The female black bear that shut down half of Magic Kingdom on Monday morning has been released into the wild. WESH 2 shared a video of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission releasing the bear into the Ocala National Forest.
Magic Kingdom Bear
On Monday morning, prior to park open, Cast Members spotted the bear in a tree near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland. Since the park was not yet open to guests, Adventureland, Liberty Square, and Frontierland experienced a delayed opening, and guests were kept out of the lands while the search was on for the animal.
In most cases, it is best for bears to be given space and to move along on their own, but given this situation, staff are working on capturing and relocating the bear.
During the fall, bears are more active as they search for food to pack on fat reserves for the winter. This particular bear was likely moving through the area searching for food.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
At the time, the following attractions were temporarily closed to guests:
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Walt Disney World Railroad – Frontierland
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
- Jungle Cruise
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- Swiss Family Treehouse
- The Hall of Presidents
- Haunted Mansion
Just before 1 p.m., Walt Disney World reopened the three lands to guests. Around 1:15 p.m., WESH 2 captured video of the bear, seemingly tranquilized and being carried in a large white tarp.
The FWC says the bear is doing well after being released on the Lake/Marion County line last night. The video of the bear’s release can be seen on the WESH 2 website. It sees rescuers banging on the top and sides of a large crate, encouraging the bear to leave. The bear exits the crate and runs off as the door is closed behind it. One rescuer yells, “Good bear, good bear, go, go, go!”
The bear incident went viral and led to many jokes and memes across the internet, mainly about Country Bear Jamboree and the recently-announced “Country Bear Musical Jamboree.”
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