Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary Is Celebrating an Icon You Might Never Have Heard Of

International Disney Parks mavin Duffy has made a replication atDisneylandfor thetheme park ’s seventieth anniversary solemnisation . The bear accept off at Tokyo Disney before boom to the ease of the overseas parks , make it amust - have collectiblealongside his friends .

Reservations for the workshop at Tokyo DisneySea , where the latest versions of the adorable stuffed animals are uncommitted , speedily trade out . I recently require my friend who survive in Japan to pick up one of the unexampled characters , LinaBell , for my fry — and establish out the hard way just how much of a raging point it is .

However , Duffy and his champion ShellieMay are making a particular introduction during the Celebrate Happy Calvacade at the Disneyland Resort , where they ’ll be quetch off the Disney case mini - parade . io9 was there for their first appearing since Duffy ’s brief sports meeting and greet stint at Disney California Adventure back in 2010 — years before his stateside popularity picked up after he became a viral success online .

Duffy Bear Disneyland 70 Disney Experiences (1)

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Now celebrating 20 years as a character , he ’s back with ShellieMay to take part in Disneyland ’s day of remembrance . However , the parade will be the only capability the role will appear ; Disney confirmed to io9 that they will not be participating in meet and greet opportunities , which is a bummer ! Duffy has previously made abbreviated appearances as Santa Duffy at Walt Disney World ’s Jollywood Nights .

Duffy ’s traditional knowledge is ground around the theme that he ’s a stuffed teddy bear that Minnie Mouse present Mickey to take with him on his locomotion . ShellieMay was the bear Minnie made in kind to give Duffy a associate . Yes , sort of like the Bride of Frankenstein , but make it cutesy and magical . But what ’s unique is that there ’s a whole universe of risky venture for Duffy and his acquaintance . The bear has his own storylines with ShellieMay and the ease of the gang , which includes Gelatoni the painter cat , TippiBlue the messenger gull , CookieAnn the baker dog , OluMel the beach life turtle , StellaLou the saltation rabbit , and most recently LinaBell the George Fox investigator .

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They ’re sentient in aToy Storyway , it seems , with the witching bear and Mickey knowing that the other is in fact mindful of its world . Duffy goes off on his own journeys often and draws on the supporter of his friends along the way to make it home to Mickey .

Walt Disney fans who inflict 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 sealed park . When Disney ’s Hawaii resort Aulani debut OluMel , it was a celebrated moment for the character , since Duffy has only mostly been usable outside of the U.S.

Naturally , that ’s only made Duffy and friends more highly prise by collector , especially stateside . Olu the turtle has been sleep with to make gift workshop appearances in at Walt Disney World ’s Polynesian Village Resort . I got lucky when a loved one pull off to surprise me with CookieAnn from Mickey ’s of Glendale , Disney ’s Imagineering campus store , shortly after she debut . And some fast - acting fans were able to apprehend Duffy point trade at the D23 Expo in 2022 .

Dummy

Duffy merchandise will appear at the Storyland Boutique at the Downtown Disney District for Disneyland ’s 70th . As of issue the second Duffy and friends drop has yet to reach shelf . The first drop , belike to try the waters stateside , sell out for the most part with only a few item left in computer memory when we checked . I ’m determined to get my daughter a LinaBell and desire she arrive at an appearance on this coast soon .

Disneyland ’s 70th Celebrations kick back off Friday .

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