Disney Fan Fridays - Hidden Mickeys!
Fan Fridays – Hidden Mickeys!
By Sarah McClure
As our family has grown up with Disney vacations, we have found different types of magic with every trip. When my children were babes, it was the lights, sparkle and music of the parks. When they were preschool age, the Princesses meant everything. Now that my girls are a bit older and more “at home in the parks”, they really wanted to learn more about the history and secrets of their favorite attractions. This is when I began researching Hidden Mickeys and have since come to love the adventure of this treasure hunt!
An official Hidden Mickey is defined as “a partial or complete impression of Mickey Mouse placed by the Imagineers and artists to blend into the designs of Disney attractions, hotels, restaurants, and other areas.” (http://www.hiddenmickeyguy.com/) Disney historians will tell you that Hidden Mickeys came about in the late 1970’s as Epcot was being built. The “higher-ups” in Disney wanted Mickey and Minnie to stay in Magic Kingdom. However, the Imagineers felt differently and began leaving Hidden Mickeys for guests to find.Typically, you will see that Hidden Mickeys take the shape of three circles, other times you may find a side view of Mickey’s head or his gloves or shoes. If you are like me, you may find Hidden Mickeys in your home, in your food or around town. Our Disney vacations have taken on a new life as we have learned to take our time and look more closely at the details put into each attraction, each costume and bit of décor. Yes, we have our Hidden Mickey checklists, but this new eye has sparked an additional activity and interest for my children.Hidden Mickey hunts help us pass time in the attraction queues as we work as a team! We also have the privilege of discovering more details as we go from one land to the next. These searches really help us to slow down and take it all in for a much more enjoyable experience. One of my favorite Hidden Mickeys is seen in the place settings in the Haunted Mansion Ballroom. Another great Hidden Mickey is found in Sulley’s fur at California Adventure’s Monsters Inc, Mike and Sulley to the Rescue!.
This attention to detail has gotten my girls to ask questions about the people whose names are on the Main Street windows. They love hearing legends and stories about attractions. They want to learn about Cast Members and Imagineers, like Marty Sklar and the Sherman Brothers, who have had long careers with Disney.I am thankful to the Imagineers who have left these Hidden Mickeys for us to find, and the chance for our family to experience a different magical vacation each time we visit a Disney destination.Steven M. Barrett has written several editions of Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide for each of the parks and even the cruise ships! I highly recommend this book to help guide you with hints to finding the most Hidden Mickeys on your next Disney vacation.As a trained, traveled and trusted concierge agent with Wishes Family Travel, I would love to help you plan your next Disney vacation. To stay on top of the latest promotions and Disney news, become a fan of my Facebook page, and be sure to email me for your complimentary vacation price quote at sarahmc@wishesfamilytravel.com.