The Dorkiest Disney Mind Meld Ever

The Disney Chicklette and I recently spent an afternoon at the Mystic Aquarium (definitely worth a visit if you're in the area), when this happened:

Scene: Exhibit on how civilizations throughout history have depended on the ocean for survival. We stop by a wall of hieroglyphics.

The Disney Chicklette: It's like being in Spaceship Earth.

(In unison): Thank the Phoenicians!

---
Related Links:
* Overheard in Walt Disney World
* The Five People You Meet in Line at WDW
* 10 Signs You Are a Disney Dork

See African Cats, Save the Savanna!

Those of you who've met me in person or follow me on Twitter know that wildlife conservation and environmental issues are a passion of mine. For serious - I watch nature docs in my spare time and I'm pretty sure that I'm going to marry Jeff Corwin one day. And so it's with great pleasure that I report that Disneynature is collaborating with the African Wildlife Foundation on a program to celebrate the release of the new Disneynature feature film African Cats. During the film’s opening week (April 22-28), a portion of the proceeds from that week’s ticket sales will be donated to the organization through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund to ensure the future of lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, giraffes and other African wildlife.

Plus, the movie looks absolutely lovely:



Baby cheetahs? So cute. African Cats is the third feature from Disneynature, following Earth and Oceans, both of which were stunning on the big screen. (I cried during Earth. I'm not ashamed of it.)

As many of you know, Walt Disney was deeply passionate about wildlife documentaries and made several of them in the 1950's - and I think he'd be proud of this partnership. And I hope you'll join me in heading to the movie theatre on Earth Day to see (what I assume will be) a great movie, for a great cause.

---
Related Links:
* Thoughts on the SeaWorld Tragedy
* Stupid Judy, Stupid Energy
* How Green is My Disney?

Win a Trip to the Prom Premiere!

Confession: I love teen movies. This does not mean I think all teen movies are good, or that today's teen movies aren't problematic in the messages they send to girls, but as a genre ... I love them. And so, I'm looking forward to Prom, Disney's attempt to fill the void left in my heart because of the end of the High School Musical trilogy. And now you can win a chance to attend the premiere and meet the stars!

One winner and three friends will get a trip to Los Angeles to attend the Hollywood premiere of Disney’s Prom. The winner will also receive a $500 Macy’s gift card to get red carpet ready, and a chance to meet one of the stars of the movie. Second and third prize winners receive Macy's gift cards and Prom soundtracks. To enter, upload a video showing or telling the most creative way to ask someone to prom.

The contest is open to kids, teens, and their parents. To get all the details and enter the contest visit the official site.

---
Related Links:
* Sorcerer's Apprentice: A Post-Mortem
* Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Plot Makes Me Eat My Words
* Thoughts on the Fantasyland Expansion

The War on Duffy

You may have seen him, lurking in the gift shop. Taking over racks that could be used for actual Disney merchandise. His face now adorns pins, clothing, and stuffed versions of his likeness that are peddled at Disney Parks all over the world. His name is Duffy, and he’s here to stay.

I loathe him. And I don’t know what it is that inspires so much bitter hatred in me. He just … sucks.

The funny thing is, I like cute. I’ve been known to squee like a Beiberphile over baby animals. I’m all about cute, and I love fluffy things. So why do I want to punch Duffy in the face?

Maybe it’s because he looks exactly like a Build-a-Bear and those Frankenplushes creep me out. Maybe it’s because he’s not a real character. Or maybe it’s because @DisneyParks keeps tweeting about the newest damn Duffy pin. Seriously, there are more pins of Duffy than there are of some actual Disney characters. Maybe it’s because his genesis is so thoroughly transparent, just a blatant ploy for Disney to make some easy money by inventing a persona and slapping it on some merchandise. How cute! A teddy bear! Maybe it’s because two things come to mind when I hear the word “Duffy” – this and this. Maybe it’s because, since his only purpose is to be marketable, Duffy has no other emotions except for happy, smiley, sunshiney, good ol’ Duffy. Just smiling …. all the time….until he kills you.

Also, why does Mickey need a bear in the first place? He has a girlfriend! Did something happen with Minnie that we don’t know about? Or is Duffy just a homewrecker? Does this mean Duffy is actually the spirit of Yoko Ono cartoonified? Important questions, all.

And so, I needed confirmation. I needed to make sure that mine was not the only blood boiling whenever Disney Parks posts about some made-up thing Duffy just did. I did the only rational thing left to do … I turned to Twitter. I asked my tweeps to share their feelings on Duffy, and y’all didn’t hold back:

Duffy is your soft & cuddly old fashioned Teddy Bear with a Disney twist! :) I absolutely love him. - @DisneyPrncsBlog

What's a Duffy? - @danielwanderman

A killer cyborg from the future, sent back in time in cute, cuddly bear form to earn our trust and love before he takes over and prepares us for our new robot overlords. - @jeffheimbuch

J/K I love Duffy - @danielwanderman (Traitor!) 

Duffy the bear is not as likable or as much fun as the Duff beer man on the Simpsons. In fact I do not think Duffy has any redeeming qualities. - Bob, a Facebook fan.

Heartless, profit driven, annoying, contrived. - @EPCOTExplorer

A bear with a little brain of fluff and a ravenous appetite for park guest's hugs... and money. - @EPCOTPluto

Duffy: The hugs are not free... He takes your soul as a down payment. - @DisneyEcho

Telling people Minnie made Duffy for Mickey doesn't change the fact that he looks like a Build-a-Bear in a sailor's outfit. - @bonjourmelissa

A Disney-fied Vermont Teddy Bear created by marketing execs who only care about selling dolls and little outfits. - @TheGeekTicket

Duffy: Keeping more children out of World Showcase then Edutainment since 2010. - @EPCOTNRG

The Internet has spoken. Your move, bear.
---
Related Links:
* 10 Signs You Are a Disney Dork
* What Does It Mean to Be a Disney Fan?
* In Defense of the Living Seas