Hidden Mickeys are subtle representations of Mickey Mouse found in Disney theme parks and movies. They were initially placed by Imagineers for amusement, but are now intentionally added to encourage fan interest. They are not obvious and can be found painted, animated, or made of various props. More than 100 have been discovered at the Anaheim Disneyland Resort, and they also appear in Disney movies. Fans enjoy finding them, and there are websites and books dedicated to the activity.
Hidden Mickeys are representations of Mickey Mouse, often his famous profile, found scattered around Disney theme parks and used in Disney movies. These silhouettes can be found painted, animated, or made up of various props. Finding Mickey Mouse is a favorite Disney fan activity, and many websites have been created that keep a record of all the hidden Mickey Mouse that have been found.
The alleged official story behind the Hidden Mickeys states that in the construction of Florida’s Epcot Park, Disney designers, called Imagineers, began placing them in various places for amusement. Another popular explanation suggests that, when designing Epcot, the Imagineers and park management clashed over whether Disney characters should feature in both parks or just the original Magic Kingdom Park. Apparently the annoyed Imagineers snuck Mickey Mouse into the projects to get what they wanted. Today, Mickeys are often added intentionally during ride rehabilitation or refurbishment activities to encourage continued fan interest.
Hidden Mickeys are called “hidden” because they aren’t meant to be obvious elements of the design. For example, some Disneyland streetlights feature Mickey’s ears on top. These are not considered hidden Mickeys, as the detail is obvious and repeated. Mice are often inserted by designers and Imagineers as subtle features that don’t seem obvious at first glance. For example, in Disneyland’s ride The Haunted Mansion, three plates are arranged together on a dinner table to resemble Mickey’s head. To the untrained eye, this may seem like a mere coincidence, but to fans, it’s clearly an intentionally hidden Mickey Mouse.
More than 100 hidden Mickey Mouse have been discovered at the Anaheim Disneyland Resort. In Disneyland Park, favorite versions include the Haunted Mansion dinner plates, Buzz Lightyear Mickey’s painted planets, and the big gears seen on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. At the resort’s second park, California Adventure, Mickey Mouse can be found decorating Sully’s fur coat on the Monsters Inc. ride and behind the Engine Ears Toys entrance sign.
The Mickeys often appear in Disney movies, both animated and live-action. In Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, smoke from a cannon explosion forms a hazy silhouette of Mickey’s head. In the animated Aladdin, the Genie’s transformation of Rajah into a tiger turns his head into Mickey’s for a fraction of a second. Pixar Animation Studios, whose films were produced by Disney, often include hidden Mickey Mouse in their films. Toy Story, Toy Story 2, The Incredibles and Ratatouille all have at least one hidden Mickey Mouse.
There are several websites and books dedicated to finding Hidden Mickey in movies and parks. Some offer a checklist that you can take with you to the Disneyland Resort, to mark successful discoveries. If you’re a Disney fan, finding Mickey Mouse can add new levels of fun to your trip to the park or movie-watching.
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