Celeb sighting!
Celebrities visiting Disney theme parks is a long-running tradition that dates back to the opening of Disneyland in 1955. Athletes, musicians, actors, politicians, and dignitaries have all taken their turn posing for photos at the company’s parks. However, it’s not nearly as comparatively common to see a celeb who appears IN a Disney park pose near the very attraction in which they’re featured.
Chris Thile — the mandolin player for the acoustic bluegrass group Nickel Creek, who is also well known for other musical and radio ejects — made his Disney parks debut earlier this year when he took over the role of Wendell in the newly refurbished Country Bear Musical Jamboree. Thile provided the character’s vocals as well as his mandolin playing.
Recently, Thile paid a visit to the Magic Kingdom with his family and shared a photo standing in front of Country Bear Hall.
Thile captioned the post with a long message that read, “I grew up going to @disneyparks with my folks and grandparents, but was still utterly gobsmacked by the depth and intensity of the feels I got the first time @clairecoffee and I took Cal. This is cheesy as hell, but every time we go, it’s like I get to be 9 again WITH him. Not sure I’ve ever said yes to anything faster than I did when they asked if I was up for being the voice/mandolin playing of Wendell at the new Country Bear Jamboree, and I’m pinching myself after our inaugural experience of it yesterday realizing that a little part of me is now ALWAYS in the Magic Kingdom. Eternal gratitude to everyone who made it all happen (including Annie, our intrepid tour guide, and besties, Aoife, Eric, and IJ!). Can’t WAIT for the next time/every 20 minutes in Frontierland!!!”
The newly revamped version of the Country Bear Musical Jamboree featuring Thile opened this past July at the Magic Kingdom. This version of the show features the Bears performing Disney songs, with Thile’s Wendell dueting with singer-songwriter Allison Russell’s Teddi Barra on “A Whole New World.”
Musician Chris Thile, who’s featured in the latest version of the Country Bear Musical Jamboree, recently paid a visit to the Magic Kingdom with his family and documented the visit on social media. Stay tuned to AllEars for more coverage of celebs visiting Disney World.
Disney’s Country Bear Jamboree; A Complete History
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Have you ever seen a celebrity at Disney World? Let us know in the comments below.
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