It’s safe to say that things aren’t looking great for bears at Walt Disney World Resort. From transforming beloved Ursidae-themed attractions to real-life encounters at Magic Kingdom Park, Disney has made some bold moves regarding bears in the last few years.
The Changing Face of Splash Mountain
In 2020, Walt Disney World Resort made waves with the announcement that it would be transforming the iconic Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. This decision was part of Disney’s commitment to diversity and removing offensive content from the parks, including the Song of the South (1946) characters. This included Br’er Bear, one of many bear characters at the Central Florida Disney parks.
While many guests were excited about the new, more inclusive direction, the loss of Br’er Bear was hard for long-time Disney fans to swallow. But to guests’ delight, a round-eared friend appeared on Splash Mountain’s replacement.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened at Magic Kingdom Park on June 28, 2024, and Disneyland Park on November 15, 2024. The reimagined attraction not only brings guests into the world of The Princess and the Frog (2009) but also includes an all-new bear character: Claude the Musical Black Bear.
But things haven’t been easy for Claude. In February 2025, one of the black bear animatronics lost its eyes, terrifying Magic Kingdom Park guests.
The Bear Incident in Magic Kingdom Park
In 2023, Walt Disney World Resort dealt with a real-life bear situation in Magic Kingdom Park. Sometime in the early hours of September 18, a black bear wandered into the Disney park.
As Disney officials scrambled to ensure the safety of guests and staff, they were forced to shut down large sections of the park, including Frontierland and Tom Sawyer Island. Thankfully, the bear was safely captured and relocated…Yet another bear removed from Walt Disney World Resort!
The New Country Bear Musical Jamboree
Now, the biggest news for bear enthusiasts—the transformation of the Country Bear Jamboree. In September 2023, Walt Disney World Resort announced it would close the attraction for a modern reimagining with refreshed bear animatronics.
The Country Bear Jamboree, which has been a part of Magic Kingdom since the park’s opening in 1971, closed on January 27, 2024. On July 17, 2024, the Country Bear Musical Jamboree premiered. A tribute to a Nashville musical revue, the show features Western versions of fan-favorite Disney songs like “Try Everything” from Zootopia (2016) and “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story (1995).
Walt Disney Imagineers created new costumes for the refreshed Country Bear animatronics. All of the characters kept their original names except for one controversial bear. Liver Lips McGrowl, whose name has long held offensive connotations, was renamed Romeo McGrowl. Besides his new country outfit, Romeo largely kept the same physical appearance.
The History of the Country Bears at Walt Disney World Resort
Originally conceived as part of a ski resort that Walt Disney had envisioned in the 1960s (which was never built), the bears eventually found their permanent home at Magic Kingdom Park when it opened in 1971.
The show, which initially ran for about 23 minutes, has evolved over the past five decades. Portions of the Country Bear Jamboree were cut or reworked during various refurbishments. Most notably, the 2012 refurbishment saw some segments trimmed, bringing the original show down to its final 16-minute runtime.
In addition to the regular show, the Country Bear Jamboree saw multiple temporary refreshes over the years. These included the Country Bear Vacation Hoedown (1986 to 1992) and various Christmas overlays.
Wrapping Up the Bear Saga at Walt Disney World
While the changes to Splash Mountain and the Country Bear Jamboree are controversial among some Disney Parks fans, they reflect Disney’s desire to keep evolving and offering fresh experiences for its guests. Br’er Bear’s departure and the transformation of the Country Bear Musical Jamboree might leave some fans sad, but it’s all part of the park’s constant evolution. After all, change is part of the magic.
Have you noticed the changing presence of bears at Walt Disney World Resort? Share your thoughts with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
Again disney trying to please a group of radical complainers so we all have to endure radical changes. The thing that keeps us from returning to the parks is too many changes to beloved original attractuons! Refresh but stop replacing!