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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 |
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The Briar Patch is in the shadow of Splash Mountain. The beloved ride features characters from Song of the South, Walt Disney’s 1946 feature combining live action and animation. |
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Song of the South has memorable animated characters like Br’er Rabbit, catchy music like “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” a delightful performance by James Baskett as Uncle Remus — and the distinction of being locked in the Disney vault because of problematic aspects. It’s a good thing the designers of Splash Mountain made sure that none of those problematic aspects carried over into the ride, right? Two animated sequences in the movie involve a briar patch. The highlight of the ride is a 52½-foot drop into a briar patch at a 47 degree angle. The Briar Patch is an excellent name for a shop adjacent to the ride. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2015 Shopping at The Briar Patch without going inside the shop |
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You’ll find all sorts of Disney merchandise at The Briar Patch. Depending on when you visit, you could find plush, hats, sweatshirts, t-shirts, toys, and more, celebrating many Disney movies. Song of the South is only celebrated indirectly, with such things as Splash Mountain sweatshirts that include Br’er Rabbit and Br’er Bear. |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2005 Real grass, real ferns, and Br’er Rabbit’s giant carrots |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2017 Inside The Briar Patch |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007 Rustic ceiling |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007 One of a number of carrots growing down from the ceiling |
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Photo by Chris Bales 2021 Br’er Rabbit above the fireplace |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2017 Br’er Bear on a log wall |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2017 Hidden Mickey cabbage |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2017 Good night to The Briar Patch |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2017 Winnie the Pooh ears — and you don’t even need to go into The Briar Patch |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2009 The Briar Patch on a rare rainy day |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007 Rain ponchos |
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It doesn’t rain much in Southern California, but rain ponchos are an everyday item here. If you want to go on Splash Mountain without the risk of spending the next few hours wearing drenched jeans, The Briar Patch has just the thing for you. |
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The Briar Patch shop opened at Disneyland’s Critter Country in December 1988 and closed May 2024 — but the green-roofed log cabin goes back to 1956 and continues to exist today. The cabin has the distinction of being the only retail structure at Disneyland to have been located in four lands, without actually moving:
The shop opened in 1956 as the Indian Trading Post in Frontierland’s new Indian Village. That corner of Frontierland was carved off in 1972 to become Bear Country, home of the Country Bear Jamboree. The Indian Trading Post became part of the new land. Its name and appearance did not change. It still sold authentic American Indian art, pottery, and jewelry. Splash Mountain opened on July 17, 1989. With all the new critters of the log flume ride joining the land’s musical bears, Bear Country became Critter Country. To go with the new ride’s Song of the South theme, the shop became The Briar Patch. Its wares changed to “handcrafted items, clothing and toys from Critter Country,” and “souvenirs from Splash Mountain and Winnie the Pooh, too” — even though The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh would not open until 2003. The merchandise mix changed over the years. In the mid-1990s, The Briar Patch was primarily stocked with Disney plush toys. In 2004, the emphasis changed to headwear, including hats, caps, and mouse ears. |
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Artist Concept Only ©Disney Concept art from the announcement that Splash Mountain would be re-themed |
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Much bigger changes were on their way. In June 2020, Disney announced that Splash Mountain would be re-themed in California and Florida to reflect the 2009 animated feature, The Princess and the Frog instead of Song of the South. Splash Mountain closed permanently on May 30, 2023, to be transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. |
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Photo by Chris Bales 2023 The Briar Patch in June 2023, soon after a construction wall went up around Splash Mountain |
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Although the ride was behind construction walls, The Briar Patch next door remained open for almost another year, with its name unchanged. |
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Artist Concept Only ©Disney How the transformed log cabin was expected to look |
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On March 18, 2024, the Disney Parks Blog announced that The Briar Patch would become Ray’s Berets, named after firefly Raymond in the Princess and the Frog. According to the announcement, “You’re sure to light up when you see how these bayou bugs have made this home their own!” |
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Photo by Chris Bales 2024 The Briar Patch in March 2024, just months before closing, no longer with its Br’er Rabbit sign |
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Finally, Critter Country, including The Briar Patch, closed on May 1, 2024, to provide several months to re-theme the land, its shops, and its restaurant before the official opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Bayou Country on November 15, 2024. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2024 Ray’s Berets in early November 2024 |
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Several weeks before the official opening, the green-roofed log cabin reopened as Ray’s Berets. The grass on the roof was shorter and no longer accompanied by ferns or other plants — but that could still change, based on the concept art. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2024 Inside Ray’s Berets |
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The shop’s name is clever. “Ray’s” and “Berets” rhyme nicely, but you’re unlikely to find traditional berets there. The emphasis is still on headgear. Even the sign is emblazoned with hats. The official Disneyland website promotes Ray’s Berets like this: “Come on down to this cozy cabin shop, where Raymond and his firefly kin have filled their home with hats, caps and more!” |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2024 Ray with his Grandmama |
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The interior is structurally similar to The Briar Patch, but decorated quite differently. The carrots are gone. Dozens of glass jars line the upper shelves, each containing a small scene. It’s well worth taking your time inside to look around. You may need to use your smartphone to see the details in the glass jars. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2024 A video window looking out to the nighttime bayou |
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Who knew that the Indian Trading Post from 1956 would eventually become the “cozy cabin shop” of a Cajun firefly? |
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© 2024 Werner Weiss — Disclaimers, Copyright, and Trademarks Updated November 22, 2024 |
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