He has landed in Paris, Duffy the Bear. Duffy is traveling the world and has made his way into the Disneyland Paris parks shops. Disney is targeting young children, with this new “Disney” bear, making it hard to resist for parents to open their wallets or purses. He is a real sweet and ready to be taken home for cuddles and love. But you can’t just get the bear alone! He will need some things to wear.
The bear has several different outfits he can wear. All these outfits can be bought separately in the shop. There are already a nice assortment of different clothing assemblies to choose from, but guest can expect this range to grow over time. The range of clothing has several Disney related movie theme’s like Buzz and Cars, but also Pirates among others. There are also special sets that can be picket up. For example, during Christmas season the bear can be bought in a Christmas outfit.
The bear is getting a lot of attention in Disneyland Paris. He is represented all over the resort. You can find him in most stores in both parks, the Disney Village and the hotels. There seems to be one shop that has some extra love for the bear and it looks like it that this shop will be the central Duffy place. The small, but wonderful, Storybook Store at Main Street U.S.A is the place to be for new Duffy fans. You’ll see some extra decoration dedicated to the bear. It already starts outside the shop where guest can see a collection of big suitcases with stickers showing of all the places he has visited before he came to Paris.
To make sure visitor will follow the bears footprints, or should we say paw prints, stickers of his paws have been placed on the floor in front of the shop. Once guest have entered the shop they are greeted by an over sized Duffy. He is sitting behind the post office desk inside the shop. This desk used to be Tigger’s place, but it seems that Tigger is now (unfortunately) gone for good to make place for the new bear.
The bear comes with a nice back story to give it a reason of existence in the Disney world. With Mickey Mouse traveling around the world so much (he needs to be at many places to make many children happy), Minnie made him a special bear to take along. Minnie made the bear when Mickey set out sail on a long sea voyage. She made the bear so Mickey would never be lonely. Mickey loved the bear and named it Duffy. Once back home Mickey and Duffy shared their magical memories with Minnie.
If children want to know about these memories they can buy a Duffy book. The book will tell you about Duffy’s adventures. An ideal addition for Duffy fans to read before it’s “night, night” time.
Duffy was originally created and sold at the Once Upon a Toy Story at Walt Disney World but it was in Tokyo where he became popular. The bear started of as “the Disney Bear” but was named Duffy once he reached DisneySea Tokyo where he was promoted to such an extend that everybody had to had one in Tokyo. Duffy was re-introduced at Epcot at Walt Disney World in October 2010. Then he went to Hong Kong Disneyland, Popped up at Disney’s California Adventure and was finally introduced at Disneyland Paris in November 2011.
To make sure guest will get to know the new Disney character he will get greet and meet area’s and might be integrated in parades and special festivities like Christmas.
Ready to celebrate the arrival at 2012? Anywhere close to Disneyland Paris? Then … why not drop by? Both parks feature extended entertainment programs included with admission (even the popular Lucky Dance Party will be back at the Walt Disney Studios) capped by midnight fireworks!
Don’t want to go the parks? There is an alternative as well: the Disney Hotels (in addition to the New Year’s Eve dining options) have scheduled live entertainment in their bars, the Disney Village has entertainment as well … and then there is even a full scale fireworks extravaganza (without need for any ticket!) on Lake Disney complete with light show and projections on the Panoramagique balloon – Disney’s New Year choreographed to pop hits transforming the area around the lake into a giant open air disco. There have even been bars set up in front of each hotel. Just note that the event the lake is scheduled to start at 11:30 pm according to the official flyers.
