On May 11, 2025, Romeo McGrowl, the reimagined character from the Country Musical Bear Jamboree, made his first-ever appearance at Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom Park. However, things didn’t go quite as smoothly as planned.
Romeo McGrowl was introduced as part of the refreshed Country Bear Musical Jamboree attraction, which coincided with the return of Big Al, Wendell, and Shaker, all roaming Frontierland in new costumes. McGrowl, previously known as Liver Lips McGrowl, was given a new name as part of the 2024 update to avoid associations with substance abuse. However, he didn’t appear in Frontierland alongside his costars when the refreshed show debuted.
Earlier this month, Walt Disney World Resort announced that the walk-around character version of Romeo McGrowl would soon debut at the Magic Kingdom. Unfortunately, his debut had a rocky start.
The character was scheduled to appear alongside Big Al at 9:15 a.m., but the pair didn’t show up until 9:30 a.m. Once the bears arrived in Frontierland, guests quickly noticed that something was wrong with Romeo McGrowl’s costume.
In a video shared by @fantasylandnewsblog on Instagram, McGrowl’s headpiece could be seen repeatedly falling out of his costume. The head bobbed to the side multiple times as the performer adjusted it during the appearance. At one point, the character’s head was clearly askew.
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The issue was addressed when a Disney character attendant appeared and escorted McGrowl backstage to correct the malfunction. After a short period, Romeo McGrowl returned to his spot in Frontierland, ready to continue greeting guests.
Unlike other Walt Disney World Resort characters, Country Bear Musical Jamboree characters do not have set meet-and-greet locations. Instead, they roam Frontierland freely during their scheduled times, so guests should have their cameras and autograph books at the ready! Anyone hoping to meet the characters should check the My Disney Experience app for their updated schedule.
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