Oh yes she did, and she is back into the 'next trip' talk in earnest. She loved him and really really wants one... of everything.
Seeing as I am on uni break, I spent a little time seeing what other forums were saying about him and honestly, unless you want your head to spin around from the total navel-gazing, deeply significant narrative then I wouldn't bother.
* I learned that many feel that he is going to dilute the Duffy brand (this was the mildest of all the wacky stuff being discussed like Toni - as they are already calling him - was a real person)
* I learned that many felt they could come up with a better 'story' for Gelatoni than Disney did - because throwing a few Italian words into their dialogue made
all the difference
* I learned that many feel that Gelatoni has no real reason for existing because Minnie didn't make him, and that they hoped that Disney didn't bring a new 'friend' for every port, and Disney better not give him clothes because that would be silly
Personally, I really DO hope that Disney dig up a friend for every port for Duffy - a) it gives me something new to 'need' and b) it def fits in with Duffy's travel theme.
And what interested me was how the posters were so busy trying to 'Americanise' poor Tony, they were missing the whole point ... the Japanese LOVE cats to the point of obsession, are highly artistic as a general populous and really do love Duffy as much as Mickey. This character is a master stroke ( pardon the pun) of direct marketing. This is made for the Japanese market which can carry a stand alone toy - which Shellie May proved. So I hope these unique characters keep coming because it only adds richness to my Disney Side and keeps us going back to the Japanese parks -/