Screamscape is reporting the Christmas Bears will not return
We reported a few weeks ago on a rumor that the Christmas version of the Country Bear Jamboree may be making its return this year. To be honset, I felt this rumor was pretty sound. But today, Screamscape is reporting that in fact the holiday version will not happen this year.
Screamscape has been informed that the management at the Magic Kingdom has decided once again to not run the Christmas version of the Country Bear Jamboree for the second year in the row. The lower level management protested of course, reminding them of all the complaints they had last year when the Christmas show was given the budget ax, but apparently this was shrugged off because those were just ‘verbal complaints’.
In all fairness, this is the first I have ever heard of this, and I have reached out to some people to see if I can get some confirmation. So far, I have nothing new to report beyond what Screamscape is saying here. I was pretty certain that it would return, but like all rumors things change.
Many, many people were terribly disappointed at the news of the cancellation of the holiday layover last year, and rightly so. It is nice to see something special for the holidays and equally disappointing to see Disney World management behave so cheaply. If I hear anything else, I will pass it along.
KINGCRAB said,
September 27, 2007 @ 2:45 am
Well, apparently, the rights to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” had not been straightened out yet. It is NOT because of budget cuts like so many of you think it is.
And please do not listen to Screamscape’s tripe! It sounds just like the kind of something that those demagogues Al Lutz and Kevin Yee would write.
Tom Corless said,
September 27, 2007 @ 2:49 am
I can confirm that my sources are saying the same thing, according to what they have heard this is true. I do not have any more information than that.
KINGCRAB said,
September 27, 2007 @ 2:51 am
Please believe me! It’s ONLY because of the aforementioned copyright issues, NOT budget cuts!
All the other WDW holiday shows had their “Rudolph” segments edited out last year for the same reasons that kept the Bears from doing their Xmas show.
Raidermatt said,
September 27, 2007 @ 8:55 pm
All I can tell you is that there are people out there who were saying all along that it would not be back because the complaints were not vociferous enough. In fact, I think I mentioned that in this column previously.
KINGCRAB said,
September 28, 2007 @ 7:16 pm
How many times do I have to repeat myself?!
It’s not returning this year because of the copyright issues with “Rudolph”, NOT because of lack of attendance or complaints!
The WDW higher-ups KNOW that the CBJ Xmas show is popular, so please stop trying to paint these bad pictures of those folks. It’s not healthy!
Raidermatt said,
September 29, 2007 @ 9:06 am
Who’s painting? Frankly, I don’t think it matters if its a copyright reason or a perceived lack of complaints. It’s a bad call either way.
All I’m saying here is that those who said it was a copyright issue claimed it was resolved and the Christmas Bears would be back. It’s a little tough to buy into that if it’s not coming back.
Tom Corless said,
September 29, 2007 @ 8:29 pm
It’s funny that you are saying it is over Rudolph rights, but i saw thwm selling rudolph statues in three stores (Ye Old Christmas Shop, American Adventure, World of Disney 5th avenue). Just find that strange.