The Great Duffy Debate

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

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 can see keeping him in Epcot for the reasons others mentioned, as well as he would be an obvious choice for meet and greet in Japan, since they currently don't have any related Disney characters (although my girls would love it if Ponyo came to Epcot...).

I personally love the little aviator outfit.... It fits the travelling with Mickey theme.

 

[OKW Lover]

Sorry - still not a Duffy fan.

 

[disneysteve]

What about Figment?

Figment is from a Walt Disney World attraction. So is DreamFinder. So are the characters from Captain Eo or the creature from Alien Encounter when that was around or the tiki birds or the small world dolls. Duffy isn't from anything. They made him up purely to sell him. I should have included "attractions" in my list along with books, movies and TV shows.

my girls would love it if Ponyo came to Epcot...

There is some Ponyo merchandise at the store in the Japan pavilion. Actually, there is quite a bit of Miyazki merchandise there that you probably won't find anywhere else in the US.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

Showed my daughter the pictures NikkiBelle posted and she is and can't wait to get one. She wants to know if they have them at AKL resort shop so she can buy it as soon as we get to WDW next month.

Also, did you know that he has his own Facebook page?

 

[Disneybridein2k3]

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.

I had one of those original Disney Bears as well (mine was from 2003) but sold it on eBay -- gotta say, i liked it better when the $700 made its way into my paypal account.

 

[CastawayJP]

When Duffy first appeared at WDW I was really against it, and as recently as our last trip in February I was really annoyed by how they were cramming it down my throat. After I heard that he wad come over from Tokyo, my felling softened a little bit... On our Med cruise last month my parents bought one for my daughter, and I tried to talk her out of it, but now that he's been in the house for a few weeks, he's grown on me... He's cute, and every time I see him it brings back Disney memories. I'm such a sap!

 

[Tazicket]

I think he's really cute, but the heavy over the top marketing is a bit much.

 

[topolino]

His face is a Hidden Mickey, what's not to love? (got 'em on his paws too).

I'm not a collector of plush, so I don't own a Duffy, but I don't mind his presence at all. I think he's kind of cute, actually.

 

[bababear_50]

I Love DUFFY!!!

See Link to cards I made
DUFFY'S World Flag Search.
Kids ask Castmembers to sign when they find the Country flag.

http://s940.photobucket.com/albums/ad245/bababearbucket/Duffy World flag Search/


Hugs Mel

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Although I think the whole "Duffy" bear idea is lame, and I hate that Disney felt it had to make up something like this for more profit, I love the bear's design. My DH bought me one, because I love the Mickey's on it, and call it my Hidden Mickey Bear. He's naked too.

 

[Reddog1134]

Figment is from a Walt Disney World attraction. So is DreamFinder. So are the characters from Captain Eo or the creature from Alien Encounter when that was around or the tiki birds or the small world dolls. Duffy isn't from anything. They made him up purely to sell him. I should have included "attractions" in my list along with books, movies and TV shows.

There is some Ponyo merchandise at the store in the Japan pavilion. Actually, there is quite a bit of Miyazki merchandise there that you probably won't find anywhere else in the US.

If someone doesn't like Duffy, then they just don't like Duffy. Everything sold in WDW is sold to make money. I don't understand how having a book, movie or attraction makes one thing more palatable than another.

 

[disneysteve]

If someone doesn't like Duffy, then they just don't like Duffy. Everything sold in WDW is sold to make money. I don't understand how having a book, movie or attraction makes one thing more palatable than another.

I don't dislike Duffy. If he was being sold in ToysRUs or WalMart or Build-a-Bear, I'd have no issue with it at all. The question is what makes a Disney character a Disney character? Disney is all about (or used to be all about) the story whether it was a book, movie, show or attraction. They have always excelled at merchandising since the 1930s and Kay Kamen. But the merchandising was always in conjunction with the story, not in lieu of the story. Duffy is a glaring example of creating the product first and then trying to make up a story to sell the product rather than creating the story first and then using the story to sell the product.

 

[Reddog1134]

I don't dislike Duffy. If he was being sold in ToysRUs or WalMart or Build-a-Bear, I'd have no issue with it at all. The question is what makes a Disney character a Disney character? Disney is all about (or used to be all about) the story whether it was a book, movie, show or attraction. They have always excelled at merchandising since the 1930s and Kay Kamen. But the merchandising was always in conjunction with the story, not in lieu of the story. Duffy is a glaring example of creating the product first and then trying to make up a story to sell the product rather than creating the story first and then using the story to sell the product.

I see where you're going. Instead of saying "People like this character, lets make some merchandise", they're saying "Here's some merchandise, lets make people like the character".

Sort of putting the cart before the horse.

 

[disneysteve]

I see where you're going. Instead of saying "People like this character, lets make some merchandise", they're saying "Here's some merchandise, lets make people like the character".

Sort of putting the cart before the horse.

Exactly. I've got nothing against the bear. It's cute. But rather than creating a brand new character for no reason, why not market the hundreds of wonderful characters you've already got. Dress up Mickey and Minnie or Pooh or whoever.

 

[Reddog1134]

Exactly. I've got nothing against the bear. It's cute. But rather than creating a brand new character for no reason, why not market the hundreds of wonderful characters you've already got. Dress up Mickey and Minnie or Pooh or whoever.

Well, in Duffy's defense, he was originally just a piece of merchandise. Just like a mug or t-shirt or a pen, he was an "everyday object" with a Disney tag. But most people didn't care about him until they made him a character.

 

[thewall2k]

We got one when it was Mickey's Teddy Bear back in September of 2009, he was a gift from my wife's best friend for our then unborn child. 6 month after my son was born we cut off the ugly teal pajamas that they came dressed in and my son has been attached to Duffy ever since. In fact after the dog bit off Duffy's nose I had to spend 35 bucks on ebay to get one overnighted.(we will buy more backups in March)

I can see what everyone else is saying we don't really care for all of the displays but something tells me I will be purchasing plenty of those outfits in the coming years.

 

[mikelan6]

Yes boys and girls ... You may now buy your Duffy Bear on the Disney Store website!

Happy Shopping.

http://www.disneystore.com/disney/store/mn/1006801/?catalogFromSearch=10002&ddkey=http:DSISearch

 

[WaltD4Me]

Yes boys and girls ... You may now buy your Duffy Bear on the Disney Store website!

Happy Shopping.

http://www.disneystore.com/disney/store/mn/1006801/?catalogFromSearch=10002&ddkey=http:DSISearch

Oh. Yipee.

It's been a little while since I've been to Build-A-Bear, but it seems like Duffy's outfits are quite a bit more expensive. Not shocking I know.

 

[BriarRosie]

I see where you're going. Instead of saying "People like this character, lets make some merchandise", they're saying "Here's some merchandise, lets make people like the character".

Sort of putting the cart before the horse.

That pretty much sums up why I'm not a Duffy fan. The whole force-fed marketing of him when he had no ties to a film or attraction left me cold.

 

[ADP]

That pretty much sums up why I'm not a Duffy fan. The whole force-fed marketing of him when he had no ties to a film or attraction left me cold.

Hey Lori - Was there any presence of Duffy in Disneyland Paris? Just curious.