Disney has introduced the reimagining of Hungry Bear Restaurant into a brand new eating location impressed by Nation Bear Jamboree! This put up covers full particulars of the announcement from Disneyland, plus idea artwork, our intensive commentary about this information and potential implications for Walt Disney World, too.
Let’s begin with fundamental background, which is that Hungry Bear Restaurant closed on July 8 as a part of the non permanent closure of Critter Nation that’s occurring as a result of transformation of Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Journey. This complete nook of the park is a large number of development, and there’s additionally partitions round close by Haunted Mansion and a big swath of New Orleans Sq. extending to Tiana’s Palace Restaurant.
Every part else in Critter Nation closed earlier this spring–Hungry Bear was the lone holdout, till Disneyland introduced earlier this summer season that it could shut for kitchen refurbishments. Previous to that, there was a development wall round the remainder of the land, however you can enter the restaurant or Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Now, we all know that it’s greater than only a back-of-house kitchen undertaking happening…
Disneyland Resort has additionally introduced the reimagining of Hungry Bear Restaurant right into a restaurant impressed by Nation Bear Jamboree. When the restaurant reopens to visitors, it is going to turn into Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree.
Impressed by the Nation Bears and their travels all through the best music halls in america, Disneyland Resort will introduce a menu impressed by the Nation Bears’ favourite regional barbecue dishes, which visitors can take pleasure in alongside a soundtrack of their best hits.
Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree is not going to be a personality eating location, however extra particulars in regards to the full menu, the idea and a reopening date will likely be introduced at a later date!
Turning to commentary, we now have loads of ideas about this superior announcement.
The primary one is completely tangential to this information. It’s that the D23 Expo Parks Panel should be completely stacked if Disney is saying this now. The Nation Bears getting a restaurant might not appear to be big information to you (if you happen to hate issues which are superior), but it surely take into account that the D23 Expo is held in Anaheim, California.
The house crowd of Disneyland followers loves the Nation Bears. Even after being evicted by Winnie the Pooh again in September 2001, the Nation Bears have a fervent following amongst diehard Disneylanders. The characters nonetheless meet in Grizzly Peak (they drew lengthy strains once they first returned) the place there’s additionally a brand new Massive Al statue (see first photograph) and so they’re consistently the topic of wishful desirous about a once-rumored reimagining of Grizzly River Run.
Suffice to say, the house crowd would’ve gone completely nuts if Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree had been introduced on the D23 Expo. Meaning both the lineup is so jam-packed with huge information that that is in some way too inconsequential to share at that occasion or they didn’t know what a gem they’ve with this information. Maybe a little bit of each?
Segueing into the substance of the Nation Bear Jamboree restaurant reimagining information itself, this simply is sensible.
As steered above, the Nation Bears have been making a comeback at Disneyland over the past decade or so. Not solely that, however Imagineering has clearly been engaged on Nation Bear Musical Jamboree for Walt Disney World, in order that they’ve been fabricating new props and crafting backstory.
And there are many folks internally who’re Nation Bear followers. Outward appearances might counsel in any other case, however the Nation Bears are just like the Muppets. There are fierce advocates for each inside the firm, which is why they preserve popping up in new places. Or within the case of the Nation Bears, exist in any respect outdoors the Archives.
It additionally is sensible as a result of Hungry Bear Restaurant beforehand had no mental property tie-in. (Effectively, until you counted the prevailing references to the Nation Bears behind the counter and within the restroom signage.)
Extra to the purpose, the restaurant didn’t have any connections to Disney motion pictures or characters. It’s no secret that there’s an IP mandate for the parks, with the purpose of reimagining generic choices into issues with character connections.
We noticed that almost all lately at Disneyland with French Market being remodeled into Tiana’s Palace and Pacific Wharf changing into San Fransokyo Sq.. Each of these are good plussings, and I’d assume the identical may also be true of Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree.
This mandate for extra “IP injections” is lamented by many Disney followers who assume it means taking distinctive theme park choices and stripping of their persona for the sake of synergy with Disney+ or no matter. And that will in all probability be us if Hungry Bear had been changing into Lotso Backyard Cafe or a hamfisted NatGeo tie-in.
As we’ve identified, there’s additionally theme park IP that’s getting used to cross-pollinate different choices, and that’s exactly what’s occurring right here. I can’t think about a single individual complaining about Hungry Bear changing into a bona fide Nation Bear Jamboree restaurant! It’s going from generic bears that by no means actually garnered a fan-following to ones with an amazing quantity of historical past at Disneyland who’re nonetheless adored by followers.
After all, whether or not this garners reward or is derided as surface-level fan service all relies upon upon the execution. Actually, I don’t count on main modifications to Hungry Bear Restaurant–so I’d advocate adjusting your expectations if that’s what you’re hoping to see. It’s in all probability not going to be some grandiose reimagining that essentially alters the venue.
Hungry Bear is a reasonably easy restaurant. It’s additionally a culturally-significant one which’s thought-about a possible historic landmark. Severely. In case you missed it through the DisneylandForward conferences, Hungry Bear was certainly one of three such venues in Disneyland–together with the Primary Avenue USA Prepare Station and Pirates of the Caribbean.
From that, we discovered that Hungry Bear Restaurant was recognized as eligible for itemizing within the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations below Criterion A for “its affiliation with the second part of renovation and growth of Disneyland within the Nineteen Seventies,” and below Criterion C as “an excellent instance of Rustic/Theme Park model structure.” The State Historic Preservation Officer concurred with the analysis of the Hungry Bear restaurant, and the constructing was assigned a standing code 2S2.
I don’t suppose all of that’s essentially prohibitive to the Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree being an bold undertaking, however even when I hadn’t recognized of its ‘culturally important’ standing, I might’ve anticipated this to be a reasonably restrained reimagining.
Hungry Bear Restaurant is fully outdoor. It’s primarily a walk-up window with two huge ranges of open air seating.
Its design is pretty spartan, even by the requirements of rustic theme park structure. This isn’t an issue–it’s an asset. The spotlight of Hungry Bear is its views of the Rivers of America and into the wilderness. It doesn’t have fairly the identical ambiance because the walkway to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was added, but it surely’s nonetheless excellent–it feels distant by comparability to the core of Disneyland.
If Disneyland ever had the urge for food to vary that, they’d’ve achieved so for Tiana’s Palace. The extra wise spot for that restaurant would’ve been Hungry Bear, but it surely additionally would’ve been a bigger endeavor. Since they handed on doing that and opted as a substitute for French Market, I can solely assume that it’s going to be an identical story with this reimagining into Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree.
That’s not a nasty factor. Permitting the setting to talk for itself however including the Nation Bears by way of music, signage, and different storytelling touches is sensible. Imagineers may actually discover locations for ephemera and show circumstances that inform the story of “their travels all through the best music halls in america.” I additionally wouldn’t be stunned to see the Massive Al statue (and perhaps others prefer it?) make its method over to Hungry Bear BBQ Jamboree.
What I envision is one thing just like San Fransokyo Sq., which is a plussing to Pacific Wharf that added a ton of element and texture to (principally) outside and open air areas. Extra apt thematically is Smokejumpers Grill, which is indoors however added Easter Eggs and nods to Disney historical past.
My expectation is that Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree will find yourself being a cross between these two reimaginings and certain barely much less bold than each. Even when it’s a “no dough” refresh, I think that keen Imagineers who themselves are Nation Bear followers will flip this right into a pet undertaking. So even when it’s missing in funds, it must be overflowing with coronary heart–and that makes up for lots.
As for the menu, there’s nowhere to go however up! Hungry Bear has one of many least bold menus in all of Disneyland, and it could possibly be so significantly better. Not solely that, however barbecue is underrepresented at Disneyland and it’s one thing Disney does fairly properly in counter service settings. Simply have a look at Regal Eagle Smokehouse or Flame Tree BBQ. They’re not the top of barbecue, however they’re each higher than Hungry Bear.
After I first heard that this is able to be a barbecue restaurant, my thoughts went two locations. First, to the extinct Massive Thunder Ranch BBQ. This closed to make method for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, leaving a void within the culinary (and goat) scene at Disneyland. I’m wanting ahead to having fun with barbecue once more at Disneyland and hope there’s an choice to order a wonderful meat bucket.
However truthfully, what I miss most about Massive Thunder Ranch BBQ is the cookie skillet. I nonetheless take into consideration these–notably the seasonal ones for Halloween and Christmas. Most likely not a practical request, however I’d love for a nod to that dessert to in some way make the menu at Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree.
Though it’s additionally not barbecue, I’ve lengthy hoped that Hungry Bear would convey again its traditional Fried Inexperienced Tomato Sandwich. I additionally nonetheless take into consideration the OG model of that from a decade in the past–it was probably the greatest plant-based objects at Disneyland. They’re presumably going to need a plant-based choice right here, and I’d to see that reprised slightly than some bizarre Not possible concoction.
Even when these two particular dishes don’t come to Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree–and so they in all probability received’t–I’m nonetheless fairly optimistic in regards to the menu change. For one factor, it can’t get any worse. Other than the occasional worthwhile seasonal funnel cake, Hungry Bear has served a fundamental and restricted menu for years. It’s principally one step above Galactic Grill at this level.
For one more, Disneyland has been going all-out with new menus across the parks. I can’t consider a recently-redone menu that’s been worse than what it changed. Each single one has been a marked enchancment. Tiana’s Palace, specifically, is a notable improve over French Market. Whereas I don’t count on that caliber from a BBQ joint, a number of worthwhile objects can be an enormous win, particularly given the stellar setting. (Now do Flo’s V8 Cafe subsequent, Disneyland!)
Lastly, the potential implications for Walt Disney World. As we lately mentioned in Restaurant Thriller at Magic Kingdom, it’s been radio silence from Disney about Tiana’s Palace in Magic Kingdom or anyplace else at Walt Disney World because the final D23 Expo. At one level, it appeared like a foregone conclusion that it would occur–and possibly changing Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn & Cafe since Imagineers had been noticed poking round there on a number of events.
I received’t rehash all the dialogue from that put up, however one factor I did counsel was this: “With all of that stated, I do suppose one thing will occur with Pecos Invoice. The underlying IP is nearly actually considered as “outdated” in Disney’s eyes, and ripe for alternative. Nonetheless, I believe if a change is made, it’ll be very superficial–in all probability simply the title, signage, and a little bit of placemaking. (Sorta just like San Fransokyo Sq. at DCA, however not whilst bold as that.) If that is on the desk, I’d humbly counsel “Sammy’s Raccoon Saloon” or “Massive Al’s BBQ Barn.” And even simply revive the Mile Lengthy Bar moniker. Give us Nation Bear followers a win.”
In the end, I believe us Nation Bear followers may nonetheless take a win at Walt Disney World. If Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree is successful with Disneyland followers, why not do an identical Nation Bear restaurant reimagining in Magic Kingdom? Once more, assuming Pecos Invoice isn’t going to turn into Tiana’s Palace (and it’d!), it nonetheless has an outdated IP that Disney in all probability doesn’t need to proceed utilizing. A lightweight placemaking undertaking may breathe new life into the placement as a Nation Bears restaurant.
Heck, they might even do a crossover, with the Bayou Group Band ‘assembly’ the Bear Band in that spot. I’d be completely on board with that–it’d be a good way to meld the worlds of Tiana’s Bayou Journey with the remainder of Frontierland. Actually, I’d be pleased with absolutely anything occurring with this restaurant. Like Hungry Bear, it has nowhere to go however up. As we coated in The Dying of Pecos Invoice, it simply isn’t excellent anymore. I’d even be wonderful with one thing extra superficial like a reputation and signage change–as long as it additionally comes with a menu overhaul that features extra creative delicacies and–hopefully–a return of the toppings bar!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider Disneyland getting a Nation Bear Jamboree-themed restaurant? Are you excited for Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree? Suppose it’ll be a plussing related in scale and scope to San Fransokyo Sq. or Smokejumpers? Ideas on the chance of Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree coming to Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
