Pal Mickey issue

[UberPlannerMom]

OK so my husband and I would love to get a Pal Mickey for our trip. Here is the hiccup- we have some friends who have an original pal mickey and they have offered to let us use it. Just how big a difference is there between the versions? I know that the new ones are in a different outfit and have some games but is that all? Do the old ones "know" as much as the new ones or does that change? Any recommendations are very much appreciated!

 

[frankd1962]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pal_Mickey

The first version will have in its program what was around back then. The second one had things for the Happiest Celebration.

The newest one will have all that is in the parks now. I bought one last year and it was the most fun to have. The jokes were corny but it did make for a nice companion for a solo traveler through the World.

 

[Laura]

We brought our old one to the parks recently and he worked great and seemed up to date. We have the original version and bought it right when it first came out.

 

[Bluewaves]

I believe pal mickey is updated to whats in the park when your there, at least thats what the guy who sold me mine in the MK said to me.

 

[UberPlannerMom]

Thanks everyone! That could really save me quite a bit of money and my two year old won't care about the clothes... I hope!

 

[DisneyWall-E]

The new ones will have a lot more information than the old ones. I think I read somewhere that the 1st ones still have Alien Encounter on them. Also, the old ones can not be updated. Whatever they were programed with at first is all you get. My wife and I have the Sorcerer Pal Mickey and love it.

 

[UberPlannerMom]

Hmmm... ok... I really don't want one that isn't up to date. Has anyone had an experience with the old one having bad information?

 

[DivineMadness7]

I believe pal mickey is updated to whats in the park when your there, at least thats what the guy who sold me mine in the MK said to me.

This is, unfortunately, incorrect. If you do a thread search, you'll find several posts where it has been debunked.

 

[MissM]

Pal Mickey DOES NOT "update" or "download" new phrases. One of the original Pals will always and forever only talk about the things he was programmed with back in 2004. This means he'll still mention "Alien Encounter" at the Stitch trigger sensor and won't know about any rides newer than his programming.

He will still work. But he will be several years outdated. It's an annoyingly common urban legend that the old versions can be "updated" to contain new content. There's been a ton of topics on this in the past. If you just want to play with one without the investment and don't care about being the most up-to-date, the old version will still work. But if you want the newest information and the most features, you'd need a new one for that.

Hope that helps.
-m

 

[Yellow Shoes]

That could really save me quite a bit of money and my two year old won't care ... I hope!

Your two year old won't care or even know that Mickey is talking about Alien Encounter when you're standing in front of Stitch. Unless, of course, your two year old can read.....

I am not a Pal Mickey owner, but as I recall, they vibrate, play music, tell jokes, etc at random as you walk through the parks.

Those features in and of themselves will keep a toddler mesmerized.

Take the old Pal and get a feel for what it can do. Then if you really like it, buy a new one---next trip.

 

[Laura]

Your two year old won't care or even know that Mickey is talking about Alien Encounter when you're standing in front of Stitch. Unless, of course, your two year old can read.....

I am not a Pal Mickey owner, but as I recall, they vibrate, play music, tell jokes, etc at random as you walk through the parks.

Those features in and of themselves will keep a toddler mesmerized.

Take the old Pal and get a feel for what it can do. Then if you really like it, buy a new one---next trip.

Totally agree. My kids (4 and 6 at the time) had a blast with our very outdated Pal Mickey back in June. Honestly, I didn't notice him saying anything outdated so if he did it must have been a very rare occurrence.

Also, if you're concerned about the clothing, they sell all sorts of outfits for the Pal Mickey's in the store. We bought a Pirate outfit to bring ours more up to date.

 

[KristieLC]

The only thing I would be concerned about, other then it not being up to date, is loosing it. I think that personally I would be stressing about it the whole time because of it belonging to someone else.

 

[UberPlannerMom]

While it would be bad to loose it these are friends that have had my diamond earrings for the last 4 months. My kids refer to them as Aunt and Uncle. And I have had the key to their car for the last 4 years. We basically treat eachothers stuff as a big together pot a lot of the time. And if I lost it I would definitely replace it for them.

There really is a lot to think about with it all. That includes my two year old and my "just gotta have the latest thing" husband! Haha!

 

[ErickainPA]

you can always check ebay for one of the newer ones. We have the happiest celebration one, my son now took ownership of it and while not always on, he loves it anyway (he will be 2 on Friday)

 

[UberPlannerMom]

Just as an update I did go ahead and buy one from ebay. I have not received it yet so I can not say that it is perfect or anything but for about half the price I felt like it was worth the gamble. (Plus it meant that I got to use some of my paypal funds directly!) Anyway- I will let everyone know if my personal Mickey works well... and if it does anyone that wants the sellers name can contact me to find out who it is since he seems to sell quite a few of them. The guy lives in Orlando so I figure he must get them off of people who bought them just for vacation? That idea seems kind of odd though... I mean can't you just imagine walking up to your car and having someone walk up and say,"I notice you have a pal Mickey.. you wanna sell it?" Haha:ROFLOL:

 

[MissM]

Good luck, I hope he works well for you.

Anyone else buying one from ebay: a cautionary warning. I've seen some really dishonest sellers marketing old (version 1) Pal Mickeys as "special editions" and such because they put them in one of the outfits.

V1 came out 2003 wearing just shorts with white "buttons" and white gloves.

V2 was the Happiest Celebration On Earth version, came out in 2005 and he wore shorts with gold "buttons," a removable tux jacket and has a "Glow Emblem" embedded in his hand.

V3 came out in 2006 and wears a Sorcerer's Apprentice outfit (removable cloak and hat) with blue shorts sewn over his normal red shorts with white buttons.

Separately, they also sell costumes. Safari, Rain Poncho, Mickey Mouse Club, Pin Trader, Capt'n Mickey, and Santa (seasonal) These can fit any of the three editions but are completely independent of the three editions. Just because someone is selling a Pal in one of the outfits for example, does NOT mean it's the newest one.

Anyway, just be careful. I'd hate for someone to be fooled by these underhanded sellers.