The Great Duffy Debate

[*NikkiBell*]

I never liked Duffy. I always thought the original "Disney Bear" was adorable though. Unfortunately, I waited too long and was never able to get one. Now, Duffy is all the rage...or is he?

Lately, the furry bear has come to grow on me. I mean, come on, how could you resist that little face? And, the new outfits for Duffy are just darling...

The great Duffy debate was also discussed on this week's Disneyland podcast. So, what's your take? To Duffy or not to Duffy. That is the question!

 

[kaligal]

At first I didn't care about it. It's a bear. Fine for kids. Who cares?

But now that they're pushing the thing so hard, I kind of hate it.

I'm just so sick of it.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Hate it. I do have an original Disney Bear that I got in 2004 though...he's nekkid and proud of it. He doesn't need of the silly costumes and and clothes that are annoyingly all over WDW. Duffy is a gimmick not worthy of Disney.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

Well speaking as a mom of a build a bear obsessed 9 year old DD, I forsee a Duffy bear in the future. I'm pretty sure she will flip over it next month.
But personally, I just think they are ok. I can see them selling the outfits but for other bears. Not sure about having an official Disney bear.

 

[auroralark]

I personally don't care. I understand about how it was huge in Japan, so I understand why they brought it over here. It doesn't bother me.

 

[connie1042]

We bought a duffy bear 4 years ago, when he was 10 dollars when you bought something else. I did not know it even had a name them. I bought it because I liked the mickey on the feet. What did the original bear look like.

 

[safetymom]

I bought a Duffy bear for my grandson. We resisted for quite a while but thought this was a perfect gift. We bought the German outfit for the bear. I see many more outfits that I would love to get.

 

[disneysteve]

Not that I greatly care one way or the other, but I just find it to be an odd choice for Disney. Duffy is the only character that didn't originate from a movie, book or TV show. They just made him up to sell the toys. Why it took off in Japan I have no idea. Having just been to WDW last month, I was bothered by how Duffy merchandise had taken over, especially the entire store at the entrance to World Showcase.

 

[DisOrBust]

In our family we believe Duffy is the root of all evil!

JK

But we don.t despise the bear so much but rather the advertising campaign. I am waiting for EPCOT to be renamed Duffyland and have the ball turned into a huge Duffy bear.

That the took the masks away and replaced them with Duffy sticks is just to much, What a horrible attempt to indoctrinate children to love Duffy. They took a somewhat culture experience and turned it into an ad campaign.

I now know how Roy Disney Jr. felt went he saw all the different colored plush Mickeys created just to sell more plush. It's what sent him over the edge and he started the whole "save Disney" campaign.

 

[jesswindsor]

I do think Duffy is cute. I like some of his outfits. But I don't think it's really any different than build a bear (as far as dressing him up).

 

[PeterPan09]

I love it. I'm a teddy bear person though and have always loved them. There was a store down the shore in NJ where I got hand made ones that I still have. I'm the "connection" for a friend of my mother's and have bought a few of the little costumed holiday ones for her great-granddaughter.

Judging by the number of Duffy's I see getting toted around Disney, I think he's here to stay.

 

[mikelan6]

I love the idea of Duffy, but I think they should have kept him exclusive to Epcot, just like he's exclusive to Tokyo DisneySea. You don't find Duffy at the TDR Hotels or at Tokyo Disneyland.

I think having all the different outfits is fun too.

 

[Love2Run]

I love Duffy. I think the idea is cute but I'm also a 26 year old build-a-bear fan.

 

[disneysteve]

I love the idea of Duffy, but I think they should have kept him exclusive to Epcot

Why Epcot? What possible connection is there for Duffy to belong in Epcot (or any other park for that matter)? What aspect of the backstory Disney created for Duffy would associate him with Epcot?

 

[WaltD4Me]

Why Epcot? What possible connection is there for Duffy to belong in Epcot (or any other park for that matter)? What aspect of the backstory Disney created for Duffy would associate him with Epcot?

I was wondering that too. There is actually a really cute children's book that has been out for years, at least since 2004, called I THINK A Night in the Magic Kingdom or something like that, that features Mickey going to the Magic Kingdom at night with his bear. We bought the book for my niece on our trip in 2004 and they talked about it once on the podcast. I had always thought that was the basis of Duffy might have come from that book. I've also thought it would be cute to do the story in each of the parks. A Night in Epcot, ect...at least it would give Duffy a story.

 

[mikelan6]

Why Epcot? What possible connection is there for Duffy to belong in Epcot (or any other park for that matter)? What aspect of the backstory Disney created for Duffy would associate him with Epcot?

Duffy is a traveling bear, so he'd be going around all the countries. Duffy in different world costumes is also a given.

 

[Becx N Gav]

I Duffy I think it's great they brought him over from Tokyo, I do hope they introduce Shellie May too I have bought some Build A Bear clothes that fit on Duffy so for all those BAB fans you can use those clothes too! I hope Disney release more clothing, I love the Sorceror Mickey costume. I'm also going to make some outfits myself, hopefully they will come out ok!

 

[Cherinva]

He's ok...but I already have a build a bear that travels with me...yes, he's been to WDW a number of times and on the cruise.

 

[Reddog1134]

Duffy is a traveling bear, so he'd be going around all the countries. Duffy in different world costumes is also a given.

Yes. The story book that comes with Duffy says Mickey was going on a long trip so Minnie made Duffy for Mickey to be a traveling companion.

Not that I greatly care one way or the other, but I just find it to be an odd choice for Disney. Duffy is the only character that didn't originate from a movie, book or TV show. They just made him up to sell the toys. Why it took off in Japan I have no idea. Having just been to WDW last month, I was bothered by how Duffy merchandise had taken over, especially the entire store at the entrance to World Showcase.

What about Figment?

 

[BabyBun]

We really love Duffy! I think the little backstory is cute, especially since his area of Tokyo DisneySea is a little Port Town (Cape Cod, I believe), and now in Epcot, it's like you're going on his journeys with him around the world.

I really hope they bring Shellie May over too!