PAL MICKEY - still use old one?

[brock]

I'm sure this has come up before, but we purchased a PM in Nov of '04, can we still use him?

Thanks

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

YUP! ours is from 2003 i believe, and we still usehim!!

 

[Fitswimmer]

As far as I know, you can still use him, but he won't give you any info about the new rides, like Soarin'.

 

[Robo]

As far as I know, you can still use him, but he won't give you any info about the new rides, like Soarin'.

Which brings up the awkward little point that the "high-dollar" ($70+) "New" 50th Anniversary "Special Edition" Pal Mickey's will soon be...
"Out of date".

The 50th will be over in Oct. this year.
So... will there be a NEW "New" Pal Mickey issued?

Will the 50th Anniversary Pal be able to "tell you" about the two new "Finding Nemo" attractions, the new Monsters, Inc. attraction(s), or the new things we still don't know about?

Will we soon see the 50th Anniversary Pals at the Disney Outlets for $23 or so?

I still have (and use every trip) my beloved "Classic" (first version) Pal Mickey (he still works great, BTW).
I never thought that him not "knowing" about "Soarin'" or "EE" was quite enough reason to replace him.

But, we'll have to see what the next couple of months bring that's new on the Pal Mickey "front".

 

[brock]

Could I purchase a power boost or something to arm PM with the new info?

 

[starwood]

We needed to go to the Main Street Cinema and have our old Pal Mickey updated because he wasn't picking up any new information. But we did get a little pixie dust there. The CM said he had some extra PM costumes and gave us the bow tie and tuxedo jacket for our old PM.

 

[Robo]

Could I purchase a power boost or something to arm PM with the new info?

No. But there is not enough "new info" to matter anyway.

The MAIN "Pal Mickey Store" at WDW is in MK, in the "Main Street Cinema/Pal Mickey/VMK Store"

They can perform the so-called "upgrade" at that location.
Its not really an "upgrade", however, but it is a "re-boot" (like a computer re-start) for PM via a small IR interface with PM's nose.

>>> Scroll down to the 3rd picture in the following site to see this being done:
http://www.mouseplanet.com/wdwupdate/wdw030617avp.htm

This can fix "glitches" that might develop with PM's internal microprocessor.
I bought a PM, when they first came out, that didn't talk much in the parks.
I took him to the PM store, they did the re-boot (30 seconds or so) and he started to work perfectly... and has continued working through many trips since that time (years).

BUT...
This re-boot does not "upgrade" an older PM to the capabilities (or audio volume) of a "50th Anniv. PM".

This incorrect info has become an "Urban Legend" of sorts when it gets repeated on websites so often.

What Disney HAS offered in the past is to "trade in" your older PM for a new one at a reduced rate (don't know if they still will do that).

Do you NEED to take your PM over to MK for a "re-boot"?
If your PM (like the vast majority of them) is still "wiggling and giggling" and telling you facts in the parks, he does NOT need to be taken to the MK for an "upgrade/reboot".

And, if he starts "wiggling" (vibrating) and won't stop, he's not broken... he just needs s new set of batteries. He takes 3 "Double-A (AA) batteries, Alkaline or better.

-----------------------------------------

Additional info on this is at

http://palmickey.net/

Click on the "NEWS" button:

QUOTE:
Note About Older Versions of Pal Mickey: Due to the misinformation on certain message boards, I called the Main Street Cinema at the Magic Kingdom to verify. Cast Member John has CONFIRMED that the older Pal Mickey (any version prior to the HCOE version) can only be "updated" with the park's daily information (parade and show times, etc. - as stated in the instruction booklet) and can NOT be "updated" in any other way. In reality, their use of the term "updating" means to "re-set" him to enable him to receive signals from the emitters and to properly respond. However, the older Pal Mickeys can NOT be made to provide information on any of the newer attractions (Soarin', LMA, Everest, etc.), or to have the latest features (singing, louder voice, new games, trivia, interacting with the Glow medallion). These are the facts. I hate to see people buying the original at a huge discount and being disappointed that he won't do what they thought. The original Pal can still be fun (both of mine "do the parks" together often), but has limited capabilities. If you have an older Pal and would like to "trade up" to a new one, you can at this time do that at the Main Street Cinema for $40 with your trade in. They did not have that offer when the new Pal first came out, but I am sure this will be for a "limited time only."

 

[TinkerTracy]

As many have said before you can use him. I have both versions, but only bring the new one to the park.

 

[studentmom]

Do you think they will be coming out with a new one before our trip (Sept 8-17)? Thanks!

 

[sticker231]

I have the "classic" pal mickey and love it. My kids love playing with him at home and hearing his jokes. I haven't really thought about "upgrading" to the new version. He can still tell me about wait times and give other info. I still may ebay one before our next trip if they don't intoduce a new one by then.

 

[Mecha Figment]

I would expect a new version of pal mickey to arive soon. they spent to much money to put the technology in the park to let it die, and it is still very popular. I would also expect to see a variety of pals as well. Last I heard there is a good possibility that Pooh will be joining mickey.