Extinct (?) Walt Disney World: The Country Bear Christmas Special (1984-2005)

[dylan02242001]

i like big al to

[hotone23]

THE BEARS ROCK...Back for my Holiday fix!! Glad to see them here JES

[Ainurah]

I realize now how lucky I was to have seen this in person. I was utterly devastated when I found out the bears were no longer playing in California. DX

Still, thanks so much for posting this! <3

[AntiMusick]

makes me wonder if they ever had a Halloween show?

[disneydanny2]

@AntiMusick nope.

[AntiMusick]

@disneydanny2 no wonder its gone now.

[disneydanny2]

@AntiMusick well ok it didn't have a Halloween SPECIFIC themed show,BUT as you may or may not recall the Original show in Flotida went on Hiatus for 6 years while the Vacation Hoedown played and one of the songs in it was Ghost Riders In The Sky

[CosplayCore]

I just LOVE the power behind Trixie's voice when she sings "I Got Those Hibernatin' Blues". <3

[MANEATINGWREATH]

As I watch this video for the hundredth time (I have no life during the summer lol) it really makes me a bit teary-eyed when Trixie and Henry sing the "Christmas Song" in harmony. Too much nostalgic value from my childhood. Yesterday my best friend and I went on our separate ways for college and this show is just one big reminder that my childhood is finally over. At least I'll always be a kid at heart. :)

[disneydanny2]

I just heard that the Country Bear Christmas Special is shown on the December 2011 page of the WDW 2012 wall calendar. Now photos on that calendar are of Current things. you don't REALLY think WDW would stoop SO low as to tease us like that,would they?

[2010MzHood]

Why did they stop doing the contry bear christmas special?!?!?!?!?!?

[disneydanny2]

17:56 Melvin: "Well i think we did JUST fine" Max: "You would"  Buff: "If you two don't steraighten up i'm gonna pull the plug on BOTH of you,now say goodbye"

Max & Melovin: "Sol long everybody"

Buff: "appy Holidays!"

[DjekStudiosMovies]

I think Big Al was way funnier in the original shows than in the specials.

[JESmith]

@DjekStudiosMovies Yeah "Blood On The Saddle" was defiantly the funniest of his three songs, though "Another New Year" is good too. His song in Vacation Hoedown is kinda dull though (I do like the lines "Lost the love of my life and my Swiss Army Knife" though)

[DjekStudiosMovies]

@JESmith Yeah xD

Theeerre wuuuzz... *BLOOD* on da saddle..... Just love it how he moves his head when he says blood xD

[disneynut06]

Don't assume that this is extinct, J.E. Smith.

It's possible that this overlay has only been absent because of the economic recession.

[rubyredmedia]

Her eye is fixed great that was so freaky when it was wonky. And I live that song where they sing tracks in the snow

[hotone23]

Came over for my annual Bear Christmas fix!!!

[DakotaMontgomery]

Is it just me, or does it seem coincidental that, at 01:09, Ursus H. Bear lived from 1848 to 1928. He died the year Mickey Mouse made his debut in "Steamboat Willie" Interesting...

[rubyredmedia]

That was great but I think that trixies left eyes broken it's wonky

[JESmith]

@rubyredmedia I know. What's even sadder is that I shot this five years ago and it's *still* like that.

[disneydanny2]

@JESmith wth, they oiverlooked that during the refurb??

[JESmith]

@disneydanny2 Well originally yes, but I just some new videos shot in October and her eye is *finally* fixed!

[411314]

This video was very well done!

[musicluvrr1234]

Do you know why they actually got rid of it??? It was such a great show!!!! And it was soo cute! :)

[Disneydanny]

@musicluvrr1234 Disney didn't want to have to pay the extra cast members to work the attraction (The Christmas version brought more people to the attraction requiring extra cast members to work it

[musicluvrr1234]

@Disneydanny aww :( thats sad. at least i can still watch it here haha

[disneynut06]

@musicluvrr1234 Don't listen to the ever-negative Disneydanny.



[musicluvrr1234]

@disneynut06 i know... i realized that they really should've kept it. i mean come on, its a classic! get more cast members!

[Disneydanny]

what year did they add the christmas lights on top of the stage? i know it hadn't always been done (i'm guessing the first year they did it they finished the installation early & it was an afterthought)

[JESmith]

I'm not quite sure. Somewhere in the '02-

'04 range.

[Disneydanny]

t version that plays in Tokyyo has a few diofferent songs then the U.S. version for instance in the U.S. Trixie sings "Hibernatiing Blues" while in Tokyo she sings "Have Yourself A Meerry Little christmas" The Finale in Tokyo is also slightly different

[Disneydanny]

They shut down the one at Disneyland. Disney World Currently only offers the original show year round, now if you go to Tokyoi you can see one of 3 different shows (depending on the season) the latter two shows in Japan are slightly different from the American versions

[skullbasher115]

whats the difference between the japan one and the american one

[skullbasher115]

did they shut down the one at disney world in orlando or disney land, and why did they shut it down

[Trulula2]

tHEY DIDNT WANT TO HAVE TO PAY RIGHTS TO RUDOLPH AND OTHER SONGS. ITS RUMORED THAT IT MAY BE BACK THIS YEAR

[Disneydanny]

they've been saying that every year since '06 & it's never happened are people complaining about it's abscence?

[disneynut06]

You bet they are.

[Disneydanny]

well they better complain ALOT more as I heard that the sets & coustumes were all destroyed last year

[disneynut06]

@Disneydanny Don't listen to whoever told you that. It's just a big fit lie.

They never destroy anything. Things like that are too expensive to make and are never just thrown away.

[JESmith]

Not to mention the "set pieces were destroyed" story was only mentioned in one post without futher confirmation.

[DisLuv13]

I really miss the Christmas show :(

[Whitelightng]

Headed to DLAND in March...I will tip my hat for the Bears and if it is missed in our day..I will not go back.

[skullbasher115]

which one the one in florida? and why

[Whitelightng]

No just CA..the DL people said it was lacking crowds..They are still playin away in Florida..

[lilMissDaniGirl8]

wow i havent seen this show in almost 8 years i cant believe they stopped doing it i forgot all about these songs like "i'm hungry as a bear!"

[shine311]

i miss this show.

[Disneydanny]

Disney apparently no longer wants to pay for the rights to the songs that they don't own. that's what happend

[ajmpdotcom]

It's too bad that the only way we can remember this fabulous version of the show will only be from pictures, video, and youtube. I wonder what the real reason is they stopped doing the Christmas special....They already use all the songs everywhere else in the park!

[skullbasher115]

doesnt disney world orlando still have the country bears

[disneynut06]

Yes.

[tejojo]

WDW still has CBJ, but they don't show the Christmas show anymore due to copyright infringement.

[skullbasher115]

but how, i mean if they do it at other disney parks, how would it be copy right

[Disneydanny]

actually that turned out not to be the real reason, it turns out that people complain when the show goes town for the show swaps. and to think the bears went down for a 2 MONTH rehab last year and nobody complained.

[justinpoe2005]

yes they do. I saw it this past december 09 at wdw

[Whitelightng]

Making my Christmas visit to the best Bear Video on You T.

[dlransomjr]

This sure put me in the Christmas mood already!

[BrerBear93]

I sure do hope they bring this and the Vacation Hoedown back!

[Whitelightng]

That would so rock..As a 45 yr Old Fiddler I do miss the Bears..:) Never too Old for some fun when it makes you laugh.

[sandkey]

Californians do not have a clue about whats good anyways! Just kidding..:) It is ashame Disney removed it from Disneyland but I can tell you this..I WILL NOT go to Disneyland until they return this attraction..so there PPHHHTTT

[MANEATINGWREATH]

I hear talk that the show is returning to California Adventure with all the upcoming changes to the park, let's just wish it is true.

[xohottbabexo]

Is Big Al drunk or something?

[WolfAristora]

Thanks for posting this. I have never been able to see the Bears myself. And it's always nice to see old vacation footage like this. Brings back the memories. Now that I have a daughter of my own maybe we'll be able to hit up Country Bears in WDW.

[jdohe]

I'm just speculating here. The Country Bear Jamboree was extremely popular. It is still at Orlando but gone from California. The Country Bear Movie was so terrible that it might have hurt the appeal of the Disney attraction. Disney likes to have their rides complement their movies and also to have sponsors. If there is a failed movie associated with a ride, or a sponsor drops out, that ride might not be around long.

[jdohe]

Holiday versions of the shows are nice, but what I worry about is the disappointed parkgoers that go when the ride is closed down for 2 or 3 weeks during the conversion to, and back from, the standard show. Last time I went to Disney, my biggest disappointment was that the Haunted Mansion was closed for changes. For many people, Disney is a once in a lifetime treat. Having a major ride closed is heartbreaking.

[JESmith]

Well, with the bears that didn't matter because they used to switch the show right after Thanksgiving while the park was uncrowded. Plus it only took them less than a week to change this show.

[dogsarefab]

I loved this show, I miss it. it wsa sooo funny too. we went round twice!! that's some great footage you've got at the end, where in the park was that? was it an event or just characters coming out to see the people?

[JESmith]

The Wendell footage was shot in Adventureland during MVMCP. The bears were out most of the night, but briefly went into Adventureland when the parade went through Frontierland.

They hung around in front of the Aladdin carpets, but Wendell and the CM broke off from the rest of the group and started playing around. They wrapped Wendell's scarf around one of those poles and swung around it by the ends. They had just stopped doing it by the time I got my camera out and started recording them.

[dogsarefab]

whats MVMCP? aww awsome i never saw anything like that. Awsome :-) what was the parade like?

[JESmith]

MVMCP stands for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. It's a seperate ticketed event where you can stay in the park till about 1 AM, they have the "snow" on Main Street all night, they run the Christmas parade and the Hoilday verison of Wishes with the 360 degree firework finale twice, etc.

[dogsarefab]

aww that sounds awsome i went to a special haloween event last time i was there.

[soldiergone2war]

i miss those days

[nooneuc]

This is a classic but I can see where these grinches come from like scrooge all seasons. I saw the first one at Disneyland and saw it 30 more times.Pooh its replacement pertty much sucks. It always comes down to the bottom line. MONEY!

[MANEATINGWREATH]

Happy Holidays everyone.

[MANEATINGWREATH]

I cry remembering this ride.

[sandkey]

Great job..Thanks for bringing it to You Tube...Anyone that thinks this show is bad or boring needs to get their face away from their computer and go experience life. I am a vey wealthy business man that can go anywhere I want for vacation..As long as WDW keeps the bears in florida I will go. The specila shows like Vacation Hoe Down and Christmas are true classics. I like your video very much and once again for those that appreciate Disney and the simpler things in life Thank You...

[BeautyBuyNature]

This is great

[tinasattler1]

thats funney

[horselove101]

THEY SUCK

good vid ^^

[wdwmike]

they lost it during the 2006 season due to the attraction needing certain copy writes being obtained for some of the songs used for the show and them failling to obtain them, its not due to attendance since normally show attendance during even busy holidays is maybe 50-60% on a good day, during the christmas show they would fill every show with a 2-3 show wait to get in

[bigalan100]

WHY I CAN'T IT PLAY?

[frankydman]

Specifically, the song they were having copyright issues with was "Rudolph the red nose reindeer"

[campaug]

well this was very nice, but i can see why they got rid of it. its pretty boring.

[disneynut06]

Actually, it's not boring. I think it's better than the regular show in many ways.

Also, the Bears' Xmas show was cancelled this past year to save money for a major rehab to the attraction and because they had to renegotiate the rights to some of the songs, not because of attendance issues.

So, my understanding is that it'll be coming back this holiday season.

[ZippZapp]

Not as boring as going through a slow confusing ride with limitedly animated Pooh animatronics!

[Sumshine904]

Wrong.

It wasn't in the 06-07 seasons because of copy write issues with some of the songs, specifically Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Also because most people that come to WDW only come once, and would like to see the original show during Christmas time.

Please, don't post negative comments unless you really know what you're talking about.

[setpaintertim]

I really loved that show, I was young when they took it away from Disneyland in California. I now have two young boys age 6 & 4, we have passes and go to Disneyland almost every weekend, I love you tube and my son and I love to watch the old Disneyland footage and this was beautful, and brought back a lot of memories, thank you so much, Great job.

[justtrytostopus90]

i shouldve been there at christmas time. i saw it during the summer

[Laundrydude]

My family made it a tradition to go and see this every year. This year we went to WDW and they did not have it. What a let down that was.

[wdwmike]

make sure next time your there you tell this to guest relations they'll document it and the only way disney will do anything is based off of large number of guests saying they were disappointed in not having it

[slayer2004c]

Excellent Video!

Wish this could be uploaded somewhere so i could download and put onto DVD :(

[JasonCellucci2006]

Wow This Is Great!!

You Did An Excellent Job On This Video..

I Wish I Could Go During Christmas Time

I Love This Show I Would Love To See It Live..

This Is Amazing..

Christmas Spirit Is Alive!!

[scottof83]

Hooray for CBCS. I used to watch this every year at Disneyland, until 2001. But now, I can gather around my computer and see this every year. Thanks for posting this.

Also, I think the WDW version looks more decorative than the Disneyland one.

[MagicFunnyMan]

all these take me back so long ago Gawsh I love disney I swear walt was shurely a great and herific man.

[PeterParker2099]

Thanks for uploading this! It brings me the Christmas spirit. :)

[PeterParker2099]

lol I only remembered the Country Bears from their movie. :)

[kaitbugg]

What's wrong with Trixie's eye..? I watched her song a couple of times, and I couldn't point it out. Though I noticed OTHER problems.

[Laundrydude]

Anyone remember the Summer Hoedown they did there?Short lived but cool in its own right!

[JESmith]

Yep I do. In fact,if you check my playlist, I have someone's "Vacation" Hoedown video listed. While it was short lived at Disney World, at Disneyland it was there to stay until it closed.

[Laundrydude]

It had to be somewhat popular beacuse on of the songs made it to The yearly Music of the Parks album. Thanks agian I will look for it .

[arrasails]

i dont c that much wrong with her eye

[ursusem]

I didn't notice either

[SteveAnime]

I really love it I'll be a "Micky Very Merry Christmas Party" Fan

[PanteraChick]

they took this out to make room for winnie the pooh

[catchfroggy]

That was the worst idea ever. Same with Mr. Toad's meeting it's similar Pooh-y fate in Florida. It's rather sad that Pooh's best feature is the hidden moose heads from the previous attraction. Don't get me wrong, dark rides make Disneyland...but dammit, Jamboree was a part of very important Disney lore.

[JESmith]

Yes. The Disney World verison is still open,though with a few problems.(You might notice a couple in the video, such as Trixie's eye)

[Oblivion1313]

Yes, I did notice. SCARY EYE.

Well, I'm glad it's still playing. I'll have to catch it next time I go. Thanks!

[Oblivion1313]

I love this. It was so sad when they took it away at Disneyland. Is it still playing in DisneyWorld?