So what's the deal with Duffy?

[LisainCalifornia]

I think I just don't get it. It is a cute bear and all, but it just seems so "forced" for lack of a better word. I think it was designed for a younger demographic, but I keep seeing adults who have pictures with Duffy (not really here but on other websites) and I don't understand the whole thing.

What do you guys think of Duffy?

 

[sonnyjane]

I agree with you that he doesn't really "fit". I guess the back story is that he was wildly popular at the park in Tokyo, so they decided to bring him out to the U.S. market.

 

[Raindown]

I guess the back story is that he was wildly popular at the park in Tokyo, so they decided to bring him out to the U.S. market.

Exactly. That whole big in Asian saying. I always see Duffy all alone over at DCA and 40 ft away Mickey has a line.

 

[bambii]

If you don't know Duffy, here's his backstory. He was hand-sewn by Minnie Mouse as a gift to Mickey. Duffy, dressed like a sailor, was designed to be Mickey's companion during his travels. The character has been popular with guests at Tokyo DisneySea theme park.

 

[fairycat]

Cool to know the why, but it's still weird to me.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I was just curious about it because my co-worker brought it up today--she asked me if I had heard of Duffy at Disneyland. I had heard of it, but didn't know much about it. She said that there was this whole Facebook group with lots of messages from people who didn't like Duffy, and don't think it fits in with the park. She said that she thought it was introduced about 10 years ago in the U.S. but it bombed--but then they tried it later at Tokyo Disney and that is where it got popular.

I came home and googled it for pictures, and saw lots of adults posing with Duffy.

I think it is a cute little bear, but it just seems sort of random. Maybe he will grow on me.

 

[ishbit92]

If anyone's confused about Duffy, I encourage you to read this thread on micechat:

http://micechat.com/forums/duffy-disney-bear/148609-duffy-disney-bear-faqs.html

I think that Disney could have better familiarized people in the US with him instead of just "bam!" putting him in the parks for meet and greets and selling Duffy merchandise. Because when you do that, people end up confused like this (and understandably so). I think it's kind of sad that he's not as popular as he could be even though I understand why he's not.

I personally love Duffy and I can't wait to get him when I go to DLR in June! I hope he's still there though...

 

[HydroGuy]

Al Lutz talked about Duffy in his article yesterday.

http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al022211a.htm

 

[kelmac284]

He was all over Epcot when we were there in November and my daughter loved him and bought one but I must say he is kind of expensive. 25 bucks for a small one so she got the "purse" one. Then when we went to Disneyland in December he wasn't even OUT because of the rain. My daughter was REALLY dissapointed because she wanted a pic with him but I agree I just hope he IS there in June when we go.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Al Lutz talked about Duffy in his article yesterday.

http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al022211a.htm

Thanks, that article was good! Here is a little blurb from it about Duffy by Al Lutz:

"The Merchandise team has been tasked with getting Duffy off the ground in America by any means possible, so a considerable sum was quickly pushed forward to build a bigger meet n’ greet area where Duffy can stand alongside Mickey to try and cement in people’s minds that Duffy is associated with Mickey and you better darn well fall in love with him as much as your credit limit will allow. Someone in Disney’s merchandise department didn’t get the memo that America is not Japan, but they’ll learn that the hard way it seems."

 

[Sherry E]

Okay, I hate to admit this because a couple of my DIS-friends have posted some very cute photos with their stuffed Duffy in their TR's, but....I have to agree with you, Lisa. I don't fully get the phenomenon, either. It could just be because I'm old. Who knows?

I even posed for photos with Duffy at the DCA PhotoPass location they have for him, and I just posted those photos in my TR a few days ago. One of the borders PhotoPass gives you for the Duffy photos is really cute - I will admit that. But I still didn't really 'care' and neither did my friend. I was thinking more along the lines of,"Oh, there's Duffy...we might as well get in a photo since there's no line." I don't think a lot of other people passing by the PP location really knew or cared who Duffy was - because he just sort of appeared in the park all of a sudden one day, without a movie or TV show to familiarize the masses with him, really.

Don't get me wrong - I think Duffy is cute enough, in the same way I think any stuffed bears are cute. I like the Mickey shapes on his feet and face. I'm sure I will get used to him and get in photos with him any time I see him, just as I get in photos with any other character I see if they are right in front of me. Might as well. Initially, I didn't care for Stitch when he first arrived on the scene, either. Now I am used to Stitch being in the Disney family.

I guess I just don't get the Duffy craze right now. I must say, though, that one of our wonderful DIS'ers, Jasmine/where's_my_prince (she is also a CM), had a very clever idea last year to put her stuffed Duffy in a variety of settings for photos and those are adorable. Since then, other DIS'ers such as Belle Ella and kaoden39 have taken their Duffy's to DLR to pose him against various backgrounds, and have posted the pictures in their TR's. The photos are very cute...but I will not be doing the same thing!

 

[iKristin]

I <3 Duffy!!! I think he's super cute and really soft I have mine on my bed and plan on buying the ears and pins this next trip as well as a smaller Duffy for traveling purposes!! I guess it really depends on the person I had a www.DuffyAdventures.com site going but had to shut it down for a while due to funds Hoping to get it going again. It was a site for people (mainly kids) to tell their stories of their adventures with Duffy and all the places he's traveled as well as share a photo of their Duffy in that place! Can't wait to get it going again.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I don't fully get it the phenomenon, either. It could just be because I'm old. Who knows?

That must be my problem too, Sherry!

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I take a big pass on Duffy. He doesn't belong and he feels forced to me also. There was really no introduction to the US, at least that I know of. He was just there. Some love him, some don't I guess. He isn't in a movie or anyting we can relate to like all the other characters.

 

[tzeitel]

We got a Duffy at WDW back in 2003 (?) when DD was a baby. Super cute bear, super soft. I loved it, DD could not care less about him - so I sold him...for over $200! He now resides in Japan - lucky bear!

The original story - the one the original bear came with - is that Mickey took his teddy bear to the park at night to keep him company. Tink sprinkled him with Pixie dust and he came to life, so now Mickey and his bear (he was not named Duffy then, he was just Mickey's Bear) play in the parks at night.

 

[Briarrose1306]

I'm really glad OP started this thread. I read Al's blog yesterday and totally went, "Who's Duffy?" Which of course spurred me to search for him and I found the story on Disneyland's website (gift from Minnie). I still don't get the hype, I guess they just thought since he was big in Japan, he'd do well here. Thanks for all the explanations though!

 

[deejdigsdis]

And here I was thinking it was just me. I don't get it either. I almost searched for that thread that was around a while back called "What don't you get that everyone else seems to get?" or something like that. My top 2 "I don't get it" things would be "Duffy" and "the fancy food at Napa Rose that doesn't really look like food to me."

ETA...might as well make it a Top 3 while I'm thinking about it. Vinylmation.

 

[Funball]

I think I just don't get it. It is a cute bear and all, but it just seems so "forced" for lack of a better word. I think it was designed for a younger demographic, but I keep seeing adults who have pictures with Duffy (not really here but on other websites) and I don't understand the whole thing.

What do you guys think of Duffy?

I agree with you that he doesn't really "fit". I guess the back story is that he was wildly popular at the park in Tokyo, so they decided to bring him out to the U.S. market.

I do not get the duffy thing either. I feel also that its a bit forced. I just get the whole point of it , other then it's something else that park guests will spend their vacation money on and those clothes omg they are soo expensive!!!!!!!! I can buy a pair of flip flops at those prices!

 

[Sherry E]

And here I was thinking it was just me. I don't get it either. I almost searched for that thread that was around a while back called "What don't you get that everyone else seems to get?" or something like that. My top 2 "I don't get it" things would be "Duffy" and "the fancy food at Napa Rose that doesn't really look like food to me."

ETA...might as well make it a Top 3 while I'm thinking about it. Vinylmation.

Lisa - I think the age thing may be a small part of it. It's also that, as I said earlier, Duffy just showed up in DCA one day with no pre-existing movie or TV show to introduce him to DLR visitors. And I think that whenever there are new Disney characters on the scene (even if they have movies and TV shows), it takes a while for them to really fit in the Disney character family. Many characters have come and gone, and there are only some who stand the test of time. I was surprised that Stitch lasted, but he did...and seems to be very popular.

There are other Disney characters - anyone remember Marsupilami from the early '90s? - who just never caught on, I think. And they have vanished forever!



deej - Count me in on the 'don't get Napa Rose' thing too...although I know I am really, really, really in the minority on that one because most people on the DIS love it or can't wait to get there. It holds no appeal to me at all. And I don't own any Vinylmations - I think some are cute, but I don't need to have them. I can almost kind of see how Vinylmations caught on with the people because there are so many different designs/themes, and often times you don't know which one you are getting, which adds mystery to it. I'm not jumping into that craze at all, but I can understand it a bit.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I do not get the duffy thing either. I feel also that its a bit forced. I just get the whole point of it , other then it's something else that park guests will spend their vacation money on and those clothes omg they are soo expensive!!!!!!!! I can buy a pair of flip flops at those prices!

I hear ya on the flip flop thing!