Searching Disney with Steve

Central Florida has enjoyed glorious weather most of this December, so I looked forward to my several days of holiday Hidden Mickeys research. In fact, on a comfortable, sunny Florida day at Walt Disney World, I'm easily distracted and often forget the purpose of my visit!

Craig Canady, Alan, and Bill Griffin sent me Hidden Mickey images on the tires of the Grand Marshal's vehicle, the car that carries the Grand Marshal guests before every afternoon parade in the Magic Kingdom. I also spotted some classic Mickeys on the front bumper of this attractive replica of an antique touring car.

The main parade follows the Grand Marshall's vehicle. Throughout the parade, cast members ride on "art" bikes. The Moriarty family and Rebecca Webster spotted some paint splotches on the bike palettes that resemble classic Mickeys. What do you think?

Jonathan Peczinka found a baggage ticket with an image that looks somewhat like Mickey. It's in the right front of the front window upstairs at the Main Street Train Station. Do you like this image as a Hidden Mickey?

I finally took the time to stroll along the long walkway in front of the Magic Kingdom. Paved with personalized bricks, the trail stretches toward the Grand Floridian Resort and ends at a small canal. Across the canal, a backstage dirt path snakes toward the resort. I don't believe Disney wants folks to linger or picnic here, because the sidewalk is devoid of chairs, benches and trash cans. The photos were taken at the end of the walkway.

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets

I had a great time meeting up with the rest of the All Ears team at the Gaylord Palms Resort on Friday evening of MouseFest. This was a perfect venue for dinner and mingling. After dinner, those of us from the south donned parkas (the Northerners would have been comfortable in swimsuits!) to walk through the Ice artistic display, a unique and awe-inspiring collection of ice sculptures.

My Hidden Mickeys Hunt the next morning at 8 a.m. was attended by old and new friends. We met in front of Spoodles Restaurant and explored the resorts and restaurants in the Epcot Resorts around Crescent Lake for about one hour. Our first stop on the tour was the lobby of the BoardWalk Resort to spot the classic Mickeys on the carousel horse. These Hidden Mickeys have not been moved for years, so I think they're here to stay.

Our group then wandered along the BoardWalk and over to the Beach Club Resort. I pointed out that hundreds of folks walk right by a waving Mickey in a sand castle on the wall beside Cape May Cafe without seeing him.]

I asked the group to vote on a Hidden Mickey submission by Jennifer Keller. It's a group of shells below the Ariel statue in front of the Beach Club Villas entrance. Our folks were split down the middle on this image, so I'll put it on my website for a vote. Let me know what you think.

Thankfully, the globe in the Yacht Club lobby was not moved backstage this holiday season but was still in view in the hall in front of the Fittings & Fairings shop. I showed the group a marvelous Hidden Mickey on the globe. The story goes that a child poked a hole in the globe with a pencil, and the hole was covered with a blue classic Mickey!

Wouldn't you know it, a member of our Hidden Mickeys hunt (I didn't get your name, so please write me) found a new Hidden Mickey! As we were strolling from the Beach Club to the Yacht Club, he spotted a classic Mickey on a curtain inside the Ariel's special meeting area. You can find it by standing at the door to Ariel's from inside Martha's Vineyard lounge. The Hidden Mickey is on a mural or curtain material on an inside wall to the right.

MouseFest provides an opportunity to reconnect with Disney friends and meet new ones. I look forward to MouseFest every year, and I hope this event continues for a long time.

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets

I had the pleasure of spending time at WDW with family and friends during Thanksgiving week. We enjoyed a few of the Christmas decorations in the parks and resorts; more and more of them appear as the week unfolds.

Most of the decked out Christmas trees and elaborate gingerbread displays have decorative and hidden Mickeys. I snapped this photo of a Hidden Mickey on the Epcot holiday tree, which is located between Future World and World Showcase.

I met my sister and cousins from Texas at the Grand Floridian Cafe for breakfast. My server put a cinnamon classic Mickey on my cappuccino. Check it out!

After breakfast, we rode the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom. My sister Donna showed me a tiny classic Mickey she'd found along the entrance area of Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. It's in a window display of a city, on the rear of the wall to the right just past the entrance doors to the second room. The classic Mickey is under the apex of the triangular roof segment on the building in the front center of the window display.

We had a fun day at the Magic Kingdom, using FASTPASS to our advantage and stuffing ourselves with soup, sandwiches and ice cream at the Plaza Restaurant for lunch. We screamed on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad as the Wishes fireworks lit up the night sky. (I like to ride Big Thunder at night!) This photo shows (from the right) Sherry, Olan, Donna, Camp, Carson, and Landon waiting near Liberty Tree Tavern for the second SpectroMagic parade. The kids' parents, Amy and Kevin, stood near the rope with me. (The later parade is almost always less crowded than the earlier one).

Sharon Dale wrote to me about a possible Hidden Mickey in SpectroMagic.

Does the Cinderella carriage form an upside down classic Mickey? I'll put it to a vote on my website; let me know what you think!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets

I enjoy visiting Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Some folks don't consider that this park has a full day's worth of activities, but I beg to differ. The Animal Kingdom has plenty to offer, especially if you can slow down and observe the animals after first enjoying the headliner attractions.

I like to spend time in The Oasis. This area with its tranquil animals has a relaxing effect on me. I wandered along the trails and said hello to the Scarlet Macaws.

and the Patagonian Cavy (a long-legged rodent)

>

and two chattering Black Neck Swans.

These trails are usually not crowded, so The Oasis is a great place to unwind.

I strolled over to Camp Minnie-Mickey.

Bradley Lewis submitted to me a photo of a distorted Mickey image, formed by pebbles in the cement. It's near the bridge over the creek before the Lion King Theater. Go to the second fence section between the creek and the cabin in front of Grandmother Willow's Grove (theater). Stand near a bench and close to Donald Duck, who's fishing in the creek. I'll put this image on my website, in the Questionable section. Let me know what you think.

Disney's Animal Kingdom is filled with rocks and pebbles embedded in the walkways, posts, walls, benches and other structures. Which three-pebble images are Hidden Mickeys? I try to imagine if a specific image is purposeful, placed by an Imagineer, or is it just a random collection of rocks? Sometimes that's a difficult decision!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets

One recent sunny day, I drove to the Animal Kingdom Lodge to check out some old and new Hidden Mickeys. Keep in mind that over 30 Mickey images are hiding in and around this unique resort. I found a few cool new images, thanks to submitters to my website!

I'd been looking for this terrific Hidden Mickey for a long time. In retrospect, I'd not been able to spot it because I was always searching for it at dusk or later. This day, I was at the area in the bright sunlight, and a helpful Cast Member knew right where it was.

To find it, walk outside the rear of the main lobby and to the very back of the Arusha Rock Overlook. In the right middle of the rock wall opposite the Animal Overlook sign and about 5 and 1/2 feet above the ground is a tiny light brown, salmon-colored classic Mickey. It's to the right of a vertical crack in the rock, behind the Cast Member's umbrella. Spotting it is worth the effort! (Thanks to Stephen Lovelette).

If you can enter Jiko Restaurant, stroll to the third table on your left, next to the glass windows. Look outside to the shallow pool area and find the first rock island from the left with one pillar jutting out of it. A classic Mickey image is in the side of the rock. Kudos to the Disney rock sculptors! (Thanks to Robert Grohman).

On the third floor, check out the first short hallway to the right of the main Zebra Trail hallway. An upside-down classic Mickey design hangs on the wall at the end of the hall. (Thanks to David and Celia Berset).

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is an entertaining place to spend an afternoon and evening. Searching out the Hidden Mickeys here can add to the fun!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets

I enjoy the music of the Epcot Festivals, so I visit whenever I can to hear great musicians from the (recent) past.

I had the opportunity to catch a performance by David Sanborn, a well-known jazz saxophonist. The America Gardens Theatre was already full of jazz fans when I arrived. After his first few sax notes, the place was rocking! It was a terrific performance by him and his group of fine musicians. The audience was bobbing along to the beat and gave him a standing ovation at the end of the 30-minute performance.

Before Mr. Sanborn's concert, I'd checked out an image in Camp Dolphin, the kid's club in the Dolphin Resort. It's not alway convenient to visit WDW kid's clubs to find Hidden Mickeys; the best time is just after opening when they're not too crowded.

The Cast Members are generally helpful and often excited about this temporary diversion from their usual activities. Sharon Dale had sent me an image from inside Camp Dolphin, but her Hidden Mickey had disappeared. Instead, a CM showed me a new image in a picture on a wall to the left as you enter through the front door. Mickey is giving Pluto a bath, and three floating soap bubbles form a sideways classic Mickey.

After the concert, I walked to the Germany Pavilion to study an image in the rear of the courtyard. Jennifer Moon had described this image, which is a three-circle formation in the ironwork support behind the bell on the front of the clock tower. I think it's a decent classic Mickey! Let me know what you think.

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets

I was fortunate to able to join a tour of the special suite in Cinderella Castle, Magic Kingdom. (Actually, Deb Wills had toured the suite before, so she kindly offered me her spot! Very cool!)

We entered an anteroom through a door at the side of the walkway through the Castle. An elevator took us up to another vestibule room that opened through a door into the bedroom of the suite. The bedroom had openings to the bathroom and to a sitting room (at the far end of the bedroom) with windows that overlooked Fantasyland. Although it's easy to lose one's concentration when in this marvelous suite, I was intent on checking out the Hidden Mickeys here.

Two images impressed me. One is on the mural at the rear of the bathroom. Look in the reddish-orange clouds to the right of the castle in the mural. Some swirls approximate a classic Mickey image.

The Cast Member Tour Guide told me that some guests like an image of three blue flowers at the bottom left corner of a mural on a right wall of the bathroom, just to the right of the mural with the castle mentioned above. She implied that it wasn't an "official" Hidden Mickey. However, I agree with the guests; I like this image as a classic Mickey!

Now comes the difficult question. I'd heard of a Hidden Mickey in the fireplace in the bedroom of the suite.

Lights at the rear of the fireplace repeatedly form circle patterns. The Cast Member pointed out an image to me as a Hidden Mickey. Two light blips form "ears" on a larger circle "head." I'll put it as a Questionable image, since I'm not convinced at this point. Let me know what you think!

As to the suite itself, yes, it's magnificent! I could imagine Cinderella walking with us inside her elegant suite. I'm sure most Disney fans (including me!) would very much enjoy spending a night here.

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEarsNet.com

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets

I just returned from a 5-day cruise on the Disney Magic. Deb Wills and I were the hosts for our group.

On the second day, I gave an introductory talk on Hidden Mickeys in the Buena Vista Theater. I encouraged everyone to search the ship for Hidden Mickeys.

The next three days, I led 5 Hidden Mickey hunts on the ship and 1 hunt on Castaway Cay. On every tour, we found one or more new Hidden Mickeys! That was a reflection of the persistence and the discriminating eyes of our group.

We started each hunt on Deck 10, overlooking the bow classic Mickey. Linda Mac took this photo.

We found two new classic Mickeys on Castaway Cay! The first one is on a barrel at the first photo area as you leave the ship. This image is formed by three coconuts; it's not a perfect classic Mickey, but it's close enough! Linda Mac and Deb did not see this image on the barrel last December.

Another classic Mickey is inside the waiting area for the tram to Serenity Bay Beach. Several of our group say that this image is new, maybe within the last year or so.

Two other cool Hidden Characters on the ship were Mickey (a Steamboat Willie version) on a pail in a wall drawing on Deck 5:

and Donald Duck on a pail in a mural at the Port Adventures counter on Deck 3:

The last day, I gave a wrap-up session and showed the audience many of the Hidden Mickeys we'd found during the cruise. We voted on several marginal images, and I'll soon post these and all the Hidden Mickeys we found on my website.

The Magic cruise was a wonderful experience! I connected again with many terrific folks that I've met before, and I was honored to meet new Disney friends. What an amazing community! Many thanks to AllEars and the MEI-Travel team for putting this cruise together!

Tropical Storm Fay visited central Florida on Tuesday, August 19, crossing (west to east) south of Orlando. She stuck around the east coast a few days and then on August 21 crossed Florida again (east to west) north of Orlando. I checked out the Magic Kingdom late afternoon of August 21. As you can see in the photo, lots of guests were there, although the MK seemed a bit less crowded than usual. The cloudy sky drizzled rain and mist much of the day, and gusts of wind blew hats off. It was a good poncho sales day for WDW!

I stopped by the Polynesian Resort to check out a Hidden Mickey sighting. Andrew and Matthew Nypower wrote to me about a classic Mickey image on the back of the Tiki statue outside the Tiki Boutique shop on the first floor. Many folks stop here for photos with the smiling Tiki guy. Sure enough, on his back is a cool (slightly distorted) classic Mickey!

The next day, Fay lightened up a bit. There were fewer ponchos in evidence at Epcot in the United Kingdom pavilion, although the walking paths were still moist.

Louise Herrick had informed me last year, along with a few other folks, that the classic Mickey on the Asepso box (along the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail in Disney's Animal Kingdom) had returned. It's still there, thank goodness. The reason I mention Louise is that she wrote me a story about her 6 year old son, who had a great time searching for Hidden Mickeys at WDW. One night, while Louise and her family were comfortably asleep in their Disney resort, her son yelled out in his sleep: "I've found a Hidden Mickey!" Actually, that happens on occasion to me, too!

A while back, I wrote about the tree grove classic Mickey near WDW. Several people have asked me for more information about this amazing classic Mickey image. A friend of mine, Jim, researched its history. This tree grove Mickey was not present before 1990; it appeared sometime between January 23, 1990 and March 5, 1994. It is 7.7 miles northwest from the center of the Magic Kingdom, and it's in Lake County on private property (not officially on Disney property).

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEarsNet.com

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets

My wife Vickie and I strolled around the BoardWalk area recently on a warm Florida afternoon. Inside the BoardWalk Bakery, I ordered an espresso and Vickie a bottled water. I'd spotted two Mickey images in the past, on two aprons hanging on the right wall, and they're still in place. Vickie thinks they're more like decor Mickeys rather than Hidden. What do you think?

I looked for a Mickey sugar bowl that was in place several years ago on a high shelf directly opposite the entrance doors of the Bakery. Alas, it's still lost!

We drove over to Disney's Hollywood Studios later in the afternoon. My sister Donna had e-mailed me a few weeks ago that one of her favorite Hidden Mickeys was lost: the "Monet" Mickey in a display window at the end of the Streets of America!

Vickie and I confirmed that indeed it wasn't there! Another lost gem, but I hope only temporarily. Some Hidden Mickey images do reappear, and I'll wait to see if the Imagineers replace the Monet Mickey.

We checked out a Mickey sighting along the entrance queue of Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show. I think it's a cool image.

It's on the right side of the entrance walkway. As you walk around the first building, look in the middle set of windows at a red tool chest to find the black classic Mickey magnet. (Thanks to Denise O, Elton Hughes and Jill Sullivan, and Jennifer Lynch).

Vickie and I then relaxed with an excellent meal at the Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant, one of my favorites!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEarsNet.com

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets