Country Bear Jamboree: A Walt Disney Classic

I have been AWOL from this blog for some time. My apologies! Life will, at times, throw you a curve ball or two. Thank you very much for sticking with me through the gaps in posts.

The Mature MouseTM enjoys those experiences in Walt Disney World that are connected, in some way, to Walt himself. There are not many types of those attractions in the Florida resort. Walt was involved in the design and development of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, which was the first audio-animatronic show. It debuted inIMG_9166 1963 at Disneyland Park. Carousel of Progress and It’s a Small World were created, under Walt’s guidance, for the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair. Country Bear Jamboree is another classic attraction Walt was involved in before his passing.
According to Disney.com, “Country Bear Jamboree is one of the very last attractions that Walt Disney personally helped develop before his passing. Originally slated for a never-built Disney ski resort in Mineral King, California, the show with the singing bears happily moved out to Florida in 1971. The bears have been performing daily at Magic Kingdom park ever since.”

IMG_9174Country Bear Jamboree is marketed as “The Wildest Show in the Wilderness.” I experienced this timeless attraction for the first time during my previous solo trip in April, and I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. The attraction is housed in a rustic cabin, called “Grizzly Hall,” off the main street through Frontierland. The waiting area is air conditioner, always a plus at Walt Disney World. The theatre area is comprised of five stages, each framed by well-themed carvings.

IMG_9169The hillbilly cast of bears performs a funny musical revue that relies heavily on the “country-western” theme of that area of Magic Kingdom. This is a family-friendly show with a sense of humor geared toward children and adults.

IMG_2098-0
Sample Merchandise

Please use this link to visit The Mature Mouse™ store for logo merchandise. Many of the items would make great gifts for the Disney fan in your life.

Make sure you consult Jennie Nowers about your next Disney vacation. She will assist you in all your vacation planning. Tell her that The Mature Mouse™ sent you and receive a special gift from Jennie with your next booking.

 

 

Advertisement

Walt Disney World NextGen+

14ba450Over the past several years, Walt Disney World has invested in a next-generation technology, which brought us MyMagic+, MagicBands, and My Disney Experience. Disney had always planned on guests using this technology for more than just a room key and admission to the parks. There had been discussions and rumors of how Imagineers would add various aspects to existing attractions to enhance, to plus, the guest experience. However, after spending close to 2 billon dollars on the creation and implementation of this new technology, it did not seem likely that Disney would move forward from here.

We are now seeing the early signs of the next step in the evolution of next-generation technology. In the last room of It’s a Small World, right before you disembark, there is a sensor that reads guests’ MagicBands and offers them a personalized “goodbye message” on one of four flat screens. MagicBands are also being used on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train to link a video of you on the ride to your Memory Maker account. The Mature Mouse™ can imagine some incredible magic coming from Disney Imagineers via this next-generation technology.

Please use this link to visit The Mature Mouse™ store for logo merchandise. Many of the items would make great gifts for the Disney fan in your life.

Make sure you consult Jennie Nowers about your next Disney vacation. She will assist you in all your vacation planning. Tell her that The Mature Mouse™ sent you and receive a special gift from Jennie with your next booking.

 

Disney’s “It’s A Small World”

Many visitors avoid experiencing It’s A Small World while visiting one of the Disney Parks. There is an assumption that this is an outdated attraction, which features a song that will drone on in your brain for the rest of your visit. I was among those park visitors; I had avoided this attraction thinking it was not worth my time. I had been on It’s A Small World in Disneyland back when I was 12. And, I rode the Walt Disney World version at the age of 14. I thought that was enough. What more could I, an older visitor without children in tow, get out of revisiting this classic attraction?

However, after arriving at Magic Kingdom for an extra magic hour during my solo trip this past June, I found myself standing in front of It’s A Small World, with no line. The Mature Mouse™ decided to ride the attraction, fully aware that I might end up humming the song for the rest of my day at Magic Kingdom.

pepsi01It’s A Small World made its debuted as an exhibit to salute UNICEF during the famous 1964 New York World’s Fair. Walt Disney and his Imagineers designed and constructed this attraction for the Pepsi Cola Company. The ride is dedicated to the welfare of children all over the world. The theme for It’s A Small World became a boat ride through various cultural celebrations of children from around the world. It’s A Small World is considered by Disney historians to be the quintessential Disney experience.pepsi104

The Mature Mouse™ thoroughly enjoyed his experience on It’s A Small World. The song did not drill a hole in my brain all day. However, the attraction certainly added another layer of joy to my Magic Kingdom day. I strongly recommend that everyone take this voyage through the many villages of happy children when visiting of the Disney Parks. It will make you smile, and hum, throughout the day.

Please enjoy these short clips from my trip through It’s A Small World.

IMG_2098-0Please use this link to visit The Mature Mouse™ store for logo merchandise. Many of the items would make great gifts for the Disney fan in your life.

And, make sure you consult Jennie Nowers about your next Disney vacation. Tell her that The Mature Mouse™ sent you and receive a special gift from Jennie with your next booking.