I’ve been going to Disney World for my job for nearly five years now, and in that time, I’ve seen plenty of souvenir trends come and go.
Pooh Bear nuiMO
From the rose gold phase to the Minnie ears craze to the time when people were willing to wear Spirit Jerseys even in the summer and fans were busting down the doors of gift shops to get their hands on the latest Starbucks tumblers, it feels like I’ve seen it all. But I know that trends will continue to come and go, and I’m okay with that. Except for my favorite trend — Disney killed it and I’m still bitter.
You guys, I was obsessed with Disney’s nuiMOs, and I’m not afraid to admit it. My nuiMO and I were the best of park buddies, and I would’ve gathered a whole family of little nuiMO friends if Disney hadn’t killed the trend before it was through.
nuiMO Plushes
I’ll admit, when nuiMOs first released, I was skeptical. They dropped in the parks and online with their unusually high prices for plushes so small, and I recognized a marketing scam on SIGHT. I scoffed at the people who would fall for such a thing — spending $20 on the doll alone, then paying extra for tiny outfits and bags, and hats? It would never become popular…or so I thought.
SO many of them
Within a few months, nuiMOs became popular, with Disney Adults and teens taking pictures of them on adventures around the parks and purchasing the cute little accessories to dress them in. I still wasn’t prepared to buy one, until people started wearing them on their bags.
Anna nuiMO
I witnessed people attaching them to the straps of their Loungefly backpacks and belt bags by wrapping hair ties around the nuiMO’s shoulders (kind of like putting a little backpack on them). It was a fun way to add some charm and character to your park outfit, and it seemed to be more practical and less cumbersome than the previously popular shoulder plushes. But I wasn’t quite convinced yet.
nuiMOs backpack
Then, I finally caved when Disney came out with the perfect nuiMO for me — a little Ahsoka Tano! She was in the height of popularity with a new Disney+ series on the way, and I had looooved watching her kick butt and take names in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels. She was a special character to me, and I already owned a matching Loungefly to attach her to. It was kismet!
The day we found each other!
For several months, tiny Ahsoka and I went on adventures around the parks. Every single time I wore her out, without fail, people would ask me where I purchased her. The masses were interested! She sold out quickly in most shops and then came back in stock in Star Traders only. I kept an eye on her to make sure she was still available there so that I could happily tell people when they asked. She traveled to all the parks with me, many resorts, and even hopped a plane to Disneyland.
Ahsoka and I at Disneyland Park
But unfortunately, I began to notice that Disney stopped releasing new nuiMOs. Just when the trend was trendy and the hype was high, popular nuiMO characters would sell out and then never come back in stock. Over the coming months, they would disappear from shelves almost entirely, just to be replaced by the next trend. And I feel like it was too soon!
Oswald was VERY popular!
You see, I wholeheartedly believe that Disney could’ve kept the nuiMO trend alive if they’d only just chosen the right characters to release. Ahsoka was a prime example! Choose rare characters or those with large fanbases. Kermit and Miss Piggy were very popular options before they sold out as well. Knowing the audience would’ve been key to keeping nuiMOs in style.
Ahsoka and I
Nowadays, I still see some nuiMO friends out and about every now and then. Some fans still proudly display them on their bags. And to you guys? I salute you. I, too, am a plush-carrying member of the nuiMO fan club. Let’s raise our glasses to bygone trends.
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I purchased my first Pooh Nuimo in the parks, and then more characters at Disney store online. I now get my doll accessories from resellers on Mercari. They are still available in Japan.
I only found out recently that Disney discontinued Nuimos! So sad. I love the dolls I have, but I was hoping to get them more accessories.
I love my Donald Duck nuiMO! I still wear him every day whenever I’m in Disney World. I wish I could have gotten a Kermit, but he was sold out before I realized I wanted him. I also would have liked to have Winnie the Pooh. It’s a shame Disney let the nuiMO trend end so quickly, they were so popular!
I own an Edna Mode nuiMo. I love her. I was very disappointed when they stopped carrying them.
I hadn’t realised they’d stopped. We were given our first Nuimos on the 2023 DVC member cruise.
I said to my husband that if I’d been a child/ teenager/ maybe even in my 20s I would probably have got into these big style with all the accessories.
It’s a good job that the outfits were so expensive so that I didn’t buy anything because it would’ve been a dear collection.
Have a Snow White, Pooh, and Minnie. I’ll cherish them forever.