My Thoughts on Bob Jackson After 20 Years of Stays at POR

Laura's Dad

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Is this post about Bob Jackson (who happens to be a Disney Legend)? It's not about where else that you want to go...........

Than being said: Our family has has a love affair with Bob Jackson and the Port Orleans resorts for over 20 years. We have probably seen his show 20-30 times over the years, always with a smile on our faces. We have always tried to plan a night to see Bob on all of our many WDW trips. I can remember the first time that we stayed at Dixie Landings (oops, PO-Riverside) and just happened on his show. What a blast!!!! We fell in love immediately.

Then, on 9/11/2001 some idiots decided to drive planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Travel went to a standstill. Many of the WDW Resorts laid off workers (including Bob). Port Orleans was closed for some time. Gradually, things got better and an email petition drive was successfully organized to get Bob back to Port Orleans. I remember this as I was one of the email backers that helped him get his job back.

Bob returned after awhile and continued his show. He was honored as a Disney Legend. We continued to see him on our annual, some times semi-annual, vacations.

My last WDW trip was this past December and I made my pilgrimage to the River Roost, It was on a Thursday night and I closed the place down. We were staying at Old Key West on a point rental and I had an uneasy feeling about Bob's show. It all seemed so Disney-fied, as if he was trying to satisfy the powers that be. He used to play a whole lot of more oldie/sing along songs mixed in with some Disney songs. Now I'm not basing Disney songs (my 30 year old daughter grew up on them and we still listen to 6 hours worth on our trips from Atlanta to Orlando on our trips), but it seemed to me that 80% of the show was Disney songs, where it used to be about 50%. I hate to say it, but I left somewhat disappointed. I loved talking to Bob (as usual) and he thanked us for visiting with him for all of the many shows. I am so happy that I decided to stick around that night with about 4 other people and see the show to it's end.

When I heard about the Grand Floridian orchestra's demise the other day, I was very fearful that Bob would suffer the same fate. When I read about it this morning, I was PISSED.

I am a 60+ year old high-school basketball coach and teacher that is coming to the end of his career. We have had a love affair with WDW ever since we first went with our daughter in 1998. We are sad when Disney closes some things (Horizons/Mr. Toad/The Great Movie Ride) and are elated when some thing are added (Star Wars Galaxy's Edge/Pandora). I can understand that the theme parks need to be as safe as possible and that they have to reduce capacity (including the hotels) to make them safe. I can also understand from personal experience that time passes and that change is inevitable. It is with a heavy heart that I can understand why things have happened the way that they have.

My wife and I have gone to Port Orleans the past three years for Mardi Gras. That will not be happening this year as it looks like PO will still not be opened. We hope to go the year after if things rebound. WE would also love to see Bob if he gets his job back at the River Roost. Even if Disney doesn't rehire him, he deserves to play there at his perch one last time. He deserves it.

I subscribe to Bob's mailing list via his website. The first thing that I did this morning was to send him an email thanking him for all of the great entertainment that he has provided for myself and my family over the years. I hope and pray that he gets to come back, but if he doesn't I would like to publicly thank him for all of the memories. They are priceless.
 
I enjoyed reading your personal connection/story to Bob, @Laura's Dad. Many of us have our various Disney “things” that make up the fabric of why we keep coming back, POR and Bob obviously hold that place for you. Thanks for sharing.
 
I enjoyed reading your personal connection/story to Bob, @Laura's Dad. Many of us have our various Disney “things” that make up the fabric of why we keep coming back, POR and Bob obviously hold that place for you. Thanks for sharing.
It was just something that I felt I needed to say. I appreciate all of the kind comments.
 
We stumbled upon Bob's show during our first trip to WDW in March 2014. My then boyfriend (now husband) were staying at POR and one night we came back early from the parks and decided to get a drink at the River Roost and didn't realize it was one of his performance nights. We had a BLAST.

Our second trip was for our honeymoon in June 2018. We were staying at POFQ and deliberately made the trip over to see his show only to find out that he was on vacation that week! We were so disappointed.

We now have a 5 month old son and when I heard that Bob was laid off, I was so sad that our son may not get to experience the magic of Bob's show. We are hoping that he will be able to come back at some point.

Our experience with Bob is limited but he made such a huge impression. Such a big loss.
 

Our first stay at POR was for DD's 10th birthday and Christmas trip. I had honestly never heard of Yehaa Bob before that trip. Our second night there, we ate dinner at the food court and as we walked by the River Roost we saw (and heard) quite a commotion. We slowed down and peeked in the windows and could not believe what we were seeing. There was a grown man standing on the stage next to a piano player in a crazy fun outfit, and the grown man was standing tall with his arms above his head pretending to be a Christmas tree. The crowd was going crazy, kids and even some adults standing up singing and laughing. We stood and watched that show for a good hour, I honestly couldn't even tell you if we were able to get a seat at all that night. It was so much fun, and even my super reserved, shy husband was singing and dancing along. I loved how Bob interacted with the entire audience, many of them by name. We had such an amazing time, and quite a good workout that night.
We were disappointed the next night when we walked to the food court and it was so quiet. When we got back to the room, I looked up his schedule and made a mental note that we'd have to try to see him again that trip.
Our last night there, we gave DD the option of going to see fireworks or going to see Yehaa Bob. There was zero hesitation as she squealed, "Yehaa Bob!!!" We got there early and got a table (in the back so we didn't embarrass DH too much). We saw Bob arrive and go around to all the tables in the front section and chat with each family for a few minutes. He asked their names and where they were from and made some small talk. (Now we knew how he knew everyone last time lol). We stayed that entire show and part of the next one, just to see if they were the same (they were that night). He was a hoot and in all honesty, some of the most fun we've had at WDW. We even got an autographed picture that night that we framed and it still sits on our piano.
We did make it a point to go back and see him many times after that trip and it was always a fun time. POR won't be the same without him.
 
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It makes me sad when special experiences at WDW are eliminated. We love the Grand Floridian. We have stayed at GF numerous times since 2010. No more music is the latest of changes that sadden us. (We feel YeeHaw Bob's fans sadness!!!) We fondly remember being walked to our wonderful rooms, having a welcome treat or two sent to our room at the beginning of our stays, having lovely stationery, great breakfasts and snacks/beverages on the concierge floor and customer service that was second to none. So much has changed!! The service is "fine" but not what it used to be. No walks and welcomes to your room, no stationary, no welcome surprises in the rooms, and the concierge food choices have become more limited and less tasty. (Chips are still the best anywhere though.) We miss Denny who retired and Richard who passed away. We have not met others that can fill their shoes. We do give shoutouts to Gayle and Marguerite in the concierge lounge. Fingers cross our GF music and Yee Haw Bob will return.
 
He was honored as a Disney Legend.

First, I really appreciated reading your post. I always wanted to see his show, and never got to do so. What a regret!

I wasn't able to find him in the list of official Disney Legends, though. I have seen a lot of references to him as a "Disney Legend" but it seems to be a colloquial honor, not an official one?

That's not to take anything away from his legacy, or the impact he's had on your family's life over the past decades! But I was SHOCKED at the thought that a literal Disney Legend could be terminated, hence the additional research.
 
First, I really appreciated reading your post. I always wanted to see his show, and never got to do so. What a regret!

I wasn't able to find him in the list of official Disney Legends, though. I have seen a lot of references to him as a "Disney Legend" but it seems to be a colloquial honor, not an official one?

That's not to take anything away from his legacy, or the impact he's had on your family's life over the past decades! But I was SHOCKED at the thought that a literal Disney Legend could be terminated, hence the additional research.
Speaking of Legends..................Richard was in his mid-90s and still working at the GF as a greeter right up until the time he passed away. When we left the GF the last thing we did was say bye and see you whenever our next WDW GF reservation was . Richard always told us, "I'll be here". How sad we were when we learned Richard had passed away. We inquired what the GF had done to honor his years of service? We were told they could not single out and recognize specific employees regardless of years of service or age. We discussed this and shared that we would have a plaque of recognition (approved by the GF) made and paid for by us memorializing Richard's years of service. We were told it would be a waste of dollars as they would NOT put it up. We were told they may change out the name of a room in the conference center and put Richard's name on it as the other person had their name on the room for an adequate amount of time. We were taken aback by this indifferent approach to someone so many visitors at the GF held dear. This further explains our opinion of the GF, still being a nice place to stay but visit after visit the "Welcome Home" seems more and more hollow because of the little things and in this case a big thing.
 
Thank you for creating this space to honor an amazing artist and collaborative musician. I am delighted that we held an unofficial meet at one of YeeHaw Bob's sets for the Dream party last year. He is extremely talented, knows his rep and is a person of faith. I wish him bright blessings on the next bend of his journey. May he be held in grace, strength, perseverance and loving support.
 
First, I really appreciated reading your post. I always wanted to see his show, and never got to do so. What a regret!

I wasn't able to find him in the list of official Disney Legends, though. I have seen a lot of references to him as a "Disney Legend" but it seems to be a colloquial honor, not an official one?

That's not to take anything away from his legacy, or the impact he's had on your family's life over the past decades! But I was SHOCKED at the thought that a literal Disney Legend could be terminated, hence the additional research.
He was honored by a plaque and a ceremony. I will have to find it, but I'm not making it up.
 
First, I really appreciated reading your post. I always wanted to see his show, and never got to do so. What a regret!

I wasn't able to find him in the list of official Disney Legends, though. I have seen a lot of references to him as a "Disney Legend" but it seems to be a colloquial honor, not an official one?

That's not to take anything away from his legacy, or the impact he's had on your family's life over the past decades! But I was SHOCKED at the thought that a literal Disney Legend could be terminated, hence the additional research.
He was honored by a plaque and a ceremony. I will have to find it, but I'm not making it up.
 
We stumbled upon Yeeha Bob about 5-6 years ago...immediately became a "must-do" each trip. So sad to see this Disney memory go away...
 












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