Talking Mickey?

[PlutoTheDog89]

My sister (she's 32 today) loves meeting the characters. It's all in the fun of being at Disney, so it admittedly brings out the kid in the both of us.

We were both really excited to see the talking Mickey. On two occasions, we visited later in the night and he didn't talk. Not one word. We took photos and went on our way. This year, we're hoping to get a sentence out of him.

So, has this ever happened to anyone? Does Mickey stop talking in Town Square after a while? Does he not talk to adults?

 

[erionm]

Possibly a technical issue. He spoke for us (two adults) back in February, he even did a card trick.

 

[HopperFan]

YUP, we have had 50/50 luck with him talking. We get the excuse of "a sore throat" "saving his voice" ...... we are all adults and been all hours. Note he is not advertised in any way as talking so they are off the hook.

One time we wasted a FP+ on him and I told them we should have been told before we burned it he was not talking. We had met Mickey at all the other parks, the only reason to meet him there was him talking.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Possibly a technical issue. He spoke for us (two adults) back in February, he even did a card trick.

YUP, we have had 50/50 luck with him talking. We get the excuse of "a sore throat" "saving his voice" ...... we are all adults and been all hours. Note he is not advertised in any way as talking so they are off the hook.

One time we wasted a FP+ on him and I told them we should have been told before we burned it he was not talking. We had met Mickey at all the other parks, the only reason to meet him there was him talking.

Yeah.. I mean it didn't ruin it for us.. was just disappointing. I still love getting pics with characters in different attire, so it all worked out well.

 

[dachsie]

Is the talking Mickey a pre-recorded thing? He seemed to say the same thing over and over to people in line as they went up when we were there a couple of weeks ago

 

[revdon64]

Is the talking Mickey a pre-recorded thing? He seemed to say the same thing over and over to people in line as they went up when we were there a couple of weeks ago

I have no inside knowledge on this, but it would seem to make sense. I saw a youtube video where two kids did a card trick with Mickey, and it was almost identical to the one I saw in person with my own kids.

 

[georgiasmom]

I don't think it is pre recorded. He saw my daughter's birthday pin, asked her name and sang happy birthday to her.

 

[Richard M Nixon]

Is the talking Mickey a pre-recorded thing? He seemed to say the same thing over and over to people in line as they went up when we were there a couple of weeks ago

I asked about this on a tour and was told that the lines are pre-recorded but there are a bunch to choose from. The person inside the Mickey costume doesn't choose what to say, though, that's handled by someone at another location. The actor is told what their character is about to say so they are able to react to the words appropriately.

 

[warrenz1963]

Is the talking Mickey a pre-recorded thing? He seemed to say the same thing over and over to people in line as they went up when we were there a couple of weeks ago

The last time we met him he mentioned our anniversary pins, asked us how long we'd been a couple, and even talked about our matching hats. If it's pre-recorded they certainly have a very large library of recordings to choose from...

 

[Robo]

It IS pre-recorded, and, yes, he has a very large library of things he can say.
(And, those things can be combined in multiple ways depending on the guest(s) who are visiting.)
It is a very technically complicated and highly-trained and specialized cast-heavy (and expensive) operation to pull off.
There are often problems in "coordination" and technical glitches that cause Mickey to go silent.

BTW, "Turtle Talk with Crush" is NOT performed in this way, and is a much simpler operation to perform.

 

[DebbieB]

He talked to us last month. It didn't seem pre-recorded, it was a conversation.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Is the talking Mickey a pre-recorded thing? He seemed to say the same thing over and over to people in line as they went up when we were there a couple of weeks ago

No, not pre-recorded. My son said, I love you Mickey, he said oh thanks pal I love you too. I have it on video. He also made him a card and Mickey handed it to the cast member and said here put this someplace safe. I don't understand how put its pretty cool.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

My sister (she's 32 today) loves meeting the characters. It's all in the fun of being at Disney, so it admittedly brings out the kid in the both of us.

We were both really excited to see the talking Mickey. On two occasions, we visited later in the night and he didn't talk. Not one word. We took photos and went on our way. This year, we're hoping to get a sentence out of him.

So, has this ever happened to anyone? Does Mickey stop talking in Town Square after a while? Does he not talk to adults?

On our trip before baby, he didn't talk and since then with a little one, he has always talked. So I do think when "Mickey is feeling a little hoarse" they might choose to send more adult only parties to that Mickey.

Sorry about the bad luck. If you do get to see him, we've seen him speak French, Portuguese and Spanish.

It is definitely pre-recorded though b/c we heard the same "joke" twice about how the baby should enjoy being carried b/c we were going to make her get a real job one day... but it's very amazing how well they make it flow. And his multilingualism is a pretty good indication that it's pre-recorded.

ETA: It's fun to see the reactions from the foreign guests when he speaks to them in the languages from their countries. That is a bit of true Disney magic, because they are always surprised and amazed.

 

[Robo]

No, not pre-recorded. My son said, I love you Mickey, he said oh thanks pal I love you too. I have it on video. He also made him a card and Mickey handed it to the cast member and said here put this someplace safe. I don't understand how put its pretty cool.

Yes, the voice is pre-recorded.
But, the recordings are played very specifically to the situation.

 

[hiroMYhero]

No, not pre-recorded. My son said, I love you Mickey, he said oh thanks pal I love you too. I have it on video. He also made him a card and Mickey handed it to the cast member and said here put this someplace safe. I don't understand how put its pretty cool.

@Robo is correct in that everything is recorded.

In this very complex operation, Disney can't afford Mickey voice impersonators in every meeting room, but, they can employ very efficient CMs who select what Mickey will say.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Yes, the voice is pre-recorded.
But, the recordings are played very specifically to the situation.

Gotcha. Thanks. I cant imagine that technology- how it responds that quickly and so accurately.

 

[Shanti]

My sister (she's 32 today) loves meeting the characters. It's all in the fun of being at Disney, so it admittedly brings out the kid in the both of us.

We were both really excited to see the talking Mickey. On two occasions, we visited later in the night and he didn't talk. Not one word. We took photos and went on our way. This year, we're hoping to get a sentence out of him.

So, has this ever happened to anyone? Does Mickey stop talking in Town Square after a while? Does he not talk to adults?

When we visited last July, while in line I asked the CM if Mickey would talk, and she said he might or might not. He did talk, responded to my son's question, and it was convincing. My son loved it. Great memory.

 

[Robo]

Gotcha. Thanks. I cant imagine that technology- how it responds that quickly and so accurately.

The "technology," itself, does not respond to the situation,
specially-trained and experienced Cast Members (behind the scenes... in a completely different location on WDW property than MK) monitor what's going on (and what guests say and do) in the meeting rooms... via closed-circuit audio and video... and control what lines play (what Mickey says) in what situations.