At Walt Disney World’s recently reopened Country Bear Musical Jamboree, an unexpected incident occurred when one of the animatronic bears began to emit smoke during a performance. The affected animatronic, Ernest, a brown bear playing the fiddle, started smoking, causing confusion among the audience about whether this was part of the show. TikTok user @marvelousmousetravels captured the moment, and cast members quickly led guests out of the room through an emergency exit.
Despite speculation that the bear was on the verge of catching fire, Disney World officials denied this, claiming that the smoke was an intentional part of the performance. However, the rapid evacuation of guests raised questions about the nature of the incident. The attraction remains open, with Disney maintaining that there was no fire.
This incident is not the first of its kind at a Disney theme park. In April 2023, a dragon in Disneyland’s Fantasmic light show caught fire, leading to a temporary suspension of the show. Fortunately, the Country Bear Musical Jamboree has not experienced such severe consequences.
The cause of the smoke remains a mystery, but the incident underscores the importance of safety and clear communication during live performances and attractions at theme parks. Guests and fans of the show can continue to enjoy the Country Bear Musical Jamboree, reassured by Disney’s commitment to addressing and resolving any issues.