting out the best possible show that can be imagined. It certainly was not the way that Walt ran Disneyland and it certainly was not the way that the parks were run here in Florida for many years. Yes, many of your one guests may never even notice these small declines and that is what management is hoping for, but those of us who are passionate about the parks, who have had dreams come true over and over within the parks most certainly do. I also feel that even though those once in a lifetime guests may not notice these declines overtly, that they are noticed a bit and tend to not make their vacation as magical as it once was. I'll list a few examples below.

There was a time that the Magic Kingdom boasted that you would never see a light out in the park anywhere. It was in fact one of the marketing things the park used when it first opened. If I recall correctly, all light bulbs were replaced at 80% of their available lifespan to ensure that no guest ever saw a light out on Walt Disney's nostalgic Main Street. Unfortunately today that is no longer the case. It is a daily occurrence to see large swaths of lights burned out not only on main street, but for whole neon marquees to be burned out for days and days on end. In the large scheme of things maybe its just a small thing, but it was the small little details like this that Walt Disney prided himself on when building his park. It is the small details such as this that set the Disney company heads and tails above other parks when it comes to things such as this.

Another decline by degrees that has me totally disappointed is the decision to not bring many of the holiday overlays which has made Walt Disney World so special over the years. Last year when the Country Bear Jamboree's Christmas overlay was not done, I was sadly disappointed. Since I was not going to be able to make it to the parks that year for Christmas I did not send any complaints but I heard from others that it was hoped to have it back this year. Now we have reports that it has been chosen to not bring it back this year either. One can only take from that that it may not come back at all. This is a horrible decision. Again, CBJ Christmas may not be one of the main things that draws people into the parks, not like the mansion or splash mountain does, but it is definitely one of the small things that helps make WDW so special and to continue to stand out above the rest. Please reconsider this decision as there are rabid fans of this overlay and it is a disappointment to all of us to see this happen.

2. Maintenance: It has become readily apparent that maintenance within the Magic Kingdom has fallen further and further behind where it should be. Space Mountain has become decrepit, the Country Bears audio often does not synch up or can be heard at all, the mansion was in horrible shape (before the major refurb that it just had which has been wonderful by the way and should be the benchmark for all refurbs to come). In Tokyo, there is almost always one attraction under refurb so that they all stay in pristine shape. I would hope that that schedule could find its way to the east coast parks as well. We should be the flagship park, and its a shame when classic attractions are allowed to sit and rot. Please fix these attractions and bring them up to standard, but do not allow them to fall into such sad shape again. It is my greatest fear that the wonderful refurb which just took place on the mansion will go for naught in a few years when lack of maintenance allows it to fall back into its sad shape it was in prior.

3. Theme: There was a time when the Magic Kingdom was very strong thematically. Your rides dealing with our leaps into old classic Disney movies were reserved for Fantasyland, Tomorrowland dealt specifically with our ideas of the future no matter how far fetched, etc.. Today it seems that the idea of theming our lands has fallen by the wayside. Sure there was always one or two instances where something didn't fit such as having the Speedway in tomorrowland but for the most part they did their best to put things where they belonged. Today that seems to have fallen by the wayside far too often, especially when it comes to Tomorrowland. Monsters Inc Laugh Floor is a fairly good attraction, but it doesn't fit in at all in Tomorrowland. I know this isn't so much park operations issue, but I wasn't sure who to send that to.

I don't want to leave this letter on a bad note. I've listed several complaints I have with the parks as of late, but that is only because of how much I love the Magic Kingdom. None of these issues has dissuaded me from visiting the parks as I still have an amazing time each time I visit. Its just that I've seen a steady and slow decline in quality over the years. As someone who loves the parks, I just want to do whatever I can to make sure that decline doesn't continue even if all I can do is right a letter.

I thank you so much for your time reading this letter. I was finally persuaded to write after I heard that Country Bears Christmas overlay wasn't coming back. I was deeply saddened. Please don't let these quality slides continue and lets bring the Magic Kingdom and surrounding parks back up to the level that they once were. I have hope after seeing some of the most recent changes that have taken place at EPCOT Center. I can only hope for more great changes in the future.

Thank you very much.

Kevin Carter

 

[darthjohnny]

Too bad. It's not going to be there for Christmas when I go up again. I liked it a lot the first time I saw it.

 

[PintoColvig]

As I said in the other CBJ Christmas thread...
:shrug:

The Christmas version of the CBJ is not an improvement on the original show. It's very poor, IMO. So this is no big deal to me. Now if it were on the same level of entertainment or better, my opinion would be different.

Also, some here seem to be expressing concern over the closure of CBJ but I don't think the absence of CBJ Christmas overlay is a sign that CBJ is closing.

 

[BRER STITCH]

People....this is all great, but you have to remember to do 2 VERY IMPORTANT things when you write:

1. Use the US Postal Service to deliver your letter - NOT EMAIL!

2. Keep it MUCH SHORTER than some I've seen here. I know you've got a lot to say, but the person reading it does not have a lot of time to read. Make it short and to the point, using bullets when possible.

Keep up the good work!

:wave::xmas::wave:

 

[WDWFigment]

As I said in the other CBJ Christmas thread...
:shrug:

The Christmas version of the CBJ is not an improvement on the original show. It's very poor, IMO. So this is no big deal to me. Now if it were on the same level of entertainment or better, my opinion would be different.

Also, some here seem to be expressing concern over the closure of CBJ but I don't think the absence of CBJ Christmas overlay is a sign that CBJ is closing.

Definitely not a sign that CBJ is closing, but anytime an attraction is given lower priority (which I would argue is the case here) management's opinion of it becomes quite clear. If they don't get some reinforcement that guests still hold all incarnations of this attraction in high regard, and are upset at even a minor 'slighting' of the attraction, management may think they can take this slighting a step further in the future, because "no one cares about CBJ".

If you don't fight when they try to take an inch, soon, they'll try to take a foot.

 

[WDWFigment]

Anyone else interested in helping the cause?