Is Pal Mickey worth it?

[julsmom]

I have never done Pal Mickey. Is it worth it? My DD is 6. For our spring trip, I figured I might get Pal Mickey and an autograph book (first time for that too).

 

[starlionblue]

It depends. I think it's a bad idea. Why? Your kid might be tired hauling Mickey around with him/her. (I know, Mickey is every kid's best friend but your child might not always want to carry him with tired arms and then, that's another big item to lug around. Trust me (and I speak from personal experience) you want to carry as LITTLE as possible even if you have a stroller. The less the better. It costs $60 for one. Here's what the Unofficial DW guide says on p 347:
"This little brain tulip is a wireless global-positioning communications device embedded in the chest cavity of a Mickey Mouse doll. As you carry MIckey around, he responds to wireless signals emanating from different places in the parks. When he receives a signal, he giggles and shakes. If you respond by squeezing one of his hands or pressing his belly, he commences yapping about whatever you happen to be standing near: "Say, wanna know which horse on the carousel is Cinderella's?" He also volunteers park tips ("I hear the wait is pretty short at the Tower of Terror!" Occasionally he shares something personal like, "I could totally get baked on a good joint right about now. Are you holding?") And he tells you where to find Disney chracters ("I hear Belle is over in France"). If Mickey's asleep or just being taciturn, you can rev him up by more hand squeezing and tummy pressing. He'll respond with a joke or fun fact , or by initiating a game."
Then, there's something at the end that had me laughing my head off. I mean I was rolling on the floor:
"You can just rip off Pal Mickey's head, legs and nonvibrating arm. You get some strange looks, but twhat's left still laughs and tells you about park goings-on, and he's much more portable."

My thoughts are (and I have no children of my own) "Would I want to be spending eight hours in a crowded theme park on a scorching hot day, waiting in line while Mickey bombards my ears with information that can be found in any guide book?" "Is he worth the $60 of companionship and annoyment?" (I love Mickey but even his squeaky voice gets annoying after an hour or two.) I suggest considering this for a while before plopping down that MasterCard.
Hope this helps!

 

[Plantlady]

my nine year old loved our Pal Mickey. He even gladly carried him on a day when his batteries died, and he didn't tell us a thing (batteries were at the hotel). He never played in the sprayer fountains, for fear that Pal Mickey would get wet. he took the job of protecting him very serious.

My seven year old enjoyed Pal Mickey too, but didn't carry him around quite as much. Perhaps he would of been willing to carry him more, if his big brother wasn't always hogging him.

My four year old likes him at home and in the hotel room, but had no interest in carrying him in the parks. I think he had him for about 10 minutes total.

I think it just depends on your child. Our Pal Mickey will join us for every trip to WDW from here on out, because my oldest son will insist upon it.

 

[nluvwithmickey]

Well I'm the biggest baby of all and I think he is worth it. I even took him on a Disney cruise and he doesn't work on the ships. Had alot of fun dressing him up for all of the photo opportunities.


If you plan on taking more than one trip to WDW eventually, yeah he is kinda fun. But if you don't plan on going back anytime in the near future, maybe buy other souvenirs instead, he is a bit expensive.

Glad to say he is returning to WDw for his 3rd time. My kids love him too but he is MY baby!

 

[jessica52877]

I say no! I only paid $13 for mine and still thought it was a huge waste of money! We didn't like him at all. Didn't find him entertaining or fun and after the first couple of hours stuck him in the stroller, after the 3rd day just said forget him. My son was 3 at the time, but no one in our party of 8 even found him remotely worth it!

 

[amy4bruce]

Last year, we bought DD6 a Pal Mickey on our first day there. It didn't work properly. It would sometimes vibrate, but wouldn't speak. That night, we went into Mouse Gear in Epcot. They looked at it, and changed the batteries. It began to work properly.

On the way back to Pop Century, DD6 left it on the bus. We never saw it again. $65 thrown out the window.

Is it worth it? Not according to either DW or myself.