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Square Enix does not co-own the series, the copyright to the IP is registered solely to Disney. Square Enix develops the games and is allowed to include characters from properties they do own into them, but Sora and every original character introduced in the games are wholly owned by Disney. Changing context to be more accurate.
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{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
[[Image:HiddenMickey1.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A Hidden Mickey mixed in the spots of a closed Disneyland shop.]]
{{short description|Subtle representation of cartoon character Mickey Mouse's image}}
A '''Hidden Mickey''' is a subtle formation of a silhouette of the head of [[Mickey Mouse]] and his two ears, or a more complete representation of Mickey Mouse (such as Mickey mixed in with a crowd or in the background). 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.
[[File:HiddenMickeyEpcot.JPG|thumb|A Hidden Mickey in a shop in the [[Morocco Pavilion at Epcot]] 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 [[Walt Disney Parks and Resorts|Disney theme park]], [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] properties, animated film, feature-length movie, TV series, or other Disney product.<ref name="Canadian Newspaper">{{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}}</ref> 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".<ref name="findingmickey.squarespace.com">{{cite web|url=http://findingmickey.squarespace.com/ |title=Home - FindingMickey.com |website=Finding Mickey |access-date=July 1, 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>


Hidden Mickeys are slipped into many Disney animated films as [[Easter egg (media)|Easter eggs]]. They are also hidden in architecture and attractions in Disney parks and resorts, and in [[Walt Disney Studios (Burbank)|studio buildings]] and many other Disney-related features.
When the shape of Mickey Mouse is used as an obvious part of the design, such as Mickey ears on the top of lampposts, it is considered decorative. A true Hidden Mickey is one that is not obviously meant to be seen, such as when a Disney artist places the shape of Mickey in a context that would normally not contain Mickey Mouse.


==History==
Hidden Mickeys are slipped into animation [[cel]]s in nearly all [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney]] animated classics, hidden in architecture and attractions in Disney [[Walt Disney Parks and Resorts|parks and resorts]] and [[Walt Disney Studios (Burbank)|studio buildings]] and many other Disney related features.
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.<ref name=hiddenorg>{{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 }}</ref>


[[File:Hidden Mickey totem Canada.JPG|thumb|right|A Hidden Mickey on a [[totem pole]] at the [[Canada (Epcot)|Canada pavilion]], [[Epcot]].]]
==Within the parks==
There are many Hidden Mickeys in the Disney theme parks. At Epcot in Walt Disney World, a list used to be available documenting the "official" Mickeys that the resort knew about. One of the first publicly documented Mickeys was in a mural above the entrance to the [[Wonders of Life#Attractions|Body Wars]] attraction at [[Epcot]]. This Hidden Mickey was featured as a trivia question in an Epcot center kiosk.


The history of Hidden Mickeys can be traced back to when the Imagineers were designing [[Epcot]] in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Disney Company 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.
Although once considered a secret, Hidden Mickeys are now quite public; with modern Internet communication and digital cameras, Hidden Mickeys are easy to learn about and document. Since Imagineers can not put their names on their works (whether a ride, an ambient entity, or topiary), they can place a Hidden Mickey as their signature.


Throughout the years, Hidden Mickeys spread in popularity as a pop-culture phenomenon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.disney.com/book/the-hidden-mickeys-of-disneyland/|title=The Hidden Mickeys of Disneyland}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://d23.com/a-to-z/hidden-mickeys/|title=Hidden Mickeys|website=D23}}</ref> They have also appeared in animated movies.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
The [[Walt Disney World Explorer]] CD-ROM was possibly the first official Disney material to actively promote Hidden Mickeys. While touring the virtual theme parks, shapes of Mickey Mouse were inserted into pictures and the user could click on them to find them. Finding ten of the Mickeys on the disc played a bonus video, in which after the video causes the counter to go back to zero and the found Hidden Mickeys to be "rehidden".


===Hidden Mickey 50 Ears===
The [[Virtual Magic Kingdom]] multiplayer game offers multiple quests that involve searching for Hidden Mickeys, although these Mickey hunts do not involve locations of real-world Hidden Mickeys from the actual resorts. (Likewise, the Walt Disney World Explorer's Hidden Mickeys do not correspond to in-park ones.)
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==
A few Disney resort attractions that contain Hidden Mickeys include [[Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!]], [[The Haunted Mansion]], [[Splash Mountain]], and [[Soarin' Over California]].
<!-- DO NOT ADD EXAMPLES AS THE LIST WOULD NEVER BE EXHAUSTIVE. Please discuss first. -->
[[File:Mickey Mouse shaped transmission tower Celebration FL.jpg|thumb|right|A Hidden Mickey on an electric transmission tower ([[Mickey pylon]]) 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,<ref>{{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 }}</ref> [[The Walt Disney Company]] has never compiled a complete list of all the "known" or "deliberate" Mickeys (whether created by an [[Walt Disney Imagineering#Imagineering|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. <ref name="Shaffer2017">{{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}}</ref> The book lists 419 Hidden Mickeys that can be found at Disneyland Park, Downtown Disney, the three Disneyland hotels, and Disney's California Adventure.
Guests at some Disney resorts, such as [[Disney's Wilderness Lodge]], can ask for "hint sheets" containing riddle-like clues that indicate Hidden Mickeys concealed within the resorts' decorations. If guests are unable to find the Mickeys on their own, they can ask the resort staff for additional clues or to reveal them outright.
<!-- DO NOT ADD EXAMPLES AS THE LIST WOULD NEVER BE EXHAUSTIVE. Please discuss first. -->


==In media==
A book, fittingly titled ''Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secrets'' (by Steven Barrett), is sold at kiosks throughout the parks.
*In the ''[[George Lopez (TV series)|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]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thisdayindisneyhistory.com/Apr30.html|title=APR 30 Disney History|website=www.thisdayindisneyhistory.com}}</ref>
* The ''[[Kingdom Hearts (franchise)|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', where ''Kingdom Hearts'' protagonist [[Sora (Kingdom Hearts)|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.
* In ''[[Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two]]'', there are many Hidden Mickeys that Mickey can photograph throughout the game. There are also hidden [[Oswald the Lucky Rabbit|Oswalds]].


==See also==
Possibly one of the largest Hidden Mickeys, the center of the [[Disney-MGM Studios]] theme park was laid out so that, when seen from above, it resembled a very large Mickey Mouse head. The layout has since changed; Mickey's right ear has been removed by the construction of Sunset Boulevard, and his face is covered up by [[The Sorcerer's Hat]].
* [[D23 (Disney)|D23]]
* [[Dave Smith (archivist)| Dave Smith]]
* [[Disneyana]]
* [[Don Rosa]]
* [[List of filmmaker's signatures]]


==References==
Others are hidden in plain sight, or more properly in plane sight. Satellite views show a Mickey-shaped lake on the infield of [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Lake+Buena+Vista,+Florida&ll=28.396544,-81.577971&spn=0.006590,0.007695&t=h&hl=en Walt Disney Speedway] near the parking lot entrance to the Magic Kingdom. While not in a park, or even on Disney property, a [http://ckhlhutt.tripod.com/pix_4_public/index.album?i=0&s=1 plot of land] on the shores of Trout Lake in Clermont Florida has been landscaped into the world's most recognizable mouse.
{{Reflist}}

Probably the easiest Hidden Mickey to spot is a [http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.enertech.net/jpeg/mouseline.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.enertech.net/html/unusual_picts.html&h=433&w=664&sz=63&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=iMt4zjJNNX30NM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=138&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dif%2Bmickey%2Bwere%2Ban%2Bengineer%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D Mickey-shaped high-voltage power pole] near Disney World in Orlando.

==Films and other media==
===Films known to include Hidden Mickeys===
* ''[[Santa's Workshop (film)|Santa's Workshop]]'' (1932, a partially obscured Mickey can be seen in Santa's bag at the 5:54 mark)
* ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]]''
* ''[[Peter Pan (1953 film)|Peter Pan]]''
* ''[[Cinderella (1950 film)|Cinderella]]''
* ''[[The Black Cauldron (film)|The Black Cauldron]]''
* ''[[Tron (film)|Tron]]''
* ''[[The Little Mermaid (1989 film)|The Little Mermaid]]''
* ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]''
* ''[[The Lion King]]''
* ''[[Treasure Planet]]''
* ''[[Lilo & Stitch]]''
* ''[[The Lion King 1½]]''
**There are 20 different Hidden Mickeys seen in the backgrounds of ''[[The Lion King 1½]]''. The DVD features a DVD game entitled ''Hidden Mickey Hunt'' which allows you to find all 20 Hidden Mickeys.
* ''[[The Sleeping Beauty]]''
* ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]''
* ''[[Shrek 2]]''
* ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl]]''
* ''[[Aladdin (film)|Aladdin]]''
* ''[[Toy Story]]''
* ''[[Recess: School's Out]]''
* ''[[The Haunted Mansion (film) |The Haunted Mansion]]''

==Other Hidden Mickeys==

There is a hidden mickey in a mural hanging in the Noah's Ark restaurant in [[Teaneck]], [[New Jersey]]. Mickey can be seen sticking his head out of the kangaroo's pouch.

==See also==
* [[Hidden "Mickey 50 Ears"]]


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.hiddenmickeys.org Hidden Mickeys of Disney]
* [http://www.findmickeys.com/ FindMickeys.com]
* [http://www.findingmickey.com FindingMickey.com - Hidden Mickeys of Disneyland Resort, Anaheim CA]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20201028175827/http://www.hiddenmickeyears.com/ HiddenMickeyEars.com - A Collection of Hidden Mickeys From All Over the World] (archived)
* [http://www.hiddenmickeysguide.com A guide to Hidden Mickeys at Disney parks, resorts, and cruise ships]
* [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]]

[[Category:Disney parks and attractions|Hidden Mickey]]
[[Category:In-jokes]]
[[Category:In-jokes]]
[[Category:Disney jargon]]

[[fr:Hidden Mickey]]
[[Category:Mickey Mouse]]
[[Category:Outdoor locating games]]<!--Scavenger hunts-->
[[ja:隠れミッキー]]
[[Category:Disney fandom]]
[[ru:Скрытый Микки]]
[[Category:Easter egg (media)]]

Latest revision as of 07:33, 27 September 2024

A Hidden Mickey in a shop in the Morocco Pavilion at Epcot 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 properties, animated film, feature-length movie, TV series, or other Disney product.[1] 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".[2] 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.[3]

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

[edit]

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.[4]

A Hidden Mickey on a totem pole 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. The Disney Company 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.[5] 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.[6][7] They have also appeared in animated movies.[8][9]

Hidden Mickey 50 Ears

[edit]

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

[edit]
A Hidden Mickey on an electric transmission tower (Mickey pylon) 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,[10] 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. [11] 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

[edit]
  • 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.[12]
  • 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.[13]
  • 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.
  • 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.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Sponagle, Michele (November 25, 2006). "Exposing hidden world of Mickey Mouse". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on February 24, 2008.
  2. ^ "Home - FindingMickey.com". Finding Mickey. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  3. ^ Lilliefors, James (July 13, 2003). "In search of Hidden Mickeys". Naples Daily News. p. 1E. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  4. ^ "What is a Hidden Mickey?". HiddenMickeys.org. Archived from the original on February 20, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ Yoshino, Kimi (June 28, 2004). "The hunters of Hidden Mickeys Are on the Case". The Los Angeles Times. p. 41. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  6. ^ "The Hidden Mickeys of Disneyland".
  7. ^ "Hidden Mickeys". D23.
  8. ^ Mynott, Nicole (December 10, 2014). "Spot These Hidden Mickeys from Disney Films". Oh My Disney.
  9. ^ "39 Hidden Mickeys in Disney Animated Movies". www.mentalfloss.com. July 16, 2013.
  10. ^ Roseboom, Matt. "Author documents 1,000th Hidden Mickey; Fifth edition on sale". Orlando Attractions. Archived from the original on August 26, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  11. ^ Shaffer, Joshua C (2021). Discovering the Magic Kingdom: An Unofficial Disneyland Vacation Guide - Second Edition. Synergy Book Publishing. p. 349. ISBN 978-0-9991664-0-6.
  12. ^ "APR 30 Disney History". www.thisdayindisneyhistory.com.
  13. ^ "Kingdom Hearts III Secret Movie Is Unlocked by Photographing Lucky Marks". PlayStation LifeStyle. January 24, 2019.
[edit]