Your Guide to Buy Beanie Buddies: History, Types and How to Choose

Everyone knows those cuddly and oh-so-cute Beanie Babies, the children’s toys from the 90s that warmed their way into the hearts of millions of people around the world. They also created a $700 million per year boom in revenue for the TY brand.

But maybe you’re not as familiar with their counterparts, the Beanie Buddies. Beanie Buddies still have all of the cuteness and cuddliness of Beanie Babies, but with some slight differences.

If you’re interested in learning more about where you can buy Beanie Buddies, keep reading this blog post. We’ll also provide details about the different types of Beanie Buddies and their history.

The History of Beanie Buddies

Beanie Buddies were announced as a new product from the TY Corporation on September 30, 1998. Months of speculation and hype led up to the announcement from Ty’s hints about the product’s release.

The first 9 Beanie Buddies released were:

• #1 Bear the Bear
• Teddy the Cranberry Bear
• Humphrey the Camel
• Jake the Mallard Duck
• Quackers the Duck
• Rover the Dog
• Peanut the Royal Blue Elephant
• Stretch the Ostrich 
• Twigs the Giraffe 

Like their Beanie Baby counterparts, these first 9 Beanie Buddies are very rare and may be worth something in good condition. Twigs the Giraffe is especially rare and possibly very valuable.

What Are the Differences Between Beanie Babies and Beanie Buddies?

Most Beanie Babies were about 6-8 inches in height or length, depending on their design and type, with some reaching 10 inches in length. Beanie Buddies, on the other hand, are considerably larger, measuring between 12-14 inches in size. They are seen as just larger versions of their Beanie Baby peers, sort of like a big brother. 

Beanie Babies were constructed out of a synthetic plush polyester material that made them soft to the touch. Beanie Buddies, however, were made of an even softer material called Tylon, which was a special plush fiber created by Ty himself just for the Beanie Buddies line. Beanie Buddies still contained PVC pellets, but they were more in the feet.

Beanie Buddies were also much cheaper than the original Beanie Babies line. They were the perfect choice for someone who wanted all of the cuteness of a Beanie Baby without the higher price tag attached.

Beanie Buddies are an actual part of the TY product line and are not considered to be counterfeit Beanie Babies. They are just a variation on the Beanie Baby line to be softer and more affordable.

Types of Beanie Buddies

Of the original designs and types of Beanie Buddies, they followed along much the same lines as their Beanie Baby relatives. Some of these Beanie Buddies were just larger and softer variations of the already established Beanie Babies.

Beanie Buddies came in multiple bear varieties and designs for holidays and special releases. They also had lions, tigers, snow leopards, gorillas, bats, elephants, ocean life, and more. As well as a zoo of other various animal species design releases including:

• Monkeys
• Cats
• Dogs
• Birds
• Horses
• Bunnies
• Ducks
• Frogs

Beanie Buddies were also available in mythical creature forms like unicorns and dragons. Several dinosaur designs were released, such as Steg the Stegosaurus, Rex the Tyrannosaurus, Giganto the Wooly Mammoth, Swoop the Pterodactyl, and Hornsly the Triceratops. 

Beanie Buddies World Exclusives 

Beanie Buddies are also divided into different subsets like Exclusive releases. These were sold in other parts of the world that were not available everywhere else. Some examples of Beanie Buddies Exclusives are:

• Britannia the Bear – UK release
• True the Bear – Canadian release
• Unity the Bear – European release
• Sakura the Bear – Japanese release 
• Kiwiana the Bear – New Zealand Asia Pacific Flag 2003 release
• Germania the Bear – German release
• Vanda the Bear – Singapore release
• Wattlie the Bear – Australian release

In addition to the Exclusive releases, there were other ways to buy Beanie Buddies, but only through membership in the Beanie Babies Official Club.

Beanie Babies Official Club Beanie Buddies

The Beanie Babies Official Club launched in March 1998 through TY. Although no longer operating, the Beanie Babies Official Club provided 4 different club levels for purchase.

Clubby I, Clubby II, Clubby III, and Clubby IV offered special Clubby Beanie Babies and Beanie Buddies. Their special Beanie Babies Official Beanie Buddies were:

• Clubby the Bear
• Clubby II the Bear
• Clubby III the Bear 
• Clubby IV the Bear
• Clubby V the Bear
• Clubby VI the Bear (2004 special release)
• Fun the Bear (2006 exclusive)
• Laughter the Bear (2006 exclusive)

New and Licensed Beanie Buddies Designs

If you’re looking to buy Beanie Buddies, you have many more choices available as Beanie Buddies are still produced by the TY brand. There are newer designs of Beanie Buddies for sale online and in retail stores like CVS and Walgreen’s.

Licensed designs mean you can also buy Beanie Buddies from your favorite Disney, Marvel, and Nickelodeon TV shows and movies. Other cartoon characters like Garfield, Hello Kitty, Dora, and Spongebob Squarepants also come in the form of Beanie Buddies. These are more than just children’s toys; they are a piece of history and nostalgia.

Characters from Disney’s Frozen, such as Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, their snowman pal Olaf, and loveable reindeer Sven can be found in plush form in stores under the Beanie Buddies moniker. You may also be able to find your other favorite Disney Princesses like Mulan, Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, Aurora, and Jasmine.

If you’re a Marvel fan, look for your favorite superheroes like Captain America, Iron Man, The Hulk, and Spider-Man in cuddly Beanie Buddies soft toys.

When you buy Beanie Buddies and Beanie Babies, you are buying wonderfully fun and plush toys that those young and young at heart will adore. With so many fun and great designs and types to choose from, you really can find something everyone will love. 

Buy Beanie Buddies and More from MyBeanieBabies.com

When you’re looking to buy Beanie Buddies, Beanie Babies, and other plush toys online, look no further than MyBeanieBabies.com. We have all the best Beanie Buddies in stock for you at affordable prices. 

Don’t get scammed by those other sites that want to mark up their prices. We’re a reputable site of guaranteed quality Beanie Babies and Beanie Buddies.

Check out our online catalog of Beanie Buddies and Beanie Babies in stock. They make great gifts for kids and parents too. And we offer free shipping on orders of $50 or more. 

Contact Us today with any comments or questions.