Hidden Mickeys Presentation

By:

Brennan D urd ufis

WHAT ARE HIDDEN MICKEYS?

Hidden Mickeys are partial or complete images of Mickey Mouse or other characters such

as Tinkerbell, Goofy, or Donald Duck, to name a few. They are purposely hidden by Disney

Imagineers and artists, and are meant to blend in to their surroundings.

They can be found in Walt Disney theme parks, restaurants, stores, hotels, and movies.

WHAT CONSTITUTES AN “OFFICIAL” HIDDEN MICKEY

Although there is no master list kept by Disney, “official” Hidden Mickeys are those in which there is a consensus

among all current resources. Sightings by visitors, websites, books, cast

members, and at times, artists, and Imagineers.

HOW MANY HIDDEN MICKEYS ARE THERE?

There are an estimated 400-800 Hidden Mickeys existing in Disney theme parks and resorts. Unfortunately, due to

routine cleanings, renovations, and weather, the location and integrity of

Hidden Mickeys are variable. There is no accurate documentation of the number

of Hidden Mickeys in Disney films.

THE CLASSIC HIDDEN MICKEY

The most common type of Hidden Mickey found in Walt Disney parks and movies is

the classic Hidden Mickey. The classic Hidden Mickey is a simple three-circle

form representing Mickey Mouse’s head and ears.

THE CLASSIC HIDDEN MICKEY

This is an example of a classic Hidden Mickey.

OTHER HIDDEN MICKEYS

Not all Hidden Mickeys follow the paradigm of the classic Hidden Mickey. Some aren’t

even Mickey at all! The following are examples of other types of Hidden

Mickeys.

OTHER TYPES OF HIDDEN MICKEYS

Profile of Mickey’s face or head.Side profile of Mickey’s body.A full-length silhouette of Mickey.Mickey’s gloves, shoes, or ears.Mickey’s name or initials in unusual places.Other characters which are out of place. (e.g. Tinkerbell, Goofy, etc).

EXAMPLES OF OTHER HIDDEN MICKEYS

The tie on this statue of Walt Disney in front of Cinderella’s

castle displays Japanese characters meaning “Mickey

Mouse.”

A full length silhouette of Mickey Mouse can be seen concealed in the clouds during the Splash Mountain

ride.

EXAMPLES OF OTHER HIDDEN MICKEYS

Here is a close-up version of the same frame.

Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy make an appearance “under the sea” in this scene from the 1992 movie The Little Mermaid.

“WISHFUL THINKING” HIDDEN MICKEYS

“Wishful Thinking” Hidden Mickeys are forms that may resemble Mickey, but are not

considered “official.” These representations may not really be hidden, or could be out of proportion. They are generally not well-accepted, although some are sentimental favorites with visitors and cast members

alike. The gears seen on the ground during the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride are

an example of “wishful thinking.”.

“WISHFUL THINKING” HIDDEN MICKEYS

These are illustrations of “wishful thinking” Hidden Mickeys. The first picture is located outside the Haunted Mansion in WDW’s Magic

Kingdom. The second picture is the sentimental favorite from The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride.

HIDDEN MICKEYS VS. DECORATIVE MICKEYS

Many of the Mickeys encountered in Disney theme parks are not Hidden Mickeys, but

Decorative Mickeys. Decorative Mickeys are Mickeys put on obvious display to enhance

the visual appeal to the guest/viewer. Mickeys that fall under this category include

Mickey shaped soap displayed in Disney resorts, or Mickey shaped pancakes found in

Disney restaurants.

DECORATIVE MICKEYS

This is NOT a Hidden Mickey.(until you eat it, that is!)

TRUE HIDDEN MICKEYS VS. ORGANIC MICKEYS

This is not a true Hidden Mickey, rather a tree stump that resembles the shape of

Mickey’s head and ears.

An additional example of an organic Mickey shape in a cactus.

Organic Mickeys are Mickey shapes which are naturally occurring. These are not true Hidden Mickeys.

THE ORIGIN OF HIDDEN MICKEYS IN THE MOVIES

Hidden Mickeys were placed into Disney animated movies as early as Disney’s first full-length feature Snow White in 1937. It is

said that Walt Disney wanted to pay tribute to Mickey Mouse. After all, as Walt himself said, “It all started with a mouse.” Although Disney

artists may deny the existence of Hidden Mickeys in movies, perpetuating the mystery, it has became a tradition to include Hidden

Mickeys in all Disney movies.

THE EARLIEST HIDDEN MICKEYS

Here is a frame from Disney’s second animated film Pinocchio, (1940). Observe the classic Hidden Mickey in the padlock.

THE EARLIEST HIDDEN MICKEYS

In this frame from the Disney movie Sleeping Beauty, (1959), Merryweather is eating a classic Mickey shaped cookie.

HIDDEN MICKEYS IN THE MOVIES

A frame from the movie Toy Story, (1995), shows a full body

Hidden Mickey disguised in a clock on

the wall.

Another instance of a classic Hidden Mickey

from Lilo & Stitch, (2002).

HIDDEN MICKEYS IN THE MOVIES

In this scene from Aladdin, (1992), the

face of Rajah the tiger transforms into Mickey

Mouse for a split second.

In the 2010 movie Tangled, the paint cans in

Rapunzel’s trunk are reflected in the mirror and resemble a classic

Hidden Mickey.

HIDDEN MICKEYS IN THE MOVIES

Hidden Mickeys can be found in all Disney animated films, but did you

know that they can also be detected in all Disney live action films as well?

Here are just a few examples of Hidden Mickeys in Disney live action movies.

HIDDEN MICKEYS IN THE MOVIES

A classic Hidden Mickey is found in a scene from the movie Swiss

Family Robinson, (1960).

In the movie Mary Poppins, (1964), a classic Hidden

Mickey is cleverly disguised in a chair.

HIDDEN MICKEYS IN THE MOVIES

One of the most recent Hidden Mickeys can be observed on the movie

poster for 2011’s Pirates of the Caribbean- On Stranger

Tides. A bead dangling from the skull exposes a

classic Hidden Mickey when viewed close-up.

THE ORIGIN OF HIDDEN MICKEYS IN THE PARKS

WDW’s Epcot in Orlando, Florida, was originally envisioned to be a park catering to

adults. Walt Disney made it clear to his Imagineers that no Disney characters,

including Mickey Mouse, were to be designed into the space. The Imagineers,

however, could not visualize a Disney location without its most popular icon.

Unbeknownst to Disney management, the Imagineers creatively “hid” Mickey in atypical places throughout the park.

HIDDEN MICKEYS AT EPCOT

This classic Mickey can be found in the country of

Germany in The World Showcase

at Epcot.

During the ride Mission Space at Epcot, an astute

observer will notice this classic Hidden

Mickey.

THE FIRST HIDDEN MICKEY SIGHTING

Since Epcot opened in 1982, thousands of guests have visited, all oblivious to the

clandestine world of the Hidden Mickey. It wasn’t until 1989, when Arlen Miller

penned an article for Disney employees, that the mystery surrounding Hidden

Mickeys came to light. Miller noted the form of Mickey Mouse in “unusual places” in WDW parks. Some months later, Miller

was interviewed for a national publication, and Hidden Mickey hunting

began to spread worldwide.

HIDDEN MICKEYS IN THE PARKS

Hidden Mickeys can be identified in all Walt Disney theme parks and resorts

around the world. What was initially an inside joke amongst Imagineers, has developed into one of Disney’s best

kept secrets.The following images are just a small

sample of the hundreds of Hidden Mickeys located in the parks.

HIDDEN MICKEYS IN THE PARKS

The side profile of Mickey’s head is seen here concealed in

the queue area of the Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin

ride in WDW.

A full silhouette of Mickey is painted into a mural in WDW’s Animal Kingdom, disguised as a shadow

amongst the trees.

HIDDEN MICKEYS IN THE PARKS

Note the classic Hidden Mickey located in the

queue area on the Test Track ride in Epcot.

An additional example of a classic Hidden Mickey

seen during Snow White’s Scary

Adventures ride in the Magic Kingdom.

HIDDEN MICKEYS IN THE PARKS

This Hidden Mickey is actually the silhouette of Minnie

Mouse observed on The Great Movie Ride at WDW’s Hollywood Studios.

You can catch a glimpse of this classic Hidden

Mickey in a rock during Heimlich’s Chew-Chew

Train ride at Disneyland’s California

Adventure.

Hidden Mickey hunting has grown to be something of a “sport” for individuals and families alike. There are numerous books and websites dedicated to the discovery,

documentation, and authentication of Hidden Mickeys.

Next time you pay a visit to a Disney park or watch a Disney movie, keep your eyes wide open, enter this surreptitious world, and see if you can spot the elusive Hidden Mickey.

HIDDEN MICKEY HUNTING

CAN YOU SPOT THE HIDDEN MICKEYS?

In this first clip from the Disney movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame, (1996),

see if you can locate cameo appearances by Belle, and Aladdin’s

magic carpet.

Ready? Don’t blink!

WHO IS HIDING IN WALL-E’S HOUSE?

In this brief clip from the movie Wall-E, (2008), a visitor from another Disney animated movie pays Wall-E a visit.

Let’s see if you recognize him.

WHERE’S MICKEY?

The following game is from the DVD release of The Lion King 1 ½, (2004).

Keep your eyes glued to the screen.There are 10 classic Hidden Mickeys

throughout.

How many are you able to locate?

THANK YOU

I hope you have enjoyed this presentation on the secret world of

Disney’s Hidden Mickeys.

With any luck, you too will find Hidden Mickeys of your own.

Happy Hunting!

HIDDEN MICKEY RESOURCES

The Art of Being a Hidden Mickey. HiddenMickeys, 13 May 2006. Web. 05 June 2011. <http://www.hiddenmickey.com>.Barrett, Steven M. Hidden Mickeys: a Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secrets. Branford, CT: Intrepid Traveler, 2003. Print."Easter Eggs." Easter Eggs - Eeggs.com. Eeggs, 31 July 2010. Web. 05 June 2011. <http://www.eeggs.com>."Google Images." Google Images. Google, 1 July 2001. Web. 05 June 2011. <http://images.google.com>."Hidden Mickeys." HubPages. HubPages, 1 Sept. 2009. Web. 05 June 2011. <http://www.hubpages.com>.Home - FindingMickey.com. FindingMickey, 24 Nov. 2009. Web. 05 June 2011. <http://www.findingmickey.com>.The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Dir. William Dieterle. Prod. Pandro S. Berman. By Sonya Levien and Bruno Frank. Perf. Charles Laughton, Cedric Hardwicke, Thomas Mitchell, and Maureen O'Hara. Disney, 1939. Film.The Lion King. Dir. Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff. By Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, Linda Woolverton, Tim Rice, Elton John, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, and Jeremy Irons. Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc., 1994.Shaw, T.R. "What Is A Hidden Mickey?" Hidden Mickeys of Disney. T.R. Shaw, 1 Mar. 2007. Web. 27 May 2011. <http://www.hiddenmickeys.org/WhatIs.html>.WALL-E. Dir. Andrew Stanton. By Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, and Jeff Garlin. Prod. Jim Morris. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2008."Wikipedia." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 10 Jan. 2001. Web. 05 June 2011. <http://www.wikipedia.org>.