A brief history of Critter Country: by themeparkzach & zip-a-dee-lady.
The Country Bear Jamboree opened at WDW in 71’. It was really popular (this is before any mountains existed in the Magic Kingdom). The Country Bear Jamboree would get lines of up to 2 hours.
Well Disneyland wanted to capitalize on the success of the Florida show. They opted to build a dual theater version doubling the capacity of the attraction. Unfortunately as with most shows it lost popularity very quickly with the large amount of repeat visitors at Disneyland. They put it in it’s own new land and called it Bear Country.
Disney tried to revive it several times with specials like the Country Bear Vacation Hoedown and the Christmas Special (Fun fact they originally planned to have a Valentines Day Special and a Halloween Special too). But the efforts never really worked.
That’s when Disney started looking at new ways to draw people into the land, so that’s when that whole story of the Log Flume comes into play. Eventually they build Splash hoping that again it may revive some popularity to the bears, still doesn’t really work. Since Splash wasn’t themed to bears they renamed the land Critter Country.
Sadly under the incompetent management in the early 2000’s it was decided to replace the theaters with the Winnie the Pooh ride.
September 21, 2001 the Country Bear Jamboree played its final show.
Bear Country was renamed Critter Country when Splash opened in 1989.
Before that, it was the Indian Village, which can be seen while on the Mark Twain, Sailing Ship Columbia, and Davey Crocket’s Canoes.
Today, the Indian Village isn’t considered “politically correct”.
During the construction of Splash Mountain, a few obstacles were made: They couldn’t have Uncle Remus on the ride and Brer Rabbit has to be captured with something that wasn’t a “tar baby” (a racist term for a black person).
The brilliant minds of the designers decided to eliminate Uncle Remus from the entire ride and have Brer Rabbit be caught in a beehive.
(Source: futurechoicetheater)
(Source: futurechoicetheater)
strangeandwonderousdreamsphotos:
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My mother grew up wishing that she could be a guest relations assistant at Disneyland. She really fancied the outfits they wore.
World of Motion by flamegirl_08 on Flickr.
Early 70’s Walt Disney World Lunch Box by worldofmateo on Flickr.
Walt & Horse on Main Street, 1957
Me with Dale - Tweedle Dee in background by flamegirl_08 on Flickr.
Tomorrowland shops
Frontierland Keel boat, 1958
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Vintage Disneyworld Photo by angelagafford on Flickr.
Anyone lucky enough to have seen the Mickey Mouse Revue?
…I would glady give up a lifetime of Dole Whips in order to see this.
King Louie! And Piglet! and the duck nephews! And PLuto! This looks amazing!
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Disneyland shopping bag, 1960′s
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