Duffy the Disney Bear

So this cute little guy has been my latest obsession ^ω^: 

Okay, so that's the gist of it.  His name is Duffy the Disney Bear.  He's really popular- almost as popular in Mickey- at Tokyo Disneysea.  (Like I need even more cuteness drawing me there!)  Seriously though, from what I've read online, he seems to have a cult following, with a lot of attention.  He has really cute, well-made outfits, and area theming around him.  I think Disney hit the jackpot with this guy.  Not only is he cute, but he has an engaging story about him.

According to this website, this is Duffy's Story as it is told in the US:

Mickey's New Friend

Mickey is a sea captain, so naturally he spends a whole lot of time on the ocean. But sometimes he gets lonely being away from Minnie for so long.

Minnie has a seaside workshop where she makes all sorts of crafts. One day she had an idea. She decided to make Mickey a teddy bear to keep him company on his long voyages. As she sewed, she thought about the fun adventures that she and Mickey had together, and she filled the bear with happy memories and love.

When it was time for Mickey to set out on his next trip, Minnie came with him to the pier. She handed him a small duffel bag, and when he opened it, he discovered the adorable stuffed bear that Minnie had made him. Mickey was overjoyed. "This is the best going-away gift ever," Mickey exclaimed, and he gave Minnie a hug. "You can keep him in your duffel and take him with you wherever you go," she replied. "I will! And I will name him Duffy," Mickey decided.

The next day was a busy one. Mickey had a crew of new sailors to train and he hardly had a moment to rest. But after dinner, Mickey went down into his cabin and began to fell homesick. He missed Minnie, so he picked up Duffy and hugged him tight. As Mickey squeezed the little bear, a magical feeling came over him. All of a sudden, he felt the love that Minnie had sewed into Duffy, and he wasn't homesick anymore. He curled up in his bunk and fell asleep holding the bear close to his heart.

That night, Mickey had a dream. He dreamed that Duffy came alive and spoke to him. And this is what the little bear said: "Mickey, whenever you start to miss home, all you have to do is give me a hug and the love that Minnie put inside of me will chase away your sadness."

In the morning when Mickey woke up, he looked down at Duffy and smiled. To this day, Mickey still swears that the teddy bear smiled back at him and winked. After that, Mickey and Duffy were inseparable. Together they traveled all over the world and visited many new and excited places. And of course they made lots of friends along the way. They trekked through a jungle, rode a camel through the desert, and tried all different sorts of food (well Mickey did, anyway). Any everywhere they went, Mickey and Duffy took pictures. When Mickey got home, he told Minnie and his friends about all of his adventures with Duffy. He told them about the dream about Duffy coming to life. They showed them all the pictures he had taken and they knew Duffy was one special teddy bear.

It wasn't long before Mickey's friends began asking Minnie if they could have Duffys, too. They all wanted travel teddies who would make them feel loved and keep them company during their journeys. At first it was difficult for Minnie to keep up with all of her friends' requests. But she was a very smart mouse, and she quickly transformed her workshop into Duffy-making central. Once Minnie's friends had Duffys of their own, they set off on with their little stuffed sidekicks. Pretty soon they began sending Minnie pictures of themselves hugging Duffy from locations far and wide.

Now that you have your very own Duffy to travel with, you can hug him whenever you feel lonely and take pictures with him to send back to your friends. Where will you and Duffy go next?

<3<3

Here are some pictures from the storybook.  Aren't they beautiful?  I think it is a really nice touch that they appear hand-drawn.  Nowadays, things seem to be all done on a computer.  I'm sure this had the help of technology, but its luxuriousness could only come from the TLC that comes with doing by hand.

I think it's just plain brilliant.  Also, I think it's really interesting how the book shows you how to play with Duffy.  (And did anyone notice how Mickey's boat is called "S. B. Willie"?  As in "Steamboat Willie!"  Cute, Disney, I'm on to you!)  Here is the Japanese version (translated into English...don't you worry!)

My Duffy Story:

I had noticed Duffy on a trip to Epcot a couple years ago for the first time, but didn't really know who he was.  I assume this is around when he was being released in America, and hadn't caught on yet (although he still has a lot of catching on to do!), so I payed him little mind.  The next few times we all went to Disney World (my family and I go about twice a year), I noticed more and more Duffy merchandise.  Among my favorites is this precious ear hat:

The only thing Duffy I had bought was this cute pin featuring Duffy in his sailor suit.

But on my most recent trip to WDW in January (2012), I got suckered in to the phenomenon.  We were staying at the Polynesian Resort.  We always have to stay on the monorail, as per my little sister's insistence.  Anyway, after watching the programming that runs on loop advertising each park and everything else with that annoyingly peppy lady as per sister tradition, I flipped through the channels, looking for the bedtime story, another thing we like watching.  I know I'm 18, but there is a part of me that just plain will never grow up.  I embrace it, so why don't you?  Anyway, here (Duffy the Disney Bear Bedtime Story at Walt Disney World Resorts ...) the bedtime story (it's just a read-aloud version of the storybook).  My sister and I were hooked.  We watched the story on loop until we both fell asleep.  When I woke up, I knew I had to get my hands on one.

So, when we got to Epcot this time, I batted my eyelashes ever-so-sweetly at my mother, and in the sweetest voice I could muster, asked for one.  I was not anticipating the high price-tag though (RANT TIME: $30 for a teddy bear!  Albeit a magical teddy bear, but still.  Also, I noticed their little ploy to get you.  For $30 you can either buy a naked bear or a clothed bear.  You'd think "duh, clothed bear!" right?  Well actually, clothed bear is 12 inches.  He's smaller than the standard Duffy, and therefore you can't buy him clothes....Nice try Disney...RANT OVER ^^), and my mother wouldn't let me have a naked bear when there were clothes on sale, so we got him his little sailor suit too.  I'm not going to lie, I was super excited.  We stuffed the bear in my pocketbook so that my dad wouldn't see evidence of my mom spoiling me (he knows it happens, but he doesn't like to see it) and went on our way.  But knowing he was in there made me so happy.  I had so much fun dressing him that night and snuggling with him.  He is a very comfortable bear and is perfect for cuddling I must say.

When I got back home, I didn't really pay him much attention, after all I have a lot of stuffed animals to sleep with, and I get a very guilty conscience when some little critter gets neglected.  Still, I made sure to bring him to college as one of the select few with me.  I rediscovered him when my long-term boyfriend and I broke up.  It hurt too much to sleep with the Build-a-Bear Daniel we made together.  He sleeps on my side now, but probably will end up in a box or something when I bring him home.  All the other toys he got me, except for what my sister calls simply "[ex's name here] Bear," I plan on donating to charity.  I still care about my ex, so I won't throw him out, but he probably won't be coming back to school next year (I already have a replacement on its way though ;) No worries!).  I needed something big to sleep in my arms though.  Puddles, my little duck, and my small Piglet plush weren't fitting the bill, and so I grabbed for Duffy and rediscovered how very cuddly he is.

I understand this must sound crazy, but I love sleeping with Duffy, not only because of his cuteness and cuddliness, but also because of the dreams I have with him in my arms.  I usually never remember my dreams, but with Duffy I do, and they are really great, vivid dreams!  I don't know what's going on.  I like to think this is part of Duffy's magic.  Don't burst my bubble!

Since then, I've been online researching Duffy like crazy.  I'm obsessed!  I frequently haunt his facebook fan page.  I love all the cute little pictures people post (Although there is one very strange man who is probably illiterate and one snippy woman...but as long as they don't talk to me, we're good!).  It was here that I discovered Shellie May, but I'll save that for another post!

Here's one of my favorite pictures!:

Credit to: Samantha Chighvinadze

Duffy got photobombed!

Ps- Duffy and a lot of his merchandise is available online, but I think part of the fun of buying him (and any stuffed animal) is picking out the perfect one yourself. :)