Last month, while at Walt Disney World, I finally had the opportunity to show my kids the Country Bear Jamboree. It was one of my “must-do” attraction at the Magic Kingdom and I was completely giddy as we entered the bears’ theater in the Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland for the show.

Although different from the version of the show that was a staple at Disneyland for almost 30 years, the kids were just as captivated by the show as I had hoped they would be. They laughed and clapped and sat wide-eyed the entire time. It was Disney perfection. In fact, it was one of Brandon’s favorite attractions in all of Walt Disney World.

Fast forward to two weekends ago when we once again met up with those bears but this time at Disneyland. Our family had headed back to Big Thunder Ranch to meet up with Mickey and Minnie when the Country Bears came out to greet us. There were only a few other people in the area, so the bears came out and played with the kids and immediately honed in on Brandon’s lightsaber… and that’s when the fun ensued.

As Brandon ran through Big Thunder Ranch he yelled (and giggled), “Hey Bear! Come back with my lightsaber!”

The bears had fun taunting Brandon and one another with the lightsaber.

 This is the kind of magic that makes Disney so incredibly special. Getting to play with the bears he loved so much at Walt Disney World all the way on the other coast at Disneyland was a special moment we could never put a price on. This moment is also proof that even on a crowded day, there are still ways to create those intimate moments of magic at the Disneyland Resort.

Thanks, Country Bears, for making our day extra special!