The Duffy Phenomenon at Tokyo DisneySea
Duffy the Disney Bear is a divisive character. At Walt Disney World and Disneyland, he has a small and loyal fanbase, but was largely unpopular and rejected by guests. It’s fairly easy to see why: Duffy is representative of the complaint that Disney is driven by consumer products and marketing. (Updated May 4, 2020.)
By any standard, the case of Duffy in the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort theme parks is an extreme example of trying to manufacture a successful vehicle for more merchandise sales. He seems to be less a meaningful theme park character and more a new attempt to find the next version of pin trading–a lucrative merchandise line that lends itself to repeat sales and special editions.
Fans have seen through this and Duffy has failed stateside. The character’s merchandise flopped and his meet & greets have disappeared. In all honesty, I was happy to see most traces of Duffy vanish from Walt Disney World and Disneyland–I didn’t care for the character. However, my opinion changed totally when we visited Tokyo DisneySea for the first time. I now love Duffy!
Before I get into the why and the how of what changed my mind, here’s a bit of background on how Duffy came to be. Or, at least my understanding of what happened. In the early 2000s, Duffy was developed as an ancillary toy–not even a standalone character–Mickey’s teddy bear. He was presented, essentially, in the background and available in some merchandise capacities in the United States parks, but he was never viewed or treated as a prominent character.
To be fair, it’s not exactly as if this is a new thing. Even in Walt Disney’s era, there was an effort made for synergy between areas of Disneyland and things like Walt Disney’s True-Life Adventures. As is the case with anything, impressions of the bygone-era of Disney are remembered more optimistically and ‘unblemished’ than perhaps they actually were. But I digress.
A few years after first debuting as the “Disney Bear” belonging to Mickey Mouse, Disney and the Oriental Land Company fleshed out his backstory and made him into a spotlight character. They reintroduced him as “Duffy” in 2005, at which time he was an immediate smash hit with guests at Tokyo Disney Resort.
Five years later, this version of the Duffy was reimported to Walt Disney World and Disneyland as a prominent character. He has subsequently appeared at every Disney theme park complex in the world. However, he’s most popular at the other Asia parks, Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland plus Aulani, all of which also have exclusive Duffy merchandise.
Fast forward a decade from then, and Duffy has since been given a veritable posse: ShellieMay, his girlfriend; Tippy Blue, a mail-bird; Gelatoni, a cat artist; StellaLou, a dancing rabbit; CookieAnn, a baking dog; ‘Olu, a ukulele playing turtle. The first three friends have been warmly embraced by Duffy fans, while the latter three have had more mixed success.
Duffy was undoubtedly given a makeover in Tokyo for the express purpose of selling merchandise, which would seemingly make any criticisms about his presence in the US parks equally valid in the Japan parks.
However, there is a critical difference between Duffy in the US and in Japan: guests absolutely love him in Japan, and he is a character with a meaningful presence. He is not just haphazardly placed wherever without any explanation as to why.
Virtually everything introduced in any Disney park throughout the history of the theme parks has arguably had ulterior motives in terms of merchandising and marketing, it’s much easier to forgive this when the end result comes across less like a product of a marketing machine and more like a natural fit for the park.
Heck, there were probably ulterior motives even with our beloved Figment way back in 1983 given his large stock of merchandise throughout EPCOT Center, but like Duffy in Japan, Figment was a natural fit and had organic popularity. He was instantly embraced by guests because he came across as genuine. Same goes for Duffy at DisneySea.
Seeing Duffy in Tokyo DisneySea made me realize he’s not an inherently bad character. He is beloved and there he has a storyline that fits the Cape Cod area of the American Waterfront, and Tokyo DisneySea in general pretty well. His “Spring Voyage” with Mickey Mouse is fun and cute, and it makes sense in the context of Tokyo DisneySea.
More importantly for me as a cultural outsider, he is the single greatest example of how American culture has been not just been embraced by the Japanese, but has been transformed and turned into something of their own.
For lack of a better way of describing it, Duffy and his friends are how Japanese guests “show their Disney Side,” to borrow a phrase from the current Disney marketing campaign. Throughout this post, I’ve included photos demonstrating the passion guests in Japan have for Duffy. It’s real, and I think it’s actually pretty cool to see.
Duffy plushes are to Tokyo DisneySea what Mickey Mouse ears are to the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland. Duffy plushes have that quickly become such a popular and significant part of the Tokyo parks that they can likewise be identified as a quintessential part of the Disney experience in Japan. Yes, Duffy is quintessential Disney.
Park-goers in Japan love Duffy so much that there are actually limits on how much of his merchandise you can purchase. Can you imagine that in the US?! Hating Duffy in Japan would be tantamount to hating Mickey in the United States. You’d be an iconoclast.
I’m not putting Duffy in the same league as Mickey in terms of historical significance, but in terms of cultural significance, I think he’s right there with Mickey in Japan (Mickey is no slouch there, either).
In Japan, Duffy is a symbol of everything positive that people love about Disney. Quite the stark contrast to what he represents at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, right?!
This is really difficult to convey, and people who are only used to our Duffy might have a hard time accepting it. I think it’s almost easier to convey with photos than it is with text, so let’s take a look at Duffy in the Tokyo parks to get an idea of just how ubiquitous Duffy and his friends are there.
Cape Cod is best considered a “mini-port” within the American Waterfront. It’s separated from the rest of American Waterfront, and it’s this village that is home to Duffy.
This is where his meet and greet is, as well as Cape Cod Cook-Off, where he performs a show.
Here’s a look at the show that runs at Cape Cod Cook-Off. It’s cute, with a Duffy song that is way too catchy.
You have to dine at the restaurant (the food at Cape Cod Cook-Off leaves a lot to be desired) in order to watch the show. On busy days, the line to order and be seated can exceed an hour!
Thankfully, the snacks and desserts at Cape Cod Cook-Off are usually pretty good.
Plus, there are always seasonal add-ons (like cups and cozies) that can be purchased. We love our Duffy Summer Fun stuff.
While several shops in the park sell Duffy merchandise, Aunt Peg’s Village Store in Cape Cod is the Duffy-dedicated store.
Aunt Peg’s is almost always packed, with merchandise flying off of the shelves. On release days, the line here can stretch into other ports of Tokyo DisneySea!
These life-size plushes sold in Aunt Peg’s cost around $400 US.
Given their price, we were surprised at how many we’ve seen out and about in the parks.
Many guests personify the plushes and treat them with loving care.
Seeing Duffy pushed in strollers, given his own chair at meals, or being sat upright in a parade being area (on a mat, of course) so he has a good view of the parade is not uncommon.
In this shop, every piece of Duffy merchandise besides these two plushes had sold out. Were they intentionally placed beside one another so neither felt “lonely”? Would a guest purchase one without another?
The point with these last few photos is that, for many guests, Duffy is not just a kawaii toy or plush purchased as a way to remember their trips to the parks.
He’s also not just a collectible with limited edition merchandise that makes for fun collecting. For many guests he is these things, but for other guests he is a friend and family member.
In this sense, Duffy transcends traditional merchandise.
It’s likely that Duffy has special significance to many people due to the nature of Japanese culture, and can sometimes act as a surrogate child or close companion.
I’m no expert on human behavior or Japanese culture, so what, exactly, Duffy is for some guests is beyond the scope of this post and is merely speculative. Without question, Duffy does have special meaning unlike anything I have seen of theme park characters in the past.
Photographing Duffy and friends in various spots around Tokyo DisneySea is incredibly popular. So much so that there are these fold-out “Duffy Photo Points” throughout the park (pictured above).
On the in-room resort TV at the hotels, there’s also a segment consisting of tips for photographing Duffy.
You can also purchase a book that’s all photos of Duffy around Tokyo DisneySea.
The photos in this book aren’t stationary poses; they are action shots of the plushes.
Here’s one of the Photo Points in action. I was told that these were installed due to a large number of guests placing Duffy plushes in flower beds and other places that could be damaged.
You still see guests photographing Duffy in places besides these spots, but presumably not as much as prior to their installation.
Special Duffy photo spots were installed for “The Happiness Year” celebration.
At times, we have seen 4+ people in line for some of these photo spots.
There are a plethora of costumes available for Duffy and ShellieMay (far more than are sold in the US parks), many of which are quite elaborate and expensive.
However, serious Duffy fans make their own costumes–an even more costly and time-consuming process.
These outfits are often times elaborate and beautiful. This is definitely what I like most about the Duffy phenomenon.
Anyone can buy collectibles and souvenirs off the shelf and display them, but it takes dedication, effort, and skill to create something–it’s a way of making the plush their own. Plus, it gives other park guests something unique and cool to see.
In Cape Cod, it’s not uncommon to see guests carefully posing a dozen Duffy and ShellieMay plushes, all with homemade costumes, in elaborate scenes. (That’s 10 above!)
Whenever I have spotted costumes that I thought looked homemade, I have stopped the guest with the plushes and asked them about their Duffys.
There have been a couple of issues with a language barrier, but most of the time guests understand what I’m asking, and are enthusiastic to talk about their Duffys and have their photos taken.
Some of these Duffy plushes are even “famous” in Japan, having their own Instagram accounts with thousands of followers. Like we said, it’s a phenomenon!
These guests brought their Star Wars Duffy plushes for the grand opening day of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. On that particular day, there were a ton of Jedi Duffy posed in various places around Star Tours (usually with FastPasses to indicate the date) for photos.
Duffy is one way the guests at Tokyo Disney Resort outwardly demonstrate their passion for those parks.
All of this is ultimately what turned me into a Duffy fan.
Like I said, it’s difficult to explain, but I think Duffy brings a palpable energy to Tokyo DisneySea that makes it feel like more than just a beautiful environment. It gives it an added emotional resonance, and this is mostly through the guests with their Duffy plushes, as Duffy’s presence in the park itself is fairly mild.
I still don’t have my own Duffy, but… Since originally publishing this, we’ve “adopted” a Duffy (two actually)…plus a Gelatoni. We’ll probably end up with a ShellieMay soon, too. Maybe even StellaLou! (But not CookieAnn or ‘Olu, who aren’t part of the real crew. But that’s another topic for another day…)
It’s fun to embrace the Duffy experience to its fullest, and I respect the vibe Duffy gives to Tokyo DisneySea. Critics might contend that the park as-opened was an original, adult concept that didn’t need a mascot. In fairness, the same thing could have been said about EPCOT Center and Figment. Diversifying the appeal of a park is not necessarily a bad thing if it expands the audience and is respectfully accomplished. Above all else, Duffy embodies the zeal and passion guests in Japan have for their Disney parks. It’s tough to argue against that.
Planning a trip to Tokyo Disney Resort? For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Trip Planning Guide! For more specifics, our TDR Hotel Rankings & Reviews page covers accommodations. Our Restaurant Reviews detail where to dine & snack. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money post. Our What to Pack for Disney post takes a unique look at clever items to take. Venturing elsewhere in Japan? Consult our Ultimate Guide to Kyoto, Japan and City Guide to Tokyo, Japan.
Your Thoughts…
What do you think of Duffy? If you dislike him in Walt Disney World or Disneyland, does this change your opinion of him a little? Are you a Duffy fan? Agree or disagree with our perspective on Duffy and friends? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Hi, I love your post! I’m a big Duffy fan as well. When I first saw him, I wasn’t very pleased. He just seemed a little…sad? But everytime I saw him I learn to like him a little bit more. I got my first Duffy at WDW. I like him a lot. Just like how you said, he is family However, it wasn’t until the arrival of Shellie May that got me into this crazy mess. My intention was simple: to find Duffy a mate/friend. But when she arrived with her beautiful big blue eyes, I lost it. The quality control in Japan is impressive. Her fur is so soft, and her facial expression is really pretty. The clothing (my favorite is the sweet duffy 2014) is so detailed and the handwork is just out of this world. I have no idea how, but now I have 2 boxes of Duffy and Shellie May’s clothes, tons of badges, 7 and counting tote/duffle/handbag, etc. I really wish WDW will bring up their quality control. However, I understand that it is difficult, as the buyers’ point of view is different. In Japan, people love Duffy as a friend/family. But in the US Duffy is just a toy for children, and to honest, not many parents would spend that much money on a toy plush. It is hard to explain why Duffy fans love Duffy so much. Just like it’s hard for Disney addict to explain to regular people why Disney is magical to them. But regardless what other people say, I’m proud to announced I’m a big Duffy fan 😉
Once again, I love your page!! <3
Hello,
32 year old from Québec, Canada, here.
I have never been in a Disney Park before as we could never afford it but this year for my 33rd birthday in November, my spouse and I are making it to Orlando. (as an animator and big kid I am overjoyed, shame I couldn’t go while the studio was still open)
I learned about Duffy sort of by accident from a video on youtube and a quick research lead me to the original Disney Bear story (which I prefer over the Duffy one) on how Mickey had spent the day going on rides and having a good time at the Magical Kingdom and as the night came he sat down in front of Cinderella’s castle with his Teddy Bear and sighed. He sudenly felt very lonely and wished he had a friend to share all those wonderful moments and memories with. Suddenly Mickey’s teddy hugged Mickey back! He had been brought to life by the magic of the place and all of Mickey’s love. And Mickey and his teddy shared so much fun that the Teddy got an imprint of Mickey’s silhouette in his face, on his paws, on his bum.
Anyways, to me this story markets the bear as a friend to carry around and share the magic with.
I can get behind that.
Also the fact I have no history with the park helps, I have nothing to compare.
But I agree that Duffy seems to be marketed without any personality in the US. There’s no magic, there’s no “Disney Spirit” if I may say in the Duffy I see here.
And with the low grade quality of the toys and clothes (from what I see and read) just makes poor Duffy turn even more into a simple money cow and that makes people bitter.
I can’t talk for Duffy’s quality much as I have yet to encounter one in person. However I’m familiar with the fabric I see on him… And it doesn’t help his case.
In general I have seen a very quick and sad decrease in plushies quality coming from Disney. Personally I find that when Lilo and Stitch came out (the first one) it was the last of the golden age of Disney plushies.
Nowadays everything is made out of either thin velours or that terribly cheap “eyelashes” fur. No more thick soft durable plush.
Anyways, all that to say I agree, if Duffy was marketed differently he might be more of a success in the US. But also, I don’t know if “culturally speaking” it would be even possible to have the kind of success he has in Tokyo.
Gotta be the evil Spirit on this one, Tom. Can’t stand Duffy in any place. As to his history, you have much of it. He actually got his start HERE as the Disney Bear, which didn’t sell.They tried a resurrection when DD went thru on of its countless makeovers and they added the giant toy store with the Genie on top. That failed miserably as well. But you gotta admire a company that has created insane phenomenon like pin trading ($8-16 for a piece of metal that costs 10 cents to make) and vinylmation (what other company could get away with charging you for an item without telling you what you are buying and refusing refunds?)
Anyway, they took him to Japan where anything cute is in (I could say it’s a reaction to Japan’s historical bloodlust as friends who friends who live there with Japanese spouses and frequent the parks have opined, but Ill save it for a thesis.) and gave him a name and a backstory (Minnie gave him to Mickey before his sea-going adventures) and the Japanese office girls went nuts
And soon, the OLC was printing money with Duffy, which is why Disney has tried to force him on every audience they have around the globe.
The folks in Tokyo are insane for him. I suggested to an American friend living there that if I were to take a Duffy plush and yell at it or worse …beat it, slam it on the ground etc. That a bunch of Japanese women would have tackled me and run to the defense of a piece of fabric.
Indeed, my second day ever at TDL, I saw a girl (somewhere between 16-26, couldn’t tell more) SITTING in the walkway near Dumbo and Pan on the ground. She was a clear safety hazard …she was cradling her toy and, I kid you not, looking like she was trying to breast feed him. I would have taken a picture (I often do when I see mental illness on display at WDW), but I was in shock. And … CMs continually walked past her like nothing was amiss. Anyone could have tripped over her, but in a land where they will make you move three inches back in a parade standing area, this was NORMAL.
Worse to me is that Duffy Mania has further dumbed down TDS’s very lacking merchandise quality. Talk to folks about what you could buy in Aunt Peg’s prior to Duffy. Nice themed merchandise.
And it obviously isn’t going to end as Duffy’s likely the most popular ‘Disney’ character at TDR …hence his girlfriend and now kitty.
I love TDR, Tom. I remember encouraging you yo visit not all that long ago. But Duffy? BLECH!!
You are going soft!
Ha, I like that with your return to this blog, you first chose THIS post to read! How about this one: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/tokyo-hong-kong-honolulu-stopover-single-airfare/ I think it might be right up your alley.
I have my own take on the *why* of Duffy and other kawaii things, but as I said in the post, it’s beyond the scope of this. I wouldn’t be surprised if our theories are similar.
As to what Duffy has done to TDS, I have heard this from other longtime visitors of the park. My question…is it correlation or causation? Even without having been there back in the day, I say correlation. Duffy has displaced the unique New England merchandise in Aunt Peg’s, but how do you explain the unique merchandise gone elsewhere that has been displaced by candy and little disposable trinkets bearing no trace of Duffy? To me, it seems like more of an issue of merchandising doing a pivot based on what was and wasn’t selling. You and I have different takes on the whole issue of on-theme, real-world merchandise, so I won’t bother going further with my opinion on that…
In general, I think it’s fair to say that the OLC has done a bit of a pivot on TDS in general. Initially, the plan was to aim for an older demographic due to Japan’s aging population. Look at EVERY addition in the last 3-4 years. The common thread? They all involve Disney characters. Based on the most recent annual report and 5/10 year plans, I think the OLC is looking to shift back to that original plan of targeting the aging demographic, but will that really happen with Glacier Bay being the perfect new port for adding a Frozen attraction? My money is on no–at least in the short term.
I guess my point is that you can’t put the blame at Duffy’s feet for the changes at TDS. I think it’s a general change in vision that has included Duffy. He’s more symptomatic, rather than the cause of whatever “problem” there might be.
Personally, I don’t think there is a problem (even if I would like a return to original attractions). I think Disney theme parks, even the conceptual ones like EPCOT Center and TDS, having a prominent mascot is not a bad thing. That doesn’t mean they should go crazy with total ‘toonification, but on its own, I think it can bring a sense of life to the park. If that makes me soft, so be it.
I love this! I’ve never had the slightest interest in Duffy and have been dreading the day my kids ask for one, but I totally love how much the Japanese fans love him. I’m pretty sure when we visit the Tokyo parks someday that I will have my own Duffy so I can photograph him in those cute little flip down seats.
Neither of my children ever got into Duffy it was always the Fab 6 at Disney. I think they always felt it was a form of “Build A Bear” which they had at home with all the outfits. They loved those bears but there is only ONE Mickey for them. Personally send them all to the Tokyo parks and bring in better merchandise here.
There’s an episode of How I Met Your Mother where Barney explains that the age and generation gaps are why some people like Ewoks and some people don’t. This might be the case with the Duffy bears as well.
I am both Pro-Duffy and Pro-Ewok (:
I first saw Duffy in DCA, where his meet and greet location was almost shoved down your throat on the way to Paradise Pier. My initial thought was that Disney just wanted to create a new character that could translate well into merchandise and an even easier character costume. Even looking at your photo of Duffy on the stage show with the Mickey and friends he looks like he doesn’t “fit.” This was a very interesting look into the culture in the Tokyo parks. Thanks for sharing!
Great write up on something I don’t even like. I never knew why or where that bear came from
Great post! I was definitely on team “ignore/mock Duffy”, but those costumes people make for their Duffys are actually really cool. I’m probably never going to learn to sew well enough to make myself costumes, but I could definitely wrangle something for a Duffy. Too bad I’d look super weird showing up at WDW with a bear in a costume.
I should add that my brother is a captain and frequently away on overnight fishing g trips. That may help explain niece’s affection for Duffy and his story.
We took our niece for a birthday visit to disney world a couple of weekends ago. Both she and our daughter saw the Duffy TV spot and enjoyed it. Niece liked it so much she picked out a Duffy book and plush to take home to her baby brother. She was certain he would like Duffy more than Mickey.
Who am I to argue with a little girl?
I’m trying to hold out on buying Duffy for Shelly-Mae until I can go to Disney Sea in 2017 but I keep getting more and more tempted!
I was in the ‘eye roll at Duffy’ camp…until my 8 year old daughter fell in love with him last year. She loves looking at pictures of Duffy in the Tokyo parks – off to show yours to her now. Thanks Tom! 🙂
My husband and I (more my husband) have a small obsession with Duffy. We are 29 and 30 years old with no kids as of yet. We’ve never been to the Japan parks (although we’d love to!). We don’t really know how it happened…we used to make fun of Duffy and not really understand why he was in the parks (probably like most people) but then something just kind of changed into us liking him. We like to watch the Duffy channel at the resorts because they play the old cartoons on it and it keeps us “in the Disney bubble” while we’re there, that and Stacy’s must-dos :). So we would see his little bedtime story at night. We went to Disney world for our honeymoon and for our 1 year anniversary, I got my husband a Duffy. Ever since then, he’s just represented the great time we’ve had on our honeymoon and subsequent trips. Also, he’s so cute and soft how can you not love him?! My husband just said- “if you don’t like Duffy, you must be a communist.” 🙂
“We used to make fun of Duffy and not really understand why he was in the parks (probably like most people)…”
I think that probably summarizes the average guest reaction to Duffy. Although there are hints of his backstory various places if you go looking for them, his connection to the parks or his story in general is not at all obvious at any of his meet & greet locations. He’s just a lonely bear at a random point in World Showcase, and from time to time, in the Magic Kingdom. There’s no context and really nothing more besides the bear. Most guests who visit Walt Disney World are not Googling Duffy to learn his backstory (I’d hazard a guess that most Disney fans aren’t even doing this), so for the vast majority of guests, there’s no chance at an emotional connection with that random bear. Unless it just happens to “happen.”
Valerie – this is too crazy how your story parallels with my wife and I’s story as it relates to Duffy. Even down to the age!
Our Duffy story began (ironically a little after our 1 year anniversary) when I noticed the Duffy display in the resort hotel shop. I scoffed thinking it was a way to make a quick buck by slapping hidden Mickeys on a teddy bear but that changed when we saw the baby Duffy. This was around the time we decided to have kids and the thought of giving our child their first Duffy bear was enough to make this jaded cynic do a 180Ëš on the Duffy character.
There’s more to the story but for brevity’s sake I’ll just say we harbor an emotional connection to that bear and we make sure to stop for a Duffy hug when visiting Epcot. We were heartbroken when we learned of his eviction from California Adventure. Hopefully in the future Duffy’s backstory will be better communicated but at the very least we hope he stays around stateside for many years to come!
Christopher, I just stumbled upon this article again while reading about Duffy leaving the parks 🙁 But I’m glad I stumbled on it so I could see your comment as there is no way to get a notification if someone responds to your comment. I’m glad to hear your story is similar to ours! And even more so as I am currently expecting! I just told my husband yesterday, we have got to purchase a Duffy for our new little one before they stop selling them!! We going down to WDW in about a month, but I’m worried they will pull all his merchandise before then.
I am so sad to hear that they are pulling Duffy from the US parks. We really liked collecting various Duffy merch over the years and now it seems the only way we’ll be able to in the future is going to Japan. I’m thinking of saying something to guest relations or something when we’re down there, I know that’s crazy, but maybe if there are enough of us that want him to stay they will bring him back!
That’s how we ended up falling in love with him. His story would play in between the cartoons. Having the cartoons on while we were in the room to preserve the Disney bubble is one of our traditions. Before you knew it we ended up owning Duffy and Shellie May.
So I never even heard of Duffy, or noticed him till this past June when we went to Boma at AKL and while waiting in the lobby, the kids were watching a tv with Disney cartoons and one explained about Duffy. All the sudden, that is ALL the kids wanted so we came back with two Duffys and a couple of outfits.
My kids are really into “hidden Mickeys” and there are Mickey silhouettes all over the bear so that helped! Personally I think he is super cute and I wish they would do more with him here in the States! My kids sat with me and looked at the pictures on this post and they wished there were those Duffy photo places at WDW!
I think Duffy would have to become SUBSTANTIALLY more popular in the US before they would add the photo spots. Most of the time, Duffy’s meet and greet here has a 0-10 minute wait. In Tokyo, you’re lucky if you only wait an hour.
I still think Duffy could be a successful character here, but a greater effort needs to be made to give average guests a *reason* to care about him. Disney can’t just put a bunch of merchandise out and throw a meet & greet together and hope the character catches on.
What have you done with Tom Bricker? 😉
Just to be clear, I’m only a fan of Duffy in Tokyo. He just works there. I am still anti-Duffy in the US. Not so much anti-Duffy the character, but anti the approach they’ve taken with him. I don’t really think anyone here dislikes Duffy as a character so much as what he represents–an attempt at a cash grab.
I was not a fan of Duffy until at AKL one evening when I watched the “Duffy Bedtime Story” which kind of introduced me to the story about how Duffy was created by Minnie for Mickey so he would have a companion on his travels. That sort of gave him purpose to me and while I do agree that he is solely been introduced as a marketing scheme . . . atleast they had a nifty story for the kids and us kids at heart.
I think if that story were actually conveyed to guests in the park (and it takes more than a meet and greet to do that), Duffy would be a hit in the US, too. Having it on a TV channel that 95%+ of guests will never see is not enough.
While this is true when our kids first saw this when we were at WDW in September 2012 they then wanted to watch it every night before they went to bed and my oldest complained that we hadn’t met Duffy while we were there. We made sure to go by and see him when we went to DL/DCA in August 2013. If enough little kids see the story and start liking him he could become their childhood memory the way Figment has for others. It could be a long term play, assuming Disney has the patience for it.
Interesting info on how Duffy works overseas. I’m not sure that’s going to pick up in the U.S., where it feels like Duffy’s being promoted on deaf ears. I recognize that Disney does so much marketing, and Duffy isn’t that rare. Still, it doesn’t have interest for me (or the kids thus far).
I would say he’s not going to catch on here…at least unless something changes with how he is being presented. He’s been in the US almost 4 years at this point and is still relatively unpopular.
I’m still not going to be a Duffy fan but at least he makes more sense now. If I hadn’t grown up loving Figment I might feel the same about him. This post does have me wanting to make clothes for my favorite plush Figment so he can take photos all over Disney World.
Figment has a history of wearing different outfits (see the finale video of the original attraction), so I say go for it. Report back with some of the photos if you do it! 🙂
I just bought my own Duffy at WDW. I’ve always thought he was cute, but what made me buy him was the yellow ponchos they sell for him. Those basically epitomize my childhood at WDW, so it’s more nostalgia than anything. I love the photo stands for Duffys!