Country Bear Musical Jamboree 🎶🐻

If you’ve ever wanted to see a room full of animatronic bears sing country music while cracking corny jokes, Disney’s got you covered. Tucked inside Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, Country Bear Jamboree has been entertaining families since 1971 back when bell-bottoms were cool and nobody thought twice about singing animatronic animals. It’s one of the last original opening-day shows still running, and honestly, it’s a charming little time capsule that smells faintly of nostalgia and wood polish.

Oh, and in 2024 Disney gave the bears a glow-up. The show got updated with a refreshed song list, smoother animatronics, and a few new winks for modern audiences. The biggest change? Big Al retired his infamous “Blood on the Saddle” ballad and now performs a

wonderfully distraught (and oddly heartfelt) version of Remember Me. It’s both hilarious and slightly haunting… and honestly, it works.

What Changed in 2024 ✨

Disney gave the bears a well-deserved glow-up in 2024. Here’s what’s new:

• New Song List 🎶 – Out with “Blood on the Saddle,” in with a mix of classic country and Disney-inspired tunes. Big Al now sings a distraught (and hilarious) version of Remember Me. It’s half comedy, half tear-jerker, and 100% unforgettable.

• Liver Lips is Out, Romeo is In 💋 – The bear formerly known as “Liver Lips McGrowl” is now Romeo McGrowl. Same goofy grin, just with a less cringey name.

• Fresh Animatronics 🤖 – The bears move smoother, blink better, and feel a little less like they’ve been oiling their joints since 1971.

• Polished Theater Details 🪵 – The lodge and lighting got subtle updates, giving the show a fresher look without losing that Frontierland charm.

The Show

Before the bears even take the stage, the talking mounted heads on the wall kick things off with some snarky chatter. The curtain rises, the banjos strum, and suddenly you’re in a backwoods hoedown hosted by a family of fur-covered performers. From Henry the bow-tied host to Trixie with her soulful tunes, the cast still shines, but now with an updated setlist that mixes in Disney favorites you. The music is catchy, the jokes are still corny (thankfully), and the whole thing is delightfully bizarre in the best way.

The Queue

No lightning-fast thrills here. The waiting area is a rustic, wood-paneled lodge that feels right at home in Frontierland. You’ll see themed posters and little details that set the mood, but overall the queue is straightforward. The vibe hasn’t changed much, but the lodge feels a little more polished now, like Disney gave it a dusting and a wink without losing the rustic charm.

The Good 🐻✨

• Air-conditioning! On a sweltering Florida day, that’s worth a standing ovation.

• The 2024 refresh breathed new life into the show while keeping its quirky spirit.

• Big Al’s Remember Me is equal parts tragic, funny, and iconic.

• The mounted heads are still here and still hilarious.

• Nostalgia + weirdness = peak Disney charm.

The Not-So-Good 🙃

• If “dad jokes with banjos” aren’t your thing, this still won’t convert you.

• Some purists still grumble about losing “Blood on the Saddle” (but hey, Disney fans grumble about everything).

• It’s still not thrilling — unless you count trying not to laugh-cry during Big Al’s song.

Tips & Tricks 🎩

• This is a fantastic mid-day break. Rope-drop the mountains, then cool off with the bears.

• Rarely has long waits, so don’t waste a Genie+ here. Save that for the headliners.

• Sit toward the middle of the theater for the best view — especially when the mounted animal heads join in.

Final Thoughts

Country Bear Jamboree’s 2024 update managed the impossible: modernizing the show while keeping it quirky and nostalgic. The bears may move smoother, the playlist may be fresher, Romeo McGrowl may have replaced Liver Lips, and Big Al may be crooning Remember Me instead of saddle songs, but the heart of the jamboree is still beating strong. With the talking mounted heads kicking things off and a cast of bears delivering both laughs and nostalgia, this is one Disney classic that remains weird, wonderful, and uniquely Disney. 🐻🎵