Talking Mickey leaving Town Square theater

rteetz

DIS Veteran
Joined
Feb 20, 2013
Talking Mickey will be leaving the Town Square Theater come May 2018. This is a cost saving move. Non talking Mickey will replace him.
 


I know this doesn’t seem like much to the average guest but you can’t go backwards here.

This experience is huge for kids but “experience” is not a number on a spreadsheet.
And as someone pointed out in the news thread (maybe it was you @rteetz ) that there not an obvious cost savings here. How much does that costume honestly cost to operate?
 
And as someone pointed out in the news thread (maybe it was you @rteetz ) that there not an obvious cost savings here. How much does that costume honestly cost to operate?
I don’t know specifics but this will cut costs by cutting a CM basically.

The heads are incredibly heavy and have even caused injuries to some who wear it.
 
We waited on a long line with Fastpasses to meet him in September. I was with my four great nieces and wondered if any of them would ask why he talked there but nowhere else that we saw him.

Sure enough, the oldest niece asked that exact question and her dad answered, “This is his office. It’s the only place where he feels comfortable enough to talk.”

Good quick thinking on my nephew’s part. He’s got his daughters believing that his own office is a mystical place so she totally bought it. LOL!
 


I don’t know specifics but this will cut costs by cutting a CM basically.

The heads are incredibly heavy and have even caused injuries to some who wear it.
The cost cutting part is ridiculous but the “safety” aspect is interesting. I don’t know the ins and outs of the talking character tech, but I know it’s been around for a bit. You’d think they would’ve been able to improve the weight aspect by now
 
The cost cutting part is ridiculous but the “safety” aspect is interesting. I don’t know the ins and outs of the talking character tech, but I know it’s been around for a bit. You’d think they would’ve been able to improve the weight aspect by now
The newer version heads I believe were even heavier due to them being higher tech.

They’ll use them no problem when they can pre program them for shows, parades, openings. This meet and greet is spontaneous so they can’t pre program which is why there are extra CMs involved.
 
The newer version heads I believe were even heavier due to them being higher tech.

They’ll use them no problem when they can pre program them for shows, parades, openings. This meet and greet is spontaneous so they can’t pre program which is why there are extra CMs involved.
I appreciate you shedding light on the details. I’m guessing the cast members must have to program an adequate response or something of the sort for the head to a guests response? Interesting.

The heavier thing still intrigues me because I know the cliche is technology gets smaller and more compact as it gets perfected, but I guess this was the opposite
 
The cost cutting part is ridiculous but the “safety” aspect is interesting. I don’t know the ins and outs of the talking character tech, but I know it’s been around for a bit. You’d think they would’ve been able to improve the weight aspect by now
When this was new I heard it takes 9 CM's to run the meet. Probably heard it here, but.........
 
Maybe it’s safety but I’m skeptical. If it’s safety wouldn’t they do away with the talking characters in the shows. Same heads right even if pre-recorded and scripted.
 
Maybe it’s safety but I’m skeptical. If it’s safety wouldn’t they do away with the talking characters in the shows. Same heads right even if pre-recorded and scripted.
It’s mainly cost cutting as the reason.
 

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