We just returned from a trip and had the "New" my pal. He was certainly loud enough. When he would start to giggle we would crowd around to hear him. He told some really corny jokes and got us all singing together throught the parks! If you go the website and play the game and win then you get a special certificate that you can print out and then take it with you when you purchase it and they will scan in a new code and he will tell 7 secrets... We never heard them. But We went during a Hurricane and he spent a good deal of time in plastic in our backpack so that he would not get wet. We did have fun with him (myself, DH, DS 14, DS 11, DD 2) and if you have the extra money I say yes! If you have never been before than most definately!!