Pal Mickey R.I.P.

[nikjd68]

I heard on another podcast that Disney will stop making Pal Mickey dolls.

I know Pete was a big fan so please tell him he can still get one while inventories last.

 

[tinkbutt]

it's too bad this was a good Idea in theory but never got to its full potential!!

 

[SamIAm21]

I loved the concept of Pal Mickey, but there were a few downsides. First off, he was kind of heavy and in the parks, you could barely hear him. You had to wear him on a lanyard or carry him and 90+ degree heat he became cumbersome really fast!

Pal Mickey would have been a great idea if he was some type of larger (think 3 1/2 inches) clip-on pin that could you attach to the handle of a tote bag, a lanyard, backpack, belt loop etc. He could come in several different versions, Steamboat, Sorceror, Mickey in his tux, etc.

I didn't mind the buzzing to let me know something was going on, but wouldn't it have been cool (and less annoying), if maybe a brief Mickey Mouse Club chime played instead or another classically Disney tune. He could have had several buttons on him like Play or Ignore. If they can make a Nintendo DS Lite as small as it is, they certainly can have used better technology for Pal Mickey. In keeping with a Nintendo DS Lite, they could even have had additional game/trivia chips to go along with the Pal. Sort of like the old razor and razor blade concept!

 

[wilde_oscar]

well I'll fire the rumor mill that the nintendo gizmo might surface not long after pal mickey is retired. it makes a little sense that they would let the inventory of pal mickey run down before introducing a new technology that would surpass the previous?

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

well I'll fire the rumor mill that the nintendo gizmo might surface not long after pal mickey is retired. it makes a little sense that they would let the inventory of pal mickey run down before introducing a new technology that would surpass the previous?

This is exactly what I was thinking too Rex.

 

[SamIAm21]

That does make sense, but how about you take the traditional casing of a Nintendo DS Lite and mould it to the shape of Mickey Mouse and put a pin clip on the back?

 

[Rat-a-too-ee]

It was a cute idea. We were part of the very first Pal Mickey test group. We got to take it around WDW for a few days for free. At that time, they were renting them for about $10/day.

We enjoyed it, although half the time the crowd was so loud, we couldn't hear what Mickey said.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

They fixed the noise level on the next couple versions. The Sorcerer Mickey version actually has pretty decent sound quality. The tuxedo version still had a little way to go for improvements.

We like them. We wished they would have implemented it here at DL, but the start-up costs for that system were high. I had a friend who workd with the Pal Mickey program at the MK. One of the cool things is that they had a "box" that a manager could wear around that they used to trigger special messages to the Mickeys, so they could give you specific info rather than just the "hard wired" trigger points. I don't think they use it near as much anymore, but I remember when they could tell you where the short lines were via the Mickey.

I agree with the PP that it seems logical to replace them with the Nintendo...

(My name is Nancy - Hi Nancy - and I own the Mach1 and Mach3 versions of Pal Mickey....)

 

[Stacy's a freak]

I was quick to buy one in the beginning too - 2003 - and I like him. True, he is a little large to carry around but I hope they keep the technology in place. I have gotten my money's worth - but it would be sad to go and not bring my pal with me

 

[momrek06]

Good Morning...I saw you all were discussing PM...we have him too. We bought him in 2003. LOVE him. We used him on every trip to the WORLD.

We moved from New England to SoCal in July and our first trip to the LAND, we bring PM along!!!

To our surprise the LAND has no clue what or who PM is??? We were so shocked that PM is not anywhere in Disneyland at all. Quite frankly, 3 of the CM's I spoke with regarding PM had never heard or have ever seen him.

We opted to put him in the locker for the day instead of carrying him around.

My question is this...my DS is getting married in June and they are spending 2 weeks in the WORLD...his DF wants me to bring PM home when I go for the wedding....WILL PM BE WORKING IN JUNE 2009??

TIA!!!

 

[NDM#1]

In a way, I am glad. Now I won't feel so left out . . . never could afford the little bugger.

 

[nikjd68]

WILL PM BE WORKING IN JUNE 2009

The podcaster said that Disney confirmed that even after they are sold out, Pal Mickeys will still be functional.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

The podcaster said that Disney confirmed that even after they are sold out, Pal Mickeys will still be functional.

We bought one for our sons first trip to the world and have taken it on 4 more trips. I leave him in the stroller with him but if I had to carry it I dont think he would be with us. LOL. I am glad it will continue to work though.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

We were sad about DL, too, but sometimes Mickey goes with us there as a buddy. We've educated several of the CMs on him, as they see him and ask why his nose is like that (shiny plastic transmitter cover).

We will leave him in the stroller sometimes. Luckily, the uneducated just think he's another plush and don't realize he's a PM! (I just want to get the rest of the outfits we are missing! - We have the yellow poncho (of course), the safari, the clubhouse, and one other... I know there were some other speciality ones. Guess it's time to check eBay!

I'm glad someone gave us the Sorcerer Mickey version. Since we have 2 girls, that means both of them go with us!

 

[briandancer]

I love the way they are thinking on this product, but the implementation left a lot to be desired. I think the best answer will be to have hot spots for mobile devices to receive messages, info, games, pictures, etc. as you go around the park--something a little bit like the Nintendo DS idea.

 

[rtobe]

I was on my way into EPCOT today with Pal Mickey and ran into some imagineer types who confirmed that yes, My Pal Mickey is going away but there is something better in the works.

 

[simonkodousek]

Pal Mickey was such a cool concept, but unfortunately wasn't made into something highly transportable. If Disney could implement the technology into something like an iPod Touch, iPhone, PSP, Nintendo DS (like the one tested last year) or some other portable tech toy lots of people have, I wouldn't be surprised to see it's success rate shoot upwards.

I think the majority of people who purchased Pal Mickey are those who are coming to WDW for the first time, but did not look online or read a guidebook. It was more of a novelty than a park guide system.

Just my thoughts...
~Simon