Duffy at DLRP????

[Carrie_Cat]

I think it's because he is not a Disney character. He hasn't been in a film or a cartoon for example

It was just created for money making purposes is the impression that is really coming off the French forums

Doesn't help that he looks like a bit like Cajoline (bear used here for a fabric conditioner product)

 

[A Small World]

We met him in DL California last October and he was really cute. There was never a queue though and Im sure a lot of people didnt know who he was (He was fairly new to DL at the time) so definitely a way to meet a character without a queue. He couldnt sign autographs but they were giving out 'I met Duffy ' stickers instead

DD also bought herself a cuddly Duffy - he looks very cute with his Build a Bear outfit on which fits perfectly

 

[PrincessKins]

I heard about this from DisneyFoo - I can't wait to meet him and get a Plushie! We first heard of him when we were researching visiting Tokyo Disney, he's adorable!

 

[ukstitch]

It was just created for money making purposes is the impression that is really coming off the French forums

Completely right - this is actually the second attempt at a character like this - he was tried as "The Disney Bear" or something and failed, but they exported him to Japan as Duffy where he became HUGE, so they've brought him back.

Having said that - I really like him. They've gone to the efforts of creating a little back story for him, plus I think it's nice to see a new character here or there - particularly one who can appeal to everybody i.e. he's not a tough pirate or a girly princess etc...

At the end of the day, the children (who the characters are really for anyway) can be happy they've had a hug and a photo with "Mickey's bear" and met a new character - they don't mind that he's just a marketing tool or whatever. Besides which, you could say the same thing about many of the characters where decisions on their "design" have been made to appeal to certain groups

 

[otwidalepda]

The story of Duffy I believe is about Disney Parks - at first he was 'The Disney Bear'... Mickey brought his favorite bear to the Magic Kingdom and sat in front of the castle wishing that he had a friend with him to share the excitement and magic of the park. Tinker-bell appears and sprinkles pixie dust on Mickey's bear, bringing it to life. He then hugs the bear and a Mickey-shape appears on the bear's face, forever bonding Mickey and his new friend.

Now since Oriental Land Co. taken the bear they given it a name and new story to market it in Tokyo DisneySea of which it goes... Minnie Mouse created Duffy for Mickey as he was packing for a long voyage at sea.

 

[Ware Bears]

The story of Duffy I believe is about Disney Parks - at first he was 'The Disney Bear'... Mickey brought his favorite bear to the Magic Kingdom and sat in front of the castle wishing that he had a friend with him to share the excitement and magic of the park. Tinker-bell appears and sprinkles pixie dust on Mickey's bear, bringing it to life. He then hugs the bear and a Mickey-shape appears on the bear's face, forever bonding Mickey and his new friend.

Much prefer this ^ ^ ^ version although I think he's cute whatever his name is!

We bought one at WDW back in 2007 and he came with a little book which gave the above explanation. It's surprising how he failed to be successful as the Disney Bear as they were selling like hot-cakes when we bought ours ..... but obviously they didn't sell enough.

I'd be quite happy if he stayed all year rather than just for the Christmas season!

 

[kizzabel]

I think i bought a tshirt for my DS in March last year (baby sizes) with Mickey holding a tatty Duffys hand. Of course I only put it in a charity bin last week.... Also vaguely remember a Mickey plush holding a little teddy in the Village store... but I could be getting muddled

 

[Cyrano]

As others have stated WDW is full of Duffy.

I am pleased that my lot think similar to me that he does not have any Disney feel. The main reason for this character appears to be Disney trying to cash in on Build a Bear. Therefore when there does not seem a good fit for the character IMHO such as Duffy it does not work

Happy that others like him but DLP is not missing anything

 

[Verity Chambers]

Duffy is huge in WDW, especially EPCOT, my DD got one and adores him! I don't see the problem with him really. If you like him, buy him, if you don't then don't!!

 

[markpsych]

Okay, so he's arrived now....

The main reason for this character appears to be Disney trying to cash in on Build a Bear.

My thoughts exactly.

I always wondered why they didn't go a similar way with a 'small world doll', that you could buy outfits for from different nationalities?

Perhaps it's too obvious/old fashioned/traditional?

 

[chmurf]

I think it's because he is not a Disney character.

IMO he's more a Disney character than many others.
Most traditional characters are not Disney's at all.
For example, the iconic castle in DLRP is sleeping beauty's ... yet she is not a Disney character, but a character from a Perrault tale dating 1697 ...
Snow white dates 1812
Pinocchio is from somewhere around 1880
Peter Pan : 1911 over 40 years before he became a Disney character

should I go on ?

Duffy (although I'm really not enthousiastic about him) is a true Disney character, just as Mickey, because he is a pure Disney product, and not borrowed from someone else's work

He hasn't been in a film or a cartoon for example

You're right, and so were the Pirates of the Carribean, which were introduced in Disneyland years before they became movies.

So yes, Duffy hasn't been in a film or movie ... yet.
Would his appearance in a movie make him more "legitimate" or would this spark another rant-over-money-makers round ?

It was just created for money making purposes is the impression that is really coming off the French forums

yup and I'm among those who criticize this on french forums (such as DCP with another nickname) but aren't all those merchandising designed for money purposes ?
Do you really think that Disney sells €50 stitch plushs only for the benefit of humanity ?
You can find everything in the parks' shops, from ashtrays to keyrings to ... gosh I don't even know what some items are made for ... at least Duffy serves a purpose. You have Mr Potato Head's accessories, why couldn't you have a dressable teddy bear ? Every little boy who comes to a Disney Park has at least one teddy bear. It's pretty clever on Disney's part.
You know that you'll buy your kid a teddy bear. So would you rather get him a noname teddy, or a Disney Duffy ?

The more I think about it, the more I tend to think that when we criticize the arrival of Duffy as a pure money maker scheme, it's a bit like criticizing when Disney makes hamburgers, because this is only designed to make more money, and because you can find alternatives elsewhere ...

Doesn't help that he looks like a bit like Cajoline (bear used here for a fabric conditioner product)

I couldn't agree more and that's basically what we used at home

here's a pic for those who wonder what you're talking about

 

[tinks_1989]

When does Duffy go home? Or is he permanent now? x

 

[cherrymarzipan]

I couldn't agree more with all chmurf has said and in any case what is wrong with Disney making more money out of a new line in merchandise - don't we want the park to do well not to mention our shares to go up!

Having bought practically every plush character available in the park or store (although there are still plenty we would like to see - Aladdin and Maleficent to name but two) - I like the fact that we can now collect the outfits for Duffy. I think the outfits themselves are very well designed to look great whilst being easy to put on and off. We bought the Pirate outfit at the same time as our bear and also bought the Buzz and Woody outfits to put away for future birthdays etc. just in case the line does fold. The only outfit I don't really get is the English one. Not quite sure what it represents.

 

[Ware Bears]

When does Duffy go home? Or is he permanent now? x

I hope he's permanent! If so, I can't wait to meet him next summer!

Like I said in a previous post on this thread, I'm really disappointed that he's been re-invented as Duffy as I much preferred his original background story, but the bottom line as far as I'm concerned is that he's cute, CUTE, CUTE and I think I may well be tempted to buy one!

 

[Carrie_Cat]

TG we are all still entitled to opinions

I don't like him not specially because he's not a classic Disney character but because I think it's not an attractive looking bear and I wouldn't want to be giving it shelf space

I'd rather have a Snow White or a Sleeping Beauty even if they don't "belong" to the Walt Disney Corporation than a totally made up cheap BaB copy which has been stuffed down our throats this past couple of months. There is marketing and this overkill


It's going to take a heck of a lot more than Duffy to get the shares paying dividends and I think that I do my bit by going everyweek, see twice a week and spending money over there everytime rather than a one shot 30€

But again it's nice that some people like it after all they've spent on promotion

 

[Ware Bears]

and I think that I do my bit by going everyweek, see twice a week and spending money over there everytime rather than a one shot 30€

Now look, you know we're already green with envy of you being able to visit so often do you have to rub it in??!!!

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Now look, you know we're already green with envy of you being able to visit so often do you have to rub it in??!!!

Don't go and look on the New Years thread then as you'll faint right away

Was there yesterday and off back on Wednesday already this year

 

[torsie24]

I'm so happy Duffy is in DLRP.

I hope he has some different outfits than in WDW - I'd love to buy my Duffy a DLRP outfit or two.

 

[Donald Ducks wife]

Don't go and look on the New Years thread then as you'll faint right away

Was there yesterday and off back on Wednesday already this year

how many times do you think you have been to dlp since it opened 20 years ago?