I was recently in a team meeting discussing St. Patrick’s Day traditions. One of my team members (who shall remain nameless) broke into song, carrying a great traditional Irish tune for about a minute. I began thinking about the traditions I associate with St. Patrick’s Day. Immediately, the thought of wearing green flashed in my head. It seems like throughout the entire month of March I see green, especially between St. Patrick’s Day and the great thaw that symbolizes the coming of Spring. With visions of green dancing in my head, I set out to find some St. Patrick’s Day merchandise perfect for March 17.
My first stop – Duffy the Disney Bear who is dressed in his finest green for St. Patrick’s Day. This pre-dressed Duffy continues the series of holidays-themed bears (the most recent being Valentine’s Day). I asked Monty Maldovan, the artist behind the design of the bear, about his St. Patrick’s Day traditions and memories.
“I’m part Irish, so celebrating St. Patrick’s Day is a requirement,” explained Monty. “I typically wear green to celebrate. When I was younger, I remember my mom making sugar cookies with green icing. She also made a traditional meal but I don’t recall liking it [laughs].“
The St. Patrick’s Day-themed Duffy the Disney Bear has a retail of $30.00 and can be found at multiple locations at Disney Parks in California and Florida.
If you want to sport some green like Duffy (or Monty) on March 17, then pick up this Disney earhat. The hat has a retail of $14.95, and is the perfect accent to your St. Patrick’s Day outfit. It can also be found on the Disney Parks on-line store.
There are several items specifically created for this holiday including tee-shirts, Disney pins, a neck lanyard with sublimated printing (it’s gorgeous!) and a few others. I found this display at the Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A., in Magic Kingdom Park one recent afternoon. This rather green visual statement also includes green-colored items like sandals and a Mike Wazowski coffee mug (for those who may not like to wear green but still want to fit in on March 17).
Jeanne Lewis, developer for the two St. Patrick’s Day limited edition pins, shared with me her favorite St. Patrick’s Day memory.
“My son and I found a four-leaf clover in our yard about two years ago,” said Jeanne. “We pressed it in a book with the hope it would bring us good luck. It has so far.”
Jeanne also serenaded me with an Irish tune while I was in her office. Gosh, so much singing and so much green at Disney Theme Park Merchandise! How will you be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year?
Comments
My husband and I are celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary on st. Pattys day!!! I really want to go to downtown Disney and take in all the activities!!!
Hello, Steven, noticed that Duffy the bear has the mickey icons on his feet , how about his face it is shaped like the mickey icons as well. A hidden Mickey !
We are actually leaving for WDW tomorrow! So my husband and I will be spending our 4th wedding anniversary at Raglan Road and going to one of the parks to celebrate! And BTW- our wedding date was 3/17/07!
Steven, Thank You so much for the info. I will call tomorrow! My mother always made cabbage and potatoes, and I would never eat it either! I always make Dublin Coudle for my husband! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
The meal is called ‘corned beef and cabbage’ OR a boiled dinner. It also has potatoes, onions, turnip and carrots in it. My mother made it for us and I made it for my kids and now they make it for their kids. 🙂 I don’t know why people always say that they don’t like it. I figure it is like a ‘fruitcake’ thing. You really like it but don’t want to admit it. The next day my mother would take all the left overs and put them in a big frying pan with some butter (we didn’t know about olive oil) garlic powder and lots of pepper. She would cut everything up small and mix it all together. For some reason she called it “Hungarian Goulash”. I don’t know why. It was even better than the night before. We would put lots of catsup and mustard on it. I will be making my boiled dinner soon. Thanks for letting me tell my memories. It was nice to think about my mother again. :-))
I am so excited to see that you will celebrating St. Patty’s day @ WDW…We will be in the park on that day (but ssshhh its still a secret my kids still don’t know). Leaving to start out 18 hour drive in 48 hours!! Yeah!
@Kimberly – Please tell me you will get video! The element of surprise rocks. If you do, please share at http://www.disneyparks.com/memories
Hey There Steven,
I love your blogs, usually more when they have to do with my current obsession Vinylmation. Keep up the good work. I just had a question regarding the DLR 55th Poster Series…any news on when the Monorail will be released.
Mahalo!
@Colleen and Shauna – For the shirt, you can contact try contacting Disneyland Merchandise Guest Services at 800-362-4533 or Walt Disney World Merchandise Guest Services at 877-560-6477.
@Anderson – Thank you! It looks like you probably won’t see that figure until sometime in early Summer 2011. Don’t have confirmed date. I’ll post it on our Vinylmation.com site when I do. See: http://eventservices.disney.go.com/static/vinylmation/events.html
We will be celebrating my daughter’s 13th birthday! I, too, wish there was a way to get the t-shirt shown. It would be perfect!
With a name like Colleen, you are required to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. We love irish music and food and everything I serve my children is green! You are teasing me with the display from the Empourium! I wish you could buy that shirt online! We never miss a trip to Raglan Road when at Disney, We love the food and the music! Wish I could be there for St. Pat’s day this year!
I wish the Duffy outfit came on its own. I already own a Duffy. 🙁
My birthday is on St. Patrick’s Day. I think that it is wonderful that you have put my two favorite things together…my birthday and WDW!!! Thanks for the memories 🙂
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