What was Duffy the Disney Bear originally called when introduced by Disney in 2002?

Duffy the Disney Bear was originally called The Disney Bear when introduced in 2002.

The character began as a teddy bear sold at Walt Disney World’s Once Upon a Toy store. Disney later developed a backstory in which Mickey Mouse received the bear from Minnie before a voyage, with a Mickey-shaped face appearing on the bear’s paw.

The character was renamed Duffy in 2005 when the bear was introduced at Tokyo DisneySea. That rebranding helped establish Duffy as a character with his own identity rather than simply a Mickey-themed plush toy.

Duffy became especially popular in Asian Disney markets, where themed costumes, accessories, and companion characters expanded the merchandise line. The original name is easy to miss because modern products and park references overwhelmingly use “Duffy the Disney Bear.”