Everything You Need to Know About Hidden Mickeys
Hidden Mickeys are everywhere it seems. Finding them on your Disney vacation can certainly make your day. Here is your ultimate guide to Hidden Mickeys!
What They Are
Hidden Mickeys are exactly what they sound like. All across Walt Disney World, there are approximately 1,000 different Mickey-shaped objects hidden in the resorts, parks, and even attractions. They come in many different sizes and forms, but each one clearly represents the silhouette of Mickey’s head and ears. Some Hidden Mickeys are easier to find than others, however, they are all capable of being found. Finding Hidden Mickeys has become a hobby for many, including myself, so be sure to keep your eyes out because you never know where you may find them!
Photo Credit: By UpstateNYer – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6815148
Where To Find Them
As I mentioned earlier, Hidden Mickeys can be found all over the place. In addition to Walt Disney World, they also appear in several animated Disney movies. People who visit Disney World often know of the many locations where Hidden Mickeys can be found. One example of a Hidden Mickey is a set of three plates placed precisely in the Hidden Mickey shape on a dinner table in Haunted Mansion. Another example is a paint stain on a small table in Spaceship Earth. These are two “easy” examples of Hidden Mickeys that many know about, but there are many others that can only be spotted by those with the keenest of eyes.
History
The history of Hidden Mickeys is definitely an interesting one. The first published sighting of a Hidden Mickey was by Arlen Miller. In an article for Eyes and Ears, written in 1989, Miller described the different places in the parks where people can find Hidden Mickeys. Months later, Miller was contacted by Disney News for more information on Hidden Mickeys. Disney News then wrote an ensuing article themselves, which spread the word of Hidden Mickeys all over the country. After this article was published, Hidden Mickeys began secretly popping up all around Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
https://youtu.be/X2te3Yo8ETs
Disneyland
When Disneyland turned 50 years old in 2005, the park held an eighteen-month-long celebration for this anniversary. As part of the festivities, 50 Hidden Mickeys were decorated around the park. Each Hidden Mickey had the number “50” inside the silhouette of Mickey’s head. These were called “Hidden Mickey 50 Ears”. Disney even posted hints on their website to find the different symbols. At the end of the anniversary celebration the Hidden Mickey 50 Ears were gradually removed, but the original ones remained.
My Experience
Each time I go to Disney World, I always try to find Hidden Mickeys wherever I am. It has become somewhat of a competition in my family to seek out as many Hidden Mickeys as we can before we have to leave. Finding Hidden Mickeys never grows old because they are so unexpected. They are so well placed and just perfectly hidden enough to enjoy finding them.
I’m sure there are hundreds of Hidden Mickeys that I have missed over the years of searching, but hopefully one day I’ll find them all. In fact, a few years back I received a Hidden Mickeys guide on where to find all of them in Disney World. To this day, I still have not looked at it just for the sake and enjoyment of finding them myself. Each time I ride an attraction that I know the specific Hidden Mickey locations, no matter how many times I’ve seen it, I always glance over and marvel the symbol. When I return to Walt Disney World in August, I’m sure I’ll discover Hidden Mickeys that I’ve never seen before and revisit the ones I already know!
Special thanks to summer intern, Tyler Antonelle, for writing this article. Tyler is a high school senior from New Jersey. He loves everything about Disney, and has been to Walt Disney World 2-3 times a year since he was born. His passion for Disney is huge and he believes there is no better way to express that passion than to write about The Most Magical Place on Earth!
