The Great Pal Mickey Debate

[LadyDulcinea1]

Ok, this may be confusing, so bear with me

I've read a lot of threads on here that say that the purpose of having a cast member "wave" something in front of Mickey's face in NOT to update the older versions with the new information, but rather to simply update them with the current parade times and things for that day, which is basically what is supposed to happen when you walk into the park.

SO, rewind to a few weeks ago. DM and I walk into MK with our Pal Mickey. After an hour of walking around we realize that while our beloved Pal Mickey is shaking and laughing and reacting to the sensors, he's only telling jokes and singing songs, and not saying anything to indicate that he "knows" what park he's in. So, we walked over the Cinema and explained our problem and asked if we could have something waved in front of him. Three separate CM then told us the exact OPPOSITE about of what is in the above paragraph, and kept insisting that we needed a whole new Mickey. Convinced I was right, and all he needed was to be updated when we walked in the park (which somehow didn't happen), we changed his batteries and then walked around the entrance to Main Street and low and behold he worked! And worked fine for the rest of the trip!

So my question.....what's the truth? What I've read on the boards or what three different CMs told me????

 

[TinkerTracy]

I am not sure.
But when Mickey just giggles and shakes and won't say anything...or just continuously shakes he needs new batteries.
I think Mickey can be updated...

 

[Tink]

I have broght Mickey back on at least three trips, and he always updates himself. I make sure he has fresh batteries for the trip and I put him "on" when we leave the hotel each day.

I have always gotten accurate info that way.

 

[Caitsmama]

For his pricetag, he'd better update himself!! LOL Anyway, we brought dd's last yr (second trip) and it seemed to update himself just fine.. This yr, i will definately put fresh batteries in before we go!

 

[LadyDulcinea1]

I am not sure.
But when Mickey just giggles and shakes and won't say anything...or just continuously shakes he needs new batteries.
I think Mickey can be updated...

He was reacting to the sensors and talking, but even after we changed the batteries he wasn't working right until I made sure he was exposed to the sensor at the beginning of Main Street. He was on and facing forward when we walked in so I'm still not sure what the problem was

But again, I'm still confused as to what can be done when the Happiest Celebration is over. I'd hate to have to hand in our Mickey for a new "updated" one.....or to have to pay full price for another one!!

If waving the thing in front of his face doesn't give him new information, then perhaps there could be a way of bringing Pal Mickey into surgery and having the new insides put into your old PM????

 

[Robo]

I've read a lot of threads on here that say that the purpose of having a cast member "wave" something in front of Mickey's face in NOT to update the older versions with the new information, but rather to simply update them with the current parade times and things for that day, which is basically what is supposed to happen when you walk into the park.

You have several different ideas all going within your question.

a) The "waving" of a wand is NOT to update an older version PM.
b) But it also in NOT to update him with new park info, either.

Its only purpose is to "RESET" him (like re-starting a home computer after a "freeze".)

After THAT, he will AUTOMATICALLY "update" himself when you walk into a WDW theme-park.

So, we walked over the Cinema and explained our problem and asked if we could have something waved in front of him. Three separate CM then told us the exact OPPOSITE about of what is in the above paragraph, and kept insisting that we needed a whole new Mickey.

Well, they were RIGHT.
Because they were responding to YOU asking for an "Update" which would mean ADDING INFORMATION to an older PM. Info that was not available at thje time he was built.
The "classic" (first-version) Pal won't "know or talk about" EE, Soarin' or any other attractions that may have been opened since he was built, but that leaves 99% or so of attractions that he DOES talk about.

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."

...we changed his batteries and then walked around the entrance to Main Street and low and behold he worked! And worked fine for the rest of the trip!

Yes, indeed.
Be SURE to put a BRAND NEW set of ALKALINE BATTERIES in your Pal at the beginning of any trip (he takes 3 each of "AA") and take a new set of SPARE batteries, just in case.

If for any reason he does NOT "giggle, vibrate and talk" throughout any of the parks, you can take him in for a quick "refresh" at the MAIN STREET CINEMA (across from the Emporium in the MK). This is the central Pal Mickey "headquarters" for WDW.

Again, you should not NEED to do this if your Pal is behaving normally... by frequently vibrating, giggling, and telling you Disney info and corny jokes.



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".

 

[Disney Crazy Debbie]

I am going to WDW next Friday (10 days) and was planning on purchasing a PM. Can someone tell me what size batteries and how many are needed to keep him running? Does he come with batteries or is it best to get fresh? I thought I'd take some with me before I got to the park.

 

[Disney Crazy Debbie]

I will be in WDW next week and was planning on purchasing a PM. Does he come with batteries or would it be best to bring some fresh ones with me? If so, what size battery and how many? Thanks, DISers, you're the best

 

[LadyDulcinea1]

Well, they were RIGHT.
Because they were responding to YOU asking for an "Update" which would mean ADDING INFORMATION to an older PM. Info that was not available at thje time he was built.
The "classic" (first-version) Pal won't "know or talk about" EE, Soarin' or any other attractions that may have been opened since he was built, but that leaves 99% or so of attractions that he DOES talk about.

Sorry, but I just feel the need to defend myself. I did NOT ask for an "update". I explained my problem the same way I did in my first post, that he WAS reacting to the sensors but not saying ANYTHING to indicate that he KNEW he was in MK (i.e. He would giggle, I'd squeeze his tummy, and he would tell a joke/sing a song/etc, but NOT say anything about MK or any of the lands or rides like he used to).

I simply asked the CM if there was anything they could do, in the way of waving something in front of his face to update him with the PARK'S information, I made it CLEAR that I was NOT expecting him to say anything new. The CM just kept telling me no, if he doesn't react to the sensors when you put new batteries in he's broken.

Bottom-line, I was right about the problem. I know that. I just wanted to know if anyone knew for certain what the deal would be when the new celebration begins.

 

[Robo]

I am going to WDW next Friday (10 days) and was planning on purchasing a PM. Can someone tell me what size batteries and how many are needed to keep him running? Does he come with batteries or is it best to get fresh? I thought I'd take some with me before I got to the park.

He takes 3 batteries.

"AA" Alkaline or better.

He comes new with a good set already installed, but be sure to bring 2 fresh sets from home (just in case) as batteries at WDW cost a FORTUNE!

BTW, he will run for at least 15-25 DAYS (or even more) on one new set of batteries.

But, after awhile, if he just starts "wiggling" (vibrating) and won't stop or do anything else, he's just "asking" for a fresh set of 3 new AA batteries.

 

[Robo]

Sorry, but I just feel the need to defend myself... I simply asked the CM if there was anything they could do, in the way of waving something in front of his face to update him with the PARK'S information

a) No need to DEFEND yourself. You're not ACCUSED of anything.

b) As I said before, what they do ("wave something") does NOT update him with current park info. It is just a "microprocessor reset", so they were right in that they could, in fact, NOT DO what you were asking.

Today, you are asking folks on the board WHY the CM's didn't do something to update your PM with park info.
I'm trying to explain WHY they didn't do it... what you asked for is not what the 'wand-waving" does. And they couldn't do it.

Now, why they didn't offer up the "put in new batteries" advice...
maybe they DID... I don't know.

 

[LadyDulcinea1]

I'm not asking why they didn't do something to update him with park info.

I'm just trying to figure out (regardless of what happened to me) what the official word is on updating PM and if there has been any word on what will happen during the new celebration.

 

[Robo]

If waving the thing in front of his face doesn't give him new information, then perhaps there could be a way of bringing Pal Mickey into surgery and having the new insides put into your old PM????

He does not NEED any new information to continue to operate in the parks as he did when new.

(No "waving something" by the CM's will be necessary.)

There are only a very few "new attractions" that an older PM will not "know about".

Soarin', Turtle Talk and EE right NOW are the newest.
Coming up will be the new "Finding Nemo, the Musical" at DAK, "Finding Nemo 'Clamobiles'" inside the Seas, Epcot, and a couple of other new attractions now in the works.

But even if the current PM's don't have any info on these, they will still tell about the 96-99% of the other WDW attractions, just as before.

 

[katgarbars]

Okay, I have a quick question/problem. My DD has a Pal Mickey and I find it VERY hard to change the batteries. Do you think if I take him to Main Street Cinema they will do this for me (I would provide the batteries). The last time I attempted it he stopped working properly and my daughter would be devastated if I killed him again.

 

[Robo]

Okay, I have a quick question/problem. My DD has a Pal Mickey and I find it VERY hard to change the batteries. Do you think if I take him to Main Street Cinema they will do this for me (I would provide the batteries). The last time I attempted it he stopped working properly and my daughter would be devastated if I killed him again.

If you ask the CM there very nicely, (s)he might just do that for you.
(Although they are not required to.)
The other thing they might do is HELP you do it correctly, and, if he's not up-to-snuff after the change, they can "wave the wand*" and re-set him for you.

Be sure that the new batteries you take are fresh ALKALINE (or better) batteries.
Do not use so-called "heavy duty" batteries... they will fail very quickly.

(*We keep saying "wave the wand" and such. The reset device is actually a small computer with an infrared (IR) emitter that sends a code into PM's nose... no joke.)

 

[katgarbars]

Thanks, a little guidance is hopefully all I'll need. His outfit just doesn't seem to pull down low enough for me to get a good reach. Sounds shocking when I put it in writing. Imagine, I'm having trouble undressing poor little Mickey.

 

[Caitsmama]

What i don't understand, is why they are so expensive, if say they won't be able to tell about all the new attractions/shows that are constantly changing each yr?! I know it wasn't just the new 50th PM's that were 70.00, We got a regular PM back on our first vist, in 2004, and it was about $75.00.. We also bought him with the understanding (i guess now a misconception) that every year he would update himself, to anything new. So, it seems he is a bit high priced if he can be updated with just current events- but not with anything new that is added..
I myself can not see buying one of these every 2 yrs or so, just to keep up to date with new attractions/rides.
However, if he were 30-40.00 , i would consider it.. i guess.

 

[Robo]

...We also bought him with the understanding (i guess now a misconception) that every year he would update himself, to anything new. So, it seems he is a bit high priced if he can be updated with just current events- but not with anything new that is added..

90-95% is WDW doesn't change all that much year-to-year.

95%-99% of what PM "says" is not affected by new attractions.

He DOES "update" about TIMES for events and parades.
He DOES "update" about various attractions with shorter wait times.
He DOES "update" about character "meet 'n greets".
He DOES still tell about some of the various "landmarks" in the parks.
He DOES still tell the same old "groaner" puns and jokes.

What the newer model might have to "say" about the very few new attractions that have come into being since an older PM was purchased are really not that much to "miss"... and I wouldn't buy a NEW one (and haven't) for many years in-between.

I'll wait to see what the new (after "50th Anniv.) PM does before I decide if I want to buy one, or just keep using our original "classic" PM for awhile longer.

He cost us about $50 at WDW, back in the beginning, not $75.
And, many folks waited until the "50th Anniv." PM was issued and the first version was made available at certain Disney OUTLETS... and they could pay about $25 for the older "classic" PM.

I'm thinking that the "50th Anniv." PM might go about the same route, if a new version is soon issued.