Searching Disney with Steve

I revel in hard-to-find Hidden Mickeys. Some of these Hidden Mickeys have evaded me, or maybe they're "off the beaten path" (off stage or behind the scenes). I'm especially interested in the elusive ones, but I listen to Cast Members who whisper to me about the off stage ones (sometimes these are visible only to cast members and not to guests like me).

A few weeks ago, my friend Bill and I were studying the intricate scenes in The Great Movie Ride for some elusive Hidden Mickeys. I say "elusive" because I'd read about some HM sightings in this attraction that I'd been unable to verify. I'm often humbled by Hidden Mickeys that have evaded me, sometimes for years, until some sharp-eyed spotter educated me about their presence.

I'd heard about a classic Mickey in the trees, in the Wizard of Oz scene in The Great Movie ride. For years, I had studied the flowers and trees in this colorful scene, but I hadn't spotted any Hidden Mickeys. I told Bill that supposedly Mickey was hiding somewhere in the profusion of trees in this room. I didn't really expect that the Mickey sighting here was real, but I try to keep an open mind, as I've been humbled many times before. When I check out a Hidden Mickey post on my website, I consider the specific view from all possible angles, take my time and sometimes study the area many times over.

I was lucky! Bill spotted the classic Mickey in the trees on the first pass through the Oz scene! (Check out the photo). This HM is nestled in the top of the trees, midway along the mural above the exit from the room. Wow! I'd passed under this mural so many times over the years and had never seen this cool classic Mickey. It's really hidden!

I mentioned behind the scenes Hidden Mickeys, because occasionally they're visible to the guest if you know where to look. A few weeks ago, my sister Donna asked a Cast Member at Expedition Everest about Hidden Mickeys in the attraction. He told her of one in the rocks, behind the scenes but visible to the lucky few. It's supposedly on the ground and across the tracks after you exit the ride. In the photo, it's to the right of the post and above the fourth vertical strut several inches above the rail. I'm not sure that I see it, and I'll try to spot it myself in person. If you spot it, let me know! Maybe we can get a close-up photo.

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEarsNet.com

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets (Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secre)

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets (Disneyland's Hidden Mickey's)

I wish to let you know about a couple of Hidden Mickeys that I've been searching for (for years!). Thanks to great photography and better eyes than mine, I can describe them to you.

The first one is in the last scene of Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress in the Magic Kingdom. Other people have seen it and tried to describe it to me. But it took the excellent camera work of Tim Devine (www.themagicinpixels.com) and Shannon Hamilton's description for me to finally appreciate this Hidden Mickey.

As Shannon writes: On the last stage at the Carousel of Progress, one of the Christmas presents under the tree (near the grandfather's chair) is wrapped in red and white paper, but has a large classic Mickey head cut out of green paper glued to the side of the gift. The gift is partially hidden by another present, so you see the ears and part of the top of Mickey's head. The green Mickey ears are to the right of Grandpa's lower leg and behind the present with the silver bow. Check out Tim's photo, and you'll see why I had such a difficult time finding this one!

I'd been informed about this second Hidden Mickey by the Cast Members at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. I'd never really spotted it, even when I was close to it and had studied it for long periods of time. The CM's told me that the lighting had to be just right. Well, finally a prolific Hidden Mickey spotter (Sharon Dale; you'll see her name all over my website) sent me a photo of the colorful tile mural inside at the rear of Sci-Fi that I think shows this amazing side profile Hidden Mickey. Mickey seems to be looking to the right (our right) side of the mural. I think I can see Mickey's jaw line curving to the front of his face, and his ears seem to be visible above his head. Let me know what you think! This Mickey is truly hidden!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEarsNet.com

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets (Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secre)

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets (Disneyland's Hidden Mickey's)

On Sunday, October 7, Vickie (my wife) and I met up with Pat Whitson (of the DisneyWorldTrivia.com team) and Byron Hall (and his wife Melanie) AKA phatdisneygeek.com. We rendezvoused at the Sportsman's Shoppe in Epcot's United Kingdom pavilion. As it was the weekend, locals showed up to enjoy the Food and Wine Festival, and World Showcase hummed with activity.

Byron was sponsoring a child's (and his family's) Make-A-Wish vacation to WDW. I had donated my books to Tommy, and I had hoped to visit with Tommy and his family today. Alas, it was not to be. Tommy's flight to Orlando arrived that afternoon, and their visit to Epcot would have to be on another day.

Anyway, it was a great day at Epcot. Earlier, on our way to WDW, I'd driven through hard rain in downtown Orlando. I told Vickie not to despair, as the skies are generally blue over Disney World. My prediction proved true; Epcot was mostly dry (but humid!), and it only misted intermittently. Our group meandered along the promenade, enjoying the wafting scents of food, wine and beer from the kiosks spaced among the country pavilions.

Of course, I had a few Hidden Mickey posts from my website to check out. But first, Pat and Byron wanted to show me a potential Hidden Mickey they spotted inside the waiting area for the O Canada! film. It's on a shelf near the ceiling at the front of the waiting area, not far from the entrance doors to the theater. The inside waiting area is dark, and this image can only be seen when the lights go up before the crowd enters the theater. Check out the attached photo, and let me know what you think by voting on my website (in the Questionable Section of www.HiddenMickeysGuide.com)

We heard the last few songs from Off Kilter, rockin' sounds from bagpipes and other instruments, including a fab guitarist. In France, we watched Serveur Amusant: acrobatic guys who perform a delightful balancing act with wooden chairs. We wandered toward The American Adventure pavilion, passing by the vibrant drums of Matsuriza in Japan.

In Italy, we ran into Mark Goldhaber (Columnist/Editor, MousePlanet.com and Co-host, the MouseStation podcast), who was busy (and I mean busy! meaning not much sleep!) on a research trip. Our group headed on to Mexico as it was misting by now. Mark took his leave ("a lot left to do!") and the rest of us floated down the "River of Time", now called the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros.

Vickie and I had dinner plans with Bill and Donna Iadonisi at Shula's Restaurant in the Dolphin Resort at 5:30 pm. Bill is helping me with my website. He's proved to be a quality Hidden Mickey hunter, and he's now a bona fide Field Researcher for me. We talked Hidden Mickeys and enjoyed an excellent meal. My salmon and sauteed spinach were delicious. This was just the kind of day I love to spend at Disney World!

Last week, I visited Epcot with a friend and neighbor of mine, Lew Brooks. Lew often helps me find and verify Hidden Mickey sightings. You might remember him from my Hidden Mickeys books. He coined the term "two-beer Mickey" to describe an image that is really wishful thinking and only begins to look like Mickey after you've had a few beers!

Lew and I met in front of the Sportsman's Shoppe in the UK pavilion in the late afternoon. As it was a weekday, the lines for food and wine at the various kiosks in World Showcase weren't that long. However, first we made a beeline for America Gardens Theatre to size up the waiting line for David Cassidy, who was performing in the "Eat to the Beat" musical series. An hour before his first performance, the line was quite long, stretching over to the winding ropes near the Italy pavilion. So we hopped in line and took turns getting wine from various countries to make the wait even more enjoyable.

Mr. Cassidy didn't disappoint; he performed with much energy and looked to be in good physical shape. It was his first performance at WDW, and he mentioned several times that "Disney World is the greatest place on earth" and that he'd definitely return! He has a large following of faithful fans, and baby boomers were dancing and swooning in the audience. We had a blast!

After the concert, we ambled around World Showcase, tasting various snacks and more wine. Pistachio baklava from the Turkey kiosk was really tasty, and a ravioli-type pasta stuffed with beef and covered with a yogurt sauce (also from Turkey) was interesting and satisfying. Of course, Lew and I had to order the famous cheese soup (and I also savored the maple-glazed salmon) from Canada. That cheese soup is simply the best around!

You might recall that the original fish with its classic Mickey in Canada's Northwest Mercantile shop was shattered some years ago. Thankfully, a new fish appeared in its place, and Lew and I visited the shop to confirm it and enjoy it again.

This small classic Mickey is a good one, as Lew points out in the photo!

We then checked out a sighting on a vase in the rear room of the store. We agreed that the circles on the vase are not proportioned quite right and form a good example of a "two beer Mickey". What do you think?

If you live in central Florida as I do, you know that not all of the local denizens are enamored of Walt Disney World. That fact continues to surprise me, of course.

Thankfully, many locals, including a large sample of my neighbors, enjoy WDW as much as I do. So when I meet up with like-minded neighbors or friends for dinner, our discussion most assuredly involves Disney at some point.

The Massoni family (James, Virginia, Jake, and Jessica) moved to Florida from Silicon Valley, California. Vickie and I became friends with the Massonis a few years ago when we discovered that we had Disney (among other things) in common. Recently, we joined up for dinner at a nearby steak house. James left the computer business and now owns a microbrewery in Melbourne (on Florida's east coast). I mention that because Vickie is holding one of Jim's beers (Ibor) in the photo. Sometimes, Jim sells his beers at Epcot's Food and Wine Festival. I think spotting your own beer at Disney's F & W is rather like an author spotting his or her book in a book store! What a rush!

Virginia, Vickie and Jim hashed over Neighborhood Association issues at dinner. (That subject is definitely not my cup of tea). Jessica is currently attending the University of Miami, but Jake is at dinner with us this night. Jake is in high school and often helps me find Hidden Mickeys.

I attached a photo of a Hidden Mickey first reported by Jake.

Not long ago, Jim and Jake found an image of a classic Mickey made of gemstones on a man's neck in a mural along the first tunnel of the Gran Fiesta Tour in Epcot's Mexico pavilion. If someone can verify that sighting and describe its location, feel free to let me know!

Dinner and Disney with friends: no better way to nourish body and mind!

I lead Hidden Mickey hunts in the four major WDW theme parks during MouseFest. 2007 will be my fifth MouseFest, and more authors, webmasters, podcasters, and guest registrants than ever before will congregate soon at this wonderful celebration. I look forward to MouseFest all year long; it's an ideal time to reconnect with Disney friends.

I visited WDW last week to practice for my hunts. I arrived at the Magic Kingdom first. The weather was comfortable and the sky clear. This year, we'll examine the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and some other areas of Adventureland for Hidden Mickeys old and new. I'll pass out Hidden Mickey images and descriptions to the group before we enter the Pirates queue. As we've done in recent years, I'll ask the group to vote on Questionable images, and we'll attempt to spot some compelling new ones. The barnacle image on the Jungle Cruise sign (under the "J") was recently voted in on my website (photo from Jesse Kline).

Next stop: Disney's Animal Kingdom. Camp Minnie-Mickey is our focus this year. I hope we can all get into Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends, either to see the show and stay around a while afterwards or enter as the show ends to examine the stage murals for some cool Hidden Mickeys. I don't work for Disney, so I'm usually not accorded any special treatment. However, sometimes the Cast Members are helpful to me with the hunts, especially if they like Hidden Mickeys! Our group will then wander around Camp Minnie-Mickey and spot some more HM's.

The Disney-MGM Studios hunt will begin in the front courtyard of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. The large outside mural there has some decent Hidden Mickeys (take a look at the photo, courtesy of Kyle Lighting, of the "bling" Mickey on the man's necklace). We'll enter through the gift shop at the exit of Tower of Terror to find a couple of images to vote on. Then we'll wander up Sunset Boulevard and continue our search for the elusive Mickster.

My last stop was Epcot. We'll walk the most distance here, all around World Showcase from Mexico to Canada (depending on everyone's stamina). A group of Hidden Mickeys are there for us to enjoy, as well as a few to vote on. The rock Hidden Mickey in Japan (photo from Sharon Dale) is one of the more compelling recent additions. I hope it stays around for a long time!

I think I'm ready for the Hunts. We have lots of fun, and I respect the opinions of the MouseFest Mickey Hunters. If an image is voted in, I add it to my website and credit the MouseFest group. As you can probably sense, I'm looking forward to MouseFest!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEarsNet.com

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets (Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secre)

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets (Disneyland's Hidden Mickey's)

My sister, Donna McMurrey, visits WDW at least twice yearly. Her real job is Assistant Principal at a high school in Dallas, Texas, but she wants to eventually retire to a job at WDW as the character Timon! She enjoys Disney World as much as I do and helps me find Hidden Mickeys. Donna is a good HM spotter and is almost as discriminating as I am about HM sightings.

Recently, she stayed at All Star Sports Resort and planned at least a portion of every day to look for Hidden Mickeys. One day, she and I had lunch at the Coral Reef Restaurant (her first time there), and we planned our day's Hidden Mickey odyssey while enjoying a scrumptious meal. Donna savored mahi mahi, while I polished off a delicious pumpkin risotto.

A few days before, I'd dined at this restaurant with my wife Vickie's mother and sister. I'd asked a Cast Member there about a Hidden Mickey that I'd heard about but never found. He took me to this awesome classic Mickey in the tiles (check out the photo!) in the middle of the seating area. I showed Donna this really cool Hidden Mickey. I hadn't found it before, since the CM's at Coral Reef don't often allow folks inside just to look around. So you generally will need reservations to eat there to spot this HM.

After lunch, we took in a couple of our favorite musical acts at Epcot: Off Kilter and the British Invasion. Off Kilter is always entertaining, and the current British Invasion guys sound pretty close to the real thing!

Here is the British Invasion singing "No Reply" by the Beatles.

We ambled over to Spoodles Restaurant to find some Hidden Mickeys that Donna had discovered before with the help of a CM; they were still there! I attached a photo of Donna pointing to a Mickey image on a plate near the inside entrance doors to the restaurant. The CM told Donna that the manager had decided to allow this Mickey face to stay put. Whoever this manager is, you have my undying gratitude!

After floating to Disney-MGM Studios on a boat from the Swan and Dolphin, Donna and I enjoyed a "home-cooked" meal at 50's Prime Time Cafe, another of our favorite haunts.

I had to photograph the MGM logo at the park entrance, as it's due to disappear January 1, 2008, when the park will be renamed minus the "MGM" tag.

See you next year, Donna!

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEarsNet.com

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets (Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secre)

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets (Disneyland's Hidden Mickey's)

Last summer, at Fred Block's Magic Meets in Pennsylvania, the Felty family won an auction item in Lou Mongello's Dream Team Auction. The auction item was: time with me! Of course, I was honored.

A few weeks ago, I met up with the Felty clan at Walt Disney World for an afternoon Hidden Mickey tour.

They'd chosen the Magic Kingdom, and we rendezvoused at the Liberty Bell in Liberty Square at 11 am. The group included Jim and (his wife) Krista Felty, Jim's dad John Felty, Sr. and Jim's niece Triscia Felty. The day was perfect for touring, with a pleasant temperature and light crowds. From left to right is Krista, Jim, Triscia and John, Sr.

We decided to ride Pirates of the Caribbean first and check out the Davy Jones' hat image (posted on a previous blog). I thinked the group was more positive than negative about the image as a Hidden Mickey, although I'm still not completely convinced.

On the way over to the Haunted Mansion, we checked out a few cool Hidden Mickeys, such as the hoofprint image in the cement near the Yankee Trader Shop. As you can see, the image isn't perfect as a classic Mickey, but I believe that it's purposeful and close enough.

As we trekked among the lands of the MK, we ambled onto attractions with minimal waits and stopped by more Hidden Mickey images.

In Fantasyland, inside the large tree in Pooh's Playful Spot, I pointed out the submarine in the wood, a tribute to the previous submarine ride in that location.

In Tomorrowland, we squinted to see the faint classic Mickey in the cement near Astro Orbiter. This image is fading with time, and it's not easy to track down. Triscia searched for it again later in the week, and she found it. That makes me a proud teacher!

Before we knew it, the tour was over. The Feltys had to leave the Magic Kingdom for a dinner reservation at Le Cellier in Epcot.

It was a wonderful touring day that I will long remember, and I hope the Feltys will, too.

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEarsNet.com

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets (Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secre)

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets (Disneyland's Hidden Mickey's)

I thought I'd talk about what I do to verify Hidden Mickey sightings that folks send me.

As many of you know, I like to use fairly stringent criteria for the "classic" (three-circle) Mickey.

The highest order criterion is if an Imagineer or Disney artist tells me directly that he or she placed a Hidden Mickey image. That's a no-brainer, but that's happened only twice. An Imagineer took me to a classic Mickey image in the interactive area at the exit of Mission: SPACE.

A Disney artist e-mailed me a few months ago that I have all the Hidden Mickeys he knows of in Conservation Station at Disney's Animal Kingdom (he painted most of them in the entrance mural). That made me feel great!

One other instance that didn't involve me directly is when a graphic artist posted on a website that he'd painted a Hidden Mickey on the rotating earth (the "O" of Epcot) on the Tip Board in Innoventions Plaza. He made Australia appear as a classic Mickey, and he had to tell someone since nobody had discovered it!

Most of the time, I check out submissions by myself. I work faster and more intensively if I'm alone. I observe images from different angles, reading the descriptions several times over, as I try to re-create what the submitter saw.

One recent day, I was at Animal Kingdom with my bag of papers. The sky was cloudy, but it didn't rain. The temperature was comfortable and the crowds were moderate. My first stop was the Spoonbill area, just to the left as you walk onto Discovery Island from the Oasis bridge. Some rocks suggested a classic Mickey image. I understand the poster's idea, but the rocks are not proportioned quite right and are a bit too distorted for me, especially the "ear" to our left.

Next stop was the "Creature Comforts" shop. Close to a large decorative giraffe inside the store is a beetle with a classic Mickey marking. The photo shows this image, which is acceptable to me, as the "head" circle is larger than the "ears," which touch the head but not each other. (Jesse Kline sent me this image).

Near the bridge to DinoLand, I enjoyed a group playing South American music (from Peru, Ecuador, etc.); excellent performance!

Inside Pizzafari Restaurant, I revisited a classic Mickey in the trees in the first room to the right as you leave the food order area. The three highest circles form a sideways Mickey, and they seem somewhat proportionate. I like it, and the MouseFest, 2007 Hidden Mickey Hunt group liked it, too! (Thanks to Sharon Dale for this image).

I checked out many more sightings, some I liked and some I didn't like. As usual, I ran out of time before I could finish. No matter, this was a satisfying day of research, the kind of day I live for!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEarsNet.com

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets (Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secre)

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets (Disneyland's Hidden Mickey's)

My son Steven first experienced Walt Disney World when he was 6 years old. That was my first trip to WDW as well. He was young enough for me to carry, and I have great memories of Steven perched around my neck or on my back as we explored the wonders of the Magic Kingdom. Our family visited WDW many times from our homes in Oklahoma and then Texas. We now live near Orlando and enjoy WDW whenever we can.

Steven is a really good Hidden Mickey spotter. Not long ago, he found a tiny classic Mickey at the Saratoga Springs Resort. It's on the statue of the horse and jockey, on the rose blanket which is draped over the horse. (Check out the photo!) I know I've talked about this Hidden Mickey before, but I'm especially proud of him for finding this little gem.

Steven recently graduated from Auburn University, and he and I celebrated the occasion at the California Grill. This restaurant in the Contemporary Resort is popular and often books up. I asked the guard at the entrance gate if folks could just show up without reservations and eat in the lounge or at the counter facing the kitchen. He didn't seem to know, but our server verified that even on busy evenings, guests can grab a seat (often after a wait) in the lounge or counter and eat dinner. I guess it's a bit of a gamble, but it might be an option if you wanted to enjoy this restaurant as a walk-up guest.

Steven and I took a window table in the lounge and ordered our meals there. He chose the signature filet (my wife Vickie has liked this steak for years), and I picked the pork tenderloin. Our meals were delicious. He sipped beer and I savored an Argentinian red wine as we watched a beautiful sunset over the Grand Floridian Resort from our window. (The cool classic Mickey in the California Grill on the doors to the rear seating room is still there!).

After dinner, we drove to Epcot to catch IllumiNations. It's always a fantastic and moving fireworks extravaganza! We parked on a bench and enjoyed more beer and wine as guests wandered out of World Showcase. Epcot in the evening can be very relaxing. For father and son bonding, WDW can't be beat!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEarsNet.com

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets (Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secre)

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets (Disneyland's Hidden Mickey's)

A few days ago, I visited Disney's Animal Kingdom to check out some Hidden Mickey sightings. A couple of folks had sent me photos of a Mickey image on Everest at night. Animal Kingdom usually closes at 5 pm or thereabouts, but it was open late this day, until 8 pm. So I drove to WDW and DAK to study Everest after sunset.

A bonus to my trip was that Lou Mongello was at WDW doing research. He had dinner at the Yak & Yeti Restaurant with his research crew. I'd planned to meet up with Lou and friends after 8 pm elsewhere in WDW.

Animal Kingdom had light crowds, and the guests were definitely happy! Heavy rains had blanketed central Florida in the morning, but now the weather was warm and dry. I studied Everest from vantage points in Asia and DinoLand. The image in question is a shadow on the side of the mountain.

Check out the photos (Thanks to Brandon Tucker and Sharon Dale). Unfortunately, I think this shadow image is dependent on the mountain lighting, which may change from time to time.

Shadow Mickey images around WDW are often dependent on area lighting. If the lighting changes, the Mickey may disappear. One classic Mickey image that has remained relatively unchanged over the years is the shadow in the corner of a wall behind the cat on the right side of the Pirates of the Caribbean boat in the Magic Kingdom.

Next I found two more classic Mickey images nearby thanks to Billy Lewis, Catherine Zori, and Sharon Dale. Good spotting, folks!

One in the gift shop at the exit of the Expedition Everest ride.

Another on the outside showtime sign for Finding Nemo - The Musical.

I met up with Lou and friends at the Adventurers Club in Pleasure Island. We parked ourselves in the Mask Room and talked about Disney (our favorite subject) for several hours.

I showed them the tiny classic Mickey on the parchment hanging on the wall by the drink bar. Photo thanks to Bryan (All About the Mouse) and Sharon Dale.

Periodically, the Cast Members put on a show in the Mask Room. The one we experienced was really humorous, especially when the main talking masks near the entry doorway would converse and respond directly to a guest!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEarsNet.com

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets (Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secre)

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets (Disneyland's Hidden Mickey's)

The weather in central Florida has been a bit cool lately. I've worn my windbreaker several times this winter already, but this day in Epcot did not quite require a jacket. It was a short sleeves day.

Early March is typically a great time to visit Walt Disney World, since the bulk of the Spring Break crowds hasn't materialized just yet.

In the early afternoon, I spotted fewer than ten guests in the walkway up to the entrance to Spaceship Earth, so I hopped in line for a minimal or no wait. As you may know, this attraction has been a work in progress for the last few months. I wanted to check out the most recent changes and look around inside for new Hidden Mickey images.

In the ride vehicles, each guest faces an interactive computer monitor. After some initial questions posed on the touch screen, your photograph is snapped. During your descent back to earth near the end of the ride, your smiling mug appears on the interactive touch screen as you make choices that determine your future. (This future choice addition is reminiscent of the retired Horizons pavilion.)

I want to ask for opinions about two images along the ride.

Kim Lamb reports: "on the right side of the ride vehicle, in the section with classic black and white movies playing, a chalkboard marquee has listings of upcoming features. One of the features is "The Band Concert", not an image of Mickey, but a reference to him." Does this qualify as a Hidden Mickey? (Yellow arrows were added to the photo).

Another image in the same section of the ride, across from the chalkboard marquee on the left side of the vehicle, is a radio announcer. His microphone flag has the letters "WDI". Tim Devine suggests that these letters are a tribute to Walt Disney Imagineering. It's a cool image, but I don't think this qualifies as a Hidden Mickey. Let me know if you disagree.

The exhibit area at the exit of Spaceship Earth has been remodeled several times recently. Now you can spot your face photo on a large overhead screen, and you can e-mail your photo to someone from one of several computer monitors that face the screen. (I didn't have a chance to try this out, but I believe that's what guests were doing at these monitors).

Anyway, this new overhead screen replaced other screens that contained a cool classic Hidden Mickey made of star clusters. Alas, this now Lost Hidden Mickey was short-lived indeed!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEarsNet.com

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets (Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secre)

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets (Disneyland's Hidden Mickey's)

Recently, I met up with neighbors and friends for dinner at the Yachtsman Steakhouse in the Yacht Club Resort.

Bob and Rita Ondercik are long-time Disney fans and have been DVC members since the beginning of DVC (when awesome benefits were added for joining). Bob and Rita also volunteer at Give Kids The World, a resort near WDW that is a retreat for children with medical problems.

Paul and Gretchen Gregg are Disney fans, though not as rabid as the Onderciks and me. (However, I think we've stimulated their interest!). Of course, we all had to pay tribute to Minnie Moo. Rita and Bob are on the left side of the photo, and Paul and Gretchen are on the right.

I like the Yachtsman Steakhouse; I usually order fish or chicken, and my wife Vickie assures me that the steak is decent and worth a trip for dinner.

Before the meal, Vickie and I explored the Yacht Club for Hidden Mickeys. We found a cool one made of coiled rope in a display window of the Fittings & Fairings shop; it's in the closest display window to the main lobby. Display window Hidden Mickeys at WDW tend to come and go, as the displays change from time to time.

The next day, I joined Bob and Rita at Epcot. We flew on Soarin' several times, and I snapped a somewhat decent photo of the classic Mickey made of rocks in the snow. It's at the top center of the photo, which is a difficult photo to get right! This Mickey image is more convincing when you first spot it, as you're soaring up to it. (Thanks to Jen T, Beci Mahnken, and Annette Owens for first alerting me to this classic Mickey).

Rita found a Hidden Mickey in the House of Innoventions (the House of Tomorrow) inside Innoventions East, on the rear wall of the bedroom. It's an upside-down Mickey made of ad buttons. You have to queue up and wait for a tour of this futuristic house, but it's worth a short wait, especially to find Rita's classic Mickey!

Before we called it a day, I snapped a photo of Bob and Rita in front of the upside-down waterfall at the Imagination Pavilion. A day at WDW can be quite refreshing!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEarsNet.com

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets (Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secre)

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets (Disneyland's Hidden Mickey's)

I had the good fortune recently to meet up with some old friends from Texas. Vickie and I joined Ed, Karen and their daughters Abigail (Abby) and Caroline for dinner at the California Grill. Ed was in Orlando for a business meeting, and they spent their first few days at Universal Studios. On the evening in question, we had originally planned to meet at Emeril's Restaurant at City Walk. However, I received an e-mail from them that they wanted to cut their Universal stay short and get into Disney! So, California Grill it was!

After an enjoyable meal, we drove over to Epcot for IllumiNations. Ed and family hadn't seen the fireworks show for 4 years or so. We watched from the Morocco Pavilion area. As usual, it was moving and spectacular, and the large crowd around us applauded at the finale. We then walked to the France pavilion to check on a classic Mickey on a book. It's in the room where characters appear for photos and autographs. In the photo, Abby (the taller girl) and Caroline are pointing to the Hidden Mickey.

We ambled over to the Yacht Club and stood in the lobby as a Cast Member snapped a picture. Ed, Vickie, Abby and Caroline, Karen and I are posed left to right in the photo.

We had a terrific few hours together. I think they'll return someday, hopefully soon!

A few days later, my son Steven and I took in a baseball Spring Training game at Disney's Wide World of Sports. The Atlanta Braves beat the Houston Astros 4-2. (I've been an Astros fan for many years!).

A classic Mickey image is planted in the center of the outfield. I've known about this image for a while, but I'd considered it a decorative image and not hidden. I'm not so sure now as it seems more faded and not as obvious as I remember. I'll put it on my website in the Questionable section to let the voters decide!

Steven and I wandered to the Milk House (the Field House) where an amateur basketball tournament was in progress. I wanted to check out the Hidden Mickey high in the rafters. Thank goodness, it's still there! He's above a hanging photo of Jason Kidd.

Steven and I completed the evening with dinner at the House of Blues: decent fare and decent service. Since he was a child, I'm happy that Steven and I have enjoyed many visits together to WDW. If you plan your trip right, WDW is a great place to bond and create memories as a family!

(P.S. In a previous blog, I spoke about the new computer monitors at the exit of Spaceship Earth. I want to confirm that from these monitors, you can indeed send e-mail postcards with your photo from the ride).

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEarsNet.com

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets (Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secre)

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets (Disneyland's Hidden Mickey's)

The huge classic Mickey stand of trees (visible on Google Earth) has long fascinated me. My son Steven and I recently struck out in my car to find it from ground level. The posters on my Hidden Mickeys Guide website stated that the stand of trees was a few miles northwest of the Magic Kingdom, just off Highway 27 and not far north from where Highway 192 merges with 27.

We approached the area first from Highway 27, but the access roads to the east were all private property. So we drove back to Highway 192 east and looked for a northern bound public road. We found one! It was Avalon road, and we then searched for a road that might lead us west to the Hidden Mickey. About 8 miles north on Avalon, just past Old YMCA Road, we spotted Schofield Road. (Another poster had mentioned that this road approached the HM stand of trees). My pulse rate quickened; we were drawing near!

Schofield Road (also called Shell Pond Road to add some confusion) was paved for the first mile or so but then became a dirt road with deep tire ruts. At least the road was dry! So I was forced to drive slowly as we bounced along into the countryside. After more than a mile into this road, we crested a hill and gazed upon the lake that was not far from the stand of trees. We turned right a short distance past the lake, so we were positioned just west of the trees (on the vertical road, in the upper middle of the photo below). We stopped the car and walked up to a fence near the trees. This group of trees stood alone in a field. I figured we were looking at the right "ear" and the right side of the "head."

The classic Mickey circles were not evident from ground level. Moreover, the trees in the lower part of the "head" were closer to the road and fence than was implied in the overhead Google Earth photo. The current photo on Google Earth is several years old, so the perfect three-circle Mickey image may have become somewhat distorted by now. (In the photo below, Steven is standing near the fence in front of the right "ear" and right side of the "head." The ear is on the left side of the photo).

A few days later, I found myself in Disney's Animal Kingdom. As I ambled through the Oasis, I stopped and admired the giant anteater, who was walking around his territory. I rode the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch. I like to check in with Affection Section now and then, because the Cast Members usually maintain a classic Mickey image on one of the animals in this petting zoo. I wasn't disappointed. Not only was Mickey present on the back of a goat, but Minnie with her bow was evident on another goat! Way to go, CM's!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEarsNet.com

Steve maintains a Catalog of Hidden Mickeys on the Hidden Mickeys Guide.

The Third Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 3rd Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets (Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secre)

His First Edition of Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys is also available on Amazon.com Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to the Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets (Disneyland's Hidden Mickey's)