What does Hidden Mickeys mean?

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Think Disney and the one name that immediately pops into our mind is Mickey Mouse, the most lovable and the favourite among all Disney characters. Thus, the idea of a Hidden Mickey came into existence. A Hidden Mickey is an image of Mickey Mouse that is hidden into the design of any Disney attraction like a ride or a resort or any other structure. It attracts and excites loads of tourists everyday. When this idea came into origin a Hidden Mickey was the familiar shape of Mickey's head and silhouette of its You do not have access to view this node. It was made from one large circle with two smaller circles on top at the appropriate place that looked like You do not have access to view this node. But these days, Hidden Mickeys can take many other interesting forms. Mickeys may be painted or made up of objects such as rocks, or three plates on a table, or it can also be references of someone wearing Mickey Mouse Club You do not have access to view this node in a painting. Searching for Mickeys is a favorite activity of Disney fans. There are many websites have been created that keep records of all Hidden Mickeys that have been found.

How did the concept of Hidden Mickey originate?

It is believed that Hidden Mickeys originated in the late 1970s or early 1980s when the Disney management wanted to restrict or exercise copyrights over Disney characters like Mickey and Minnie to the Magic Kingdom. It is said that in the construction of the Florida Epcot Park, some Disney designers called Imagineers, began placing Hidden Mickeys for fun in various locations of the park. The Imagineers designing Epcot couldn't resist slipping Mickeys into the new park in subtle ways, and so it is said that "Hidden Mickeys" were born. 

The first published sighting of a Hidden Mickey was made by Arlen Miller who wrote an article in 1989 on Hidden Mickeys for WDW's Eyes and Ears (Cast Member weekly publication). This was the first time that Hidden Mickeys were  made publically known. No sooner did guests and Cast Members started spotting Hidden Mickeys, that they became a tradition, and Disney fans everywhere went on the search for Hidden Mickeys in Disney movies and theme parks. Today, Hidden Mickeys are predictable in any new construction or renovation at Walt Disney World and at the other Disney parks worldwide.

Why the name ?Hidden Mickey??

Hidden Mickeys are called “hidden” because they are not meant to be an obvious element of a design. A true Hidden Mickey is one that is not meant to be seen or spotted immediately by a person, but is usually placed intentionally by a Disney Imagineer or any artist in a context that would not normally contain Mickey Mouse but if one looks closely a Hidden Mickey can be made out.

How many forms of Hidden Mickeys have been discovered till date?

Approximately 600 Hidden Mickeys have been discovered till date but The Walt Disney Company has never compiled a complete list of all the "known" or "deliberate" Mickeys. Some of them are as follows:

• In Disneyland’s ride The Haunted Mansion, three plates are arranged together on a dinner table to resemble Mickey’s head, which is clearly an intentional hidden Mickey.
• The Buzz Lightyear Mickey-painted planets and the large gears visible on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. 
• At the resort's second park, California Adventure, Mickey’s are found decorating Sully’s fur in the Monsters Inc. ride and behind the entrance sign of Engine You do not have access to view this node Toys.
• The classic tri-circle head with ears, such as the stone Mickey in Disneyland Toontown, Mickey-on-the-boots at Walt Disney World's All Star Music Resort or the alien symbols on The ExtraTerrorestrial Alien Encounter in the Magic Kingdom.
• The mural Mickey in Disneyland's Frontierland and the "broccoli Mickey" in the Body Wars mural in Epcot.
•  A three-dimensional Mickey such as a stuffed doll hidden within a Disney amusement park ride or movie.

How to spot a Hidden Mickey?

These are some guidelines on how to search for Hidden Mickeys:

• If you spot any Mickey that seems very large and elaborate, such as the formations of a cave or even the shapes of the parks themselves, is probably not a Hidden Mickey since they would be too obvious to spot.
• A Mickey should be proportioned correctly. If the You do not have access to view this node seem too small or too close together, like the padlocks in all the parks, or if each circle is a different size and not in perspective, or the You do not have access to view this node are very far apart, it is most likely not a Hidden Mickey.
• Be careful when looking that you aren't simply finding a group of circles. A Hidden Mickey is always unique to its surroundings. It is most likely not an intentional Hidden Mickey.
• A true Hidden Mickey should not have to rely too much on imagination, such as the Matterhorn Mickey. If it requires you to squint your eyes, tilt your head, and have a certain amount of lighting at a certain angle, it's probably not a Hidden Mickey. A Hidden Mickey may be upside down or sideways, but when pointed out, should be very clear, and not stretched out or partially hidden.

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