What is Pal Mickey?

[minniebride]

What is Pal Mickey and how does it work?

I know it is now a retired item, but I read that it still "works" in the theme parks....what does that mean?

Thanks!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

PAL Mickey is a stuffed Mickey Mouse figure with internal electronics which allows the Mickey to know it's location and give various tips and pieces of trivia based on your location in the park.

 

[minniebride]

PAL Mickey is a stuffed Mickey Mouse figure with internal electronics which allows the Mickey to know it's location and give various tips and pieces of trivia based on your location in the park.

Neat! Does it work in all 4 parks? Does it work in the hotels & DTD as well? I also read that it will tell you parade times and where character meets are located-how does it work? Is it updated each day somehow?

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Neat! Does it work in all 4 parks? Does it work in the hotels & DTD as well? I also read that it will tell you parade times and where character meets are located-how does it work? Is it updated each day somehow?

He works in all 4 of the parks, I've never heard mine say anything in the resorts and havn't bothered to take him to DTD. It's was never really that updated and not updated anymore much (if any). The way it works is Mickey will vibrate and giggle when you are walking down Main Street and if you push the button (I want to say squeeze his ear) he will tell you the parade is at 3 oclock. For the charecter greetings for example he might say as you pass pirate of the carribean "there may be pirates in the area, be on the lookout for Captain Hook" b/c Hook's regular greeting spot used to be near POTC (it's not anymore). It was never really specific things like Princess Tiana comes out in Liberty Square at 1210 at the Gazebo.

 

[Robo]

1- He works in all 4 of the parks,

2- I've never heard mine say anything in the resorts and havn't bothered to take him to DTD.

1- Yes, and only there.

2- Otherwise (at the resorts, at home, in the car, etc.) outside of the 4 WDW theme parks, he will not "offer" to speak (as he does inside the parks) but, he will tell his jokes and play a couple of very simple "games" if you activate him directly.

 

[Raenstoirm]

I LOVE my pal. He is my avatar. He talks constantly though, so after about a week Pal started staying in the room this trip. My favorite is after you get off Tower of Terror he says, "that was fun and all pal, but next time can we take the stairs?" He also gets mad because the pirates (after PotC) call him a bilge rat and he of course is a "bilge mouse" as he says.
He used to tell you when to get a spot for the parade and where was the best view close to where you were and what ride wait times were low (I hear the Astro Orbiter has a low wait....lets fly to the stars") and if a certain character is out ("Jasmine is out in Morocco....lets go say hi" type thing), but that all sort of faded away when he was discontinued.
He was well worth the money back when he was sold in the parks. Not sure if I would pay the ebay price for him now though.

 

[minniebride]

I LOVE my pal. He is my avatar. He talks constantly though, so after about a week Pal started staying in the room this trip. My favorite is after you get off Tower of Terror he says, "that was fun and all pal, but next time can we take the stairs?" He also gets mad because the pirates (after PotC) call him a bilge rat and he of course is a "bilge mouse" as he says.
He used to tell you when to get a spot for the parade and where was the best view close to where you were and what ride wait times were low (I hear the Astro Orbiter has a low wait....lets fly to the stars") and if a certain character is out ("Jasmine is out in Morocco....lets go say hi" type thing), but that all sort of faded away when he was discontinued.
He was well worth the money back when he was sold in the parks. Not sure if I would pay the ebay price for him now though.

It's too bad he is no longer being sold or updated. I was looking at Ebay and thinking about buying him for my niece's first Disney trip next year.....guess since he is no longer updated, I won't bother buying it.

How much did he cost at retail when he was being sold in WDW?

 

[BradyBz12]

How much did he cost at retail when he was being sold in WDW?

I think when I bought mine (3-4 years ago?) it was around $60

 

[mommahnina]

We just found our pal mickey in a box along with the sorcerers outfit hehe! my son has no takin him over!! I didnt know it would still work in the park! I will have to bring him! My son would LOVE that!! we actually got this mickey before zee was born!

so does it really still work in the park?

 

[Robo]

It's too bad he is no longer being sold or updated. I was looking at Ebay and thinking about buying him for my niece's first Disney trip next year.....guess since he is no longer updated, I won't bother buying it.

Pal Mickey, once purchased, was never "updated."

There is no updating necessary.

You carry him into a WDW theme park, and he does his thing, just like always.

 

[minniebride]

Pal Mickey, once purchased, was never "updated."

There is no updating necessary.

You carry him into a WDW theme park, and he does his thing, just like always.

But didn't someone else say that he talks about attractions that are no longer there? & parade times are different each day/night depending on the season, right?

 

[Robo]

But didn't someone else say that he talks about attractions that are no longer there? & parade times are different each day/night depending on the season, right?

Regardless of what someone may have said,
Pal Mickey's operation is dependent on "cues" that are sent from various IR transmitters located throughout all 4 theme parks.

When Pal passes one of those "cues," he will be triggered to offer a specific bit of info.

The script that he speaks is already recorded on an internal chip.

So, when he passes near Splash Mountain, one of the things he mentions is something about not wanting to get wet.

When he crosses the bridge into Camp Minnie-Mickey, he'll mention looking for the "Rock Dragon."

There are dozens and dozens of cues throughout the parks, that trigger dozens and dozens of "spiels" from Pal.

There are also some generic spiels that will mention that "the parade is about to start, so better find a good place to watch."

It does not mention the NAME of the parade, so it's never a concern when if they change which parade is running.
They can simply trigger the cue for Pal to mention the parade (any parade)
based on the time that the parade happens to be running that day or night.
And, for what it's worth, they don't have to trigger the cue that mentions the parade, so Pal just won't mention the parade at all.

Pal was never much of a "tour guide" anyway.
He was just fun to have along.

(Like when he'd really get SCARED (and say so) while riding inside the HM...
a total surprise when he'd do that, as reportedly, he was not supposed to "speak" while inside an attraction.)

 

[minniebride]

Regardless of what someone may have said,
Pal Mickey's operation is dependent on "cues" that are sent from various IR transmitters located throughout all 4 theme parks.

When Pal passes one of those "cues," he will be triggered to offer a specific bit of info.

The script that he speaks is already recorded on an internal chip.

So, when he passes near Splash Mountain, one of the things he mentions is something about not wanting to get wet.

When he crosses the bridge into Camp Minnie-Mickey, he'll mention looking for the "Rock Dragon."

There are dozens and dozens of cues throughout the parks, that trigger dozens and dozens of "spiels" from Pal.

There are also some generic spiels that will mention that "the parade is about to start, so better find a good place to watch."

It does not mention the NAME of the parade, so it's never a concern when if they change which parade is running.
They can simply trigger the cue for Pal to mention the parade (any parade)
based on the time that the parade happens to be running that day or night.
And, for what it's worth, they don't have to trigger the cue that mentions the parade, so Pal just won't mention the parade at all.

Pal was never much of a "tour guide" anyway.
He was just fun to have along.

(Like when he'd really get SCARED (and say so) while riding inside the HM...
a total surprise when he'd do that, as reportedly, he was not supposed to "speak" while inside an attraction.)

Thank you! Do you think he is worth buying on Ebay for a 3 year old (and their family's) first trip?

What is the Rock Dragon?

 

[Robo]

Thank you!

1- Do you think he is worth buying on Ebay for a 3 year old (and their family's) first trip?

2- What is the Rock Dragon?

1- Impossible to answer, of course, as only you know your family's likes... and finances.

2- I mentioned WHERE it is in my post.
Something for you to look for when you're at DAK!