Hidden Mickey
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{short description|Subtle representation of cartoon character Mickey Mouse's image}}
File:HiddenMickeyEpcot.JPG in Walt Disney World, Florida]]
A Hidden Mickey is a representation of Mickey Mouse that has been inserted subtly into the design of a ride, attraction, or other location in a Disney theme park, Disney property, animated film, feature-length movie, TV series, or other Disney product.{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/SpecialSections/FloridaTravel/article/122444|title=Exposing hidden world of Mickey Mouse|last=Sponagle|first=Michele|date=November 25, 2006|publisher=Toronto Star|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224180417/http://www.thestar.com/SpecialSections/FloridaTravel/article/122444|archive-date=February 24, 2008}} The most common Hidden Mickey is a formation of three circles that may be perceived as the silhouette of the head and ears of Mickey Mouse, often referred to by Disney aficionados as a "Classic Mickey".{{cite web|url=http://findingmickey.squarespace.com/ |title=Home - FindingMickey.com |website=Finding Mickey |access-date=July 1, 2016}} Mickeys may be painted, made up of objects (such as rocks, or three plates on a table), or be references such as someone wearing Mickey Mouse Club ears in a painting. Hidden Mickeys can take on many sizes and forms.{{cite news |last1=Lilliefors |first1=James |title=In search of Hidden Mickeys |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-naples-daily-news-hidden-mickey-news/148886678/ |access-date=7 June 2024 |work=Naples Daily News |date=July 13, 2003 |page=1E}}
Hidden Mickeys are slipped into many Disney animated films as Easter eggs. They are also hidden in architecture and attractions in Disney parks and resorts, and in studio buildings and many other Disney-related features.
History
The first published sighting of a Hidden Mickey was made by Arlen Miller, who wrote an article on Hidden Mickeys for WDW's Eyes and Ears (a Cast Member weekly publication) in 1989. The article listed Hidden Mickeys found in the Disney theme parks. Months later the author was contacted by Disney News for more information, and the resulting article made the news of Hidden Mickeys spread worldwide.{{cite web|work=HiddenMickeys.org |title=What is a Hidden Mickey? |url=http://www.hiddenmickeys.org/WhatIs.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220171407/http://hiddenmickeys.org/WhatIs.html |archive-date=February 20, 2009 }}
File:Hidden Mickey totem Canada.JPG at the Canada pavilion, Epcot.]]
The history of Hidden Mickeys can be traced back to when the Imagineers were designing Epcot in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Disney had decided that EPCOT Center would be a more adult themed park, including selling alcohol. As alcohol and Disney characters were deemed to be an improper combination, it was decided that none of the Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, would ever be seen at EPCOT Center. To some of the Imagineers working on EPCOT Center, this was taken as a challenge. They started including hidden Mickey Mouse profiles into various design elements of that park.{{cite news |last1=Yoshino |first1=Kimi |title=The hunters of Hidden Mickeys Are on the Case |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-mickey-hunters/148886974/ |access-date=7 June 2024 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=June 28, 2004 |page=41}} As the park began to grow, guest comments led Disney to include the characters in EPCOT Center, but tradition was well-established by that point. Hidden Mickeys (as well as other Disney characters like Minnie Mouse) have become a staple of all theme park designs since. Because of the popularity of Hidden Mickeys, Imagineers are encouraged to place them in new constructions.
Throughout the years, Hidden Mickeys spread in popularity as a pop-culture phenomenon.{{Cite web|url=https://books.disney.com/book/the-hidden-mickeys-of-disneyland/|title=The Hidden Mickeys of Disneyland}}{{Cite web|url=https://d23.com/a-to-z/hidden-mickeys/|title=Hidden Mickeys|website=D23}} They have also appeared in animated movies.{{Cite web|url=https://ohmy.disney.com/movies/2014/12/10/spot-these-hidden-mickeys-from-disney-films/|title=Spot These Hidden Mickeys from Disney Films|first=Nicole|last=Mynott|date=December 10, 2014|website=Oh My Disney}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/51725/39-hidden-mickeys-disney-animated-movies|title=39 Hidden Mickeys in Disney Animated Movies|date=July 16, 2013|website=www.mentalfloss.com}}
=Hidden Mickey 50 Ears=
As part of the Happiest Homecoming on Earth at Disneyland, the park had been decorated with 50 hidden Mickey 50 Ears, the official symbol of the 50th anniversary of Disneyland. The symbol is the traditional Mickey face and ears, but with a number 50 in the center. Before the 50th anniversary of Disneyland ended on September 30, 2006, the Hidden 50 Mickeys were gradually removed.
Locations
File:Mickey Mouse shaped transmission tower Celebration FL.jpg) in Celebration, Florida.]]
Common locations for deliberate Hidden Mickeys include the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, where they are most commonly found in attractions, stores, and decor around the environment. Although approximately 1,000 Hidden Mickeys have been recorded,{{cite web|last=Roseboom |first=Matt |title=Author documents 1,000th Hidden Mickey; Fifth edition on sale |url=http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/09/01/author-documents-1000th-hidden-mickey-fifth-edition-on-sale/ |work=Orlando Attractions |access-date=September 2, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826143234/http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/09/01/author-documents-1000th-hidden-mickey-fifth-edition-on-sale/ |archive-date=August 26, 2013 }} The Walt Disney Company has never compiled a complete list of all the "known" or "deliberate" Mickeys (whether created by an Imagineer or a Disney Cast Member), so there is no way to confirm or disprove any reported Mickey sightings.
The book Discovering the Magic Kingdom: An Unofficial Disneyland Vacation Guide - Second Edition has the largest printed listing of Hidden Mickeys for the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. {{cite book|last=Shaffer|first=Joshua C|title=Discovering the Magic Kingdom: An Unofficial Disneyland Vacation Guide - Second Edition|year=2021|publisher=Synergy Book Publishing|isbn=978-0-9991664-0-6|page=349}} The book lists 419 Hidden Mickeys that can be found at Disneyland Park, Downtown Disney, the three Disneyland hotels, and Disney's California Adventure.
In media
- In the George Lopez episode "George Goes to Disneyland" there was a contest to see how many Hidden Mickeys a viewer could find. The winner won $10,015 and a trip to Disneyland.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thisdayindisneyhistory.com/Apr30.html|title=APR 30 Disney History |date=February 29, 2020 |website=www.thisdayindisneyhistory.com }}
- The animated film The Lion King 1½ features a total of 20 Hidden Mickeys among the scenes of the film. With one of the bonus features of the film's DVD being to find them while the film is watching.{{cite web |url=https://findmickeys.com/hidden-mickeys/disney-movies/the-lion-king-1/ |title=The Lion King 1½ |website=findmickeys.com}}
- In Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, there are many Hidden Mickeys that Mickey can photograph throughout the game. There are also hidden Oswalds.
- The Kingdom Hearts series has several Hidden Mickeys throughout different games, with Kingdom Hearts III placing a larger emphasis on finding them in several different Disney worlds; they are referred to in-game as "Lucky Emblems". Finding these Lucky Emblems and taking in-game pictures of them are important, as depending on the difficulty, a certain number are required to unlock the game's secret ending.{{Cite web|url=https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/01/24/kingdom-hearts-iii-secret-movie-is-unlocked-by-photographing-lucky-marks/|title=Kingdom Hearts III Secret Movie Is Unlocked by Photographing Lucky Marks|date=January 24, 2019|website=PlayStation LifeStyle}}
- In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, where Kingdom Hearts protagonist Sora is a downloadable fighter, he retains the Hidden Mickey token attached to his keyblade, the Kingdom Key. The Hidden Mickey token is the only reference to a non-Kingdom Hearts Disney property in the game, as everything else featured in Kingdom Hearts originating from Disney’s other media were omitted. Characters original to the Kingdom Hearts games were included, however.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.findmickeys.com/ FindMickeys.com]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20201028175827/http://www.hiddenmickeyears.com/ HiddenMickeyEars.com - A Collection of Hidden Mickeys From All Over the World] (archived)
- [https://archive.today/20121206031307/http://www.findingmickey.com/ FindingMickey.com - Hidden Mickeys & Details of Disneyland Resort, Anaheim CA]
- [https://www.disneyfanatic.com/9-amazing-facts-behind-hidden-mickeys-disney-world/ 9 Amazing Facts Behind Hidden Mickeys at Disney World]
- [https://www.disneyguy.org/ Discovering the Magic Kingdom: An Unofficial Disneyland Vacation Guide - Second Edition]
{{Walt Disney Parks and Resorts}}
{{Disney}}
Category:Walt Disney Parks and Resorts