Learn All About Disney World’s Hidden Mickeys

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So less than a month out from our next Disney World vacation here. Therefore, getting excited and thought what better time than to gear up for our this trip’s family quest for Hidden Mickeys.

See when you look closely at the art and attractions in Walt Disney World, you’ll no doubt see a familiar sight. Scattered throughout the park are lots of hidden pictures of Mickey Mouse’s famous silhouette. Yes, these hidden Mickeys can be hard to spot at first. But, after a little initial sleuthing, finding Mickey’s hiding places really gets addicting.

Are you interested in hunting for hidden Mickeys on your next trip to Disney World? 

A family member recently gifted us this book. It helped us to take our Hidden Mickey game up a notch on our last trip. We plan on using this book once again this time out.

But still for more help on this, keep reading. See here are some tips on starting your own search. Plus some history behind this fun Disney tradition.

The History of Hidden Mickeys

The origin of hidden Mickeys dates back to the 1970s. This was during the design phase of EPCOT center. At the time, a decision was made that EPCOT would cater more toward adults. This included the availability of alcoholic beverages.

Because of the policy, Disney execs didn’t want to display their family-friendly characters in a park that served alcohol. So, they decided against using them when designing and decorating the park.

Disney imagineers (a.k.a. designers) saw this ban on using Disney characters as a challenge. As a result, they started slipping hidden images of the classic Mickey head and ears into the design.

After the park had been open for a while, the restriction on using the characters was lifted. This was due to comments from park guests. So, they were now allowed to openly use the characters. Still, imagineers continued hiding them in their designs for fun.

Hidden Mickeys in Movies

You don’t have to be at a Disney park in order to hunt for hidden Mickeys.  For years, Disney animators have scattered hidden Mickeys throughout feature-length Disney movies and TV shows. So get your kids excited about searching for hidden Mickeys, just turn on a Disney movie or even the Disney Channel. You’ll be amazed at how many Mickeys you can actually find.

Starting Your Search

Once you’re inside a Disney park, start looking for hidden Mickeys. You can do this by paying attention to your surroundings. Make sure to carefully examine the details of each decoration. This is especially true in areas where park-goers are lining up for attractions. Some hidden Mickeys are easy to spot. But still others are hidden very well. However, if you look closely (and use a bit of imagination) you’ll be spotting Mickeys all over the place.

Officially, Disney hasn’t said anything about hidden Mickeys. In fact, Disney officials haven’t even acknowledged publicly that they exist. But this secrecy is simply part of the fun. Plus, this doesn’t mean that they aren’t willing to lend a hand to aspiring hidden Mickey hunters. If you ask for advice from staff at the park or even from other park-goers, they’re sure to point you in the right direction.

You can also buy a hidden Mickey field guide in the Disney store written by famous hidden Mickey hunter Steven Barrett. Barrett has been seeking out and keeping track of Hidden Mickeys, since he found his first one in the 1990s. His book offer the locations of over 1,000 hidden Mickeys. Plus, it also includes several fun hidden Mickeys scavenger hunts.

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Sharing Your Sightings

Looking for a way to share your hidden Mickeys sightings with others after your vacation?

Make sure you have a camera with you while you’re looking for hidden Mickeys. So you can take pictures of each one you find. Then, pick up a photo album at the souvenir shop. This way you can print out pictures of the trickier Mickeys that you find. This will give you a lasting reminder of your search. Plus you can add even more pictures on your next trip to a Disney park.

Have you looked for Hidden Mickey Mouse images at Disney World?

Let me know in the comments…

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