Pal Mickey Update

[Robo]

What kind of batteries does Pal Mickey use? I'm packing for this upcoming trip and want to be prepared! Thank you!

AA (double-A's) 4 of them, as I recall.

He comes with a fresh set when you buy him, but its always good to have some spares.

You'll know when he wants a new set of AA's if he just starts "wigglin' " and does not talk.

(And you DON'T want to have to pay what they charge at WDW for batteries!)

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

See my other post.

Under normal circumstances, you should not need to UPDATE any Pal Mickey.

If he's wigglin', gigglin' and offering jokes and information, he's "updated" already and working fine.

thanks Robo!!! We're new to this Pal Mickey thing!!!

 

[ACrider]

I am confused but intrigued - what is a Pal Mickey - can someone fill me in or direct me to more where I can find this information?

 

[Pigletlover]

I was told that the older version of Pal Mickey cannot be updated with info about new attractions that were built after he was made. Only the new tuxedo Pal Mickey will tell you about new attractions like Stitch's Escape, Soarin etc.

 

[MinnieFan]

I was told that the older version of Pal Mickey cannot be updated with info about new attractions that were built after he was made. Only the new tuxedo Pal Mickey will tell you about new attractions like Stitch's Escape, Soarin etc.

This is correct. We have an old Pal Mickey who automatically downloaded all of the day's schedule information when we entered each park. However, the old version will not have any information about the new attractions. My DD7 still loves him and carried him everywhere on our trip. Poor Pal Mickey has seen better days - he's had a few things spilled on him during the course of our three trips with him, and despite "baths" with Shout wipes he is looking a little dingy. We're going to get DD the new version on our next trip.

For those using an older version of Pal Mickey, it's a good idea to give him fresh batteries before your trip to be sure that he has enough "juice" to load up on that park information.

 

[Robo]

I am confused but intrigued - what is a Pal Mickey - can someone fill me in or direct me to more where I can find this information?

You can ALWAYS find out info on ANYTHING that is a "Disney thing" INSTANTLY, RIGHT HERE, 24/7.

Just click on the SEARCH button (in the stripe near the top of the page) and type in a word or phrase that is key to your question.

In this case, click the SEARCH and type in "Pal Mickey" and there should be a few HUNDRED posts that...

explain, explain again, re-explain, tell the tale, spin the story, reveal the facts, discuss the pros and cons... (you get it).

Pal Mickey is discussed VERY often on this board.

Heck, Pal Mickey is SO popular, just GOOGLE for "Pal Mickey".
There are (seriously) 1,310,000 listings on GOOGLE for "Pal Mickey"
(Where have YOU been?)

 

[ACrider]

Not in Disney World! :-(
Seriously I did do a search and browsed a few dozen threads. Think I got it an good understanding. Now just to kepp my eye out for a good deal (under $20?) to get one!

 

[MAGGIED]

We love Pal Mickey too - can't wait to get him back in FLorida for an update - we forgot him on our November trip - so sad!!!! He is very helpful reminding us of times and giving us little tidbits of info - the kids think that I am some kind of Disney expert (far from it - but we will let them keep on thinking that) and they loved to try and stump me with some of Mickey's facts... he's a lot of fun... everyone should have one

 

[Pigletlover]

Here is Disney's page about Pal Mickey, but it only talks about the older version.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/special/specialindex?id=PalMickeyPage

The new Pal Mickey wears a removable tuxedo, talks louder, and has a larger vocabulary than the old version. He will tell you about new attractions that were built after the old version Pal Mickey was made. He plays 6 games instead of 3, and likes to play sing-a-long with you. And he comes with a lanyard to put around your neck, so you have the choice of using that or the clip that attachs him to your belt.

We noticed that the new Pal Mickey has a different shaped face to the old one. It looks more rounded. The old Mickey's nose is longer and some dimensions of various parts of his face are definitely different.

 

[gloriana]

If it weren't for one person mentioning it in an Amazon review, I would think I was totally seeing things....

page 347 of the 2006 Unofficial Guide to WDW contains a few paragraphs about Pal Mickey. It says, "Occasionally he shares something personal like, 'I could totally get baked on a good joint right about now. Are you holding?'"

What?!?!?! Is this for real?

Julie, heading to WDW for the first time on Friday the 13th!

 

[Pigletlover]

They were joking!

 

[Robo]

It says, "Occasionally he shares something personal like, 'I could totally get baked on a good joint right about now. Are you holding?'"

What?!?!?! Is this for real?

No. It has been discussed MANY times here that is it a misguided "joke" of the kind that really has no place in relation to Mickey Mouse.

 

[momto2]

YES... THIS IS THE CORRECT INFO.

Pal Mickeys "OLD" or "NEW"
DO NOT NEED TO BE UPDATED BY A CM AT THE PARK.

This entire thread has a lot of confusing information on it.

Yes, you CAN get a free "re-program" (thru PM's NOSE) at the PM store on Mainstreet in the MK.

But 99.44% of the time, this is NOT NEEDED.

Robo,
The reason I started this post was because before we left, there was a post discussing 'updating' people said that they couldn't do it. I was asking for correct info before we left and was glad that I could share what I thought to be correct. Neither CM (there were two different ones) said anything to the contrary when we asked for Pal Mickey to be updated. They didn't say he doesn't need it or anything like that. They just said sure, and went to work. So I didn't have any reason to believe that they weren't being updated. We are new to Pal Mickey and wanted to be sure he was working his best.

THanks for clearing thinks up. Next time I can save time by not waiting in the Pal Mickey store for something that happens automatically. Sure wish the CM's would have told me that.

 

[fanofdisney]

This is correct. We have an old Pal Mickey who automatically downloaded all of the day's schedule information when we entered each park. However, the old version will not have any information about the new attractions.

So does this mean that my tuxedo Mickey will not work with rides to come?

 

[Robo]

Next time I can save time by not waiting in the Pal Mickey store for something that happens automatically. Sure wish the CM's would have told me that.

I actually had to have my brand new PM (at the time, he was new, now he's "the old Pal Mickey") "re-booted" at the PM store on Main Street a couple of years ago.

So, no harm done.
Because your basic info about taking him to the PM store is GOOD... but only IF... you have TROUBLE with your PM.

Its just the term UPDATE that is the major confusion here.

ANY properly operating PM (with good batteries) will automatically "pick up the cues" and stay current with the info at each theme park today.
(Maybe we COULD say "update", but not a FULL-SCALE "update" of a Pal Mickey "1.0" into the full level of new Pal Mickey "2.0".)

But there is SO LITTLE DIFFERENCE between the "old" and "new" PM's that it is hardly worth worrying about.

I am not so SURE that the "old" PM CAN'T tell you about newer attractions, anyway.
This may ALSO be one of those "legends" (brought on by confusing lableling on the "new" PM BOX) that just gets repeated until it becomes a FACT.

Which brings us to that last posted VERY GOOD QUESTION...
If you buy a $60 "new" PM today, will he become the "old" PM of tomorrow.
As in, will he not even "know" about Expedition Everest as it will have opened after he was created.

The answer is a resounding, "I don't know!!"
I'm going to the EE Preview in acouple of weeks, maybe I can find out more THEN.