Save The Original Country Bear Jamboree!

[grizzlyhall]

There are now EVEN MORE reports that ALL the Country Bear shows would change to put in a Movie Tie-in if the film is a new success....let's hope it is not succesful, then!

Why should there NOT be a movie tie in?

1) The whole tie-in thing, especially for Tiki Room, ruins the original shows

2) Movies should belong in, say, Disney-MGM Studios - So why not have a stage show, protecting our original?

3) OUR Country Bear Jamboree brings in full capacity guests, unlike the Country Bear Playhouse did or other attractions that had movie tie-ins incorporated

4) There are 40 animatronics from the Country Bear Playhouse that could be used...and there are only 8 bears in the film!

5) Lack of Classics. With Tiki and CoP taken away, Country Bear Jamboree is one of the only originals left. Taking it away will surely ruin the Frontierland atmosphere.

Edited by Moderator

Many Thanks - and sharpen them claws!

Ursus

 

[Safari Steve]

Attractions that are basically movie tie-ins (not at MGM): Splash Mountain, Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White's Adventures, Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Dumbo, Dinosaur, It's Tough to be a Bug, Festival of the Lion King, Tarzan Rocks.

Original attractions still open at MK: Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, Riverboat, WDW RR, Pan, Snow, Dumbo, Speedway, Main St. Vehicles, Hall of Presidents, Swiss Family Treehouse, CBJ.

While attendance at CBJ is not low enough to warrant limited hours (yet), I doubt that it does 100% of it's ohrc even on a daily basis.

PLEASE SIGN...Anyone who not only likes the Bears, but also Walt himself!

That's pretty devicive. Are you saying that anyone who doesn't mind change is against Walt? Walt himself set the mandate that his parks should be 'Ever-changing, yet Never-changing' (which means that while attractions may come and go, the commitment to quality guest service, magical experiences, and fun for all ages should always remain intact.)

I would also shy away from likening this to the Tiki room... Tikis was not rethemed to a movie, it was given a new storyline based on two characters from two different movies. The Bears, if updated at all, will be updated to a movie that is based on the original attraction concept. Whereas the Tiki room now features muddled caribbean music sung by two cartoon birds rather than Polynesian music sung by the original stars (who get very little of the spotlight), CBJ will still have bears singing country music, I would think that the biggest changes made would be an improved audio system (which is badly needed), and more current songs (does country really change all that much?)

Don't get me wrong, I am always nervous about new things, but I don't think this would be an entirely negative change. And the way things are going, I don't think that anyone who "likes Walt himself" would be hoping that a new release bombs.

 

[d-r]

I hope this doesn't sound argumentative, but I disagree.

1. I prefer the tiki room now, actually. I went to the original show in disneyland recently and it is grueling to sit through, in my opinion. I remember the tikki birds from when I was a kid, and so I have a certain fondness of it, but the new show has enough to appeal to that. I wouldn't mind if they had the whole "tikki tikki tikki tikki tikki room" song, but overall I think the re-do is a whole lot better. Yes, there is a history there of the tikki room being the first animatronics and of designing them for the worlds fair, but I think that history is still there. The new show preserves it for a new generation, rather than loosing it altogether.

2. 20K leagues, swiss family robinson treehouse, tom sawyer island, snow white's scarey adventure, mr. toad's wild ride, winnie the pooh, peter pan, aladin's crazy spin ride, splash mountain, mike fink's keel boats, buzz lightyear's space ranger spin, belle's story place and arial's meeting place...and in Disneyland, the outrage of star tours and indiana jones. And the rumors are that a pirates, haunted mansion, and space mountain movie are on the way.

3. Other attractions that have movie tie ins don't bring in full capaciy audiences? Do you mean attractions that had movies based upon them, like Tower of Terror, or attractions based on movies, like Indiana Jones? And yes, there can be a gazillion strollers outside country bears, but when is the last time you ever had to wait to see country bears or it was actually full? Note: I usually travel in off-season so my perception may be skewed here.

4. Not all of the animatronics are bears.

5. Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Haunted Mansion....I am not convinced that overhauling country bear would ruin the frontierland atmosphere. You said it would be re-done, not "taken away." The tikki room revision surely hasn't ruined the adventureland atmosphere.

As for anyone who likes Walt himself opposing a change, when Walt built disneyland he made it clear that things would constantly be updated and changed and not static. Walt never saw the country bear show in wdw, although he was behind the *idea* of a bear show. I think that Marc Davis put a lot of love in the show due to Walt's fondness of bears, but I don't think that the exact contents of the show are important to preserve in memory of Walt (maybe of Marc Davis; but personally, I would be more committed to the haunted mansion and pirates in that regard).

To be honest, I'm fond of the country bears, but I am the only person I know in real life between the ages of 5 and 55 who doesn't find it mind numbing. And I am sure that a revision would appeal as much to the preschool set as the current show does. And then again, I have only seen it once in at least the past 5 years (I would guess I've seen it a dozen or so times in my life). I am sure that there are those who like it (I do), but I am not against updating it. Actually, I would welcome a new show. It would be something new in Frontierland and something to check out. I'd get a little excitement out of that, rather than just walking by as I tend to do now. However, I sort of doubt that they would budget a change anyway. If they just closed down country bears, I would be against it. But I would applaud a revamp. Heck, I would donate a little money for a revamp.

Those are just my opinions,
DR

PS the idea of a new version of country bear playhouse was so exciting I made a petition to support the idea: http://www.petitiononline.com/newcbj/

 

[grizzlyhall]

"Attractions that are basically movie tie-ins (not at MGM): Splash Mountain, Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White's Adventures, Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.."

OK...sure...but all of those (well, besides Splash and Buzz) are in Fantasyland, where all of the tie ins were "set out" to be placed. And yes, original attractions are around. And most of them should never go away. Updated in technology? Sure...but a few should always remain. Heck, some might argue that sentimentality is no reason to keep things open. But that's all that brings us back most of the time.

"I doubt that it does 100% of it's ohrc even on a daily basis."

Country Bear Jamboree brings in full capacity crowds in the afternoon, especially during crowded park days. By four o'clock on hot days, the theater, queue area, and even a line outside is full. After 9-11 even, they put CBJ on REDUCED HOURS...but had to take it OFF the list since the show was so popular. I visit the show sometimes even four times a visit and go numerous times a year - and the show is quite crowded in the off-season. Ask a CM. I know a few who confirm this when I do not visit.


"Are you saying that anyone who doesn't mind change is against Walt?"

No. I am saying that some attractions should remain to remind us of the magic, that is still entertaining, created by Walt Disney and his Imagineers.

"I would also shy away from likening this to the Tiki room... Tikis was not rethemed to a movie, it was given a new storyline based on two characters from two different movies."

Yes, but, unfortunatley, they practically destroyed the attraction - - from a relaxing Luau to a Tiki Rap. It is very tragic to many Disney fans - especially me. I can't bear to visit the attraction - that Iago making fun of Walt's major accomplishment.

 

[grizzlyhall]

"4. Not all of the animatronics are bears."

???

"5. Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Haunted Mansion....I am not convinced that overhauling country bear would ruin the frontierland atmosphere. You said it would be re-done, not "taken away." The tikki room revision surely hasn't ruined the adventureland atmosphere."

It will for the bear fans. It has for Tiki Room fans.

"As for anyone who likes Walt himself opposing a change, when Walt built disneyland he made it clear that things would constantly be updated and changed and not static. Walt never saw the country bear show in wdw, although he was behind the *idea* of a bear show."

Yes, and this show should be preserved to show the true magic created by Walt and his men. There are too many other possibilities than changing a popular attraction. Many many many more. The bears are a ROCK group. Frontierland + Rock doesn't seem to mix that well....

"To be honest, I'm fond of the country bears, but I am the only person I know in real life between the ages of 5 and 55 who doesn't find it mind numbing. And I am sure that a revision would appeal as much to the preschool set as the current show does."

So keep the original show as it is a classic and use the 40 animatronics from Disneyland for 8 bears. Or do an MGM show.

"PS the idea of a new version of country bear playhouse was so exciting I made a petition to support the idea"

Imagineering is not allowed to accept ideas from the public. But I like your idea. Then they won't be able to use the idea...and therefore, keep the original show. Thanks for activiating the idea...I posted it at my club, too!

 

[d-r]

Well, shoot, you got me then.

I said "not all the animatronics are bears" because you said that the movie had 8 bears, but there were 40 animatronics in country bear. I was saying that not all the animatronics are bears (e.g., the heads on the walls).

fwiw also, I think that the bears in the movie are a "country rock" band, not a rock band, which would fit in OK with frontierland, especially because it would surely be a preschool version of "country rock." There are a few songs that I would miss from the current show (just like a miss the full version of "tikki...room") but I have them on cd anyway (just like "tikki...room").

You know, I'm often amazed at the quality of the country bears animatronics, considering the technology of the early 70s. Just think what they could do today (especially with the investment of jim henson co. for the movie). There's a noticable difference in Hopper between the AK version and the DCA version of tough to be a bug, and that is only a few years. Think what 30 years could do!

DR

 

[grizzlyhall]

It would be even "NICER" of Disney to change the AAs of the original show to that of the more high tech, say Tokyo, style, but remainging the same quality.

The thing some people have to realize is that we become one with the attraction. The bears are like my family ... seriously. Dreamfinder was part of my family, too...now he's up in Disney attraction heaven...and look, Disney rewrites history, saying that Figment came out of NigeL Channing's head. It's just sickening...

 

[Sarangel]

One of the policies of these boards is not to allow petitions or letterwriting campaigns, lest we be seen as anti-Disney. If you feel strongly about a policy, you are free to make use of the addresses at the top of the board, but please don't advocate a campaign.

Thanks,

Sarangel