I was researching the food and wine festival in October, smelling the intoxicating scents of garlic and lamb and listening to the beautiful orchestra of World Showcase music when something felt strange.
I had entered Epcot through the International Gateway and walked past the gift shop on the left after you move through the turnstiles and in my rush to get to Spain for the cheese and meat plate; I did not process what I had seen in the window of the shop until I had finished sampling the ham and cheese spetzle in Germany.
Where was Mickey and who is this Bear that is EVERYWHERE????? Instead of seeing Mickey piled up neatly on a cart, I saw Duffy the Bears piled up, not one Mickey in site. Suddenly, it registered that I had seen Duffy and not Mickey in all the windows in the store as well in the International gateway.
Duffy is an adorable and cuddly classic style Brown teddy bear. He has a cream colored hidden Mickey as the shape of his face. He has a cute black nose and inviting brown eyes. Perhaps his most endearing quality is that he has several hidden mickey's on his body. The large one in his face, a brown one on his bottom left side above his pom pom tail and a mickey on each cream colored paw. His fur is soft and he is made for snuggling. He comes in his bare bear birthday suit, but you do have the option of buying him clothes to wear. They feature a sailor outfit for him complete with a sailing cap. This reminded me of the chain Build a Bear and I can only imagine that a larger variety of Duffy outfits from each country he has visited with Mickey are in production right now waiting for release.
Attached to Duffy is a small book label that tell the story of Duffy. "One Day Mickey was getting ready to set sail on a long sea voyage. Minnie Made Mickey a special teddy bear to take with him so he would never be lonely. Mickey loved the bear and named him Duffy. Mickey and Duffy sailed around the world. They visited all sorts of exciting places and made lots friends along the way. Mickey and Duffy took pictures with their new pals and made memories that would last a lifetime. at the end of their voyage, Mickey and Duffy sailed back home to share all their magical journeys with Minnie."
Side Note: The travel agent in me sees this story as a fantastic plug for Adventures by Disney, Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney World Parks around the World.
After sampling delicious sesame noodles with shrimp in China, I walked to the Kid Cot stop. I had promised Hook, Tink, Cinder and Beast I would bring them home masks to color with a few charms.
Wait, What did I see? No more masks! No more charms! They have been replaced by a Duffy on a stick. I asked the cast member if the masks were coming back and he told me no, Duffy had replaced the masks and charms about a week ago. I am disappointed about this change, I loved the masks and the creativity they sparked. The Duffy on a stick while cute, is essentially a coloring page on a stick rather than a blank canvas. I will miss the masks.
Duffy the bear is greeting guests in a new meet and greet area located between the Mexico Pavilion and the entrance to the walkway to Future World. There was a long line backed up behind him. Duffy is going to be a popular addition to the Disney family.
Disney marketing genius is of course in action, after greeting Duffy you can not only color a Duffy on a stick, but find hundreds of Duffy's spread all throughout Epcot ready to purchase, dress and cuddle.
The Duffy Bear Invasion Phase One is complete, I am guessing Phase two will include many more outfits and a Duffette to keep Duffy company. We shall see.
Do we have a Duffy? Of course we do! He is sitting next to me and he approves this message!
