Walt Disney World has revealed that Nation Bear Jamboree has seen its visitor satisfaction (GSAT) rating soar because the reimagined “Musical” model of the stage present debuted final summer time in Magic Kingdom. This shares particulars in regards to the larger attraction approval score, together with commentary about GSATs and why this enchancment is stunning, whereas others should not. Plus, my belated Nation Bear Musical Jamboree assessment.
Beginning with that final level, it’s usually unsurprising that sure choices which can be unpopular with followers are fashionable with most of the people. The one that stands proud most prominently in my thoughts is Disney Enchantment. From the day it debuted, I made no secret that I used to be not a fan of the Disney Enchantment fireworks. I used to be overtly rooting for the fireworks to flop, with the hope that decrease visitor satisfaction scores that will consequence within the return of Fortunately Ever After.
The percentages had been in opposition to that occuring, as there’s a excessive ground for Magic Kingdom fireworks and low need inside Disney to confess defeat. All Magic Kingdom fireworks reveals the identical core qualities, with pyro exploding over Cinderella Citadel to conclude a protracted, memory-filled day at Walt Disney World. The music is pulled from sentimental moments in memorable motion pictures. These fireworks tug on the heartstrings, eliciting robust feelings and filling friends with happiness on the finish of the night.
Suffice to say, there’s a minimal baseline for any Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular, and even an arguably “unhealthy” one continues to be “good” within the grand scheme of issues. Visitor satisfaction scores for Disney Enchantment mirrored this, and it nonetheless ranked extremely amongst all Magic Kingdom experiences. And but, it was changed as a result of it underperformed for its class. I don’t know if it was the lowest-rated Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular ever, nevertheless it was beneath Fortunately Ever After, which is #1.
Some followers aren’t going to love listening to this, nevertheless it’s my understanding that it’s the same story with Tiana’s Bayou Journey. That reimagined trip has acquired blended critiques from followers, and that’s placing it charitably. This consists of our personal prolonged Tiana’s Bayou Journey Journey Assessment: Failure, Flawed or Implausible? Or for those who’d favor a comparability to its predecessor, there’s We Rode Splash Mountain & Tiana’s Bayou Journey in a Week. Right here’s How Each Win. (Spoiler: Splash Mountain wins extra.)
From what I’ve heard, common friends are unbothered by all the faults followers have discovered. Tiana’s Bayou Journey is among the top-rated rides not simply in Magic Kingdom, however in all of Walt Disney World. Whereas I’d love some extra element and specificity about this to know how downtime and reliability issue (or don’t), I’m nonetheless unsurprised.
A giant a part of the core enchantment of that log flume trip is and has at all times been its wonderful trip profile, with outside and indoor scenes, all culminating in that climactic drop on the finish. Lovable animals and Audio Animatronics additionally issue into the combination with each incarnations of the attraction. Disney diehards can quibble over the inventive and storytelling deserves of every, however common friends are largely zooming out and searching on the greater image. They rated Splash Mountain extremely, so that they charge Tiana’s Bayou Journey extremely.
To be clear, I’m not endorsing this–simply reporting it. Usually talking, this thought course of issues me. It’s the kind of sentiment that permits Disney to lower element or justify degrading thematic integrity beneath the guise of visitor preferences or the excuse that standard guests received’t discover. Whereas true within the vacuum of a person attraction or two, I do suppose informal friends do discover in mixture, even when subconsciously.
Or a minimum of, so I’d wish to suppose. However this isn’t actually about Tiana’s Bayou Journey in any respect–it’s about precedent. In the case of that particular trip reimagining, persuasive circumstances might be made each for and in opposition to it versus its predecessor. However I digress.
Talking of Frontierland reimaginings, Disney shared an replace on Nation Bear Musical Jamboree’s visitor satisfaction rating throughout a current occasion I attended. The wide-ranging presentation was principally oriented across the “Disney Bubble,” however touched upon quite a lot of completely different matters–together with trip reimaginings.
Throughout that, Jason Kirk, Senior Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World, shared his staff makes use of a mix of on-the-ground interactions with friends and information to make choices. He defined how this drives programming choices, balancing near-term and long-term additions whereas additionally assessing what to refresh. “We have now to attempt to make the very best resolution for all our friends,” Kirk mentioned.
This segued into trip reimaginings, and the announcement that Magic Kingdom can be overhauling and enhancing its model of Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin later this 12 months. “That is us going again and saying, ‘You recognize what? This expertise wants some love. It’s the OG,” mentioned Michael Hundgen, Portfolio Government Inventive Producer. “It is a nice replace to a basic attraction at Magic Kingdom.”
Hundgen used Nation Bear Musical Jamboree as an illustrative instance. He mentioned that there have been “plenty of opinions about what to do” with the present, hinting on the rumored proposals for the attraction from the Chapek period. “Followers love the bears, we love the bears,” Hundgen added. He defined that Imagineering wished to make the present contemporary and related, whereas additionally exhibiting like to the Nation Bears.
The presentation revealed that Walt Disney World and Imagineering think about the reimagined stage present a “huge success.” Visitor Satisfaction surveys rank Nation Bear Musical Jamboree because the #6 general attraction in Magic Kingdom. The unique Nation Bear Jamboree was ranked #27.
That is each stunning and unsurprising.
As a lot as I’d wish to consider in any other case, it’s no shock that the unique Nation Bear Jamboree ranked so low. It was a stage present (strike one) from the Nineteen Seventies (strike two) with none connections to recognizable mental property (strike three). It additionally featured sharp wit and wry humor that the majority friends both wouldn’t respect or would possibly discover offensive (strikes four-plus).
I cherished Nation Bear Jamboree, however acknowledge that not everyone seems to be me. No quantity of consciousness or advocacy for the OG Nation Bears goes to persaud folks of my perspective. Despite the fact that I don’t like the concept of dumbing issues down for contemporary sensibilities, I’m additionally a realist. I acknowledge it’s important to meet the viewers the place they’re, a minimum of to some extent. It’s a fragile steadiness–and the identical motive why I got here to just accept that Maelstrom, Universe of Vitality, and even Nice Film Journey had been on borrowed time on the finish of their runs. No sense tilting at windmills.
The stunning half is that Nation Bear Musical Jamboree now ranks #6. It’s nonetheless a stage present, which I’d’ve assumed is like the precise reverse of a Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular–one thing with a low ceiling versus a excessive ground. In case you advised me Nation Bear Jamboree ranked #27 and requested me to guess the rating of the redone Nation Bear Musical Jamboree, I most likely would’ve gone with #22, and been stunned if it had been prime 20.
For it to be prime 10 is downright surprising. This places it in the identical league as Tiana’s Bayou Journey, TRON Lightcycle Run, Haunted Mansion, Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice, and Pirates of the Caribbean. (I assume these rankings aren’t counting leisure, as there’s no means Nation Bear Musical Jamboree is #6 if we’re throwing Fortunately Ever After, Competition of Fantasy, and so on. into the combination.)
In the case of the spike in visitor satisfaction for a trip reimagining, the one factor that instantly involves thoughts can be Maelstrom to Frozen Ever After. Even that wasn’t fairly as pronounced to the very best of my information. (The spike for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was, however that’s not a reimagining that reused the identical trip system–it’s completely completely different, and fewer stunning.)
Stunned as I is perhaps, that is constructive from my perspective.
Despite the fact that I personally wouldn’t rank Nation Bear Musical Jamboree 21 spots above the OG Nation Bear Jamboree (or perhaps a single spot), I’m not lamenting the poor style of my fellow friends. This implies a number of issues, all of that are excellent news. The primary is that the Nation Bears are “secure” for one more couple of a long time. I figured this was the case with the reimagining, however feared that if it had been shortly deemed a failure, they could plug the plug sooner.
The second is that this will increase the chance of seasonal overlays sooner or later. I nonetheless suppose Halloween and Christmas Nation Bear Musical Jamborees are unlikely, however this a minimum of strikes the needle a bit. It additionally presents a problem: discovering seasonal Disney IP that matches (as a result of that’ll be the lesson Disney realized from this).
Lastly, it proves longer and Audio Animatronics-centric points of interest nonetheless maintain immense enchantment. I’ve been saying this for years–and that it’s a idiot’s errand to chase know-how and developments, particularly by way of screens, as a result of everybody has these of their pockets.
Not solely that, however client know-how refreshes quicker than Disney, so there’s a hazard of all the pieces trying dated a lot sooner. A “blue ocean” technique, of types, in aiming for points of interest that can’t or should not replicated wherever else is the optimum method.
Nation Bear Musical Jamboree is proof of idea on this, definitively demonstrating {that a} slower-paced and longer present pushed by Audio Animatronics and with out any thrills or gimmicks could be a hit with friends. Not only a success, however a convincing one.
On a semi-related observe, a number of readers have requested for my assessment of Nation Bear Musical Jamboree after I uncared for to write down one final summer time. That was on objective, as I’ve difficult and conflicting emotions about this reimagining. I’ve joked about writing “Tom’s Completely Biased Nation Bear Musical Jamboree Assessment” to share them.
This seems like pretty much as good of a spot as any for that. I’ll begin with the objectively constructive, which is that Grizzly Corridor appears and sounds nice. The eye put into the shows within the ready space is great, the form of loving tribute to the bears that has existed for years at Tokyo Disneyland. (Okay, not fairly that good.)
Then there are the bears themselves. In addition they look and sound nice–and I don’t imply the music. The rebuilt Audio Animatronics are fluid and don’t make a ton of noise whereas shifting. The coats look contemporary and implausible. From the angle of present high quality alone, Nation Bear Musical Jamboree is head and shoulders above the OG Nation Bear Jamboree.
In fact, it didn’t have to be that means–the outdated present may’ve acquired TLC through the years, it simply didn’t. Nothing was stopping Disney from greenlighting a restoration of the attraction, however realistically, hundreds of thousands of {dollars} aren’t spent like that on legacy points of interest with no marketable return. The underside line, although, is that the present appears and sounds higher than it has at any time in my grownup life. Once more, that is Tokyo Disneyland-esque, however on this case, Nation Bear Musical Jamboree outperforms its Japanese counterpart.
Attempting to primary my objectivity, I’m extra blended on the present itself. It’s very tough to put aside my private preferences in humor and music, each of which skew strongly in favor of the OG Nation Bear Jamboree. On the identical time, the truncated present misplaced lots of its luster over a decade in the past.
What I can say is that a number of of the Disney songs labored higher than I anticipated, and there’s sufficient humor and rapport among the many bears to convey their allure, character, and historical past. It feels cohesive and well-paced. And once more, all of it feels very lovingly finished by Imagineers who clearly “get” the Nation Bears as they executed an IP mandate.
My largest criticism on the substantive facet (whereas attempting to be goal) is that there’s an excessive amount of genre-bending and script-flipping. It’s humorous or stunning the primary couple of instances that the foolish bears carry out a love tune within the type of nation music, however feels gimmicky after a bit. I do know Disney doesn’t have a ton of nation music in its songbook, however I most likely would’ve gone with extra music from The Lion King, Automobiles, Fox and the Hound, Tarzan, Dwelling on the Vary, or (particularly) Coco.
With that mentioned, it’s not as if the tune choice is unhealthy by any means. I appreciated many of the music and accompanying gags (“Supercalifragilisticexpialiocious” and “A Entire New World” being my favorites). It simply felt like 1-2 songs too many attempting to be intelligent or shock audiences. (Slicing the Toy Story music is the best reply. Walt Disney World doesn’t want this a lot Toy Story.)
As for the biased a part of the assessment, we’ve largely been over this earlier than.
There are a few new developments, although. The primary is in speaking to extra folks with information of the decision-making course of that resulted within the Nation Bear Musical Jamboree reimagining. That is one thing I hinted at beforehand, arguing that it most likely wasn’t OG Nation Bear Jamboree vs. Nation Bear Musical Jamboree, however quite, Nation Bear Musical Jamboree vs. no bears in any respect.
Every thing I’ve heard because the announcement means that that is 100% correct. That it took years for Nation Bear Musical Jamboree to get the greenlight, and it nearly by no means occurred. (One of many uncommon circumstances the place perhaps the COVID closure improved outcomes.) That the present was a hard-fought victory for the passionate creatives who love the Nation Bears. That this was the very best case situation of the outcomes that had been truly believable. Fan daydreams a few restored Nation Bear Jamboree are good, however they had been simply that–daydreams–not something realistically thought of.
This isn’t to say it’s important to agree with the choice at a excessive degree, as a result of clearly, you don’t. However I really feel unhealthy for the Imagineers and others on the undertaking who had been criticized by followers for “killing” the OG Nation Bear Jamboree. These followers have it precisely backwards–these creatives and leaders went above and past to save lots of the Nation Bears from a worse destiny: extinction.
All of that makes reviewing Nation Bear Musical Jamboree tough for me. I believe the present high quality is superior and respect that the attraction has been modernized; it’ll introduce a complete new era of friends to the Nation Bears, which is an efficient factor. With background information, I’m happy with how this saga ended up enjoying out versus the choice. But when I simply assessment Nation Bear Musical Jamboree on its deserves in opposition to what it changed, I don’t come away considering it’s an enchancment. At the least, not for me, personally.
Then there’s yet one more biasing issue. We took our daughter to see Nation Bear Musical Jamboree for the primary time, and he or she completely cherished it. Megatron is just about a Nation Bear connoisseur, having now seen the unique present, Nation Bear Trip, Nation Bear Christmas, and Nation Bear Musical Jamboree.
She loves each single model, however Nation Bear Musical Jamboree received the most important response out of her. Actually, this isn’t all that exceptional. She doesn’t watch motion pictures but, so it’s not like she acknowledges these Disney songs. If something, she’s heard the music from Trip Hoedown and Jingle Bell Jamboree probably the most, as these include actual world music that we’ve listened to at dwelling.
For her, the enchantment is the bears, themselves–she likes to level at them, clap, and snicker. Regardless, Nation Bear Musical Jamboree is one among Megatron’s favourite Disney points of interest on the earth…which makes it one among my favorites, too.
I had seen CBMJ a number of instances over the prior months, however I used to be additional received over based mostly on Sarah’s response to it. She went into this new present with a bit of, let’s say, cynicism, about it. Her expectations weren’t excessive. Sarah’s favourite variations of the present are the seasonal overlays, and he or she was skeptical the IP injection may preserve and allure and spirit of the decades-old reveals. She walked away pleasantly stunned. She truly wished to do it a number of extra instances, whereas OG Nation Bear Jamboree at Magic Kingdom had fallen to once-per-visit standing.
That was roughly my response to seeing Nation Bear Musical Jamboree for the primary time, and I believe seeing our daughter getting so giddy in regards to the bears heightened Sarah’s personal response. It definitely did mine, and underscored that we’d have the ability to benefit from the Nation Bears with Megatron for years to come back, which just about was not the result in Magic Kingdom. From that perspective alone, I give very excessive–however very biased–marks to Nation Bear Musical Jamboree. I’d think about our opinions will solely develop into extra favorable as Megatron acknowledges extra of the music from the present, and we kind household nostalgia for Nation Bear Musical Jamboree.
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Your Ideas
What do you consider the reimagined Nation Bear Musical Jamboree? Stunned that it’s GSAT jumped from #27 to #6 throughout all of Magic Kingdom? Do you personally favor the OG Nation Bear Jamboree or CBMJ? Do you a minimum of perceive the upside of modernizing the attraction, even for those who favor the unique? Do you agree or disagree with my evaluation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
Walt Disney World has revealed that Nation Bear Jamboree has seen its visitor satisfaction (GSAT) rating soar because the reimagined “Musical” model of the stage present debuted final summer time in Magic Kingdom. This shares particulars in regards to the larger attraction approval score, together with commentary about GSATs and why this enchancment is stunning, whereas others should not. Plus, my belated Nation Bear Musical Jamboree assessment.
Beginning with that final level, it’s usually unsurprising that sure choices which can be unpopular with followers are fashionable with most of the people. The one that stands proud most prominently in my thoughts is Disney Enchantment. From the day it debuted, I made no secret that I used to be not a fan of the Disney Enchantment fireworks. I used to be overtly rooting for the fireworks to flop, with the hope that decrease visitor satisfaction scores that will consequence within the return of Fortunately Ever After.
The percentages had been in opposition to that occuring, as there’s a excessive ground for Magic Kingdom fireworks and low need inside Disney to confess defeat. All Magic Kingdom fireworks reveals the identical core qualities, with pyro exploding over Cinderella Citadel to conclude a protracted, memory-filled day at Walt Disney World. The music is pulled from sentimental moments in memorable motion pictures. These fireworks tug on the heartstrings, eliciting robust feelings and filling friends with happiness on the finish of the night.
Suffice to say, there’s a minimal baseline for any Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular, and even an arguably “unhealthy” one continues to be “good” within the grand scheme of issues. Visitor satisfaction scores for Disney Enchantment mirrored this, and it nonetheless ranked extremely amongst all Magic Kingdom experiences. And but, it was changed as a result of it underperformed for its class. I don’t know if it was the lowest-rated Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular ever, nevertheless it was beneath Fortunately Ever After, which is #1.
Some followers aren’t going to love listening to this, nevertheless it’s my understanding that it’s the same story with Tiana’s Bayou Journey. That reimagined trip has acquired blended critiques from followers, and that’s placing it charitably. This consists of our personal prolonged Tiana’s Bayou Journey Journey Assessment: Failure, Flawed or Implausible? Or for those who’d favor a comparability to its predecessor, there’s We Rode Splash Mountain & Tiana’s Bayou Journey in a Week. Right here’s How Each Win. (Spoiler: Splash Mountain wins extra.)
From what I’ve heard, common friends are unbothered by all the faults followers have discovered. Tiana’s Bayou Journey is among the top-rated rides not simply in Magic Kingdom, however in all of Walt Disney World. Whereas I’d love some extra element and specificity about this to know how downtime and reliability issue (or don’t), I’m nonetheless unsurprised.
A giant a part of the core enchantment of that log flume trip is and has at all times been its wonderful trip profile, with outside and indoor scenes, all culminating in that climactic drop on the finish. Lovable animals and Audio Animatronics additionally issue into the combination with each incarnations of the attraction. Disney diehards can quibble over the inventive and storytelling deserves of every, however common friends are largely zooming out and searching on the greater image. They rated Splash Mountain extremely, so that they charge Tiana’s Bayou Journey extremely.
To be clear, I’m not endorsing this–simply reporting it. Usually talking, this thought course of issues me. It’s the kind of sentiment that permits Disney to lower element or justify degrading thematic integrity beneath the guise of visitor preferences or the excuse that standard guests received’t discover. Whereas true within the vacuum of a person attraction or two, I do suppose informal friends do discover in mixture, even when subconsciously.
Or a minimum of, so I’d wish to suppose. However this isn’t actually about Tiana’s Bayou Journey in any respect–it’s about precedent. In the case of that particular trip reimagining, persuasive circumstances might be made each for and in opposition to it versus its predecessor. However I digress.
Talking of Frontierland reimaginings, Disney shared an replace on Nation Bear Musical Jamboree’s visitor satisfaction rating throughout a current occasion I attended. The wide-ranging presentation was principally oriented across the “Disney Bubble,” however touched upon quite a lot of completely different matters–together with trip reimaginings.
Throughout that, Jason Kirk, Senior Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World, shared his staff makes use of a mix of on-the-ground interactions with friends and information to make choices. He defined how this drives programming choices, balancing near-term and long-term additions whereas additionally assessing what to refresh. “We have now to attempt to make the very best resolution for all our friends,” Kirk mentioned.
This segued into trip reimaginings, and the announcement that Magic Kingdom can be overhauling and enhancing its model of Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin later this 12 months. “That is us going again and saying, ‘You recognize what? This expertise wants some love. It’s the OG,” mentioned Michael Hundgen, Portfolio Government Inventive Producer. “It is a nice replace to a basic attraction at Magic Kingdom.”
Hundgen used Nation Bear Musical Jamboree as an illustrative instance. He mentioned that there have been “plenty of opinions about what to do” with the present, hinting on the rumored proposals for the attraction from the Chapek period. “Followers love the bears, we love the bears,” Hundgen added. He defined that Imagineering wished to make the present contemporary and related, whereas additionally exhibiting like to the Nation Bears.
The presentation revealed that Walt Disney World and Imagineering think about the reimagined stage present a “huge success.” Visitor Satisfaction surveys rank Nation Bear Musical Jamboree because the #6 general attraction in Magic Kingdom. The unique Nation Bear Jamboree was ranked #27.
That is each stunning and unsurprising.
As a lot as I’d wish to consider in any other case, it’s no shock that the unique Nation Bear Jamboree ranked so low. It was a stage present (strike one) from the Nineteen Seventies (strike two) with none connections to recognizable mental property (strike three). It additionally featured sharp wit and wry humor that the majority friends both wouldn’t respect or would possibly discover offensive (strikes four-plus).
I cherished Nation Bear Jamboree, however acknowledge that not everyone seems to be me. No quantity of consciousness or advocacy for the OG Nation Bears goes to persaud folks of my perspective. Despite the fact that I don’t like the concept of dumbing issues down for contemporary sensibilities, I’m additionally a realist. I acknowledge it’s important to meet the viewers the place they’re, a minimum of to some extent. It’s a fragile steadiness–and the identical motive why I got here to just accept that Maelstrom, Universe of Vitality, and even Nice Film Journey had been on borrowed time on the finish of their runs. No sense tilting at windmills.
The stunning half is that Nation Bear Musical Jamboree now ranks #6. It’s nonetheless a stage present, which I’d’ve assumed is like the precise reverse of a Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular–one thing with a low ceiling versus a excessive ground. In case you advised me Nation Bear Jamboree ranked #27 and requested me to guess the rating of the redone Nation Bear Musical Jamboree, I most likely would’ve gone with #22, and been stunned if it had been prime 20.
For it to be prime 10 is downright surprising. This places it in the identical league as Tiana’s Bayou Journey, TRON Lightcycle Run, Haunted Mansion, Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice, and Pirates of the Caribbean. (I assume these rankings aren’t counting leisure, as there’s no means Nation Bear Musical Jamboree is #6 if we’re throwing Fortunately Ever After, Competition of Fantasy, and so on. into the combination.)
In the case of the spike in visitor satisfaction for a trip reimagining, the one factor that instantly involves thoughts can be Maelstrom to Frozen Ever After. Even that wasn’t fairly as pronounced to the very best of my information. (The spike for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was, however that’s not a reimagining that reused the identical trip system–it’s completely completely different, and fewer stunning.)
Stunned as I is perhaps, that is constructive from my perspective.
Despite the fact that I personally wouldn’t rank Nation Bear Musical Jamboree 21 spots above the OG Nation Bear Jamboree (or perhaps a single spot), I’m not lamenting the poor style of my fellow friends. This implies a number of issues, all of that are excellent news. The primary is that the Nation Bears are “secure” for one more couple of a long time. I figured this was the case with the reimagining, however feared that if it had been shortly deemed a failure, they could plug the plug sooner.
The second is that this will increase the chance of seasonal overlays sooner or later. I nonetheless suppose Halloween and Christmas Nation Bear Musical Jamborees are unlikely, however this a minimum of strikes the needle a bit. It additionally presents a problem: discovering seasonal Disney IP that matches (as a result of that’ll be the lesson Disney realized from this).
Lastly, it proves longer and Audio Animatronics-centric points of interest nonetheless maintain immense enchantment. I’ve been saying this for years–and that it’s a idiot’s errand to chase know-how and developments, particularly by way of screens, as a result of everybody has these of their pockets.
Not solely that, however client know-how refreshes quicker than Disney, so there’s a hazard of all the pieces trying dated a lot sooner. A “blue ocean” technique, of types, in aiming for points of interest that can’t or should not replicated wherever else is the optimum method.
Nation Bear Musical Jamboree is proof of idea on this, definitively demonstrating {that a} slower-paced and longer present pushed by Audio Animatronics and with out any thrills or gimmicks could be a hit with friends. Not only a success, however a convincing one.
On a semi-related observe, a number of readers have requested for my assessment of Nation Bear Musical Jamboree after I uncared for to write down one final summer time. That was on objective, as I’ve difficult and conflicting emotions about this reimagining. I’ve joked about writing “Tom’s Completely Biased Nation Bear Musical Jamboree Assessment” to share them.
This seems like pretty much as good of a spot as any for that. I’ll begin with the objectively constructive, which is that Grizzly Corridor appears and sounds nice. The eye put into the shows within the ready space is great, the form of loving tribute to the bears that has existed for years at Tokyo Disneyland. (Okay, not fairly that good.)
Then there are the bears themselves. In addition they look and sound nice–and I don’t imply the music. The rebuilt Audio Animatronics are fluid and don’t make a ton of noise whereas shifting. The coats look contemporary and implausible. From the angle of present high quality alone, Nation Bear Musical Jamboree is head and shoulders above the OG Nation Bear Jamboree.
In fact, it didn’t have to be that means–the outdated present may’ve acquired TLC through the years, it simply didn’t. Nothing was stopping Disney from greenlighting a restoration of the attraction, however realistically, hundreds of thousands of {dollars} aren’t spent like that on legacy points of interest with no marketable return. The underside line, although, is that the present appears and sounds higher than it has at any time in my grownup life. Once more, that is Tokyo Disneyland-esque, however on this case, Nation Bear Musical Jamboree outperforms its Japanese counterpart.
Attempting to primary my objectivity, I’m extra blended on the present itself. It’s very tough to put aside my private preferences in humor and music, each of which skew strongly in favor of the OG Nation Bear Jamboree. On the identical time, the truncated present misplaced lots of its luster over a decade in the past.
What I can say is that a number of of the Disney songs labored higher than I anticipated, and there’s sufficient humor and rapport among the many bears to convey their allure, character, and historical past. It feels cohesive and well-paced. And once more, all of it feels very lovingly finished by Imagineers who clearly “get” the Nation Bears as they executed an IP mandate.
My largest criticism on the substantive facet (whereas attempting to be goal) is that there’s an excessive amount of genre-bending and script-flipping. It’s humorous or stunning the primary couple of instances that the foolish bears carry out a love tune within the type of nation music, however feels gimmicky after a bit. I do know Disney doesn’t have a ton of nation music in its songbook, however I most likely would’ve gone with extra music from The Lion King, Automobiles, Fox and the Hound, Tarzan, Dwelling on the Vary, or (particularly) Coco.
With that mentioned, it’s not as if the tune choice is unhealthy by any means. I appreciated many of the music and accompanying gags (“Supercalifragilisticexpialiocious” and “A Entire New World” being my favorites). It simply felt like 1-2 songs too many attempting to be intelligent or shock audiences. (Slicing the Toy Story music is the best reply. Walt Disney World doesn’t want this a lot Toy Story.)
As for the biased a part of the assessment, we’ve largely been over this earlier than.
There are a few new developments, although. The primary is in speaking to extra folks with information of the decision-making course of that resulted within the Nation Bear Musical Jamboree reimagining. That is one thing I hinted at beforehand, arguing that it most likely wasn’t OG Nation Bear Jamboree vs. Nation Bear Musical Jamboree, however quite, Nation Bear Musical Jamboree vs. no bears in any respect.
Every thing I’ve heard because the announcement means that that is 100% correct. That it took years for Nation Bear Musical Jamboree to get the greenlight, and it nearly by no means occurred. (One of many uncommon circumstances the place perhaps the COVID closure improved outcomes.) That the present was a hard-fought victory for the passionate creatives who love the Nation Bears. That this was the very best case situation of the outcomes that had been truly believable. Fan daydreams a few restored Nation Bear Jamboree are good, however they had been simply that–daydreams–not something realistically thought of.
This isn’t to say it’s important to agree with the choice at a excessive degree, as a result of clearly, you don’t. However I really feel unhealthy for the Imagineers and others on the undertaking who had been criticized by followers for “killing” the OG Nation Bear Jamboree. These followers have it precisely backwards–these creatives and leaders went above and past to save lots of the Nation Bears from a worse destiny: extinction.
All of that makes reviewing Nation Bear Musical Jamboree tough for me. I believe the present high quality is superior and respect that the attraction has been modernized; it’ll introduce a complete new era of friends to the Nation Bears, which is an efficient factor. With background information, I’m happy with how this saga ended up enjoying out versus the choice. But when I simply assessment Nation Bear Musical Jamboree on its deserves in opposition to what it changed, I don’t come away considering it’s an enchancment. At the least, not for me, personally.
Then there’s yet one more biasing issue. We took our daughter to see Nation Bear Musical Jamboree for the primary time, and he or she completely cherished it. Megatron is just about a Nation Bear connoisseur, having now seen the unique present, Nation Bear Trip, Nation Bear Christmas, and Nation Bear Musical Jamboree.
She loves each single model, however Nation Bear Musical Jamboree received the most important response out of her. Actually, this isn’t all that exceptional. She doesn’t watch motion pictures but, so it’s not like she acknowledges these Disney songs. If something, she’s heard the music from Trip Hoedown and Jingle Bell Jamboree probably the most, as these include actual world music that we’ve listened to at dwelling.
For her, the enchantment is the bears, themselves–she likes to level at them, clap, and snicker. Regardless, Nation Bear Musical Jamboree is one among Megatron’s favourite Disney points of interest on the earth…which makes it one among my favorites, too.
I had seen CBMJ a number of instances over the prior months, however I used to be additional received over based mostly on Sarah’s response to it. She went into this new present with a bit of, let’s say, cynicism, about it. Her expectations weren’t excessive. Sarah’s favourite variations of the present are the seasonal overlays, and he or she was skeptical the IP injection may preserve and allure and spirit of the decades-old reveals. She walked away pleasantly stunned. She truly wished to do it a number of extra instances, whereas OG Nation Bear Jamboree at Magic Kingdom had fallen to once-per-visit standing.
That was roughly my response to seeing Nation Bear Musical Jamboree for the primary time, and I believe seeing our daughter getting so giddy in regards to the bears heightened Sarah’s personal response. It definitely did mine, and underscored that we’d have the ability to benefit from the Nation Bears with Megatron for years to come back, which just about was not the result in Magic Kingdom. From that perspective alone, I give very excessive–however very biased–marks to Nation Bear Musical Jamboree. I’d think about our opinions will solely develop into extra favorable as Megatron acknowledges extra of the music from the present, and we kind household nostalgia for Nation Bear Musical Jamboree.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study inns on our Walt Disney World Lodges Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the pieces you should know!
Your Ideas
What do you consider the reimagined Nation Bear Musical Jamboree? Stunned that it’s GSAT jumped from #27 to #6 throughout all of Magic Kingdom? Do you personally favor the OG Nation Bear Jamboree or CBMJ? Do you a minimum of perceive the upside of modernizing the attraction, even for those who favor the unique? Do you agree or disagree with my evaluation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
Walt Disney World has revealed that Nation Bear Jamboree has seen its visitor satisfaction (GSAT) rating soar because the reimagined “Musical” model of the stage present debuted final summer time in Magic Kingdom. This shares particulars in regards to the larger attraction approval score, together with commentary about GSATs and why this enchancment is stunning, whereas others should not. Plus, my belated Nation Bear Musical Jamboree assessment.
Beginning with that final level, it’s usually unsurprising that sure choices which can be unpopular with followers are fashionable with most of the people. The one that stands proud most prominently in my thoughts is Disney Enchantment. From the day it debuted, I made no secret that I used to be not a fan of the Disney Enchantment fireworks. I used to be overtly rooting for the fireworks to flop, with the hope that decrease visitor satisfaction scores that will consequence within the return of Fortunately Ever After.
The percentages had been in opposition to that occuring, as there’s a excessive ground for Magic Kingdom fireworks and low need inside Disney to confess defeat. All Magic Kingdom fireworks reveals the identical core qualities, with pyro exploding over Cinderella Citadel to conclude a protracted, memory-filled day at Walt Disney World. The music is pulled from sentimental moments in memorable motion pictures. These fireworks tug on the heartstrings, eliciting robust feelings and filling friends with happiness on the finish of the night.
Suffice to say, there’s a minimal baseline for any Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular, and even an arguably “unhealthy” one continues to be “good” within the grand scheme of issues. Visitor satisfaction scores for Disney Enchantment mirrored this, and it nonetheless ranked extremely amongst all Magic Kingdom experiences. And but, it was changed as a result of it underperformed for its class. I don’t know if it was the lowest-rated Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular ever, nevertheless it was beneath Fortunately Ever After, which is #1.
Some followers aren’t going to love listening to this, nevertheless it’s my understanding that it’s the same story with Tiana’s Bayou Journey. That reimagined trip has acquired blended critiques from followers, and that’s placing it charitably. This consists of our personal prolonged Tiana’s Bayou Journey Journey Assessment: Failure, Flawed or Implausible? Or for those who’d favor a comparability to its predecessor, there’s We Rode Splash Mountain & Tiana’s Bayou Journey in a Week. Right here’s How Each Win. (Spoiler: Splash Mountain wins extra.)
From what I’ve heard, common friends are unbothered by all the faults followers have discovered. Tiana’s Bayou Journey is among the top-rated rides not simply in Magic Kingdom, however in all of Walt Disney World. Whereas I’d love some extra element and specificity about this to know how downtime and reliability issue (or don’t), I’m nonetheless unsurprised.
A giant a part of the core enchantment of that log flume trip is and has at all times been its wonderful trip profile, with outside and indoor scenes, all culminating in that climactic drop on the finish. Lovable animals and Audio Animatronics additionally issue into the combination with each incarnations of the attraction. Disney diehards can quibble over the inventive and storytelling deserves of every, however common friends are largely zooming out and searching on the greater image. They rated Splash Mountain extremely, so that they charge Tiana’s Bayou Journey extremely.
To be clear, I’m not endorsing this–simply reporting it. Usually talking, this thought course of issues me. It’s the kind of sentiment that permits Disney to lower element or justify degrading thematic integrity beneath the guise of visitor preferences or the excuse that standard guests received’t discover. Whereas true within the vacuum of a person attraction or two, I do suppose informal friends do discover in mixture, even when subconsciously.
Or a minimum of, so I’d wish to suppose. However this isn’t actually about Tiana’s Bayou Journey in any respect–it’s about precedent. In the case of that particular trip reimagining, persuasive circumstances might be made each for and in opposition to it versus its predecessor. However I digress.
Talking of Frontierland reimaginings, Disney shared an replace on Nation Bear Musical Jamboree’s visitor satisfaction rating throughout a current occasion I attended. The wide-ranging presentation was principally oriented across the “Disney Bubble,” however touched upon quite a lot of completely different matters–together with trip reimaginings.
Throughout that, Jason Kirk, Senior Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World, shared his staff makes use of a mix of on-the-ground interactions with friends and information to make choices. He defined how this drives programming choices, balancing near-term and long-term additions whereas additionally assessing what to refresh. “We have now to attempt to make the very best resolution for all our friends,” Kirk mentioned.
This segued into trip reimaginings, and the announcement that Magic Kingdom can be overhauling and enhancing its model of Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin later this 12 months. “That is us going again and saying, ‘You recognize what? This expertise wants some love. It’s the OG,” mentioned Michael Hundgen, Portfolio Government Inventive Producer. “It is a nice replace to a basic attraction at Magic Kingdom.”
Hundgen used Nation Bear Musical Jamboree as an illustrative instance. He mentioned that there have been “plenty of opinions about what to do” with the present, hinting on the rumored proposals for the attraction from the Chapek period. “Followers love the bears, we love the bears,” Hundgen added. He defined that Imagineering wished to make the present contemporary and related, whereas additionally exhibiting like to the Nation Bears.
The presentation revealed that Walt Disney World and Imagineering think about the reimagined stage present a “huge success.” Visitor Satisfaction surveys rank Nation Bear Musical Jamboree because the #6 general attraction in Magic Kingdom. The unique Nation Bear Jamboree was ranked #27.
That is each stunning and unsurprising.
As a lot as I’d wish to consider in any other case, it’s no shock that the unique Nation Bear Jamboree ranked so low. It was a stage present (strike one) from the Nineteen Seventies (strike two) with none connections to recognizable mental property (strike three). It additionally featured sharp wit and wry humor that the majority friends both wouldn’t respect or would possibly discover offensive (strikes four-plus).
I cherished Nation Bear Jamboree, however acknowledge that not everyone seems to be me. No quantity of consciousness or advocacy for the OG Nation Bears goes to persaud folks of my perspective. Despite the fact that I don’t like the concept of dumbing issues down for contemporary sensibilities, I’m additionally a realist. I acknowledge it’s important to meet the viewers the place they’re, a minimum of to some extent. It’s a fragile steadiness–and the identical motive why I got here to just accept that Maelstrom, Universe of Vitality, and even Nice Film Journey had been on borrowed time on the finish of their runs. No sense tilting at windmills.
The stunning half is that Nation Bear Musical Jamboree now ranks #6. It’s nonetheless a stage present, which I’d’ve assumed is like the precise reverse of a Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular–one thing with a low ceiling versus a excessive ground. In case you advised me Nation Bear Jamboree ranked #27 and requested me to guess the rating of the redone Nation Bear Musical Jamboree, I most likely would’ve gone with #22, and been stunned if it had been prime 20.
For it to be prime 10 is downright surprising. This places it in the identical league as Tiana’s Bayou Journey, TRON Lightcycle Run, Haunted Mansion, Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice, and Pirates of the Caribbean. (I assume these rankings aren’t counting leisure, as there’s no means Nation Bear Musical Jamboree is #6 if we’re throwing Fortunately Ever After, Competition of Fantasy, and so on. into the combination.)
In the case of the spike in visitor satisfaction for a trip reimagining, the one factor that instantly involves thoughts can be Maelstrom to Frozen Ever After. Even that wasn’t fairly as pronounced to the very best of my information. (The spike for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was, however that’s not a reimagining that reused the identical trip system–it’s completely completely different, and fewer stunning.)
Stunned as I is perhaps, that is constructive from my perspective.
Despite the fact that I personally wouldn’t rank Nation Bear Musical Jamboree 21 spots above the OG Nation Bear Jamboree (or perhaps a single spot), I’m not lamenting the poor style of my fellow friends. This implies a number of issues, all of that are excellent news. The primary is that the Nation Bears are “secure” for one more couple of a long time. I figured this was the case with the reimagining, however feared that if it had been shortly deemed a failure, they could plug the plug sooner.
The second is that this will increase the chance of seasonal overlays sooner or later. I nonetheless suppose Halloween and Christmas Nation Bear Musical Jamborees are unlikely, however this a minimum of strikes the needle a bit. It additionally presents a problem: discovering seasonal Disney IP that matches (as a result of that’ll be the lesson Disney realized from this).
Lastly, it proves longer and Audio Animatronics-centric points of interest nonetheless maintain immense enchantment. I’ve been saying this for years–and that it’s a idiot’s errand to chase know-how and developments, particularly by way of screens, as a result of everybody has these of their pockets.
Not solely that, however client know-how refreshes quicker than Disney, so there’s a hazard of all the pieces trying dated a lot sooner. A “blue ocean” technique, of types, in aiming for points of interest that can’t or should not replicated wherever else is the optimum method.
Nation Bear Musical Jamboree is proof of idea on this, definitively demonstrating {that a} slower-paced and longer present pushed by Audio Animatronics and with out any thrills or gimmicks could be a hit with friends. Not only a success, however a convincing one.
On a semi-related observe, a number of readers have requested for my assessment of Nation Bear Musical Jamboree after I uncared for to write down one final summer time. That was on objective, as I’ve difficult and conflicting emotions about this reimagining. I’ve joked about writing “Tom’s Completely Biased Nation Bear Musical Jamboree Assessment” to share them.
This seems like pretty much as good of a spot as any for that. I’ll begin with the objectively constructive, which is that Grizzly Corridor appears and sounds nice. The eye put into the shows within the ready space is great, the form of loving tribute to the bears that has existed for years at Tokyo Disneyland. (Okay, not fairly that good.)
Then there are the bears themselves. In addition they look and sound nice–and I don’t imply the music. The rebuilt Audio Animatronics are fluid and don’t make a ton of noise whereas shifting. The coats look contemporary and implausible. From the angle of present high quality alone, Nation Bear Musical Jamboree is head and shoulders above the OG Nation Bear Jamboree.
In fact, it didn’t have to be that means–the outdated present may’ve acquired TLC through the years, it simply didn’t. Nothing was stopping Disney from greenlighting a restoration of the attraction, however realistically, hundreds of thousands of {dollars} aren’t spent like that on legacy points of interest with no marketable return. The underside line, although, is that the present appears and sounds higher than it has at any time in my grownup life. Once more, that is Tokyo Disneyland-esque, however on this case, Nation Bear Musical Jamboree outperforms its Japanese counterpart.
Attempting to primary my objectivity, I’m extra blended on the present itself. It’s very tough to put aside my private preferences in humor and music, each of which skew strongly in favor of the OG Nation Bear Jamboree. On the identical time, the truncated present misplaced lots of its luster over a decade in the past.
What I can say is that a number of of the Disney songs labored higher than I anticipated, and there’s sufficient humor and rapport among the many bears to convey their allure, character, and historical past. It feels cohesive and well-paced. And once more, all of it feels very lovingly finished by Imagineers who clearly “get” the Nation Bears as they executed an IP mandate.
My largest criticism on the substantive facet (whereas attempting to be goal) is that there’s an excessive amount of genre-bending and script-flipping. It’s humorous or stunning the primary couple of instances that the foolish bears carry out a love tune within the type of nation music, however feels gimmicky after a bit. I do know Disney doesn’t have a ton of nation music in its songbook, however I most likely would’ve gone with extra music from The Lion King, Automobiles, Fox and the Hound, Tarzan, Dwelling on the Vary, or (particularly) Coco.
With that mentioned, it’s not as if the tune choice is unhealthy by any means. I appreciated many of the music and accompanying gags (“Supercalifragilisticexpialiocious” and “A Entire New World” being my favorites). It simply felt like 1-2 songs too many attempting to be intelligent or shock audiences. (Slicing the Toy Story music is the best reply. Walt Disney World doesn’t want this a lot Toy Story.)
As for the biased a part of the assessment, we’ve largely been over this earlier than.
There are a few new developments, although. The primary is in speaking to extra folks with information of the decision-making course of that resulted within the Nation Bear Musical Jamboree reimagining. That is one thing I hinted at beforehand, arguing that it most likely wasn’t OG Nation Bear Jamboree vs. Nation Bear Musical Jamboree, however quite, Nation Bear Musical Jamboree vs. no bears in any respect.
Every thing I’ve heard because the announcement means that that is 100% correct. That it took years for Nation Bear Musical Jamboree to get the greenlight, and it nearly by no means occurred. (One of many uncommon circumstances the place perhaps the COVID closure improved outcomes.) That the present was a hard-fought victory for the passionate creatives who love the Nation Bears. That this was the very best case situation of the outcomes that had been truly believable. Fan daydreams a few restored Nation Bear Jamboree are good, however they had been simply that–daydreams–not something realistically thought of.
This isn’t to say it’s important to agree with the choice at a excessive degree, as a result of clearly, you don’t. However I really feel unhealthy for the Imagineers and others on the undertaking who had been criticized by followers for “killing” the OG Nation Bear Jamboree. These followers have it precisely backwards–these creatives and leaders went above and past to save lots of the Nation Bears from a worse destiny: extinction.
All of that makes reviewing Nation Bear Musical Jamboree tough for me. I believe the present high quality is superior and respect that the attraction has been modernized; it’ll introduce a complete new era of friends to the Nation Bears, which is an efficient factor. With background information, I’m happy with how this saga ended up enjoying out versus the choice. But when I simply assessment Nation Bear Musical Jamboree on its deserves in opposition to what it changed, I don’t come away considering it’s an enchancment. At the least, not for me, personally.
Then there’s yet one more biasing issue. We took our daughter to see Nation Bear Musical Jamboree for the primary time, and he or she completely cherished it. Megatron is just about a Nation Bear connoisseur, having now seen the unique present, Nation Bear Trip, Nation Bear Christmas, and Nation Bear Musical Jamboree.
She loves each single model, however Nation Bear Musical Jamboree received the most important response out of her. Actually, this isn’t all that exceptional. She doesn’t watch motion pictures but, so it’s not like she acknowledges these Disney songs. If something, she’s heard the music from Trip Hoedown and Jingle Bell Jamboree probably the most, as these include actual world music that we’ve listened to at dwelling.
For her, the enchantment is the bears, themselves–she likes to level at them, clap, and snicker. Regardless, Nation Bear Musical Jamboree is one among Megatron’s favourite Disney points of interest on the earth…which makes it one among my favorites, too.
I had seen CBMJ a number of instances over the prior months, however I used to be additional received over based mostly on Sarah’s response to it. She went into this new present with a bit of, let’s say, cynicism, about it. Her expectations weren’t excessive. Sarah’s favourite variations of the present are the seasonal overlays, and he or she was skeptical the IP injection may preserve and allure and spirit of the decades-old reveals. She walked away pleasantly stunned. She truly wished to do it a number of extra instances, whereas OG Nation Bear Jamboree at Magic Kingdom had fallen to once-per-visit standing.
That was roughly my response to seeing Nation Bear Musical Jamboree for the primary time, and I believe seeing our daughter getting so giddy in regards to the bears heightened Sarah’s personal response. It definitely did mine, and underscored that we’d have the ability to benefit from the Nation Bears with Megatron for years to come back, which just about was not the result in Magic Kingdom. From that perspective alone, I give very excessive–however very biased–marks to Nation Bear Musical Jamboree. I’d think about our opinions will solely develop into extra favorable as Megatron acknowledges extra of the music from the present, and we kind household nostalgia for Nation Bear Musical Jamboree.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study inns on our Walt Disney World Lodges Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the pieces you should know!
Your Ideas
What do you consider the reimagined Nation Bear Musical Jamboree? Stunned that it’s GSAT jumped from #27 to #6 throughout all of Magic Kingdom? Do you personally favor the OG Nation Bear Jamboree or CBMJ? Do you a minimum of perceive the upside of modernizing the attraction, even for those who favor the unique? Do you agree or disagree with my evaluation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
Walt Disney World has revealed that Nation Bear Jamboree has seen its visitor satisfaction (GSAT) rating soar because the reimagined “Musical” model of the stage present debuted final summer time in Magic Kingdom. This shares particulars in regards to the larger attraction approval score, together with commentary about GSATs and why this enchancment is stunning, whereas others should not. Plus, my belated Nation Bear Musical Jamboree assessment.
Beginning with that final level, it’s usually unsurprising that sure choices which can be unpopular with followers are fashionable with most of the people. The one that stands proud most prominently in my thoughts is Disney Enchantment. From the day it debuted, I made no secret that I used to be not a fan of the Disney Enchantment fireworks. I used to be overtly rooting for the fireworks to flop, with the hope that decrease visitor satisfaction scores that will consequence within the return of Fortunately Ever After.
The percentages had been in opposition to that occuring, as there’s a excessive ground for Magic Kingdom fireworks and low need inside Disney to confess defeat. All Magic Kingdom fireworks reveals the identical core qualities, with pyro exploding over Cinderella Citadel to conclude a protracted, memory-filled day at Walt Disney World. The music is pulled from sentimental moments in memorable motion pictures. These fireworks tug on the heartstrings, eliciting robust feelings and filling friends with happiness on the finish of the night.
Suffice to say, there’s a minimal baseline for any Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular, and even an arguably “unhealthy” one continues to be “good” within the grand scheme of issues. Visitor satisfaction scores for Disney Enchantment mirrored this, and it nonetheless ranked extremely amongst all Magic Kingdom experiences. And but, it was changed as a result of it underperformed for its class. I don’t know if it was the lowest-rated Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular ever, nevertheless it was beneath Fortunately Ever After, which is #1.
Some followers aren’t going to love listening to this, nevertheless it’s my understanding that it’s the same story with Tiana’s Bayou Journey. That reimagined trip has acquired blended critiques from followers, and that’s placing it charitably. This consists of our personal prolonged Tiana’s Bayou Journey Journey Assessment: Failure, Flawed or Implausible? Or for those who’d favor a comparability to its predecessor, there’s We Rode Splash Mountain & Tiana’s Bayou Journey in a Week. Right here’s How Each Win. (Spoiler: Splash Mountain wins extra.)
From what I’ve heard, common friends are unbothered by all the faults followers have discovered. Tiana’s Bayou Journey is among the top-rated rides not simply in Magic Kingdom, however in all of Walt Disney World. Whereas I’d love some extra element and specificity about this to know how downtime and reliability issue (or don’t), I’m nonetheless unsurprised.
A giant a part of the core enchantment of that log flume trip is and has at all times been its wonderful trip profile, with outside and indoor scenes, all culminating in that climactic drop on the finish. Lovable animals and Audio Animatronics additionally issue into the combination with each incarnations of the attraction. Disney diehards can quibble over the inventive and storytelling deserves of every, however common friends are largely zooming out and searching on the greater image. They rated Splash Mountain extremely, so that they charge Tiana’s Bayou Journey extremely.
To be clear, I’m not endorsing this–simply reporting it. Usually talking, this thought course of issues me. It’s the kind of sentiment that permits Disney to lower element or justify degrading thematic integrity beneath the guise of visitor preferences or the excuse that standard guests received’t discover. Whereas true within the vacuum of a person attraction or two, I do suppose informal friends do discover in mixture, even when subconsciously.
Or a minimum of, so I’d wish to suppose. However this isn’t actually about Tiana’s Bayou Journey in any respect–it’s about precedent. In the case of that particular trip reimagining, persuasive circumstances might be made each for and in opposition to it versus its predecessor. However I digress.
Talking of Frontierland reimaginings, Disney shared an replace on Nation Bear Musical Jamboree’s visitor satisfaction rating throughout a current occasion I attended. The wide-ranging presentation was principally oriented across the “Disney Bubble,” however touched upon quite a lot of completely different matters–together with trip reimaginings.
Throughout that, Jason Kirk, Senior Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World, shared his staff makes use of a mix of on-the-ground interactions with friends and information to make choices. He defined how this drives programming choices, balancing near-term and long-term additions whereas additionally assessing what to refresh. “We have now to attempt to make the very best resolution for all our friends,” Kirk mentioned.
This segued into trip reimaginings, and the announcement that Magic Kingdom can be overhauling and enhancing its model of Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin later this 12 months. “That is us going again and saying, ‘You recognize what? This expertise wants some love. It’s the OG,” mentioned Michael Hundgen, Portfolio Government Inventive Producer. “It is a nice replace to a basic attraction at Magic Kingdom.”
Hundgen used Nation Bear Musical Jamboree as an illustrative instance. He mentioned that there have been “plenty of opinions about what to do” with the present, hinting on the rumored proposals for the attraction from the Chapek period. “Followers love the bears, we love the bears,” Hundgen added. He defined that Imagineering wished to make the present contemporary and related, whereas additionally exhibiting like to the Nation Bears.
The presentation revealed that Walt Disney World and Imagineering think about the reimagined stage present a “huge success.” Visitor Satisfaction surveys rank Nation Bear Musical Jamboree because the #6 general attraction in Magic Kingdom. The unique Nation Bear Jamboree was ranked #27.
That is each stunning and unsurprising.
As a lot as I’d wish to consider in any other case, it’s no shock that the unique Nation Bear Jamboree ranked so low. It was a stage present (strike one) from the Nineteen Seventies (strike two) with none connections to recognizable mental property (strike three). It additionally featured sharp wit and wry humor that the majority friends both wouldn’t respect or would possibly discover offensive (strikes four-plus).
I cherished Nation Bear Jamboree, however acknowledge that not everyone seems to be me. No quantity of consciousness or advocacy for the OG Nation Bears goes to persaud folks of my perspective. Despite the fact that I don’t like the concept of dumbing issues down for contemporary sensibilities, I’m additionally a realist. I acknowledge it’s important to meet the viewers the place they’re, a minimum of to some extent. It’s a fragile steadiness–and the identical motive why I got here to just accept that Maelstrom, Universe of Vitality, and even Nice Film Journey had been on borrowed time on the finish of their runs. No sense tilting at windmills.
The stunning half is that Nation Bear Musical Jamboree now ranks #6. It’s nonetheless a stage present, which I’d’ve assumed is like the precise reverse of a Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular–one thing with a low ceiling versus a excessive ground. In case you advised me Nation Bear Jamboree ranked #27 and requested me to guess the rating of the redone Nation Bear Musical Jamboree, I most likely would’ve gone with #22, and been stunned if it had been prime 20.
For it to be prime 10 is downright surprising. This places it in the identical league as Tiana’s Bayou Journey, TRON Lightcycle Run, Haunted Mansion, Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice, and Pirates of the Caribbean. (I assume these rankings aren’t counting leisure, as there’s no means Nation Bear Musical Jamboree is #6 if we’re throwing Fortunately Ever After, Competition of Fantasy, and so on. into the combination.)
In the case of the spike in visitor satisfaction for a trip reimagining, the one factor that instantly involves thoughts can be Maelstrom to Frozen Ever After. Even that wasn’t fairly as pronounced to the very best of my information. (The spike for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was, however that’s not a reimagining that reused the identical trip system–it’s completely completely different, and fewer stunning.)
Stunned as I is perhaps, that is constructive from my perspective.
Despite the fact that I personally wouldn’t rank Nation Bear Musical Jamboree 21 spots above the OG Nation Bear Jamboree (or perhaps a single spot), I’m not lamenting the poor style of my fellow friends. This implies a number of issues, all of that are excellent news. The primary is that the Nation Bears are “secure” for one more couple of a long time. I figured this was the case with the reimagining, however feared that if it had been shortly deemed a failure, they could plug the plug sooner.
The second is that this will increase the chance of seasonal overlays sooner or later. I nonetheless suppose Halloween and Christmas Nation Bear Musical Jamborees are unlikely, however this a minimum of strikes the needle a bit. It additionally presents a problem: discovering seasonal Disney IP that matches (as a result of that’ll be the lesson Disney realized from this).
Lastly, it proves longer and Audio Animatronics-centric points of interest nonetheless maintain immense enchantment. I’ve been saying this for years–and that it’s a idiot’s errand to chase know-how and developments, particularly by way of screens, as a result of everybody has these of their pockets.
Not solely that, however client know-how refreshes quicker than Disney, so there’s a hazard of all the pieces trying dated a lot sooner. A “blue ocean” technique, of types, in aiming for points of interest that can’t or should not replicated wherever else is the optimum method.
Nation Bear Musical Jamboree is proof of idea on this, definitively demonstrating {that a} slower-paced and longer present pushed by Audio Animatronics and with out any thrills or gimmicks could be a hit with friends. Not only a success, however a convincing one.
On a semi-related observe, a number of readers have requested for my assessment of Nation Bear Musical Jamboree after I uncared for to write down one final summer time. That was on objective, as I’ve difficult and conflicting emotions about this reimagining. I’ve joked about writing “Tom’s Completely Biased Nation Bear Musical Jamboree Assessment” to share them.
This seems like pretty much as good of a spot as any for that. I’ll begin with the objectively constructive, which is that Grizzly Corridor appears and sounds nice. The eye put into the shows within the ready space is great, the form of loving tribute to the bears that has existed for years at Tokyo Disneyland. (Okay, not fairly that good.)
Then there are the bears themselves. In addition they look and sound nice–and I don’t imply the music. The rebuilt Audio Animatronics are fluid and don’t make a ton of noise whereas shifting. The coats look contemporary and implausible. From the angle of present high quality alone, Nation Bear Musical Jamboree is head and shoulders above the OG Nation Bear Jamboree.
In fact, it didn’t have to be that means–the outdated present may’ve acquired TLC through the years, it simply didn’t. Nothing was stopping Disney from greenlighting a restoration of the attraction, however realistically, hundreds of thousands of {dollars} aren’t spent like that on legacy points of interest with no marketable return. The underside line, although, is that the present appears and sounds higher than it has at any time in my grownup life. Once more, that is Tokyo Disneyland-esque, however on this case, Nation Bear Musical Jamboree outperforms its Japanese counterpart.
Attempting to primary my objectivity, I’m extra blended on the present itself. It’s very tough to put aside my private preferences in humor and music, each of which skew strongly in favor of the OG Nation Bear Jamboree. On the identical time, the truncated present misplaced lots of its luster over a decade in the past.
What I can say is that a number of of the Disney songs labored higher than I anticipated, and there’s sufficient humor and rapport among the many bears to convey their allure, character, and historical past. It feels cohesive and well-paced. And once more, all of it feels very lovingly finished by Imagineers who clearly “get” the Nation Bears as they executed an IP mandate.
My largest criticism on the substantive facet (whereas attempting to be goal) is that there’s an excessive amount of genre-bending and script-flipping. It’s humorous or stunning the primary couple of instances that the foolish bears carry out a love tune within the type of nation music, however feels gimmicky after a bit. I do know Disney doesn’t have a ton of nation music in its songbook, however I most likely would’ve gone with extra music from The Lion King, Automobiles, Fox and the Hound, Tarzan, Dwelling on the Vary, or (particularly) Coco.
With that mentioned, it’s not as if the tune choice is unhealthy by any means. I appreciated many of the music and accompanying gags (“Supercalifragilisticexpialiocious” and “A Entire New World” being my favorites). It simply felt like 1-2 songs too many attempting to be intelligent or shock audiences. (Slicing the Toy Story music is the best reply. Walt Disney World doesn’t want this a lot Toy Story.)
As for the biased a part of the assessment, we’ve largely been over this earlier than.
There are a few new developments, although. The primary is in speaking to extra folks with information of the decision-making course of that resulted within the Nation Bear Musical Jamboree reimagining. That is one thing I hinted at beforehand, arguing that it most likely wasn’t OG Nation Bear Jamboree vs. Nation Bear Musical Jamboree, however quite, Nation Bear Musical Jamboree vs. no bears in any respect.
Every thing I’ve heard because the announcement means that that is 100% correct. That it took years for Nation Bear Musical Jamboree to get the greenlight, and it nearly by no means occurred. (One of many uncommon circumstances the place perhaps the COVID closure improved outcomes.) That the present was a hard-fought victory for the passionate creatives who love the Nation Bears. That this was the very best case situation of the outcomes that had been truly believable. Fan daydreams a few restored Nation Bear Jamboree are good, however they had been simply that–daydreams–not something realistically thought of.
This isn’t to say it’s important to agree with the choice at a excessive degree, as a result of clearly, you don’t. However I really feel unhealthy for the Imagineers and others on the undertaking who had been criticized by followers for “killing” the OG Nation Bear Jamboree. These followers have it precisely backwards–these creatives and leaders went above and past to save lots of the Nation Bears from a worse destiny: extinction.
All of that makes reviewing Nation Bear Musical Jamboree tough for me. I believe the present high quality is superior and respect that the attraction has been modernized; it’ll introduce a complete new era of friends to the Nation Bears, which is an efficient factor. With background information, I’m happy with how this saga ended up enjoying out versus the choice. But when I simply assessment Nation Bear Musical Jamboree on its deserves in opposition to what it changed, I don’t come away considering it’s an enchancment. At the least, not for me, personally.
Then there’s yet one more biasing issue. We took our daughter to see Nation Bear Musical Jamboree for the primary time, and he or she completely cherished it. Megatron is just about a Nation Bear connoisseur, having now seen the unique present, Nation Bear Trip, Nation Bear Christmas, and Nation Bear Musical Jamboree.
She loves each single model, however Nation Bear Musical Jamboree received the most important response out of her. Actually, this isn’t all that exceptional. She doesn’t watch motion pictures but, so it’s not like she acknowledges these Disney songs. If something, she’s heard the music from Trip Hoedown and Jingle Bell Jamboree probably the most, as these include actual world music that we’ve listened to at dwelling.
For her, the enchantment is the bears, themselves–she likes to level at them, clap, and snicker. Regardless, Nation Bear Musical Jamboree is one among Megatron’s favourite Disney points of interest on the earth…which makes it one among my favorites, too.
I had seen CBMJ a number of instances over the prior months, however I used to be additional received over based mostly on Sarah’s response to it. She went into this new present with a bit of, let’s say, cynicism, about it. Her expectations weren’t excessive. Sarah’s favourite variations of the present are the seasonal overlays, and he or she was skeptical the IP injection may preserve and allure and spirit of the decades-old reveals. She walked away pleasantly stunned. She truly wished to do it a number of extra instances, whereas OG Nation Bear Jamboree at Magic Kingdom had fallen to once-per-visit standing.
That was roughly my response to seeing Nation Bear Musical Jamboree for the primary time, and I believe seeing our daughter getting so giddy in regards to the bears heightened Sarah’s personal response. It definitely did mine, and underscored that we’d have the ability to benefit from the Nation Bears with Megatron for years to come back, which just about was not the result in Magic Kingdom. From that perspective alone, I give very excessive–however very biased–marks to Nation Bear Musical Jamboree. I’d think about our opinions will solely develop into extra favorable as Megatron acknowledges extra of the music from the present, and we kind household nostalgia for Nation Bear Musical Jamboree.
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Your Ideas
What do you consider the reimagined Nation Bear Musical Jamboree? Stunned that it’s GSAT jumped from #27 to #6 throughout all of Magic Kingdom? Do you personally favor the OG Nation Bear Jamboree or CBMJ? Do you a minimum of perceive the upside of modernizing the attraction, even for those who favor the unique? Do you agree or disagree with my evaluation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
