Originally Posted By Famouse I am such a novice compared to you all. I thought this thread was about Duffy the singer coming to DCA. First time I have heard about Duffy the bear. Sorry if I missed it here, but what was the exact origin of Mickey's bear?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>Does Minnie have a stuffed animal they can market over there?<< Yep! They just introduced Shellie Mae, which is basically just Duffy with a bow on her head (similar to how Minnie is basically just Mickey with a bow on her head). I believe she is a part of the show that replaced Donald's Boat Builders, and she was a part of the big merchandise push that started this spring (including the launch of a new popcorn flavor). Here's a picture of her sitting under an umbrella while waiting for a show, much like the rabid TDR fans. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldpatterns/4800932718/in/photostream/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/o...ostream/</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>Sorry if I missed it here, but what was the exact origin of Mickey's bear?<< I found this online, and it looks like a transcript of the offical duffy picture book that explains where he came from. It does a nice little job of telling you why you should care enough to buy one, but if you bought the book, you probably already have a bear, so I don't get it. There's an abbreviated version of this story (basically through Mickey waking up from the dream) that was included on the tag of the Disney Bear that I saw for sale in DL a couple years ago. "One day, as Mickey was about to set sail for one of his long adventures, Minnie thought he should have a special keepsake to remind him how much he was loved while he was out at sea. Mickey is Minnie's favorite mouse, so she gave him a teddy bear she had hand-made with her whole heart. Minnie wrote a rosy "Bon Voyage!" message and carefully dropped it into a small glass bottle. She gently tied the little bottle round the bear's petite neck, capped it with a cork and sealed it with a kiss for luck. Voila! Minnie presented the bear to Mickey at the pier by the old lighthouse on a blustery day. Mickey smiled brightly, and placed the teddy lovingly into his duffel bag. "I'll call you Duffy!" And the two were off to begin a wonder-full journey. One night out at sea, Mickey was dog-tired from navigating all day. He decided to go to bed early and fell fast asleep. Duffy appeared in Mickey's dream, wearing a sailor's uniform and smiling. The happy little bear opened Minnie's message in the bottle and showed it to Mickey: "DEAR MICKEY, THIS BEAR IS MEANT TO BRING YOU LOTS OF HAPPINESS AND LUCK. LOVE, Minnie" Mickey smiled in his sleep, and awoke feeling totally reenergized and cheerful. Mysteriously, upon waking, Mickey found Minnie's message in his own hand! But he was sure that it had been in the bottle and sealed tight when he fell asleep! Not only that, but somehow Duffy had got dressed and was wearing the very same sailor's uniform from the dream! When Mickey returned home from his voyage, he told Minnie and his friends about his surprising and inspiriting dream come true. They all agreed, but Goofy said it best: "Gawrsh, that Duffy sure is one special teddy bear!" Everyone wanted one of Minnie's special Duffy bears. So she did her best to make them, one by one, for all of her friends. The waiting list was so long; Duffy was just too popular! There were too many orders, and Minnie couldn't keep up. So her friends said, "We'll help, Minnie!" And they all worked together, Minnie and all of her friends, making the lovely teddy bears. Each one charmed with a message in a bottle from the heart – we can't forget that! A lot of people love Duffy now… From children to princesses, to adventurers and explorers like Mickey. Everyone feels happier when Duffy's around! People especially love taking photos with Duffy. They say when anyone sees these pictures, the smiles in the portrait overflow to the viewer! When snapping photographs of cherished memories, you always find your warmest, brightest smile when you're with the bear of happiness and luck! There's even a rumor that sometimes you can find Duffy by himself, strolling along the pier in his sailor uniform, perhaps returning from his own adventures… But how can this be?! He's just a teddy bear, right? Nobody understands it, but you should try to meet him yourself! Can you think of a new adventure for you and Duffy? Then you'll be saying, too, "That Duffy sure is one special teddy bear!"" Other than that, I'm not sure where Duffy actually came from (in a real world/corporate sense), but he was created specifically for TDS. All the pictures in the book are drawn to look like the Cape Cod area of the American Waterfront. I think some of the locations are fictional (like the inside of Mickey and Minnie's homes), but the exterior images all have real park buildings in the background.
Originally Posted By leemac <<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.>> You big softie, FA!
Originally Posted By leemac <<I hate that bear. I hate his face and I want to cut him.>> Priceless. Truly priceless. I had the opportunity once to push Duffy into the water at TDS. I can't even begin to tell you the restraint that it took to hold back. He makes me feel like committing random acts of violence.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney ^^As well any sane human Lee! Just looking at Duffy's adorable little face makes me want to beat it in. How is this bear worth almost as much money as Oprah now?
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle >>(similar to how Minnie is basically just Mickey with a bow on her head)<< Ferret! Show some respect to Minnie. She has EYELASHES, too.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Duffy can suck it!<< I hope that somehow, someway, when it is my time to shed this mortal coil, I will be able to muster the presence of mind so that these can be the very last words I say. That's even more epic than "Rosebud" and will have people guessing for decades.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "underscores why OLC is so willing to invest money in TDLR what with the audience seemingly willing to buy anything they crank out." Are you kidding me? The kings of lapping up the crap Disney puts out are in Anaheim and Florida. Pirates, princesses, pixar and pixies rule the day here. What hypocrisy. The fact that there is a TDS in Tokyo underscores how committed the OLC is to wondrous themed experiences, and are willing to lay out the cash for it. At DCA 2.0 you'll be able to hear Part of Your World three times during your visit. On the ride, in the animation building and during World of Color. That's the kind of creativity and innovation offered by our World Class Theme Park Professionals!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros "Show some respect to Minnie...She has EYELASHES, too." Looking at the picture of Sallie Mae, so does she. I guess they really are the same thing! Though Sallie Mae is missing the skirt and sensible heels. : /
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Dang, I thought Duffy - the band - was performing there. (Never heard of the bear. I failed this test. ;-)
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Don't feel bad, wondering alice. I was thinking it was Patrick Duffy, perhaps appearing as "Man from Atlantis" during a very special performance of World of Color.
Originally Posted By u k fan ^^^Surely he'd be getting out of the shower? I haven't heard this much vitriol against a Teddy since... ever!!!
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <"underscores why OLC is so willing to invest money in TDLR what with the audience seemingly willing to buy anything they crank out."> No kidding. What amazed me was how many adults without kids were in that line. Holy moly. Different culture, I guess.
Originally Posted By believe Can you imagine all the Japanese girls a guy holding a Duffy bear can pick up!? I'm buying one!. Cheaper then a puppy - without the maintenance.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Are you kidding me? The kings of lapping up the crap Disney puts out are in Anaheim and Florida. Pirates, princesses, pixar and pixies rule the day here. What hypocrisy." Those are legitimate, although overdone, franchises popular with kids and adults the world over. This bear craze thing at TDLR is inexplicable. I mean c'mon, seating your stuffed bear at a table and ordering it food?? Get real.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>I mean c'mon, seating your stuffed bear at a table and ordering it food?<< So then the bear sez, "I can't eat a thing. I'm stuffed." /rimshot/
Originally Posted By WorldDisney <<I hope that somehow, someway, when it is my time to shed this mortal coil, I will be able to muster the presence of mind so that these can be the very last words I say. That's even more epic than "Rosebud" and will have people guessing for decades.>> LOL!!
