Duffy’s Return to Disneyland

International Disney Parks sensation Duffy has made a comeback at Disneyland for the theme park’s 70th anniversary celebration. The bear initially gained popularity at Tokyo Disney before expanding to other overseas parks, becoming a must-have collectible alongside his friends.

Reservations for the shop at Tokyo DisneySea, where the latest versions of the adorable stuffed animals are available, quickly sell out. A personal experience revealed just how much of a hot item Duffy’s new character, LinaBell, is. A friend in Japan was asked to pick up LinaBell for a child, but it turned out to be a challenging task.

Special Appearance at Disneyland Resort

Duffy and his friend ShellieMay are making a special debut during the Celebrate Happy Calvacade at the Disneyland Resort, where they’ll be kicking off the Disney character mini-parade. This marks their first appearance since Duffy’s brief meet and greet stint at Disney California Adventure in 2010, before his stateside popularity surged after becoming a viral success online.

Now celebrating 20 years as a character, Duffy is back with ShellieMay to take part in Disneyland’s anniversary. However, the parade will be the only capacity the characters will appear; Disney confirmed that they will not be participating in meet and greet opportunities. This is a disappointment for fans, as Duffy has previously made brief appearances as Santa Duffy at Walt Disney World’s Jollywood Nights.

Duffy’s Lore and Universe

Duffy’s backstory is based on the idea that he’s a stuffed teddy bear that Minnie Mouse gifted Mickey to take with him on his travels. ShellieMay was created by Minnie to give Duffy a companion. The bear has his own storylines with ShellieMay and the rest of the gang, which includes Gelatoni the painter cat, TippiBlue the messenger seagull, CookieAnn the baker dog, OluMel the beach life turtle, StellaLou the dancing rabbit, and most recently LinaBell the fox detective.

The characters are sentient, similar to those in Toy Story, with the magical bear and Mickey aware of each other’s existence. Duffy often goes on his own journeys, seeking help from his friends to make it back to Mickey.

Collectibility and Exclusivity

Disney fans who visit the Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan or the parks in China often bring back Duffy or one of his pals as a special souvenir. Some icons are exclusive to certain parks, making them highly prized by collectors. When Disney’s Hawaii resort Aulani debuted OluMel, it was a notable moment for the character, as Duffy has mostly been available outside of the U.S.

Merchandise and Availability

Naturally, the exclusivity of Duffy and friends has made them highly sought after by collectors, especially in the U.S. Some characters, like Olu the turtle, have made appearances in gift shops at Walt Disney World’s Polynesian Village Resort. The first drop of Duffy merchandise at the Storyland Boutique in the Downtown Disney District sold out quickly, with only a few items left in store.

Upcoming Celebrations

Disneyland’s 70th Celebrations kick off on Friday, and fans can expect to see Duffy and friends make appearances during the festivities. While the characters will not be available for meet and greets, their presence is sure to delight fans of all ages.

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