In the midst of all the festivities surrounding the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, in the newly renamed and refreshed Bayou Country, a neighboring attraction has been understandably overlooked. It’s not as flashy as the splashy mountain where you can visit Tiana and her friends. It’s not as playful as the many adventures of Winnie the Pooh and his friends. But it does have one distinction: it is the oldest operating attraction in Bayou Country. And on Friday, November 15 it gained a record unique in any Disney theme park. It became the only attraction that has appeared in four different lands… and all without the benefit of moving anywhere.
It is the canoes. To be specific, it is the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes. As of this writing, this low-tech, riverside attraction has been located in Frontierland, Bear Country, Critter Country, and Bayou Country.
When Disneyland opened in 1955 there were no canoes in the Rivers of America. The first souvenir map, located in a modest flyer handed out free to guests, showed a rather barren landscape north of Frontierland. This would change dramatically for Disneyland’s second season in 1956.
Several additions were revealed that year, including the Indian Village. Located in the “wilds” beyond the Frontierland settlement, the area was accessed through a tunnel located in a newly constructed hillside. Here Disneyland visitors witnessed native American ceremonies and dances, purchased souvenirs both authentic and inauthentic, and could even paddle a canoe around Tom Sawyer Island.
The Indian War canoes were a popular addition to the river. They really were propelled (then as now) by the guests themselves, with the assistance of two sturdy Disneyland cast members. Over the years the schedule for the canoes varied. For many years they were available only in the summer months. During some slow seasons, they were offered only on weekends. In 1999 they were put on a year-round, daily schedule, which is maintained today. (They do not operate during inclement weather, however.)
How is it that this humble little attraction ended up in so many locations? That was the result of Disneyland’s constant expansion. In 1972 the original Indian Village was pushed further north to make way for Bear Country. Since the village would no longer be accessible to guests, the canoe attraction was left in place, although it did gain a new identity: Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes. This also ensured that the Country Bear Playhouse would not be the lone attraction in the newly created land. (Teddi Barra’s Swingin’ Arcade raised the count to three.)
The bears reigned supreme in their own themed land until 1989. That was the year that they were joined by a whole bunch of new critters, singing and dancing and splashing it up in Splash Mountain. Cast members had already privately nicknamed the area critter country. With the arrival of Brer Bear, Brer Fox, and Brer Rabbit the name was made official. And the canoes, still faithfully serving guests in the shadow of the Hungry Bear Restaurant were now located in Critter Country, too.
Perhaps it was fated that Bear Country would become Critter Country. In 2001 the Bears were evicted from their signature playhouse to make way for yet another bunch of critters, Winnie the Pooh and his friends. This gave Critter Country two dark rides as well as, of course, those canoes.
And here we are at the latest chapter in this saga. Just as the country bears made way for that British bear, the Brers of Splash Mountain have made way for the critters of Tiana’s Bayou. And making the seamless journey into Bayou Country are the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes, newly located… where they have been all along!
