Back in 2009, I wrote a blog post about Lost Disneyland: Critter Country Characters. It is now 2024, and a lot has changed in regards to Critter Country in Disneyland. For one, Splash Mountain is no longer in the United States. Which is something I predicted would happen back in 2014 (I guessed it would become a Woody's Roundup theme).
Sometimes it takes me a LONG time to find something, as is the case with the plush Turtle that Disneyland sold as part of the launch of Critter Country back in 1989. There was an entire line of plush Critter Country toys designed for the park, and I remember reading in Disney News Magazine that a Saturday Morning cartoon was also planned.
I grew up in Alabama, so Disneyland in California was not my usual stomping grounds. But I was able to go in 1989, and I was hoping to visit Splash Mountain on this trip. Of course, it wasn't open yet, as the ride was delayed due to technical issues. But I did get to visit the shops near Splash Mountain, The Briar Patch, and Crocodile Mercantile (I'm kicking myself for not buying the Wooden Splash Mountain Yo-Yo they sold there). I did get a plush, the Critter Country Mouse, which I don't have anymore (visit my link above to see a picture of him).
The Turtle plush sticks out in my mind because I remember children carrying this specific toy around Disneyland. I've been searching for it for years and just found it on eBay a few days ago.
While I didn't get to ride Splash Mountain in 1989, I was able to return in 1990 to finally ride it.
The announcement of the Rufus the Turtle character for Tiana's Bayou Adventure really reminded me of this Critter Country Turtle.
Oh, good.....Blogger is letting me leave a comment, now. I tried the other night, but something was going on with Blogger and it wouldn't let me!
ReplyDeleteIt think it's strange that Disney came up with these "critters" and they weren't even featured in Splash Mountain. You'd think they would have come up with plush figures of the old America Sings figures, since those were the actual "critters" that were in the ride. But I guess if they were planning some kind of related cartoon, then maybe they were trying to get a jump on the merchandise? I also wonder why they wouldn't have used the America Sings characters from the ride, in the animated series? Disney does some weird stuff! Still, the figures are cute, and wow.....they must be an extremely rare collectible! Thanks for sharing these, Dan!
Thanks TokyoMagic! I've always been curious about how the Critter Country plush line came to be. It definitely didn't last long. They remind me a little of 60s Hanna Barbera characters.
DeleteOh, I forgot to mention that the turtle named, "Rufus," must be a nod to one of the earlier residents of "Bear Country." At least, I'm guessing that it is. Years ago, there was a cave at the top of some rocks, at the entrance to "Bear Country." As guests walked by, you could hear a bear snoring inside the cave. I don't think there was any reference to his name, until they started decorating the area for Christmas and added the "Christmas" show to Country Bear Jamboree. At that time, they hung a Christmas stocking outside of the cave, and it had the name "Rufus" on it. He was also added as an unseen/offstage character in the Christmas version of the show. He was a bumbling "stage hand" who keeps messing up the spotlights.
ReplyDeleteI remember the snoring Rufus the bear being mentioned in a Disney News Magazine article about Splash Mountain!
DeleteOh yeah! Wasn't there a cave or door that the Splash Mountain logs would float past, that had a "Rufus" sign hanging next to it? And wasn't there a sound effect of snoring? Or am I imagining the whole thing?
DeleteYes, there was a snoring Rufus in a cave at Disneyland's Splash Mountain right before the first drop into the animatronic show section. I think at some point they got rid of Rufus and it became Brer Bear's cave.
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