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Recently, Disney made an announcement that absolutely nobody saw coming. The Hungry Bear restaurant, located in the formally named Critter Country - now Bayou Country - is receiving a new name and re-theme to Hungry Bear BBQ Jamboree. Yes, you read that correctly. The beloved Country Bears are taking over the Hungry Bear!

It’s a nostalgic nod to the Country Bear Jamboree attraction, which formally occupied the space adjacent to Hungry Bear and closed in September of 2001 to make way for the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction.

The Country Bears have been making a comeback of sorts, with the Magic Kingdom version receiving a modern update and the newly minted Big Al statue placed in DCA’s Grizzly Peak area. It only makes sense for Disneyland proper to partake in their revival as well.

While we have yet to receive an opening date from Disney, it was announced during D23 that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Bayou Country will be making their debuts on November 15. It’s safe to assume that Hungry Bear would definitely be open by then, though there’s reason to believe that it may open sooner than that. Time will tell (Update: Disney recently announced that Hungry Bear BBQ Jamboree will open on October 25).

In the meantime, Disney has surprised us with a foodie guide for Hungry Bear. If the new name didn’t give it away, the new menu is a call-back to Hungry Bear’s original BBQ-joint flare with a couple of twists sprinkled in.

Traditional BBQ favorites make up the majority of the menu, including pulled pork, sliced brisket, baked beans and spareribs. Oddly, the only chicken option is the garden-variety fried strips on the kids menu. No grilled or smoked options to speak of (as of now, anyway).

While it may or may not be the final menu, let’s get into the offerings Disney is planning to serve up at opening.

Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree Foodie Guide

Entrees

• Smoked Barbecue Combo Platter: A selection of house-smoked meats, served with baked beans, house slaw, white bread, and pickles with a choice of two of the following: Pork Spareribs, Pulled Pork, Sausage Link, or Beef Brisket (New) 

• Barbecue Pulled Pork Sandwich: Tangy BBQ sauce, house slaw, bread and butter, and pickles served with beer-battered fries (New) 

• Smoked Beef Brisket Sandwich with tangy BBQ sauce, pickled red onions, and pickled jalapeños served with beer-battered fries (New) 

• Smoked Angus Beef Burger and Pulled Pork with American cheese, golden aïoli, pickled red onions, bread and butter pickles, and crispy onions served with beer-battered fries (New) 

• Corn Ribs Plate: Chile-lime aioli, parmesan, crispy onions, cilantro, and scallions with house slaw and beer-battered fries (Plant-based) (New) 

• Loaded Fries topped with smoked pulled pork, queso sauce, pickled red onions, and pickled jalapeños, cilantro, and scallions (New) 

• Classic Cheeseburger served with beer-battered fries

• Chicken Tenders Plate served with house slaw and beer-battered fries

Sides and Kids Menu Offerings

• Beer-battered Fries (New)  

• Baked Beans (New)  

• House Slaw (New) 

All kids’ meals are served with Cuties Mandarin Orange and Applesauce and a choice of small DASANI Water or small Low-fat milk. 

• Pork Spareribs (New) 

• Toasted Cheese Sandwich (Disney Check Meal) (New)

• Hamburger (Disney Check Meal)

• Chicken Tenders 

Desserts and Drinks at Hungry Bear BBQ Jamboree

Desserts  

• Banana Pudding: Bananas, whipped cream, crushed wafer cookies, dulce de leche, and toffee (New)  

• Funnel Cake Fries dusted with powdered sugar. For an additional charge, add some extra sweetness to your funnel cake fries with Banana Caramel Dipping Sauce! (New)  

Beverages  

• Sparkling Strawberry-Pickle Lemonade​: Simply Lemonade, Minute Maid Strawberry Smoothie, flavors of lime, Sprite, pickle juice and a pickle spear (Non-alcoholic) (New)  

• Strawberry Shortcake Lemonade​: Simply Lemonade, Minute Maid Strawberry Smoothie, sweet cream topping, shortbread crumbles, and strawberry dust​ (Non-alcoholic) (New) 

• Lemonade-Iced Tea: Simply Lemonade and Gold Peak Unsweetened Iced Tea garnished with a lemon wheel (Non-alcoholic) (New)

• Hungry Bear Mason Jar with choice of beverage at time of purchase (Additional charge for specialty lemonades)

As stated at the beginning of the article, it is surprising that Disney decided not to include a grilled or smoked chicken option. Though that could be easily added once enough guests have expressed their desire for a proper chicken dish.

Additionally, I’m also surprised that Disney didn’t take advantage of this opportunity to add adult beverages to the menu, further expanding the efforts they began in the middle of 2023. Fewer things go as perfectly together than grilled meat and cold beer, but I digress.

Personally, I’m all for this change and I think most Disney fans will be as well. The Country Bears is an IP that, despite being around since the early 1970’s, is just now gaining major steam among millennials (who are all about nostalgia) and Gen Z, and Disney is taking full advantage.

While you never really know, I wouldn’t expect this newly-gained popularity to lead to a revival of the Country Bear Jamboree attraction. For starters, their old spot is currently occupied by Winnie the Pooh, and he’s a major merchandise mover for the company. That lovable, yellow bear isn’t going anywhere.

However, I would expect to see the Hungry Bears return to the area for meet and greets. Currently, you can see them in DCA’s Grizzly Peak from time to time. But I feel moving them back to Disneyland proper, in the land they once called home, would be far more fitting.