The River Belle Chorus[1] is a group of characters from the Disney Parks.
History[]
Background[]
The River Belle Chorus is comprised of mostly anthropomorphic hens, roosters, and foxes, hence the name. As their names imply, they sing in a chorus together participating during the musical number "Down by the Riverside" with the Singing Bullfrogs during the end of the first act.
The members of the River Belle Chorus are voiced by the Gwen Lightner Group, the Bill Cole Group, and Jewel Hall respectively.
Development[]
The River Belle Chorus was created for the America Sings attraction at Disneyland in the Tomorrowland section where they were placed in the "Going South" sequence, which opened on June 29, 1974. However, America Sings closed on April 10, 1988 in order to retheme the attraction to Innoventions, with the River Belle Chorus and most of the animatronics moved to Splash Mountain at the Critter Country section, which opened on July 17, 1989. Due to the success of the attraction at Disneyland, Splash Mountain was later constructed at Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland, still featuring the animatronic hens (no foxes) in it.
As of 2020, Splash Mountain was announced for permanent closure to make way for a Princess and the Frog-themed attraction in a plan to remove all themes connected to Song of the South due to controversy surrounding the film itself which the attraction was based on. Therefore, it is currently unknown of what will replace the animatronic foxes and chickens in the revamped version of the attraction. The Oriental Land Company, however, has not yet announced plans whether to retheme Tokyo's version of Splash Mountain or not.
The River Belle Chorus were replaced by Tiana, Naveen, Louis the Alligator, Prince Ralphie, Byhalia, Beau, Phina, Timoléon, Sebastián, Gritty, Pawpaw, Octavia, Felipe, Mayra, Isabel, and Mondo for the final scene of the new attraction. However, it is still unknown if they will appear in the retheme attraction at Disneyland, but they did appeared as an Easter egg reference in the exit queue at Tiana's Foods.
Appearances[]
Disney Parks[]
America Sings[]
The River Belle Chorus was featured during the end of the former attraction's first act, "Going South" where they are seen singing the "Down by the Riverside" musical number. As the song plays, the foxes and chickens sing together in chorus along with the frogs that were singing with the Swamp Boys during the "Polly Wolly Doodle" sequence providing backing vocals. The sequence then fades into the attraction's second act "Heading West".
Splash Mountain[]
On the Splash Mountain attraction at Tokyo Disneyland, the River Belle Chorus can be seen during the "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" finale sequence where they and various other critters are seen welcoming Br'er Rabbit to his home after escaping from Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear who attempted to capture him but they failed to do so. They are seen singing on the boat named "Zip-A-Dee Lady" alongside with the Geese Can-Can Dancers, just before the guests pass through Br'er Gator who is shown to have captured Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear.
The Briar Patch[]
An Easter egg of foxes boater hat can be spotted on a top shelf inside the store.
Disney's Dreams On Parade: Moving On[]
Three of the River Belle Chorus Hens can be seen on the Dreams of Friendship section where they are on the float dancing.
Tiana's Bayou Adventure[]
An Easter egg of a River Belle Chorus hen can be seen on top of the fireplace in the exit queue at Tiana's Foods.
Gallery[]
.png "River Belle Chorus in Splash Mountain (Disneyland).png (4.7 MB)")
.jpg "River Belle Chorus in Splash Mountain (Magic Kingdom).jpg (8.71 MB)")
.jpg "River Belle Chorus in Splash Mountain (Tokyo Disneyland).jpg (5.58 MB)")
.jpg "River Belle Chorus (plus Swamp Frogs).jpg (195 KB)")
References[]
- ↑ Page 3 of America Sings soundtrack book
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