Pal Mickey works just fine away from WDW.
In fact, he's sold at all the WDW Hotel gift shops... well away from most of the parks... and he's rarin' to go right when you first pick him up.
He plays simple games and tells jokes better than most any other talking doll you'll find.
Then, when you finally pass thru the gate at the first theme park on your WDW trip, he'll "figure out where he is..." and start wigglin' and gigglin' with new info, suggestions, and "custom" jokes for the area you're in.
A great high-tech/high-touch critter!