A new official report found that Walt Disney World Resort considers Magic Kingdom Park’s new Country Bear Musical Jamboree a “big success.” Guests surveyed far preferred the reimagined show over the 1971 original.
At the 2023 Destination D23 event, Disney Parks announced that they would update the Frontierland staple, giving it a new look and Nashville country feel. While some Disney Parks fans were upset over the change, others welcomed the move, especially with the attention to cultural sensitivity.
The Country Bear Jamboree, a fan favorite since it opened in 1971, closed its doors in January 2024. Six months later, Walt Disney World Resort introduced the new and improved version: Country Bear Musical Jamboree, bringing with it an entirely reworked experience that now boasts state-of-the-art animatronics, updated choreography, and a new soundtrack featuring Disney classics.
Although the show still features many of the classic characters fans know and love, the reimagined version made a significant change by renaming one of the central characters, Liver Lips McGrowl, to Romeo McGrowl. This change addressed concerns that the original name was culturally insensitive.
The new show’s premise stays true to the spirit of the original while introducing familiar music: the bears sing country renditions of popular Disney songs. The update is more than cosmetic, as the bears are now outfitted in flashy costumes, performing to a variety of musical genres that include honky-tonk, bluegrass, and even some Western swing. It’s a nod to Nashville-style revues with a Disney twist.
While many fans of the classic version have voiced their disappointment over the changes, others are celebrating the updated show. According to an official survey conducted by Walt Disney World Resort, the reimagined attraction has found a home in the hearts of Magic Kingdom’s guests. The Country Bear Musical Jamboree is now ranked #6 in Magic Kingdom Park’s Guest Satisfaction (GSAT) surveys, a sharp contrast to the original version’s ranking of #27 in previous years. Walt Disney World Resort touted the update as a “big success.”
Disney’s commitment to transforming Frontierland doesn’t stop with the Country Bear Jamboree. In the past year, the company has made several other changes in the area, including the closure of Splash Mountain to make way for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, as well as the demolition of the original Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade to build a new Disney Vacation Club lounge. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is also undergoing a year-long refurbishment in anticipation of new “magic” being added to the iconic roller coaster.
The updates aren’t over yet. At the 2024 D23 Expo, Chairman of Disney Experiences Josh D’Amaro shared that additional changes are coming to Frontierland. Specifically, Disney plans to bulldoze Tom Sawyer Island and parts of the Rivers of America to make room for two all-new Cars (2006) attractions.
But perhaps the most exciting development is the announcement of a massive expansion of Magic Kingdom: a new Disney Villains land set to open “beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.” Though there are no set opening dates for these new projects, fans are eager to see how Disney continues to reshape the park.
Have you seen the new Country Bear Musical Jamboree? In the comments, share your thoughts on the show with Disney Fanatic!
I have seen it, it was ok. I rather see BIG AL and Blood on the Saddle.
There was nothing insensitive about that show. People get a grip. Where you mind goes can be interpreted so many different ways. Walt was never that way. He was for good clean fun. You people that always have to pick apart the cleanest things and make it something else, shame on you. No one can have good clean fun without someone turning it into something racist. Really?