Who's Duffy the Bear?

 

If you haven’t been to Epcot or to Downtown Disney you’re missing out on the newest and cutest visitor.  Duffy the Disney Bear has officially arrived at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, strait from Japan.  Duffy, the Disney Bear will be for sale at Epcot theme park and select locations at the Walt Disney World Resort. 

Disney had been making Disney bears since the 1960s but it was only on November 5th 2004 that Oriental Land Company (the company behind Tokyo Disney Resort) decided to reinvent a mascot for their new park.  Duffy would become the key mascot of DisneySea’s American Waterfront world.   Mickey was about to set sail on an adventure to visit friends around the world.  The Bear was a gift to Mickey from Minnie so hey would have something special to remind him of how he was loved at home.  She stayed up all night to hand make the plush teddy bear with all of her heart; the stuffed bear, which has a Mickey Mouse-shaped face and a Mickey-shaped birthmark on its hip and the bottom of his feet.  Mickey adored him and named him Duffy (since the bear would travel in Mickey’s duffel bag).  Mickey Mouse brings the bear with him as he travels around the world.  In this way, Duffy is able to experience all the joyous moments that Mickey experiences too. 

By Christmas 2005, the generic Disney Bear was gone - Duffy had become the character we know and love today. Whereas Disney had simply intended the Disney Bear as a product to sell, Oriental Land Company designed Duffy's park presence and merchandising as an experience to be had.  Deeply grounded in Tokyo’s DisneySea's themes of adventure and exploration, as well as classic Disney values of giving, friendship, the value of work/sacrifice, the power of magic and love; the new story firmly establish Duffy as a classic Disney character, and independent from his generic Disney Bear origins. 

At Epcot, you can meet Duffy at across from Plaza Towers East (looking at World Showcase Lagoon from Future World, it’s on the left) which is home to Duffy merchandise including outfits from each country in World Showcase.  But I have to say the sailor outfit is my favorite.  You can also find Duffy merchandise at Downtown Disney in Once Upon a Toy and of course, the World of Disney store. 

Submitted by Anthony Breath