We were invited out by Walt Disney World to experience their brand new and fully refreshed COUNTRY BEAR MUSICAL JAMBOREE! You see, the bears went into hibernation about six months ago, and starting July 17th, you can see what they’ve been sleeping on! For real – don’t sleep on this show.

Who doesn’t love bears? Also, the music, the costumes, the showmanship… all of this speaks to us and it’s all incredible. Don’t’ just take my word for it… Ken Ricci, Manager of Technical Show Quality with Walt Disney Imagineering says, "I'm excited for guests to experience the new Country Bear Musical Jamboree and the authentic country music straight from Nashville and see these bears in their vibrant new costumes."

On July 10th, Disney invited media out for a sneak peek of the new show and to talk to some of the people that helped bring it to life! Big thanks to Disney and their incredible public relations team (thank you, Alex!) for helping us bring you this experience!

In my newest episode of the PRIDE Park Podcast, I had the opportunity to speak to Joe Vitale, Principal Production Designer at Walt Disney Imagineering, one of the architects of the brand-new show; and Emily Ann Roberts, who has been opening for Blake Shelton on tour. She provides the new singing voice for Trixie in the show.

First, let me calm your nerves… all of the bears you know and love are all still there! Even Little Joe, clutching an adorable new plushie of Big Al. From Henry to Wendell to Teddi Berra, Ernest and Shaker… they’re all there. Even Liver Lips McGrowl… although he’s gone under the most fabulous of makeovers and now goes by the name Romeo McGrowl.

Melvin, Buff and Max are still hanging out on the wall providing new running commentary throughout the show. And Bunny, Bubbles and Beulah all sport new outfits in their number with Trixie.

From the moment you walk into the newly refreshed Grizzly Hall, you can feel the love and passion that went into reimaging such a legendary show. This is an opening day attraction for Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World and you’d never know it now! Every inch has been touched up, repainted, and made ready for another 50 years. From the display cases that help set the stage for the Country Bears by showcasing their history, both real and imagined, to the bear claw marks in the floorboards, showing off the many patrons that have come before… a LOT went into making Country Bear Musical Jamboree.

In my time speaking with Joe, you can feel his passion for his work. He is truly proud of what he and his team were able to achieve and when I say the animatronics look and act just like the latest generation from Walt Disney Imagineering, I’m not lying… these things move every bit as fluidly as the new animatronics do that just made their debut at another attraction that just underwent a reimagination: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. We’ll talk more about that show in a future episode of PRIDE Park Podcast.

I wanted to dive a little deeper into the experience of creating a new show… one that is as storied as Country Bear Jamboree… and for that, I had the chance to catch up with Emily Ann Roberts who is the new voice of Trixie. She is a true delight to talk to!

I can only imagine what it must be like to be sitting there and hearing your voice come out of a character so beloved by so many through the decades. I can believe it would be a real out-of-body experience!

As a self-proclaimed Disney fan, I have to say when you hear that an attraction is going to be reimagined… an attraction that you might be so familiar with it feels like it’s a part of your family… well, that can best be described as feeling a bit of trepidation… and believe me, after speaking with Joe and the Imagineers… they get it. I honestly thought the show was great! It honors the past while bringing a brand-new feel to every part of the show. What was sometimes a "skip" for me in the past is now going to be a must-do on every trip!

As Joe mentioned, Mac McAnally is a true Nashville music legend. When you have that kind of buy-in from talent that have quite literally created some of the biggest hit country songs of all time, you know you’re going to get a great performance. Country Bear Musical Jamboree does not disappoint.

Thanks again so much to our friends at Walt Disney World Public Relations for inviting us to this early sneak peek at the new show. I can’t even tell you how surreal it is walking into an empty Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom. It was SO cool… it was also very, very early in the morning and that place was already buzzing! Alex and his team work really hard to make sure we know everything that’s happening at the Disney Parks, so once again, thank you so much for including us!