Duffy now appearing on Epcot restaurant Kid's menus

[Bairstow]

He's not my favorite, but at least its a created character that has no movie tie-in.

Is he a character? Really? Being a character implies that he has a personality such that an audience could anticipate how he will react to a situation in the story he's in.

Duffy doesn't fit that definition. He's not a character. He's pure product.

Even the "backstory" they created for him, if you can call it that, has him just being a thing that Mickey owns.

You don't try to boost lagging sales by introducing a character no one knows with no ties to rides in the park and saying "buy this".

Yes you do. You totally do. They are.

 

[MaryJaneP]

I've never tried bear before. Why only for kids though? I bet its great with a bearnaise sauce....

HaHa! Gotta be the funniest post I've ever seen. Duffy on the menu...Simply great!

 

[sshindel]

I tend to think it's funny that the general consensus on the boards tends to want massive new E-Ticket rides, high quality upkeep of existing attractions, more highly themed areas, new lands / countries / parks introduced, etc. To do this, we all know, takes money.

Disney introduces a teddy bear that either:
1) kids will love and ask their parents to buy, causing money to come into Disney
2) reject completly, leading to the bear being pulled and forgotten, and nearly no cost (ditch existing supply, remove a meet and greet, print new paper kids menus).

I have the same reaction when people complain about the rumors of building new DVC resorts, when even the detractors seem to agree that they are major money makers for Disney.

Money makes the world go 'round. Disney tends to be good at making truckloads of money. They also seem to be dumping truckloads of money into their parks to improve our experiences (DCA / FLE / a new resort in China, etc...)

Kids buying a couple of bears will probably not get us a new E-ticket. Millions of kids buying bears, and clothes for the bears? Maybe a new E-Ticket Duffy extravaganza! "Journey into Eric Idle's Imagination with Duffy, the completly made up bear who killed Figment"

 

[Magenta Panther]

Buy the bear!

Obey!

Consume!

'Cause Duffy's one of those "bear necessities" we keep hearing about. :lol:

 

[MaryJaneP]

Perhaps the dislike has to do with such a blatant "in your face" attempt to create consumerism by fiat, inventing a here-to-fore non-existent "character" and "backstory" when so many other established characters (ie. Hercules, Pete the Dragon etc etc) are ignored. Want to raise money, maybe appealing to some of the reasons why people visit disney properties would work better than foisting Duffy on us. At least do some of the legwork needed to create demand for Duffy meet and greets (ie. movie, disney channel, etc). IMO

 

[thelookingglass]

Its fine that they're trying to increase profits and all (though you know darn well the extra revenue from Duffy will not go toward things we want them to do), but this is whole thing just makes me laugh. It seriously is like something straight out of a Simpsons episode, like MAF pointed out. It shows how easily people can be swayed into buying something.

 

[Bairstow]

 

[blm07]

Its fine that they're trying to increase profits and all (though you know darn well the extra revenue from Duffy will not go toward things we want them to do), but this is whole thing just makes me laugh. It seriously is like something straight out of a Simpsons episode, like MAF pointed out. It shows how easily people can be swayed into buying something.

Exactly what I was thinking! Where is it going to go? Maybe to build new shelves to hold Duffy dolls, maybe. Then again, maybe they are taking money away from a rehab of a ride to manufacture those shelves or meet and greets, or new menus, or new KidCot paper things... :lookaroun

 

[MarkTwain]

I've avoided commenting on what seems to be a rather heated issue, but I guess I'm giving in now. I had no problem with Disney introducing Duffy to the states, because I completely understand Duffy's popularity in Japan, and that merchandise is a huge money-maker for Disney in the American parks. Disney has a long history of introducing merchandise that are seemingly simple or overhyped, like with pins and vinylmation, and have had a tremendous amount of success with it. All hit merchandise has had to be introduced at some point. But Disney needs to understand that the American parks and their American audience is not Japan, to accept that the guests may not respond to completely unfamiliar merchandise and characters the way the Japanese might, and to in turn back off on the pushing if we don't. What they are doing instead is seeing how Duffy isn't flying off the shelves in the way they expected, and so are pushing him harder, cutting the uniqueness of offerings (masks in Kidcot, design of children's menus) and shoving him down people's throats until they accept him.

I guess my feeling is that merchandise needs to be reflective of what guests feel like buying, not forcing guests to buy what Disney wants them to. It's strange to me that there is a serious lack of merchandise for which there is actual and serious demand (eg, Phineas and Ferb), and yet Disney is trying so hard to push merchandise for which there is none. Why don't they just sell the stuff people want to buy?

 

[Jane Doe]

Reminds me of the Simpsons. "OMG It's Malibu Stacey and she's wearing a new hat!"

To me, it's more like Poochie.

 

[DisneyMusician2]

Is he a character? Really? Being a character implies that he has a personality such that an audience could anticipate how he will react to a situation in the story he's in.

Duffy doesn't fit that definition. He's not a character. He's pure product.

Even the "backstory" they created for him, if you can call it that, has him just being a thing that Mickey owns.



Yes you do. You totally do. They are.

Being a character implies he is a fictional construct created by the Walt Disney corporation. And I would be hard pressed to believe that Duffy is here because of bad merchandise sales. They see a population ready and willing to buy their other offerings, so they gave us another.

Just how it really looks to me.

 

[lebeau]

I guess my feeling is that merchandise needs to be reflective of what guests feel like buying, not forcing guests to buy what Disney wants them to. It's strange to me that there is a serious lack of merchandise for which there is actual and serious demand (eg, Phineas and Ferb), and yet Disney is trying so hard to push merchandise for which there is none. Why don't they just sell the stuff people want to buy?

This.

I don't begrudge Disney one cent. I want them to make money hand over fist (preferably on someone else's dime). I don't mind Disney trying to make a buck. But Duffy is just desperate.

The parks are full of people with hundreds if not thousands of interests. If you sell good merch based on any of the hundreds (or thousands) of Disney properties American audiences are already familiar with - who already have a built-in demand which is not being met - then you can make a hefty profit on park merch.

The problems with merch sales at Disney are many: the stuff is generic, it's the same thing at every store, it's the same stuff you can get for less at the Disney Store (or even Wal-Mart), plus people are already pinching pennies to get in the park and pay the inflated food prices they are looking to cut costs anywhere they can.

Duffy's like something I can buy in any mall. He's the Build-a-Bear Workshop of the Disney parks. The connection to Disney is thin and most Americans aren't going to be interested. They'd rather have merch themed to genuine Disney properties (or heaven forbid merch based on the parks themselves!)

It's not that I don't wants Disney to make a buck. I want them to do it better.

 

[Figment82]

What they are doing instead is seeing how Duffy isn't flying off the shelves in the way they expected, and so are pushing him harder, cutting the uniqueness of offerings (masks in Kidcot, design of children's menus) and shoving him down people's throats until they accept him.

Actually, from what I've seen and heard, Duffy has been selling better than expected and some items have already sold out or are in low quantities. The so-called "force feeding" of extra items like the Kidcot masks were always in the overall plan for familiarizing guests with Duffy and allowing them to have more interaction with him. It's not a last-ditch attempt, it's just a part of Duffy's launch that is slowly coming into play.

I'll admit I bought a Duffy for myself as well as my grandmother (who saw my NYC WOD Disney Bear and fell in love with him). I dressed mine up in a Build a Bear Christmas outfit and took him to Monday's MVMCP. I received lots of great comments from other people on how cute he looked. Yes, I realize it's just a merchandising ploy, but Duffy is not an evil item of darkness like so many of you make him out to be. I understand everyone has a different opinion of him, and not everyone will like him - but some people do and there's nothing wrong with that either. Shoot, I collect vinylmations too which I certainly know aren't everyone's cup of tea.

 

[ms7479a]

What they are doing instead is seeing how Duffy isn't flying off the shelves in the way they expected, and so are pushing him harder, cutting the uniqueness of offerings (masks in Kidcot, design of children's menus) and shoving him down people's throats until they accept him.

Actually, Duffy sales have exceeded expectations thus far and stores have already completely sold out of all the different international Duffy outfits.

Edit: Sorry, didn't mean to be repetitive, but I didn't see the post just above mine.

 

[Biff215]

We were in Epcot last week and decided to buy Duffy for our daughter (2). It's not because she asked for him or because of how he was marketed, but because he seemed like a pretty cool bear that appears to be made well. We then took her over to the Duffy M&G which she loved.

The menus and the KidCot "masks" also didn't bother us one bit. She enjoyed those as well which is always welcomed when trying to spend more time in WS with a toddler. I understand that Duffy isn't for everyone, but I just don't think it's necessary to be offended if you're not interested. I'm sure there's another product in one of the stores that will appeal to you!

 

[Biff215]

Actually, Duffy sales have exceeded expectations thus far and stores have already completely sold out of all the different international Duffy outfits.

Edit: Sorry, didn't mean to be repetitive, but I didn't see the post just above mine.

We were disappointed that we couldn't find outfits for Duffy other than the sailor and baseball-looking shirt. We instead decided to leave ours "naked" as we didn't care for those. I was thinking outfits based on the different countries would be a great idea, didn't realize they had sold out!

 

[Figment82]

We were disappointed that we couldn't find outfits for Duffy other than the sailor and baseball-looking shirt. We instead decided to leave ours "naked" as we didn't care for those. I was thinking outfits based on the different countries would be a great idea, didn't realize they had sold out!

Most Build a Bear outfits will fit the medium-sized Duffy perfectly. They also have a much bigger/more diverse selection and are constructed a little better. I worked at a BaB years ago so I accumulated a small wardrobe of random outfits.

 

[Biff215]

Most Build a Bear outfits will fit the medium-sized Duffy perfectly. They also have a much bigger/more diverse selection and are constructed a little better. I worked at a BaB years ago so I accumulated a small wardrobe of random outfits.

Thanks for the tip! Is the medium sized Duffy the one you typically find around WDW right now? I definitely saw smaller ones but didn't notice anything bigger this trip.

 

[Slowjack]

Originally Posted by Me
There was a time when souvenir sales were an ancillary benefit to the company of having a great set of theme parks. The souvenir shops were often even part of the show -- remember the magic shop, or the silversmith? Now we have all this nonsense like pins, and Duffy the Bear Who Must Be Bought, commodities presented for our consumption, and their appearance is touted as an attraction in itself, as though commercials were part of the show.

Well, excuse Disney for trying to profit from something...

I don't even know what you're trying to say in that bolded sentence.

I knew this wouldn't take long -- if you complain that Disney is being too crassly commercial or nakedly avaricious, suddenly that makes you a communist or something.

For the record, although why I have to say this I don't know, I'm perfectly cognizant that Disney is a business, with a goal of making money. As I am a Disney shareholder, I hope they are successful. So it's not a choice between being a company that desires profits and some sort of non-profit co-op. The choice is between different visions of how the company is going to be successful in the long run.

On the slight chance that you're actually curious about what I was actually saying in the boldface, here's the explanation. The theme parks seemed to be originally designed to provide an incredible "show" that people would rave about. Shops like the silversmith and the magic shop were not about maximizing sales, they were about maximizing show. Again, to be perfectly clear, Disney wasn't doing this for altruistic motives, but because they thought in the long run, providing better show would be the better business choice, if it convinced people to come back, and to get more of their neighbors to make the trip to Florida. Now the focus seems to be about extracting every last dollar from the guests during each trip. In the short term, this is more profitable. Whether it's more profitable in the long run is a matter of opinion.

Or here's a metaphor. There was a time in recent memory when the only "advertisements" you would see at a movie theater were four other films, or for popcorn at the concession stand. Now you get a long slate of ordinary commercials before a film. Undoubtedly, in the short term, this helped theater profits. But this coarsening of the theater experience may have contributed to the decline in film attendance. Whether adding commercials was a smart decision for theaters in the long run is debatable, but those who argue against commercials are not doing so because they begrudge theaters a profit.

 

[Figment82]

Thanks for the tip! Is the medium sized Duffy the one you typically find around WDW right now? I definitely saw smaller ones but didn't notice anything bigger this trip.

Yep, there are three sizes - a small one that comes pre-dressed ($15 I think), a medium "naked" one (the $25 one) and a jumbo "naked" one that I think was in the $60-range. The jumbo ones are pretty scarce as far as I've seen.