Are you familiar with the Hidden Mickey’s at Disneyland?
This was something we didn’t really get a chance to pursue on our last Disney trip but it might be a great way to keep the kids excited on long walks through the park or during a wait in line for rides or for food.
At Disneyland, Downtown Disney, California Adventure, Disney World and even the parking structures you can find hundreds of hidden Mickey Mouse heads. Did you know there are even hidden Mickey’s in current Disney movies?
The hidden Mickey’s started with the very first Mickey Mouse cartoons- animators used to hide little heads in various drawings as an inside joke. Many of the animators later became designers at Disney and continued the practice of hiding Mickey all over the place.
These can be a little tricky to see but if you have sharp eyes and eager kiddos, they can find tons of them through the park.
So the image above of Walt and Mickey is obviously not a hidden Mickey nor is the giant Mickey head as you enter the park. Those are pretty obvious- but what about the picture below- do you see the little round head and ears?
See the swirly Mickey head in the M and the C for this candy shop in downtown Disney?
What about here- a little more obvious so some might say it isn’t really a Hidden Mickey but who looks at the underside of the counter when you order food? I certainly don’t.
The Mickey’s are hidden in the landscaping, the architecture, the rides… all over the place!
Once you start looking you might be surprised at how everything suddenly looks like Mickey. Personally I think the little yellow dials on Minnie’s radio look like two little ears and a head (facing sideways).
So this can be a really fun activity for your next Disney trip. Scout out the hidden Mickey’s! Maybe you can turn it into a game with the child that finds the most Mickey’s winning a prize or a few bucks to spend on a special souvenir?
Or if you are a high stakes gambler- put one of these little beauties from Pooh’s Corner on the table for the winner:
I think on our next trip we might put my husband’s incredibly sharp eyes vs. me and the girls.
And if you really are into the Hidden Mickey fun you can actually buy a book- Steven Barrett writes books for Disneyland and for Disney World on the topic.
There is also an app- for Disney World here or for Disneyland here.
Or if you want to make this more of a scavenger hunt and just look for the hidden Mickey’s that are already known you can ask the cast members in the park for nearby Mickey locations or you can download free printable checklists courtesy of FindingMickey.com:
And if you want more Disney tips, check out my article on How to Save Money (and TIME!) at Disneyland.
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