March 1972 – September 2001
LOCATION
Critter Country – When guests entered Critter Country through the main pathway, they would find the Country Bear Jamboree on the left, across from Splash Mountain. This area now houses The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh.
BACKGROUND
The Country Bear Jamboree was a zany concert show featuring a large cast of bears and their various animal friends. The show, which opened in Walt Disney World in 1971, immediately became a fan favorite in the park. Imagineers wanted to recreate the show in Disneyland, and to celebrate its opening, created a completely new land: Bear Country, which had previously been part of Frontierland. After a year of construction, Bear Country and its accompanying Jamboree opened to the public in 1972.
EXPERIENCE
Guests began their stay with the bears in the stage lobby, a large room with show photos and a carpeted entrance to the theater. The lobby was lined with oddly shaped doors, each perfectly sized for the different stars of the show. Once guests took their seats in the theater, master of ceremonies Henry greeted the audience and invited them to enjoy the jamboree. The show featured a number of different songs, performed by the bears and their friends, and ended with an ensemble song encouraging the audience to come and visit again.
CLOSURE
Though the Country Bear Jamboree was an instant hit in Walt Disney World, the attraction never saw the same success in Disneyland. The theater’s somewhat isolated location in the corner of Disneyland meant less foot traffic than its Florida counterpart, and the show also had to compete with Splash Mountain for the limited audience. The Country Bear Jamboree’s competition ultimately led to its downfall.
By the late 90’s, Winnie the Pooh gained major traction as a popular Disney franchise, and Imagineers wanted to increase its presence in Disneyland. But unlike the other Disney parks, Disneyland has little room for expansion. So Imagineers searched for a place to add Pooh, and Critter Country (its name changed from “Bear Country” with the opening of Splash Mountain) was the best fit. The Country Bear Jamboree held its final performance in 2001, and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh opened two years later.
TRIVIA
Three of the show’s stars are still hiding in Critter Country. Next time you ride Winnie the Pooh, turn around just as you enter the “Hunny Heaven” room and look up above the door. If you pay close attention, you’ll see Melvin, Buff, and Max!
Like its counterpart in Florida, the Disneyland version of the Country Bear Jamboree had a special holiday show every year.
