Pal Mickey Controversy

[sparkspeak]

Here's an interesting article about Pal Mickey . . .

"My Pal Mickey, a 10*-inch doll stuffed with fluff and microchips, is a state-of-the-art interactive tour guide created just for Disney's theme parks. But this little mouse is rumored to do more than talk. Some of the Magic Kingdom's conspiracy-minded critics have accused My Pal of tracking them on their vacation and using the data for nefarious market-research purposes. "

http://www.elliott.org/vault/destinations/2002/mypal.htm

 

[wdwguide]

Well, the only thing the doll could probably be used for is to monitor how guests move through the parks.
It doesn't know what type of group is using it, it doesn't know how much money they are spending, it doesn't know what they are buying, and it doesn't know if guests are happy or sad. Thus the options for market-research are fairly limited.

 

[KNWVIKING]

What can it tell them ? How many trips we make to the restrooms ? How long we sit on a curb waiting for a parade ? That TTA is my favorite ride ? I don't think I do anything in the parks that I'd not want Disney to know.... 'cept maybe when I goose the DW on the dark rides ;-}

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by KNWVIKING
I don't think I do anything in the parks that I'd not want Disney to know.... 'cept maybe when I goose the DW on the dark rides ;-}

Laughing my freekin' butt off!!!

 

[RoutemanDan]

Originally posted by KNWVIKING
What can it tell them ? How many trips we make to the restrooms ? How long we sit on a curb waiting for a parade ? That TTA is my favorite ride ? I don't think I do anything in the parks that I'd not want Disney to know.... 'cept maybe when I goose the DW on the dark rides ;-}

LOL! I thought I was the only one who did that.

 

[d-r]

I don't like your categories - it was fun enough, but I wouldn't call it "helpful" - it is a toy! and I don't buy the bullony idea that it tracks people, either - lol~!

 

[sparkspeak]

Originally posted by d-r
I don't like your categories - it was fun enough, but I wouldn't call it "helpful" - it is a toy! and I don't buy the bullony idea that it tracks people, either - lol~!

To quote more of the article for those who focus on the first paragraph:

"Mickey is one unflappable character. He also has an encyclopedic knowledge of the parks: With more than 700 tips - including leads on the best places to see the fireworks and advice on how to get to some of the lesser-known attractions - it would take two hours to run through My Pal's script. That's a lot of information. . .
"Is Mickey bugged? It's a question we put to Holzberg, the Disney honcho who brought My Pal Mickey to life. 'The technology that's used is not a kind of technology that allows any kind of identification of an individual to happen,' he said. . . So what of the reports? 'Creative writing,' he insisted. Holzberg didn't seem to mind the question. After all, Disney thrives on controversy. . ."

And the author's conclusion:
"Annoying? Yes. Dangerous? Hardly."

 

[DisneyKidds]

I wouldn't fit any of your categories. I didn't find it all that helpful, yet it wasn't irritating, was eh for me, but the kids really liked it. All in all, we will use it again (good think, since we bought the sucker ).

As for Mickey tracking us around the parks...............it wouldn't surprise me, but I really don't care. I doubt it can provide all that much info............at this point.

Isn't Pal Mickey part of the whole Destination Disney program? Wasn't that program eventually to include an interactive electronic device that would do all the things Pal Mickey does, as well as remind you about priority seatings and such? I'm sure at some point thay will be able to make Mickey provide info personalized to individual guests. Who knows what he is capable of now................

 

[antnee]

'cept maybe when I goose the DW on the dark rides ;-}

thanx for the tip

 

[jlambrig]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by d-r
I don't like your categories - it was fun enough, but I wouldn't call it "helpful" - it is a toy! and I don't buy the bullony idea that it tracks people, either - lol~!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah but have you noticed how his eyes follow you no matter where you go? Creepy

 

[Minnie1156]

I think the idea is really cool. I do not have any little kids. Mine are 17 and 21 but I am getting a Pal Mickey anyway. It sounds like fun.

"What will be will be"

 

[doombuggy]

I went to a wedding this weekend where the groom's aunt & uncle just got back from WDW with Pal Mickey. They bought it the month before when they went down & used it both times (i think they bought one). they loved it. I think they might have two children, but the aunt was the one using the Pal. It sounds realy informative and entertaining.

 

[barbeml]

I can't wait to get mine. For our November trip I am buying one for me and one for my 3.5 year-old nephew.

 

[miko]

The Pal Mickey will also monitor all the phone calls, computer use, cable use and any other electronic activity you do in your house!
This is just another part of the plan Walt and Hoover designed to foil the communist invasion!

 

[sparkspeak]

Originally posted by miko
The Pal Mickey will also monitor all the phone calls, computer use, cable use and any other electronic activity you do in your house!
This is just another part of the plan Walt and Hoover designed to foil the communist invasion!

Does anyone remember the brilliant James Coburn satire The President's Analyst?TPC (The Phone Company--this was before the AT&T break-up) has plans to install a microchip in customers' brains in order to save on maintenance and improve service. Hmmm...

 

[Spectro is #1]

Pal Mickey knows who's pool hopping at SAB, so watch it mister!

After all, this is the biggest problem at WDW.

 

[Micca]

Is Mickey monitoring refillable mugs??? Oh wait, that's Mocha Mickey. Never mind

 

[Barb]

We took advantage of the free day for DVC members. It was amusing, if nothing else. We got a kick out of the "facts" it would spew out as we passed different attractions and rides. The funniest thing that happened was we forgot to turn him off for the night and he announced the start of the MK parade around midnight!
I don't think I would get it again, but he was fun for the day. I can see where kids would really enjoy this, though. You can play trivia games and he tells jokes when you squeeze his belly. I guess Pal Mickey could help pass this time in a long waiting line.

 

[Testtrack321]

Pal Mickey is just a beefed up version of the Magical Moments pins. Nothing more. Information goes in one way, but dosn't come back. Imagine you are holding a walkie talkie, and when you enter the gates, it sends some voice through the walkie-talkie, but nothing is sent back. Imagine that.