Originally Posted By FerretAfros "Maybe they could have a walk around at Christmas time..." I really hope that they don't use him on the lead float of the Christmas parade in DL. That big fluffy random teddy bear is one of my favorite parts of the parade, just because he's so big and fluffy. Duffy isn't nearly as fluffy (he's more nappy), an no bigger than any other character. The bear flailing his arms around is one of the most iconic parts of that parade, right up there with the toy soldiers and the roller skating snow flakes, IMO. "Does the Disney Bear sold at WDW say Duffy on its tag?" I can't speak for the exact piece of merchandise seen at WDW, but I do believe that Duffy's official name is "Duffy the Disney Bear". Now, he may just be Duffy, but it sounds to me like they're the same thing. "Now why on Earth would I be reading the Tokyo DL section when there were all those ravishing reviews right here on the DLR boards?" Because they're so much more ravishing over there! In all seriousness, even though it's a pretty empty section, the conversations over there are always among the best on the boards. I don't always comment, but I always learn a lot of new information (including a lot about the US parks) when I'm over there.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Funny how all those ravishing TDLR reviewers never mentioned anything about the Japanese obsession with this random character. >>> We bring up ravishing bits about TDR in the other sections when it's relevant to do so. For example, when someone makes the claim that by the late 90's, WDI was no longer capable of designing immersive and captivating experiences and that's why DCA turned out the way it is, someone is going to bring TDS (which opened the same year as DCA) into the conversation to disprove that notion. But until now, there's been no reason to mention Duffy. Now that it's relevant to DLR, Duffy gets brought into the conversation. See how it works, Hans? TDR is mentioned in other sections when it's relevant and topical to do so, not just for it's own sake.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< "Does the Disney Bear sold at WDW say Duffy on its tag?" I can't speak for the exact piece of merchandise seen at WDW, but I do believe that Duffy's official name is "Duffy the Disney Bear". Now, he may just be Duffy, but it sounds to me like they're the same thing. >>> It says "Duffy the Disney Bear" on the tags at TDS. Someone know know for sure please post, but I think that at WDW, it's just "The Disney Bear" and that he doesn't have an official name, even though it's essentially the same design.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "See how it works, Hans? TDR is mentioned in other sections when it's relevant and topical to do so, not just for it's own sake." Over the years we've been told by posters here that TDLR is perfect in every way and that DLR, especially DCA, was inferior. In all that time there was no mention of this stupid Duffy character. Seriously, seeing that video was a big surprise, and underscores why OLC is so willing to invest money in TDLR what with the audience seemingly willing to buy anything they crank out. Were there even any young children in that line? The sales from the merchandise alone is probably what paid for all those fabulous rides at TDS. LOL.
Originally Posted By crazycroc I think they should make a soft plush Disney toilet, sell it in Japan as "Mickey's Bidet" and redo Paradise Pier a third time with the proceeds. Does Minnie have a stuffed animal they can market over there? I thought I was a sucker.
Originally Posted By SuperDry IMHO, there's just no way that Duffy will take off at DCA like it has at TDS - not even 10% as much mania. Although Duffy does appear in the parks personally at TDS, and he now has a indoor stage show that runs continuously throughout the day with Mickey at a counter service restaurant, the main thing with Duffy is the merchandise. The amount that they must sell at that one Duffy shop, well, I can't even imagine what the numbers are. The main thing about Duffy is that not only do guests buy him in vast quantities (and now his female friend Shellie Mae), and also lots of different outfits for him which vary widely and change seasonally, but they bring their Duffies with them to the park in a personified fashion. Anyone visiting TDS on any particular day would notice literally hundreds of guests carrying Duffy with them in this manner (which means there are probably thousands such guests in the park on any given day). Here are some examples: <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2747/4233501094_d9d8a9708b.jpg" target="_blank">http://farm3.static.flickr.com...708b.jpg</a> <a href="http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence" target="_blank">http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence</a> /Duffy%20Bear%2007.jpg <a href="http://tinyurl.com/2g7ll9e" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/2g7ll9e</a> <a href="http://img.pics.livedoor.com/011/3/1/31581c6048dc6c827319-L.jpg" target="_blank">http://img.pics.livedoor.com/0...19-L.jpg</a> <a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:frGWWpUG4SqdxM:http://blog-imgs-32-origin.fc2.com/n/a/n/nananbo/disneysea-duffy.jpg&t=1" target="_blank">http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q....jpg&t=1</a> <a href="http://tinyurl.com/29mf45y" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/29mf45y</a> As the last picture shows, it's not uncommon to see Duffy being given his own seat in a restaurant with a group of guests, and even have food ordered for him. I just don't see this sort of thing ever taking off at DCA, or any US park for that matter.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney <<Over the years we've been told by posters here that TDLR is perfect in every way and that DLR, especially DCA, was inferior. In all that time there was no mention of this stupid Duffy character.>> Well to be fair Hans, we werent hiding it lol. I spend 5 mins in the TDR section and there are a few threads about Duffy and all that hate that comes with it . I dont even bring it up or ever write about it because its so utterly ridiculous to me, I just block it out of my head. But seeing as Duffy plans to take on a world invasion like Al Queada, its going to be harder to ignore if its no longer isolated to Japan. If I could drown Duffy in Medditerean Harbor, I would! I'm from Compton, I can do the jail time . <<The sales from the merchandise alone is probably what paid for all those fabulous rides at TDS. LOL.>> LOL, yeah!
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance "...it's not uncommon to see Duffy being given his own seat in a restaurant with a group of guests, and even have food ordered for him." Hans, don't you do this with your stuffed Mickey?
Originally Posted By SuperDry As I already said, I think our shores are safe - IMHO there's almost no risk of Duffy-mania getting a foothold in DCA or any other US park. <<< Over the years we've been told by posters here that TDLR is perfect in every way and that DLR, especially DCA, was inferior. In all that time there was no mention of this stupid Duffy character. >>> Duffy is a relatively new phenomenon at TDS - he's what, only been there for two years now? He doesn't really have anything to do with the core design or success of the park.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney <<Hans, don't you do this with your stuffed Mickey?>> It's best for community standards reasons we don't hear what Hans does with his stuffed Mickey.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Come to think of it, I happen to be walking down the middle of main street the other day, took a gander over to the Coke Corner, and caught a glimpse of World Disney seated at a table, surrounded by the seven stuffed dwarfs each in his own chair with a coke in front of him.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance <<Hans, don't you do this with your stuffed Mickey?>> It's best for community standards reasons we don't hear what Hans does with his stuffed Mickey. LOL yeah, dinner for Mickey is probably just the start of a beautiful, magical evening. LOL!
Originally Posted By WorldDisney Oh and SuperDry, I DO remember a certain someone showing off his own little Duffy bear to me at DCA two months back . I didnt want to bring it up at the time because we were having such fun, but I basically lost all respect for you since after brought out that bear. Just sayin'. But you were VERY drunk though. ;D
Originally Posted By SuperDry Although they never really got the Disney Bear to take off at WDW, I'm sure that in addition to a certain amount of jealousy about Duffy at TDS (in the line of "Why can't we ever get manias like that going in OUR parks?"), Disney is probably not terribly unhappy about the 5% merchandise royalty they get off the top for all things Duffy sold at TDS.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney <<Come to think of it, I happen to be walking down the middle of main street the other day, took a gander over to the Coke Corner, and caught a glimpse of World Disney seated at a table, surrounded by the seven stuffed dwarfs each in his own chair with a coke in front of him.>> LOL, unfortunately they were confiscated by security when parents around me thought I was sneaking them beer.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney <<Disney is probably not terribly unhappy about the 5% merchandise royalty they get off the top for all things Duffy sold at TDS.>> How do you think they are paying for Carsland? ;D
