It takes 3 AA batteries. We have to replace the batteries every day of our trip!!! I bought it at MK and went back to my hotel room at the CR not more than an hour and a half later. By the time i got back to the room it wasn't working. I took it to the gift shop thinking it was broken (and they did too) and they replaced it. This was around 3:00 I'd say. When we reach the entrance to Epcot the next day it wasn't working again. I took it to a store there and they said it was the batteries. They replaced them and he worked the rest of the day. I charge batteries for him every night at the resort. He has worked all the time after I started doing that.