There are few things more magical than introducing a first-time visitor to Disneyland.
You get to be their personal tour guide, show them your favorite snack spots (churros at the cart near Big Thunder, always), grab lightning lanes, and soak in the nostalgia. That was exactly the plan when my best friend came to visit last weekend. She flew in from the East Coast for her first-ever Disneyland trip, and I was determined to make it unforgettable.
Turns out—I didn’t have to try that hard. Because during a quiet moment near Snow White’s Wishing Well, the Evil Queen herself made it unforgettable for us… and for my friend’s new obsession: her Mickey Mouse Labubu plush.
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The Run-In: Wishing Well Wishes Gone Rogue
It was mid-morning and we had just polished off a classic breakfast combo—cold brew and Mickey waffles from Red Rose Taverne—when we made our way toward the serene area just off Sleeping Beauty Castle. The Wishing Well is one of my favorite tucked-away spots in the park: peaceful, pretty, and usually less crowded.
My friend, a collector at heart, had proudly clipped her latest find—a rare Mickey Mouse Labubu plush—to her Loungefly. If you haven’t seen one, it’s a small plush character that looks like a cross between a gremlin and a forest sprite, but this one was decked out in full Mickey Mouse fashion. It definitely stood out.
So when the Evil Queen strolled out from behind the well, cape flowing dramatically in the breeze (or maybe from her own sheer presence), I assumed we were in for a photo op.
I was wrong.
She stopped abruptly, narrowed her eyes at the plush, and in a slow, deliberate voice said:
“That… is no friend of the throne.”
A few parkgoers chuckled, unsure if it was part of her usual villain banter. But then she stepped closer, lips curled in disgust, and pointed directly at the Labubu:
“Remove that creature from my kingdom at once. It offends me.”
We stood in stunned silence for a beat, half-laughing, half-processing.
“She means your plush,” I whispered to my friend, who now held the doll awkwardly like it might actually get us kicked out of Fantasyland.
Then, turning her attention to the rest of the courtyard, the Evil Queen raised a hand and proclaimed:
“Let it be known: this realm shall be Labubu-free henceforth. My decree is final.”
With that, she swept off toward the Castle Courtyard, leaving a stunned audience of guests and Cast Members behind. One person jokingly clapped. Another whispered, “What’s a Labubu?”
So… What Is a Labubu?
If you’ve spent any time on TikTok, Instagram, or toy collector forums in the past year, you’ve likely come across Labubu. These mischievous little creatures are the crown jewel of Pop Mart, a Chinese designer toy brand that has exploded in popularity since 2019.
Labubus are typically small plush toys or vinyl figures, known for their spiky hair, oversized eyes, and signature toothy grin. A standard Labubu has nine teeth, a fact that’s surprisingly important in today’s flooded market of knockoffs (more on that shortly).
There’s a broad range of designs, but the Mickey Mouse collaboration—the one that got us in trouble with the Queen—is one of the most sought-after. It's not an official Disney Parks release, but it’s part of an authorized partnership with Pop Mart, and it’s everywhere right now.
Labubus are usually sold in “blind boxes” for $20–$30, meaning you don’t know which version you’ll get until you open it. The limited “secret” editions, which are typically 1 in 72 odds, have gone for thousands of dollars on resale sites.
Some collectors wait overnight in lines for Pop Mart drops. Others fly overseas for special editions. And thanks to viral TikToks, celebrity endorsements (Lisa from BLACKPINK, Dua Lipa, Rihanna), and unboxing videos, Labubu has officially entered mainstream pop culture.
Fakes, Lafufus, and the Counterfeit Craze
With massive popularity, of course, comes counterfeiting—and Labubu is no exception. The market for knockoff versions, often called Lafufus, is growing almost as fast as the real thing.
In recent months, Chinese customs officials have seized over 249,000 fake Labubu-related items, including nearly 50,000 plush dolls. Many of these fakes end up in international gift shops, toy boutiques, and third-party online sellers.
According to Alyssa Parker of the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Carolinas, there are key signs to look for when identifying authentic Labubu products:
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Nine teeth in the mouth (fakes may have fewer or an incorrect shape)
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A distinct facial color and sculpt
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A stamp of authenticity on the bottom of the foot
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Matching QR codes on the box and the wash label that link to verification pages
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A 3D holographic Pop Mart sticker on the box—fakes usually have flat or poorly printed versions
For guaranteed authenticity, the safest bet is to purchase directly from Pop Mart’s Amazon store or PopMart.com. But even then, high-demand drops tend to sell out in minutes, driving desperate collectors to risky resellers.
Disneyland: The Unofficial Runway for Collectible Culture
It’s not unusual to see fans at Disneyland sporting the latest fandom must-haves—from new Minnie ears to collectible pins. But over the last few months, Labubu plushies have quietly infiltrated the parks.
You’ll find them clipped to Loungefly backpacks, dangling from belt loops, or in the hands of guests posing near the castle. They’re subtle enough to blend in, yet quirky enough to catch a villain’s attention—which we now know firsthand.
While the Evil Queen’s “Labubu-free” decree was clearly part of her immersive roleplay, it echoed something real: these toys are now part of the larger Disney guest experience, even if unofficially.
When Viral Culture Meets Theme Park Royalty
Our encounter with the Evil Queen was one of the funniest, most surreal character interactions I’ve had in years. It was a testament to the incredible improvisation skills of Disney’s Cast Members—and a reminder that fandom doesn’t stop at the gates.
Whether you love Labubu or think they’re creepy little chaos monsters, they’ve cemented themselves as one of the most talked-about toy trends of the year. And if the Evil Queen’s reaction is any indication, they’re stirring things up in all the right (and wrong) ways.
If you’re planning to bring your Labubu to Disneyland, don’t worry—no one’s actually enforcing any bans. But you might want to avoid showing it off too close to Fantasyland’s most temperamental monarch.
Have you had a run-in with a Disney villain over your merch?
