WDW Daily News

Walt Disney on Critter Country: “I have a great love of animals and laughter… Some of the most fascinating creatures I have ever met are animals.”

Overview: In Critter Country, every day is a “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” kind of day. As Disney legend has it, deep in the backwoods of Disneyland Park was a land filled with woodland creatures that walked and talked, much like humans. Curious explorers discovered this land, located in the wooded area beyond New Orleans Square and Frontierland. Critter Country today remains a restful world filled with shady trees, babbling brooks and all kinds of playful animals, from the honey-loving bear that is stuffed with fluff to a hodgepodge of creatures from the briar. Critter Country is home to three attractions: Splash Mountain, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes. This land also features one of the most restful dining areas at Disneyland, the Hungry Bear Restaurant.

What’s new: The Winnie the Pooh & Friends character meet-and-greet location, Pooh’s Thotful Spot, now provides a larger area for guests to interact with friends from the Hundred Acre Wood. In addition, Hungry Bear Restaurant recently updated their menu to now feature sweet potato fries and a fried green tomato sandwich.

Don’t miss: Critter Country has three attractions, including one with FASTPASS, Splash Mountain. The attraction invites brave guests on a musical log flume adventure where they encounter Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Fox, Br’er Bear and other kooky characters from Disney’s 1946 film classic, “Song of the South.” Guests can explore the Rivers of America on Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes or hop in a beehive that takes passengers to the Hundred Acre Wood on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

Attractions:

Splash Mountain
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
Entertainment: The Winnie the Pooh & Friends character meet-and-greet location is deep in Critter Country, near the exit of their attraction, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Share a hug and snap a picture with some of your favorite Winnie the Pooh characters, including Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore. Check the Entertainment Times Guide available at Disneyland Park for their appearance schedule.

Dining: There are two dining locations in Critter Country: Hungry Bear Restaurant and Harbour Galley. At the Hungry Bear Restaurant, guests can experience a rustic retreat overlooking a pine forest and just beyond that, the Rivers of America. Guests can paw through a selection of home-style hamburgers, sandwiches and salads in a tranquil lodge surrounded by nature’s finest. The waterfront Harbour Galley, on the border between Critter Country and New Orleans Square, is an outpost for hearty options, including clam chowder and lobster rolls.

Imaginative landscaping: The landscaping of Critter Country creates a backwoods area that looks as if it had been created by Mother Nature herself. When the area was redesigned in the 1970s, more than 165 trees were planted, adding to the 100 trees that were already transplanted from other areas of Disneyland. One Canary Island Pine weighed more than 18 tons. The main trees in Critter Country are monterey, Canary Island, aleppo and Italian stone pines, honey locust, white birch and evergreen elm. Overgrown grasses and a large selection of shrubs add to the land’s forest feel.

Did you know?

Critter Country covers more than five acres. It opened in 1972 as Bear Country and was the home of the Country Bear Jamboree (now closed), as well as the Hungry Bear Restaurant and Teddi Bara’s Swingin’ Arcade. When Teddi and the other Country Bears retired, Winnie the Pooh arrived to continue the Bear Country tradition.
Guests will have fun looking for a tribute to the Country Bear Jamboree while riding The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
“Bear Country” became “Critter Country” when Br’er Rabbit and company opened up Splash Mountain in July 1989. Splash Mountain was the first log flume ride created for a Disney park.
Characters in the finale of Splash Mountain originally made their Disneyland debut in the classic show, “America Sings,” where they performed patriotic melodies in Tomorrowland from 1974 to 1988.
The final drop on Splash Mountain is a thrilling 52 feet (five stories!).
Cast member tips:

The tranquil Hungry Bear Restaurant is a relaxing area to have a meal. Extra seating overlooking the Rivers of America can be found on the first story of the shaded terrace.
If your party doesn’t mind splitting up on Splash Mountain, get a single rider pass from a cast member at the entrance. This means shorter wait times, especially on a busy day.
Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes only operate seasonally, so be sure to take advantage of them when they are open. Ride the canoes earlier in the day when it is cooler and be prepared to paddle.
A peaceful and secluded pathway to Critter Country, with a unique view of Splash Mountain, is next to Harbour Galley.
Splash Mountain is very popular, so be sure to grab a FastPass early in the day to reserve your time for this attraction.

The Happiest Place on Earth gets merrier beginning Thursday, Nov. 13, when the traditional warm and festive Disneyland Resort holiday celebration begins, bringing themed entertainment, sparkling decorations, delicious treats and holiday shopping to locations throughout the Resort.

The season, Nov. 13 through Jan. 6, 2015 (ending with Three Kings Day) will welcome the return of the breathtaking “World of Color – Winter Dreams” holiday spectacular and “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” holiday celebration in Disney California Adventure Park along with beloved Disneyland Park holiday traditions.

At Disneyland, the popular “A Christmas Fantasy” parade will be presented daily, with Disney characters celebrating the holidays and a special appearance by Santa Claus who, through Dec. 24, will also be greeting guests and listening to holiday wishes at Big Thunder Ranch. Over in Disney California Adventure, guests may find Santa in a familiar department store setting, greeting guests at Elias & Co. on Buena Vista Street.

Guests won’t want to miss the special seasonal transformations of “it’s a small world” into “it’s a small world” Holiday or Haunted Mansion into Haunted Mansion Holiday. And nighttime in Disneyland during the holiday season is highlighted by the lights of Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle and the “Believe…in Holiday Magic” fireworks show followed by a holiday snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A., New Orleans Square and “it’s a small world” mall.

Returning to Disney California Adventure after its successful 2013 debut, “World of Color − Winter Dreams” is hosted by Olaf the snowman from Walt Disney Pictures’ hit animated feature “Frozen.” The holiday version of the popular nighttime “World of Color” show features classic winter scenes from such beloved Disney films as “Bambi,” “Fantasia,” “Toy Story” and, of course, “Frozen.”

Both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks get spectacular seasonal makeovers with towering Christmas trees, wreaths and, in Disney California Adventure, festive – and often whimsical – holiday décor in Cars Land, “a bug’s land,” Paradise Pier and Buena Vista Street. “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” at Paradise Gardens in Disney California Adventure is a daily celebration inspired by the warmth and joyous spirit of Latino culture and holiday traditions, with festive music and dancing, vibrant colors, delicious food, Disney character appearances and the lively “Disney Viva Navidad! Street Party.” “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” will conclude with a five-day celebration of the traditional Three Kings Day, Sunday through Tuesday, Jan. 4 through 6.

In the Downtown Disney District, guests may take a break from their holiday shopping and dining to go skating on “Olaf’s Frozen Ice Rink,” part of the seasonal Downtown Disney Winter Village where shoppers will find additional holiday gift items on sale from the windows of the charming village houses. Disneyland Resort hotels join in the holiday festivities with twinkling lights and ornaments, special entertainment and holiday dining with themed menus.  Expanded hours at both Disneyland Resort theme parks extend the family fun and offer more time for guests to enjoy all there is to see and do at the Disneyland Resort. .

For more information about the Disneyland Resort, visit www.disneyland.com/holidays.  For ticket and hotel offers, visit www.disneyland.com/offers.