Country Bear Jamboree to be updated with new songs and acts in 2024 at Walt Disney World

Sep 09, 2023 in "Country Bear Musical Jamboree"

Posted: Saturday September 9, 2023 9:48am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

At Walt Disney World, the Country Bear Jamboree is getting new songs and the bears will be performing a new act in 2024.

Disney Imagineer Chris Beatty says when the show debuts, the bears will be reinterpreting favorite Disney songs in different genres of country music. Imagineers are envisioning the new experience as a homage to the classic musical revues in Nashville and they’re working with Nashville musicians to get the authentic country sound.

Disney said the Country Bear Jamboree will still have the fun and friendly tone fans enjoy with the same famous characters like the loveable Trixie, Big Al and others.

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    solidyne18 days ago

    Those were built under the old logic. ☹️

    EagleScout61018 days ago

    My sister was at Magic Kingdom last week, and she said she didn't even notice it was a new show for the Bears. I asked her if she liked the new version and she said "I didn't know there was a new one, when did they change it?". I think this leads back to what we were discussing a few weeks ago about the new show ranking higher, people who aren't on the internet 24/7 probably don't even know they switched it.

    Cmdr_Crimson25 days ago

    Roll the Tape!

    Charlie The Chatbox Ghost25 days ago

    While I agree with you, this line is essentially the original show- a bunch of old country music that most people didn’t recognize, especially after they put it through the Vaudeville country filter. Either way Disney doesn’t have the stones to do something obscure these days lol. So many songs would’ve worked great for CBMJ but they went with the same handful of songs and movies you hear everywhere else (I still really like the new show though)

    Agent H25 days ago

    I’d argue someone doesn’t have to recognize it for it to be included. If that was the logic we were going with neither splash mountain or Mr. Toad would have been built.

    Disgruntled Walt25 days ago

    Sorry neighbor, no way! If they use the Muppet song, it's going to be in a Muppet Christmas show, but that will never happen, because they are completely ambivalent about the Muppets. And the other one, from the obscure Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse? Sure, it was appointment viewing for me every year for a few years back then, but it's not like anyone is going to recognize it. And if no one is going to recognize it, what's the point of using it? Though I do appreciate someone bringing that song up. Such a masterpiece of Disney talent all coming together.

    Cmdr_Crimson25 days ago

    It feels like Christmas - Muppet Christmas Carol The Greatest Christmas of all - House of Mouse Those are two that come to mind..

    Charlie The Chatbox Ghost27 days ago

    Aw shucks, I wish. I would do anything to work on something official for the Country Bears (let alone anything for a theme park)!

    Steamboat7127 days ago

    People like you should be in Imagineering!

    Agent H28 days ago

    As a Christmas fan I need this as soon as November 1st.

    Charlie The Chatbox Ghost28 days ago

    I actually penned a set list for a new version of the Christmas special! I figured a Frozen song was mandatory, but if it weren’t, I think I’d keep “Blue Christmas” from the original for Shaker, or replace it with “White Christmas” and have the joke be that Shaker and the Penguin are in a heat wave and dreaming for some cooler weather. I also retained a lot from the original, but swapped out some original songs for Christmas songs that match the idea they were going for (“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” fits Wendell being lost in the woods really well imo). As much as original songs are cool, I feel like a Christmas special is the one time you’d want as many pre-existing songs as possible. The Country Bear Christmas Jamboree "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" - Gomer and Henry "Tracks in the Snow" - Henry and the Five Bear Rugs "I’ll Be Home for Christmas" - Wendell "All I Want for Christmas is You" - Trixie "Deck the Halls" - The Five Bear Rugs "Jingle Bell Rock" - Romeo McGrowl and Gomer "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" - Shaker and Webster the Penguin "Sleigh Ride" - The Sun Bonnet Trio, Melvin, Max, and Buff "Hungry as a Bear" - Ernest and the Five Bear Rugs "The Christmas Song" - Teddi Barra and Henry "Last Christmas" - Big Al Finale "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" - Henry, Sammy, and the Sun Bonnet Trio "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - Melvin, Max, and Buff "Winter Wonderland" - Cast (minus Ernest and Trixie) "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - Exit music

    Agent H28 days ago

    What songs does everyone think would be in a new Christmas special? I would bank on let it go making it in somehow even if the rest of the show uses standard Christmas music.

    Charlie The Chatbox Ghost28 days ago

    I assume they would do new overlays if they were to do any, at the very least to keep character voices consistent. Plus they’d probably want to remove Wendell’s gun from the Christmas special. If the new animatronics are programmed the way the TBA animatronics are (via a 3D animation software), then it’d be extremely easy to reprogram them. You could probably give an animator a week (I’d do it for free if you’re reading this, Disney) and they could recreate the holiday shows pretty accurately, assuming Disney has high quality footage of all the bears. They could totally get back to “swap the shows with the push of a button” if they put the time and money in, the only other part is the costuming. Idk how long it takes to redress the AAs though.

    Charlie The Chatbox Ghost28 days ago

    I believe they’re hybrid, part hydraulic and part electric. Reportedly they use parts from former Splash animatronics as well.

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