Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot at Walt Disney World

Duffy the Bear was introduced to Epcot at an Annual Passholders Event held September 18, 2010.

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

While Duffy is mostly unknown in the US Disney Theme Parks, he is VERY well known and extremely popular at Tokyo Disneyland (Jack Spence’s Blog on Duffy!) Although I did meet a woman who drove 3.5 hours this morning to see Duffy and she had a large size Duffy with her!

Duffy the Bear in Tokyo Disneyland

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If you are wondering just who Duffy the Bear is……. there are storyboards in the queue line and in the store to help enlighten you!

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

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Today, Duffy made his official debut in Epcot! In true Disney fashion, he received an Official Welcome with a short opening ceremony, followed by a ribbon cutting.

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

Today, Duffy was making 2 appearances: 12:20pm – 2:30pm and 3:45pm – 7:00pm. Be sure to check the times guide, or at Guest Relations to confirm the time Duffy will appear during your visit.

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

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The ceremony was to begin at noon and a good size crowd was already waiting when I arrived about 11:15am. Several folks in the crowd were Japanese Cast Members who work in Epcot.

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

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A few Cast Members were handing out Duffy cutouts which are now part of the Epcot Kidcot Fun Spots!

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

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Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

Vanessa Rosas – WDW Ambassador, began the festivities! She welcomed everyone and then introduced Liz Boice, Senior Vice President of Merchandise Development.

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Soon Epcot Vice President Dan Cockerell joined Liz on the stage.

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

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Duffy and Mickey made a grand entrance being brought over by a Friendship Boat in the lagoon. Oh, and Duffy has his very own song too!

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

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Time for the official ribbon cutting of Duffy’s Epcot Home.

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

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Duffy led us to his Meet and Greet location, but before greeting guests, he posed for photos with Dan.

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

Long before I arrived after 11am, a line of guests waiting patiently to meet Duffy had already formed.

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

Duffy is ready to meet his Guests!

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

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This fan’s excitement was echoed by most folks who came to see Duffy. In fact, there were quite a few adults in line without children.

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

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Soon it was time for Duffy’s first break of the day and his hostess escorted him back stage.

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

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These ladies were very excited about their US encounter with Duffy the Bear!

Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot

And lest you wonder about Duffy Merchandise….. there is plenty! From a closet full of costumes, to key chains, to Duffy in various sizes and more. In fact, all the “World Showcase” costumes for Duffy were sold out today. More are expected soon! And, there will be plenty of holiday merchandise for Duffy too!!!

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17 Replies to “Duffy the Bear Debuts in Epcot at Walt Disney World”

  1. We just returned form a visit to Walt Disney World, and Duffy is all over the place. I didn’t know about it’s history in Japan, so to me it seemed like a bear for no reason.

    My 9 year old daughter took issue with Duffy, as she has been coloring and collecting the Epcot masks for years, and felt cheated that Duffy on a stick is the new Epcot World Showcase item for getting passport stamps. This also means no more cutout tags for each country. I hope this is just a short-lived marketing ploy, and that the masks will return some day…

  2. I am really disappointed. I used to buy the “Mickey’s first bear: for all the newborns I knew and I also purchased the book with the story about Mickey and his bear in the Magic Kingdom. It was so cute but I don’t think Duffy is like that bear at all. I wish they would also sell the other bear again.

  3. My daughter (6 yo) was given a Duffy placemat at the Rose and Crown on our first night in the World, and she (and I) went crazy looking for him for the next several days. None of the CMs seemed to know for sure what the deal was, and most hadn’t ever heard of Duffy. (I had read Jack Spence’s excellent piece so I had an idea….) From what I gathered, he had been in some of the larger stores (the giant one in Downtown Disney, for example) but hadn’t been called Duffy. He was taken off the shelves apparently in anticipation of his big US debut, which was about a week or so after we went home.
    My daughter is convinced that Santa will bring a Duffy for Christmas so hopefully I can find one on the web….

  4. Please let us know if additional clothes and items are going to be available. My twin girls love his story and would love more outfits to change him into.

    They are so excited that he is there.

    AllEars: Clothes are available currently $15 per costume.

  5. When I was looking at the pictures, I had also been thinking about the fact that the bear looked like the teddy bears I had also gotten at Disney in 2004. Maybe that had been a way to see how the bear would go over? I have a tan one and a white one.

  6. Yes, I thought he was the Disney bear, too. I bought that for my nephew four years ago along w/ the book about him. Maybe we just never knew his name was Duffy. 🙂

  7. I was at WDW in June and in the Emporium I saw a display of bears. My thought was they are bringing the Disney bear back. I guess what I saw was Duffy.

  8. Charlie Z…the first time i saw Duffy i thought the same thing!

    Either way, he’s SUPER CUTE <3

    Definitely going to wait in line to see him tehe.

  9. What a cute bear! love Mickey’s sailor costume too 🙂

    I think it’s a nice addition to World Showcase – just like the Kim Possible attraction, it might make this part of WDW more interesting to children (with Duffy being incorporated into the Kid Cot stations)

  10. I’m so excited to see Duffy bear at Epcot! I’ve wanted one ever since I saw mention of him in Jack’s Tokyo blog. As it turns out, a dear friend was at the Passholder event and sent me my very first Duffy. He’s more special than ever now. Pictures just don’t capture how heavenly soft and super-cuddly he is. Love him!

    The backpack prop at the meet-n-greet spot keeps catching my eye. I really hope they make Duffy backpacks like this. I’d love to get my hands on some of that Duffy ribbon that was used for the ribbon-cutting, too.

  11. I’m wondering the same thing as Charlie Z. I have a magnet of the Disney Bear from about six years ago…and the backstory is almost identical. He just didn’t have a name back then. He’s cute…but sorry, I don’t think he’s all that neccesary and just another way to continue the constant dumbing-down of Epcot.

  12. Saw him at the passholder event. We can’t wait to see him on the 20th when our grandkids come down. Looks like a really long line though 🙁

  13. Ummm… Looks great, but isn’t this just a relaunch of Disney Bear (aka D-Bear) who has been around for severak years? My daughter has four… An original, a baby bear, a first visit bear and a pirate bear.