After more than 29 years of foot-stomping and hand-clapping performances and visits from millions of guests worldwide, the Country Bear Playhouse at Disneyland U.S.A. lowered the curtain for the last time September 9, 2001.

Home to lovable Audio-Animatronic bears with a history that can be traced to the days of Walt Disney, the last day of Disneyland's Country Bear Playhouse was less about holding on to the past and more about celebrating the day at hand. Less about lamenting the future and more about enjoying one final performance by some fuzzy friends. Everyone seemed in pretty high spirits as they queued for their last hoedown before the Country Bears were sent into what was being called "permanent hibernation."

The entrance to the Country Bear Playhouse. The banner indicates final performances take place September 9.

A banner hung above the entrance to the attraction alerting guests about the bear band's final performances. Costumed characters hung out front to sign autographs and pose for pictures with adoring fans. Both theaters were in operation ensuring that a new performance would begin every 10 minutes - performances that played in front of packed houses.

Guests enjoyed cavorting with costumed characters from the Country Bear Playhouse.

Crossing a small creek through the covered bridge that has served as the entrance to the Country Bear Playhouse since 1972, guests lined up outside the foyer of the show building waiting for their chance to say goodbye. People waiting to fill the next show stood packed inside the foyer, some people getting CBJ-themed pressed pennies, others taking pictures of the intricately themed "waiting room." It was obvious in spots that some of the memorabilia that adorned this area was missing, perhaps unauthorized souvenirs of overzealous fans.

A look at the crowd waiting to enter the foyer during the final day of performances.

The crowd itself was an eclectic bunch. There were Disneyana Convention attendees, obvious from their convention lanyards. There were parents who wanted to share a favorite attraction with their children. And perhaps the strangest sight, there were cast members from all over the Disneyland Resort, many of whom were wearing their attraction costumes and name badges. But each person through the turnstyles came to bid farewell to this classic Disney attraction and each group did their best to send the bears off with style.

Items were missing from the waiting area of the Country Bear Playhouse.

It's difficult to describe the buzz that ran through the audience during these final performances. Each group that filtered through either the brown or green doors into one of the two theaters had its own personality. One group hooted 'n' hollered while another sat as though the air had been sucked from the theater. The traditional ban on flash photography was overlooked and small bursts of lights flooded the auditorium from start to finish. Red lights from video cameras could be seen throughout the room as well.

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