The past summer we visited Disney World in Orlando, Florida, for the sixth time and we had a blast. Disney World features an incredible amount of fun attractions and shows, great rides, Disney characters and parades. One of the attractions at Disney World's Magic Kingdom theme park, which is easily accessible to all ages and great fun, at least the first few times you see it, is Country Bear Jamboree. It is not what I would see first at Magic Kingdom, but if you happen to be nearby and a show is about to start, then go see it. There are typically no lines at this show.


About Country Bear Jamboree

The Country Bear Jamboree is a 17-minute long continuously playing comic musical audio-animatronics show that is fun for both kids and adults. 18 bears is playing old style country music while wall mounted heads of a Bison, a Moose, and an Elk are making various comments.

The bears rise up through the stage, descend from the ceiling, or show up on the balconies next to the stage. They are singing and playing various instruments (banjo, mandolin, washboard, fiddle, harmonica, out of tune guitar and piano) and are dressed in an extreme hillbilly way, with baggy pants hanging on suspenders so you can see parts of their behinds, vests, party hats, etc. They speak with a southern country accent and play old-style festive but sentimental country music, which is actually good as well as comic at the same time. The bears are truly loveable.

The show begins with a bear named Gomer playing the piano and then the hilarious looking main Bear Band is displayed on the stage, and they begin playing corny old-fashioned but fun country music. Next there are several performances by smaller groups, individual singers and performers, as well as the main band, all to the commentary of the three wall mounted heads, Melvin (Moose), Buff (Bison), and Max (Elk).

I should say that the performance takes place in a theater and you sit inside an air-conditioned building in chairs just like you would at any theater.


Jamboree Joy and Laughter

The first time I visited Disney World I did so with a group of Swedish exchange students. I remember that my friend Göran started laughing hysterically when the group of funny looking and strangely dressed overweight bears started singing old cowboy country music with a sentimental voice and a southern drawl. He thought it was just great. Different from Swedish humor but lighthearted, down to earth, clean and unassuming.

When we saw the Country Bear Jamboree as a family this summer we also had a good time. My daughter was laughing, my wife was amused and I thought the show was both funny and entertaining in other ways as well. For example, I sort of liked the music and the animatronics impressed me.

The Country Bears Jamboree may not be the greatest or most exciting show at Disney World, it is sort of old fashioned entertainment, but it is an old good classic that has held up through the years. I give it four stars.

I am submitting this review to Carstaisr38's annual Third Annual All Things Disney Write-Off as well as my Save Travel or Rest-In-Peace Travel Write Off.

Recommended: Yes

Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Jun - Aug