All About Hidden Mickey Hunting
When it comes to Disney, almost everything is inspired by our favorite mouse! From the food to the clothes and merchandise, you’re sure to find Mickey Mouse represented in some way. One of my favorite types of Mickeys to search for when I’m in the Disney parks are Hidden Mickeys!
A Hidden Mickey is representation of the iconic Mickey Mouse that has been subtly (or not so subtly) added to the design of an attraction, movie, or property. Most Hidden Mickeys consist of three circles making the silhouette of the main mouse’s head and ears. You’ll have to keep an eye out on your next visit to the parks because you’ll start seeing them everywhere!
It has been said that Hidden Mickeys trace all the way back to the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, when Imagineers were creating Epcot. Epcot was established as a more adult park that would be serving alcohol and wouldn’t have characters walking around. The Imagineers on the park project decided to turn this stipulation into a challenge and began adding subtle Mickey touches throughout the park. As guests began to catch on, Hidden Mickeys became a Disney park phenomenon! Hidden Mickeys are a huge part of the magic you can find around the parks, and new ones are added to attractions and architecture to this day.
Fichwa means “Hidden” in Swahili!
No Hidden Mickey is too big or too small! Some can be found right under your feet and others can only be seen from the sky. (You’re gonna want to check out this recent one pointed out my @guybehindthemagic!) In recent years they have becoming much more prominent on Disney attractions and in their waiting queues, which can be a great way to pass the time. The best part about finding a Hidden Mickey is sharing the discovery with family and friends!
The truth is, no one really knows how many Hidden Mickeys there are out there. There are so many and new ones are added all the time, so it can be hard to keep up! (That makes it all the more fun though right?!) Luckily for both Disney lovers and first timers, there are a few resources that can help with your Hidden Mickey hunt.
One type of Hidden Mickey resource that there are plenty of is books! The book that I always remember seeing in the parks was Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secret. (You can purchase your own copy for under $10 here!) Over time new alternatives have emerged, for example there are now Hidden Mickey books for both Walt Disney World and Disneyland! (You can find the Walt Disney World one here and the Disneyland one here.)
If you’re looking for a more on-the-go alternative, there’s also an app out there! From the people who brought you Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secret, you can download their Walt Disney World or Disneyland Hidden Mickeys app for only $7.99 on the App Store. While this app hasn’t been updated recently with some of the newest attractions, it is still a great way to keep an eye out for tons of Hidden Mickeys in the parks! The Hidden Mickeys: Walt Disney World app gives you access to over 1200 Hidden Mickeys at Walt Disney World Resort, and the Hidden Mickeys: Disneyland app helps you find almost 500 Hidden Mickeys between Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure!
So if you find yourself in a Disney park seeing nothing but Mickeys, just know you’re not going crazy — We see them too! It’s all just a part of the magical, Disney experience. How cool is it that this company has such amazing Imagineers who go that extra mile for us to create a fun game like this?! Looking for some pretty unique Hidden Mickeys? Check out this article by Inside the Magic!
