Does anyone else just not get Duffy....

[Mama Who]

Help me not feel alone or share your reasons why you like him and help me try and accept him into the Disney family.

My family gets a great deal of joy out of Duffy. It's all sarcastic and snarky, but it's joy. Hey, the mocking works for us.

 

[Mousemommy1]

My DH is scared of him!!! I like to tell him that if he is naughty, I'm going to buy one and put it on his nightstand!

 

[KimK2006]

My friend was there a few weeks ago. She sent me a text that said "Who the hell is Duffy?" I've never understood the reason for Duffy!

 

[onnawufei]

I've had an irrational dislike of Duffy for a while now, and was quite annoyed to find out he was coming to the US parks.

But I have to admit, if they released a Haunted Mansion maid outfit for him I'd buy one. No regrets. (Boy bears can wear dresses. Totally.)

 

[Keepee]

I have to agree with the majority- Duffy just doesn't do it for me! Take him away and bring me more Tigger stuff, that's what I say! lol

 

[luvthemouse71]

All those who think that Duffy was created solely to make money, hate to break it to you, but all of Disney was created to make money..

 

[whitney37354]

We were at WDW in June 2010 & got the "Mickey & Disney Bear" book for DD. I'd never heard of Disney Bear then, but I understood who Duffy was when he was introduced later. If you don't know the backstory, I understand why Duffy would not appeal to you.

 

[CamoMama]

Oh, I am so glad I'm not the only one! The thing creeps me out. It has nothing to do with knowing the backstory, or not liking new characters. I love new characters, just not creepy ones. I love Figment (he actually has a purpose) and even though I started watching Sesame Street long before Elmo, I loved him too. Duffy is just creepy. We passed his meet and greet line a couple of times at Epcot (we walked a little faster through that area) and nearly encountered him walking around, but we veered off in another direction quickly. If they'd created a ride or a cartoon or something, perhaps Duffy wouldn't be so creepy... nah, I don't think anything would help.

 

[CentralFloridian99]

All those who think that Duffy was created solely to make money, hate to break it to you, but all of Disney was created to make money..

and let guests be entertained. Duffy is just seen as a cash grab for most.

 

[Mommy2Jameson]

Last year I had to search to figure out who Duffy was. For me he was just all of a sudden there, but no clue where he came from. If they had marketed him on Dis channel or someway briefly introduced him as part of disney to those who arent in the know maybe it would make more sense. My kids have no clue, I still dont know the back story so for us, he is just a plain ol' theme park bear not a Disney bear. Sort of like walking into Hershey park and seeing a random cookie instead of a hershey Kiss

I agree with this! If he had been a new cartoon character or something that my son could have got to know at home before we went, I would have been fine with it. But, it's just like they're saying "It's Mickey's Bear, so you should buy one."

I'm not a fan, and my 6 year old son had no interest in him. He was like "I don't want to meet him, because I don't know who he is!" haha!

 

[bytheblood]

I know the back story, but it is silly to me. But then again, my daughter and I like SOME of the Vinylmations where others don't.....so to each his own.

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't have a problem with Duffy himself, it's just the marketing. Huge Duffy displays. Duffy meet and greet. Duffy bears and clothes in every WS pavilion. Duffy on a stick to color, Duffy shaped rice crispy treats, Duffy ear hats, Duffy light up toys, Duffy purses, Duffy's Storytime channel in the resorts (he's got his own TV channel), Duffy books, Duffy pins, Duffy magnets, signs all around WS telling you where to pose your Duffy for a photo. He's freaking everywhere. If you're not interested in him it's hard to escape him.

 

[bluejasmine]

Count me in.. Its just a bear?? LOL

 

[Magical Kingdoms]

I don't have a problem with Duffy himself, it's just the marketing. Huge Duffy displays. Duffy meet and greet. Duffy bears and clothes in every WS pavilion. Duffy on a stick to color, Duffy shaped rice crispy treats, Duffy ear hats, Duffy light up toys, Duffy purses, Duffy's Storytime channel in the resorts (he's got his own TV channel), Duffy books, Duffy pins, Duffy magnets, signs all around WS telling you where to pose your Duffy for a photo. He's freaking everywhere. If you're not interested in him it's hard to escape him.

I saw his meet and greet pavillion and the huge displays. But !!
A TV channel? Places to pose your bear? All sorts of other junk with his face on it? Seriously, I'm glad my brother didn't buy a Duffy last trip (He was SO close to it!) or I'd crack.

I don't like him either. I just got an updated park map and I open to the Epcot section. His face is staring up at me and is under the list of "fun for everyone" attractions. He's not an attraction. He's a crepy bear that lives at Epcot and has barely any wait. And is a Build-a-bear wannabe.

I liked Pal Mickey and his outfits better (I only got Mickey, but I liked having him around the one trip I brought him). At least they had a Disney feeling to them and were worthwhile.

 

[mousermerf]

I must admit - it's nice to see the tide turning against Duffy.

He was launched, as the "The Disney Bear" a sort of just "Teddy Bear" for Mickey Mouse and took off in Japan where he became quite popular. He actually showed up at the same time as Ounce Upon a Toy at Downtown Disney to give you a basic mental reference point.

Then after his success in Japan and getting a "name" as Duffy over there, Disney's marketing people decided to relaunch him in the states using all the things that had become popular in Japan. They pushed him hard here in the states. Japanese tourists here in the states have taken kindly to him.. but for the most part he hasn't done terribly well.

 

[starrysky]

I Just find it odd that they seem to be forcing him on everyone.

I just find him an odd fit. I could understand if they kept him as part of the German pavillion with the whole steiff bear thing. But to suddenly be every where in EPCOT.

I remember when it was figment and the dream catcher that were the main characters of EPCOT and they just seem to have given up on them and I find that really sad.

I think if they had introduced him more slowly and less aggressive it would have worked better.

I only knew about Duffy from the allears site because of the blogs about Tokyo Disney. Even then I did not pick up on the whole Mickeys bear back story. DH thinks is not a fan either as he does not associtate him with Disney.

 

[BELLEDOZER]

The problem that I've got with him is that while I like him, I don't like him enough to buy one. To me he looks like an average bear, and while I understand the story behind him, I just don't get him in general. I've had many opportunities last year to buy one, and always ended up buying another special stuffie instead. It's kind of like the Marvel characters in WDW and DL, it doesn't really fit in with the overall theme of the parks.

 

[marhs]

Our family loves Duffy. Mostly because the kids think it's like a Disney Build a Bear. Duffy has a hidden mickey on his face, and each of his paws. It's pretty cute. And marketable, yes.... I know.

 

[XYSRUS]

I don't "get" Duffy but man that bear is cute. I broke down and got him. I think he's adorable. But still really just a bear-keeping' it real.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

I don't get Duffy at all. But I still have one because apparently my 6 year old DOES get it! I don't think he seems very "Disney" and I especially don't like the clothing options that he comes with. But oh well!