Is it worth it to carry Pal Mickey?

[palmickey2005]

We love our Pal Mickey. We got him in 2005 during the 50th year anniversary....that's actually where I got my Dis name. I had read a little about Pal Mickey before our trip and thought that it's a great idea. We decided that he would be our very first purchase (souvenir) to get. I honestly can't remember everything that PM talked about..all the tips and jokes and songs he sang while at the parks but we all enjoyed listening to him and if we needed for him to repeat something all we had to do was squeeze his hand and it would be repeated I think up to 3 times.

Well on our first day at Epcot just moments after purchasing him we were walking close to Japan when Pal Mickey shook. He wanted to tell us something. He said that there was a lady in Japan making animal shaped candy. And there she was just a few steps ahead. My husband and I were just amazed at how Pal Mickey works and thought wow he would even be better if he was interactive and replied if I had a question like were's the closest bathroom or when does the parade or show start ?

We even caught Pal Mickey on video saying things like..."you know why Flamingos are pink etc....? He said this near the flamingos at Animal Kingdom. We're happy we caught video taped him talking at the parks since he won't repeat any of that stuff here at home.

My kids really enjoyed holding him and sharing was never a problem. Pal Mickey even said as we left Magic Kingdom one night..."boy, I had a lot of fun today but the best part was spending the day with you" My 6 year old son gave Mickey a big hug.

Well worth every dollar to my family. Can't wait to take him back with us again in 2008.

 

[Vickie46]

I have been trying to decide if we are taking ours... can't decide yet..

 

[Nancymousehouse]

PM is a great little guy. Not only does he surprise you with interesting facts while you're walking around, he also has two other great features which are fun while you're waiting in lines: He tells jokes on one Hand, and he can play games (like guessing games) on the other Hand. He'll also interrupt you to announce things like "Oh Boy, there's a show starting soon in front of the Castle". The little guy also knows which park he is entering! Just remember that the computer chip is in his nose, so be careful.

We only had one minor problem with him -- once while we were in the Carousel of Progress he mysteriously started laughing! (they ususally don't interact inside an attraction). Everyone around us enjoyed it -- even though we tried to put him inside a bag to quiet him. haha

 

[DBarber600]

I found carrying ours on the pin lanyards was too heavy on my neck, so I bought one of those lanyard-type bottled water carriers they sell in each park. They're under $3 at the refreshment carts. They are longer then a typical lanyard so you can wear it across your body like a messenger bag so Pal Mickey hangs at your hip.

The end of the lanyard is like a noose, so my PM is literally "hanging" from it. I cinch it up really tight around his neck. Works great - the extra weight is not noticeable at all. I can lift him up to my ear and it is at the perfect height for my kids to listen to him as well.

Each park has a different design. We bought the Magic Kingdom one, which has the "fab five" characters on it, and the Epcot one, which has all the country's flags on it.

 

[Aaronbox]

If you find you appreciate the park tips but find him cumbersome to haul around you could always do what an Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World reader from New York suggests, “a little creative surgery:
You can just rip off Pal Mickey’s head, legs, and nonvibrating arm. You get strange looks, but what’s left still laughs and tells you about park goings-on, and he’s much more portable.”

 

[jenelope]

I bring mine on some trips, but not all. This trip, my 11 year old cousin will do most of the Pal Mickey hauling duty.

 

[amykathleen2005]

If you find you appreciate the park tips but find him cumbersome to haul around you could always do what an Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World reader from New York suggests, “a little creative surgery:
You can just rip off Pal Mickey’s head, legs, and nonvibrating arm. You get strange looks, but what’s left still laughs and tells you about park goings-on, and he’s much more portable.”

lol

 

[Dashzap]

I found carrying ours on the pin lanyards was too heavy on my neck, so I bought one of those lanyard-type bottled water carriers they sell in each park. They're under $3 at the refreshment carts. They are longer then a typical lanyard so you can wear it across your body like a messenger bag so Pal Mickey hangs at your hip.

I have one of the original Pal Mickeys that didn't come with a lanyard, so the water bottle strap is how I've always carried him, too.

Just back from two days in the parks (2 parks per day). I carried Pal Mickey around the first park, but then left him in the hotel room. I didn't want to be bothered carrying him. I only carried my wallet and cell phone. Woot!

I can't do surgery on him to make him lighter.

 

[Mrs Potato Head]

Yeah, if I carried him around my neck, I'd give up too - and that's saying something if you've noticed how dedicated to the little guy I am!

I put a caribeaner clip through the loop in the back of his head (took off the belt clip) and I can clip him to just about anything as the day goes. I do use an empty pin lanyard, with him clipped to the metal end...but he's on my shoulder, NOT around my neck. Ouch, between my own pins and PAL's pin lanyard, that's a lot of heavy metal!

Seriously, he's definitely not worth the money to sit in the room, so if you can't find a comfortable way to carry him, it's probably not worth it. I love the little guy, but bringing him to the parks is what makes it (for me, at least.)

But he does sit around my house in his WDW shirt begging me, (I'm sure of it), with those big eyes to got back to the world....seems to even work on my DH - who just looks at the little guy and asks when our next trip is again!

Less than two weeks now....

 

[Pixiedust34]

My kids take turns carrying Pal Mickey. They enjoy having him around.

If it looks as if most of the day will be rainy, Pal Mickey stays in the room for the day.

 

[Kailani6]

I am going to buy PM in a couple weeks when we go. Thanks for all the tips on carrying.

I do have an odd question if someone can answer it I'd really appreciate it...

About how big are his feet? I bought him mini lime green crocs at the dollar store(and they actually look like real crocs-they are the cutest things ever!)
They are 4 1/2 inches long 2 inches wide and about 1 1/2 inches tall. Do you think they will fit him?? I know, this is a very serious question here, but I could not resist when I saw them!

~Farley

 

[Mrs Potato Head]

His feet are fat, but you can squish them a bit to put into some shoes. I bought the blue "crocs" in the infant section from Target (infanta pre-walker size 2) and they fit good. I haven't seen lime green...which dollar store? Did you get any Jibbitz yet? Hallmark has the Disney ones....

I might need to get those.......

You can see more pics of my PAL in my "shoes" in my link below...


Also, check out the thread in Just for FunAL Mickey's adventures - it's a sticky at the top and can get missed if you don't know to look for it...there are LOTS of folks there that would love to know about the lime green crocs, I KNOW!!!

 

[Dashzap]

Yeah, if I carried him around my neck, I'd give up too - and that's saying something if you've noticed how dedicated to the little guy I am!

I put a caribeaner clip through the loop in the back of his head (took off the belt clip) and I can clip him to just about anything as the day goes. I do use an empty pin lanyard, with him clipped to the metal end...but he's on my shoulder, NOT around my neck. Ouch, between my own pins and PAL's pin lanyard, that's a lot of heavy metal!

Oh he isn't around my neck on the water bottle strap, he is across my body.

 

[Kailani6]

His feet are fat, but you can squish them a bit to put into some shoes. I bought the blue "crocs" in the infant section from Target (infanta pre-walker size 2) and they fit good. I haven't seen lime green...which dollar store? Did you get any Jibbitz yet? Hallmark has the Disney ones....

I might need to get those.......

You can see more pics of my PAL in my "shoes" in my link below...


Also, check out the thread in Just for FunAL Mickey's adventures - it's a sticky at the top and can get missed if you don't know to look for it...there are LOTS of folks there that would love to know about the lime green crocs, I KNOW!!!

Oh great so hopefully they will fit!
I got them at Dollar Forever in Massachusetts, I don't think they are a chain.

I will go back and check if they have any more, I think this was the only green pair, they also had blue and pink. I'll let you know if I find any more.
I was going to take a picture of them and my camera turned on for a second and then off (it even has new batteries) Well at least it happened before the trip, I better go get it fixed...

I looked on your site (And oh my goodness his clothese are soo cute! I wish I could sew like that!) I couldn't see the pic of him wearing his crocs

Oh, I have a couple of Disney jibbitz for my daughters crocs but I don't think the holes are big enough in these little shoes (that would be cute though) I actually just bought my first pair of crocs (mary janes) yesterday--now I can get Jibbitz for me!

Thanks for the help!

~Farley

 

[Mrs Potato Head]

Blue crocs!

I must have moved this pic off the site for some reason....I'll double check - I love these little crocs, and get lots of folks asking about them. But lime green would be SO CUTE.

Patty

 

[italianfamilia]

Can pal mickey be purchased in advance. We have one month to go. Is it easy to find on the first day. We are heading to MK on the first day. I want to get him for the kids! BTW, what is a landyard? (sp)

 

[Kailani6]

Blue crocs!

I must have moved this pic off the site for some reason....I'll double check - I love these little crocs, and get lots of folks asking about them. But lime green would be SO CUTE.

Patty

OH MY GOSH-THAT IS TOOO CUTE!!!!!!
Now that I am looking at him, maybe mine will be too big.
I will try and post a picture in here of them, one has a picture next to a dollar bill to get a perspective on how big they are (I officially have too much time on my hands!)
I actually went there this morning and bought the last pair in case someone did want them and the owner said they were ordering more.
Ok here they are...

 

[Kailani6]

Can pal mickey be purchased in advance. We have one month to go. Is it easy to find on the first day. We are heading to MK on the first day. I want to get him for the kids! BTW, what is a landyard? (sp)

I saw them last August at the first main store in MK (the Emporium???) it is to the left as you get on main street. They had him in there and clothes for him too. I kicked myself for not buying him, not this time...I can't wait!

~Farley

 

[MAGGIED]

We bought a Pal Mickey maybe 4 or 5 years ago... with fresh batteries will he "know " about all the changes they have made in the park since then..

 

[TammyAlphabet]

We attached our Pal Mickey to one of those straps that you use for coke bottles or bottled water. My daughter straps him around one shoulder and across her chest to hang on the opposite hip. Works great!