Because we travel to the Disneyland Resort so frequently I am always looking for new and fun things to do and experience with my kids. As they grow older our options are expanding as they are able to stay out later, have more patience to wait in line, and try some of the bigger and faster rides. My six year old, Evan, is quickly becoming an avid reader, which gave me a great idea when planning our most recent trip- a Hidden Mickey hunt!
So what is a Hidden Mickey you ask? A Hidden Mickey is an image of Mickey Mouse that is literally incorporated into the design of an attraction. Hidden Mickeys can be found at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, all 3 resort hotels, as well as Downtown Disney. There are literally hundreds of Hidden Mickeys throughout the park but there is not an officially official Disney approved count. A Hidden Mickey can take several forms including Mickey Mouses’ head profile, whole body profile, or most commonly the three circles that come together to make Mickey’s head.
Over the years I’ve seen several Hidden Mickeys as well as the book- “Disneyland’s Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Disneyland Resort’s Best Kept Secrets (Disneyland’s Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland)” written by Steven Barrett, but have never gone any farther than being a casual observer. While on our most recent trip we purchased the book at the Disneyland Hotel gift shop and quickly began thumbing through the book and following the clues only to realize that we were literally surrounded by Hidden Mickeys. For this trip we chose to focus primarily on Downtown Disney and Disneyland- but am quite sure that our next trip to Disney California Adventure will include searching for Hidden Mickeys.
We learned quite a bit along the way, below are my tips for hunting for Hidden Mickeys:
Tip #1: Ask a Cast Member
Most Cast Members will be able to point out Hidden Mickeys on the rides and attractions that they are assigned to. Nearly every Cast Member we asked was able to point to or describe where a Hidden Mickey could be found. Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation while you are waiting in line- you’ll be amazed by how many you will be able to find and with their help.
Tip #2: Do Your Homework
If you have a full agenda consider making a list of a few rides or attractions that you would like to hunt in before you arrive at the Park. A quick Internet search will provide many images, and examples and of course the Hidden Mickey Field Guide is a great resource. I chose to take a bit more of a relaxed approach to our Hidden Mickey Hunt and brought the Field Guide along. Evan read me several of the clues throughout the day, which not only got him excited about the hunt, but also helped to pass the time while we were waiting in line.
Tip #3: Get Everyone Involved
While some of the Hidden Mickeys are very easy to find others can be a bit more challenging. Having everyone in your party is a great way to get everyone involved, pass the time will waiting in line, and can also increase your odds of finding the more disguised Hidden Mickeys.
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| Emma with one of the 3 Hidden Mickeys on Jingles- the lead horse of King Arthur Carousel |
Below are some of the Hidden Mickeys we found on our most recent trip.
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| Can you spot the Hidden Mickey in Marceline’s logo? |
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| Mickey shaped cloud on a sign in the bag check tent |
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| Back side of a Disneyland Ticket Booth |
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| Stained glass window behind the Belle and Beast Lego statues at Downtown Disney |
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| Droid’s shadow in Star Tours |
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| Acorn Mickey head on Splash Mountain |
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| Hidden Mickey planet on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters |
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| One of three Hidden Mickeys found on Jingles the lead horse of the King Arthur Carousel |
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| Balloons on “it’s a small world” cast a Mickey Mouse silhouette on the ceiling |
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| Cars Land Hidden Mickey |
Have you done a Hidden Mickey scavenger hunt? We’d love to hear about and see some of your favorite Hidden Mickeys. Comment below or email your pictures directly to kendra@babesindisneylandblog.com and they may be featured in a future post.
Be sure to follow Kendra on Twitter or on Instagram @kendrakuske for more updates and photos.
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So fun!
Thanks Kendra for the great article on the Hidden Mickeys!!!! We bought the book a couple years ago and always love to search them out ❤️