Searching Disney with Steve

I enjoyed a warm sunny Florida afternoon in the Magic Kingdom looking around for Hidden Images. I had a FASTPASS for "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh," so I hopped onto the ride after a minimal wait. Here's one of the first book pages at the beginning of the ride.

I finally got a decent photo of the tiny red Hidden Mickey in Rabbit's garden! Look at the small white marker with radishes (in the middle pot to the left of the "Letus" sign); one radish is shaped like a classic Mickey.

My next mission was to locate the Hidden Image of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in the New Fantasyland area. So far, Oswald had eluded me, and the Cast Members I'd asked didn't know about it. But today, a friendly CM took me right to it! I'd been looking in the wrong area. The Oswald image is formed by three embedded pebbles in the middle of the main walkway in New Fantasyland. I'd been searching in vain along the walkway to "Enchanted Tales with Belle." To find the image, stop across from the "Enchanted Tales with Belle" entrance sign (and waiting time sign) and look down in the middle of the main walkway to Be Our Guest Restaurant. Do you think the rocks resemble Oswald? (Thanks to Declan Kelly).

I played a new game in Adventureland: "A Pirate's Adventure - Treasures of the Seven Seas." I was entrusted with a magic talisman (a pentagonal RFID card) and one of five treasure maps. My map was titled: "Heads You Lose," and it directed me to various interactive skulls and coins and locks hidden around Adventureland to find "treasure." I thought the game was fun and well-designed.

I didn't notice a Hidden Mickey in the game, but if you come across any, please let me know! Vickie and I topped off the day with dinner at Disney World. And it wasn't just any dinner, we savored great food with our All Ears friends Deb Wills and Linda Eckwerth!

I visited Disney's Hollywood Studios on a sunny afternoon to check on a few Hidden Mickeys. I strolled along Sunset Boulevard to Rosie's All-American Cafe to verify if a new Hidden Mickey is still there. It is! Mickey's smiling face is at the right lower corner of a photo collage at the left side of the leftmost food order window of the cafe. (Thanks to Matt Mellarkey).

The image above is behind glass and is likely to stay a while, since it's part of the background design of the cafe. However, I do worry about display window Hidden Mickeys, as they can sometimes disappear when the window is remodeled. On San Francisco Street, a decent Hidden Mickey was made of food containers in a display window of a faux Chinese diner, "China Bowl Restaurant." Alas, this image is lost, and a new set of containers are in the window. Do they form a decent Hidden Mickey? Let me know what you think.

While on San Francisco Street, glance at this poster that has been in place for a number of years. The poster is entitled "The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights" and it hangs on a wall across from the San Francisco mural. A faint image of the Earful Tower is below a man wearing Mickey ears at the lower middle of the poster. (Thanks to Dick Larson).

Folks write me often and send me photos of Mickey images in oil and tar spots around Disney property. Well, wouldn't you know it! I stumbled across an image in oil that resembles Mickey near one side of the bus parking area outside the Studios.

Cool, right? The problem is, these images usually don't last long, but I thought I'd show you anyway. Mickey shapes that are embedded in the cement do last a long time, and that's good for Hidden Mickey Hunters. Like the one at the other end of the bus parking area outside the Studios, near the charter bus area. A classic Mickey is stamped in cement, about nine or so benches (and three light poles) from the main entrance promenade as you head toward the walkway to the BoardWalk Resort. Look across from the “CG” marker on the cement.

Now this guy is likely to stay put!

I strolled around Downtown Disney Marketplace one sunny Saturday afternoon to check on new and established Hidden Mickeys and other Hidden Images. For example, at T-Rex Cafe, some Cast Members and Hidden Mickey Hunters talk about a Hidden Donald Duck. I asked around inside the restaurant and the CM's weren't sure, but they thought such an image might be on the octopus over the bar, at the far left side. I did find one reddish spot on the octopus that sort of resembles Donald. What do you think? (Thanks to Shannon Williams).

I make a point to stop by the Caricature Booth near Guest Relations, as I wasn't sure if the Mickey images there would last. They're still there! Classic Mickeys are in the clouds in the background of several paintings on the rear wall of the booth. (Thanks to Sharon Dale).

Many Hidden Mickeys are outside and inside the Once Upon A Toy Store.

Here's one: in the center of the Mr. Potato Head display in the first room of the store, a tiny white classic Mickey is on the clasp of Mrs. Potato Head's handbag. She is holding decorative Mickey balloons. (Thanks to Sarah Ireland).

Classic Mickeys on the cement walkway outside the side entrance of the store have faded over the years. You can still make out two ears and the top of Mickey's head in this photo of one of the images.

Keep in mind one inevitable occurrence in the world of Hidden Mickeys: some will disappear. I worry about rope Hidden Mickeys. Unless they're maintained by Cast Members, they may become distorted or erased by natural (or meddling) forces. Alas, the rope classic Mickey under the bridge near Port Orleans French Quarter, as viewed from the Sassagoula River Cruise boat, is lost. I'll keep checking, as sometimes Cast Members reinstate these great images. There's always hope!

My son Steven and I enjoyed our annual Spring Training Baseball Game at Wide World of Sports.

This year, we watched the Atlanta Braves take on the Houston Astros. We lived in Houston way back when, so we're Astros fans. Of course, we're at Disney World, which is the Altanta Braves home base for Spring Training, so we were surrounded by Braves fans. No matter, everyone had fun at the game!

Each year, we check out the classic (three-circle) Hidden Mickey in center field, which was even harder to spot than usual. After the game, we climbed to the highest seats in the bleachers to get the best view. The image is made of faint slanted thin rows of grass.

Look above my index finger. The Hidden Mickey is in the grass near the fence.

After the game, kids are allowed onto the field to run the bases.

We strolled around the Wide World of Sports property to admire a few more of the Hidden Mickeys there. Mickey is still up in the rafters at The Milk House (Field House). I find him to the upper left of the lower seats of section 104.

Sometimes, you can spot classic Mickeys traced around pitcher's mounds on the softball fields. (Thanks to Sharon Dale and Michelle MacVane).

We had a great day at WWS, even though the Astros lost 3-2!

New Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom is packed with impressive new Hidden Images! I highlight below a few more Hidden Mickeys in the Storybook Circus section.

A poster of Daisy Duck ("Madame Daisy Fortuna") is outside to the left of the entrance to Pete's Silly Sideshow.

A faint classic Mickey is traced on the upper part of her light green blouse, just to the right of her right index finger. (Thanks to Priscilla Baer).

Eight tiny Mickey balloons are scattered around the large "Storybook Circus" painting at the rear of the tent over the FASTPASS machines for The Barnstormer and Dumbo the Flying Elephant. This tent is next to Pete's Silly Sideshow. You can spot a white Mickey balloon at the lower right of the photo below. (Thanks to Octavio Perez).

Near the entrance to the FASTPASS queue for Dumbo the Flying Elephant, a classic Mickey is formed by a manhole cover (the "head") and two elephant tracks (the "ears"). (Thanks to Tracy Vesel and Maya Perez).

Not far from Storybook Circus, look for a popcorn Hidden Mickey in one of the Seven Dwarfs murals on the barrier wall between the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (under construction) and the Mad Tea Party attraction in Fantasyland. The mural features Sneezy carrying buckets of popcorn while Dopey is tickling his nose with a feather. The Mickey-shaped piece of popcorn is in front of Dopey's right foot. (Thanks to Octavio Perez).

The mural with the popcorn Mickey will probably disappear next year, so check it out while you can!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

Check out Steve's You Tube Channel:

Folks directed me to a few Hidden Mickeys I didn't know about at Walt Disney World. Let us know what you think about these images. Some of them are hard to spot!

Soon after you make the last right turn inside the entrance queue for Ariel's Grotto in the New Fantasyland, on the lower part of the rear wall near the floor on your left, a side profile of Mickey Mouse looking to the left is sculpted in relief on the wall. (Thanks to Angelica Dufer).

In an outside display window in the middle recessed area of the Emporium store on Main Street, U.S.A., a classic Mickey image is on a piano above the words "Steinmouse & Sons." The display window is under a sign that says "Collectibles." (Thanks to Octavio Perez).

In the gift shop at the exit of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, a female mannequin wears a black wrist bracelet that says "I love Mickey." It's difficult to photograph! (Thanks to Alexander Mack).

Along the outer walkway behind the Fossil Fun Games area in DinoLand, look for a sign on the fence that says "Games of Chance." An upside-down classic Mickey is made of gold spots on the upper left thigh of the blue dinosaur at the right of the sign. (Thanks to David and Aubree Serkoch).

Enjoy the Hunt!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

Check out Steve's You Tube Channel:

Some Hidden Mickeys are hard to spot. Many of these images are discovered by folks when an attraction ride stops for some reason. If you find yourself in such a situation, it sometimes pays to study your surroundings. You may spot an obscure Hidden Mickey! I include some examples below.

It took me a long while and many trips (without shooting at targets) through Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin in the Magic Kingdom to finally discover two tiny Hidden Mickeys. (Alas, the ride never stopped for me!) One is at the beginning of the ride in the very first interactive room with targets. A classic Mickey with a green head and blue ears is on the first part of the lower right wall. You have to rotate back and to the right in your vehicle. This Hidden Mickey is below and between two five-point green stars. (Thanks to Jessica Paneral and Suzanne Perez).

In the battery room, look to the right of your vehicle and high over Zurg's left (your right) shoulder to spot a tiny blue classic Mickey star, tilted to the left. It's in the star field to the right of the large blue and yellow cone suspended over Zurg. The Hidden Mickey is in the lower left of my photo. (Thanks to John Finley).

Along Main Street, U.S.A., a small classic Mickey is impressed in the cement outside the Crystal Arts store entrance. It's on a gray flagstone between the red cement and the bricks of the side street off of Main Street. Find a long crack (between red cement sections) that's parallel to Main Street and starts in front of the entrance pillars at the store entrance. The gray flagstone is at the end of this crack, and the Hidden Mickey is at the lower right corner of the flagstone as you face the store. Again, it took me a while to find this little gem! (Thanks to Owen Gilley and Julie Greer).

In the New Fantasyland, this Mickey image is overlooked by most folks but is easy to spot once you know where to look. A small classic Mickey made of dark impressions in the rock is on the back side of Gaston's Statue in front of Gaston's Tavern. It's near the water line below Gaston's left leg. (Thanks to Scott Jackson and his niece, and Declan Kelly).

Good luck searching for these awesome Hidden Mickeys!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

Check out Steve's You Tube Channel:

I like to recheck Hidden Mickeys at times, to make certain they're still present and visible! I visited Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon to enjoy the atmosphere of the Water Parks and to look for Hidden Mickeys. To spot the terrific Mickey rock image at Blizzard Beach, hop onto the Chairlift (use the Single Rider queue for a shorter wait) and look straight down to the ground under the right side of your lift seat just past support pole #4.

This standing image at the end of Teamboat Springs (the "World's longest family raft ride" to quote the park map) at Blizzard Beach is not Hidden, it's a decorative (decor) Mickey.

Over at Typhoon Lagoon, some of the walkways are lined with logs on end. In several places around the park, the log ends form classic Mickeys, like this image on the left of the walkway near the top of the long stair climb to Humunga Kowabunga.

The classic Mickey hole in the rock wall is still there in the walk-through cave at the rear of Ketchakiddee Creek!

Along the path to Crush 'n' Gusher, I spotted this sign with information about bananas. I might try this technique, as the banana strands are sometimes annoying!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

Check out Steve's You Tube Channel:

Several folks have enlightened me about a few Hidden Mickeys I wasn't aware of around Walt Disney World. Check these out!

On the "Journey of The Little Mermaid" attraction in Magic Kingdom's New Fantasyland, look to the right of your vehicle in the "Under the Sea" song room and search for three oval purple corals stuck on a rock that form a classic three-circle Hidden Mickey. The corals are just to the left of the chorus line of singing and dancing fish standing on their tails. (Thanks to Cara Di Cicco).

In the new Test Track standby queue at Epcot, study the right wall for a classic Mickey traced on a translucent design board. It's to the left of the man drawing with a marker on the glass. The Mickey image is faint and hard to see; it's just to the left of his drawing hand. (Thanks to Wayne and Angie Vaughn, and Emily Brubaker).

Paint splatter Hidden Mickeys are back at Disney's Hollywood Studios! Walk around the outside of the Stage 1 Company Store near MuppetVision 3D and admire several yellow and purple spilled paint Mickey images on the ground. Here's a yellow Mickey. (Thanks to Sarah Del Grande, and Maya and Suzanne and Octavio Perez).

Inside Tusker House Restaurant in Disney's Animal Kingdom, walk into a small dining room near the restrooms. A classic Mickey is drawn on an attendance roster board on the wall to your left. It's next to the top name on the board. (Thanks to Jessica Fraser).

Anytime you visit Disney property, be on the lookout for new Hidden Mickeys!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

Splitsville at Downtown Disney West Side offers plenty of opportunities for fun and nourishment. As I had hoped, Mickey images appear inside Splitsville! Like these Mickey ears in a wall mural on the lower level right side as you enter the building.

Holes in a bowling ball in that same lower level mural form a classic Mickey.

On an upper level left wall mural, several groups of oranges in a grove seem to form classic Mickey images.

Along with bowling, you can also play pool at Splitsville. Here's my son visualizing a ball into the corner pocket.

A view from the upper level balcony over Downtown Disney West Side.

I'm happy about this new addition to Downtown Disney at WDW. Check it out!

Each holiday season, I enjoy checking out Disney seasonal decorations for Hidden Mickeys. For example, the gingerbread displays at Disney World Resorts usually sport Hidden as well as decorative Mickey images. One of my favorite places to explore is the Epcot Resort area. This year, I spotted some cool Hidden Mickeys on the Yacht Club lobby holiday display. Look for tiny Mickey balloons in the trees:

And a white classic (three-circle) Mickey image on the front door on this cottage:

A Hidden Mickey is in impressions in the snow on the mountain on the back side of the display, to the left of the "Cape May" sign:

An intriguing lighted Mickey image is in the snow on the ground:

Hidden Mickeys are appearing in the New Fantasyland! Inside the Be Our Guest Restaurant, walk to the West Wing room and stand in front of the rose at the rear of the room. Now turn and look up to your right to spot an amazing Hidden Mickey hole in tattered fabric hanging from the ceiling. It's difficult to photograph this image!

I was lucky to come across Phil Holmes, Vice President of the Magic Kingdom, in the Bonjour Village Gifts shop in New Fantasyland! In the photo, he's standing in front of the tribute painting of him hanging on the rear wall of the shop.

Kudos to Disney creative folks like Mr. Holmes and the Imagineers for creating new imaginative Hidden Mickeys for us to find!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

The next time you visit the Disneyland Resort in California, be sure to check out these Hidden Mickeys:

Tom Sawyer Island in Frontierland has an elaborate "Pirate's Lair" play area. Walk to the heaps of coins and look for three coins that form a classic (three-circle) Hidden Mickey. They're peeking out from under a wood plank that holds in the treasure at the right rear of the coin heaps in front of the blue pirate tarp. All the coins are glued down, so you can't move them around. Whenever you see collections of circular objects on Disney property, you'll likely find a Hidden Mickey or two! (Thanks to Rosemary and Neil [FindingMickey.com])

As you exit the theater for It's Tough to be a Bug in California Adventure's "a bug's land," stare up above you for a classic Mickey made of small round stalks. Find it on the wall to the upper left as you walk toward the second set of exit doors from the front of the theater.

Stroll to the lobby of Disneyland Hotel's Frontier Tower. In a hallway off to the left from the lobby, a black and white painting hangs on the right wall near the stairwell. A woman in the painting holds the hands of two children. Some of the images on her dress are classic Mickeys. (Thanks to Kim Bacon)

Disneyland Resort is full of wonderful Hidden Mickeys!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

I visited Disney's Hollywood Studios to meet Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope Von Schweetz from the Disney movie. They're greeting us inside the Magic of Disney Animation building.

Sorcerer Mickey has his Meet and Greet area nearby. The mural behind him has a number of Mickey images, including the Earfful Tower and the silhouettes of folks wearing Mickey ears.

At the lower right of the mural behind Mickey, near the floor, is a Hidden Pluto!

Later in the day, I went on my annual quest to find the Hidden Cat in the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. (Don't read further if you want to find it yourself!) The cat is high on a wall in the covered walkway between the New York end of the Streets of America and the MuppetVision 3D courtyard. Here's the cat before dark:

And when the lights are on:

Each year, many Hidden Mickeys shine in the Osborne Lights, like this classic Mickey in the green tree and the red, white and blue Mickey image on the building to the right of the tree.

Have fun searching for Hidden Mickeys in the Osborne Lights, and don't miss the Hidden Cat!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

Disney's Private Island, Castaway Cay, is loads of fun, and I hope you include Hidden Mickey hunting as part of your experience there. Castaway Cay has great Hidden Images! After I disembarked from the Disney Dream, I saluted Sorcerer Mickey on the ship's stern.

I stopped in at the front counter of the Conched Out Bar to check out a favorite Hidden Mickey of mine. Look high to a shelf at the upper left for a full-body rusted Mickey Mouse. At least, he's protected from the elements!

I walked to the observation deck for the Pelican Plunge water slide to look for black rocks in a classic Mickey formation. They're still in place, in the shallow water just in front of the far left of the deck.

Castaway Cay is a perfect place for exercising, and I like to walk all around the island. I trekked to the Observation Tower on a side trail from the old airstrip. Several pelicans on the ground in back of the tower show off black classic Mickeys on the motors of their "vehicles." One pelican stands in a motorized bathtub.

Two other pelicans power their bicycle with a Hidden Mickey on their motor.

Andy Jackson told me about a Hidden Image above the roof of Castaway Air Bar on Serenity Bay Beach. I searched around the bar and even asked a nearby Cast Member, but he'd never heard of the image. This was my last stop and I was tired and ready to board the ship. I'd almost given up when ... there she was, up between the tree branches! An awesome image of Jessica Rabbit, above the sign "Daughters" that marks the women's restroom.

I really like Castaway Cay!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

I spent several days searching the Disney Dream for Hidden Mickeys. The ship is huge with 14 decks and countless nooks and crannies, but the hunt was fun and rewarding. It's also great exercise! I started at the top of the ship and worked my way down. Here's a white classic Mickey in a coffee cup on the 9th (last) hole of Goofy's Mini Golf Course on Deck 13 aft.

I walked down to Deck 5 to Disney's Oceaneer Club. If you have a child participating in the Club, you will be allowed to enter. Otherwise, ask when "Open House" is scheduled and return at that time to explore inside the Club. I admired Peter Pan and other characters in points of light on the ceiling.

I continued along Deck 5 to the Port Adventures Desk. On the wall across from the desk is a painting of the ship "Queen Minnie." A classic Mickey is on the middle side of the ship's cabin, between two doors.

Just inside the entrance to Remy, I was able to get a photo of the wine that Anton Ego (the restaurant critic) drank in the movie "Ratatouille." Only 32 bottles of this expensive wine exist!

Be alert for Hidden Images in your stateroom, in the huge central Atrium, and anywhere you see artwork and other ship details, such as in the restaurants, shops, theaters, and clubs. Be sure and have fun with the Midship Detective Agency Game, in which you try to solve a mystery by interacting with window artwork on various decks of the ship. Hidden Mickeys pop up at times in the game window images!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

Ron W. wrote me about an interesting Hidden Mickey image in the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in the Grizzly Peak section of California Adventure. Climb up stairs to the Mt. Whitney Lookout and check out the phonetic spelling alphabet (also known as the NATO phonetic alphabet and more accurately as the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet) on a sheet of paper atop a table in the Lookout room. The word for "M" in the official phonetic spelling alphabet is "Mike." But this is Disney! So the word for "M" is, you guessed it, Mickey! (I think "Mickey" would work just as well).

Vickie and I enjoy Fantasyland whenever we visit Disneyland, California. Here we can reconnect with Mr. Toad, since he no longer has his own attraction at Walt Disney World. Mr. Toad greets you along the inside entrance queue to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

I like to pay my respects to the tiny red Hidden Mickey in Mr. Toad's right eye.

I finally got a decent photo of the shadow of Sherlock Holmes in an upper window of the Constabulary building along Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Find him to your left midway through the ride after you leave Winky's Pub.

Vickie and I met up with a huge number of fun-loving Disney characters during our excellent breakfast at the Plaza Inn Restaurant. Here's Rafiki goofing around:

I told Max that my favorite Disney character was his father Goofy, and one of my favorite Disney movies is "A Goofy Movie," in which Max comes into his own as a serious Disney actor! Max was all smiles:

Disneyland rocks!

Vickie and I visited Disneyland, California to check out new happenings there. I always enjoy Walt's original park, and California Adventure has added some compelling new sights. The food in Disneyland is reliably good to me. Here I am with Tigger at the Plaza Inn on Main Street, U.S.A. for "Minnie & Friends - Breakfast in the Park."

A friendly Cast Member confirmed to me the location of a cool Hidden Mickey inside the Emporium Store. Walk into the store entrance facing Main Street and at the end of the store closest to City Hall. Look behind the cashier's counter to your right as you enter the store and find a still life painting with flowers on the wall. A distorted but recognizable image of Sorcerer Mickey is on a blue globe which sits on a small table. (Thanks to Jessica Strom for writing to me about this great image.)

Walking into Cars Land at California Adventure is like walking into a "Cars" movie set. You enter Cars Land on Route 66 lined with its flashy stores and diners. At night, the colorful neon lights blaze the way along Route 66, drawing you to the premier attraction of Cars Land: Radiator Springs Racers, which is a next generation "Test Track" ride through Ornament Valley and the mountains of the Western U.S. You'll pass by Flo's V8 Cafe, a counter service restaurant with food you might find on the real Route 66.

At the far end of Route 66 is a statue of Stanley in front of the Radiator Springs Fire Department.

If you stay alert, you'll spot a few awesome Hidden Mickey images in Cars Land. For example, at Ramone's House of Body Art (a merchandise shop), the outside display windows showcase car hoods which are painted with amazing detail, including subtle and difficult to find Hidden Mickeys. Here's a tiny classic Hidden Mickey on a car hood inside Ramone's store. (Thanks to Rosemary and Neil [FindingMickey.com] and Peter Brown).

Cars Land is filled with awe-inspiring detail and art, complete with Hidden Mickeys!

Vickie and I enjoyed a warm Florida summer afternoon in the Magic Kingdom. We checked out the new attractions in Fantasyland. Goofy (my favorite Disney character) has his own ride: The Barnstormer.

At the bottom of the sign at the entrance to The Barnstormer (below Goofy's picture) are swirls that might form an image of Mickey. What do you think? Is this a legitimate Hidden Mickey?

Kids (and adults!) can get really wet at Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station!

I cooled off inside the air-conditioned tent, part of the entrance queue of Dumbo the Flying Elephant. This sign inside the circus tent area explains it pretty well:

Dumbo flies high above us near the top of the tent.

Kids can work off energy climbing up through the "Thrilling Tower of Flames," one of several play areas inside the circus tent. I heard several parents calling for their kids (sometimes in vain) when their pager notified them that it was time to ride Dumbo.

Guests around me seemed to appreciate this imaginative Disney approach to attraction queuing. Imagine the parents' smiles as they watched the kids play while waiting for their time to ride!

At Disney's Hollywood Studios, I like to check out the Animation Studios from time to time. As you know, this area is not static, but for a while now, the Mushu (voiced by Eddie Murphy) theater show has entertained guests. You can choose to bypass the show and walk to the indoor character greeting areas (and queue up for The Animation Academy if you want) and return to the Mushu theater at show time. Outside the theater is a plaza with cement squares commemorating a few Disney Legends.

Mickey is traced in Ward Kimball's square.

During the video theater show, a Cast Member interacts with an animated Mushu (the dragon from Mulan). Many Disney figures are on display on the desks and cabinets at the rear of the stage of the theater show. These images change at times, but you can still spot the classic Mickey at the end of a pencil sticking out of a container on the top of the animator's desk in the middle of the stage, as well as the Mickey balloons on the large round button at the top left of the animator's drawing board on the front of the desk.

Look for the coffee mug with a classic Mickey on a middle shelf on the right side of the animator's desk.

I spotted a Mickey figurine peeking over the edge of the lower shelf at the far right of the stage, visible as you exit the theater.

Check out these Mickey images the next time you visit Disney's Hollywood Studios!

I wanted to check out a Hidden Mickey in the Japan Pavilion. It appeared a few months ago, formed by rocks in a pond near Katsura Grill. On my way to World Showcase, I stopped by Test Track, which is closed for refurbishment. GM is showing off a few cars in front of the walled-off Pavilion.

I sat in the Camero as a kind Cast Member took my photo. This car swallowed me up!

I enjoyed the Mariachi Cobre music along the lagoon waterfront at the Mexico Pavilion.

The "Sounds Like Summer" tribute band concert series is going strong at the America Gardens Theatre. The "Stayin' Alive" Bee Gees band is awesome!

I've been a fan of the Beatles from way back, so I visited the Toy Soldier shop in the United Kingdom Pavilion to admire the merchandise honoring the Beatles 50th Anniversary.

I noticed the Abbey Road album cover in a display window of the store. I visited London years ago and walked across Abbey Road in the same spot!

Sadly, the rock Mickey image in the Japan pond has disappeared. This current rock formation doesn't look like Mickey to me; the "ears" are way too small! As you know, some Hidden Mickeys don't last.

I checked out a few potential Hidden Mickey images at Epcot. It's June, so the Florida heat has turned up a few notches. That's okay, since walking around Disney becomes more of a needed workout for me!

At the Morocco Pavilion, Disney is having fun with the plates on the front red door at the entrance to the small Souk-Al-Magreb "Gifts of Morocco" shop on the promenade. A newer three-circle Mickey image is now on the top half of the door.

A classic (three-circle) Hidden Mickey design is repeated along the top of a hat in a display inside the Gallery of Arts and History at the front left of the Morocco Pavilion. The Gallery is currently showing "Moroccan Style - The Art of Personal Adornment," and the hat with Mickeys is in a display at the far left inside the gallery building. (Thanks to Amy Krauss).

Basket lids sometimes form a classic Mickey on the wall inside the Brass Bazaar shop, which is at the right side of the Morocco Pavilion behind the Tangierine Cafe. This sideways Mickey image has been in place for a while. (Thanks to Jeff Love).

Even though I've seen it many times, I still like to enjoy the Impressions de France movie in the France Pavilion whenever I can. I sit back in the comfortable chairs in the cool theater and admire the music and scenes of France, as well as the image of Mickey's ears! Mickey is perched in a second floor window of the house in the background of the outdoor wedding scene.

Along the Imagination or Rose Walkway, an exhibit showcasing Disney's movie "Brave" was filled with kids and adults.

The interactive area is geared toward children, who can participate in a variety of games such as the Mini Caber Toss, Haggis Flip, archery, Cake Toss, and then burn any remaining energy in the playground. Guests can create stone rubbings and find out what family they will represent in the games.

If you're in Epcot anytime soon, check out the Brave movie exhibit. (The Highland Games Tournament area is open daily from 11 am until 7 pm until July 8th, 2012.) And don't forget to look for Hidden Mickeys!

Merida from Disney-Pixar's "Brave" is now greeting guests at Fairytale Garden in the Magic Kingdom. The family in line behind me included a redheaded young girl who proudly announced her support of Disney's new scarlet actress. In this photo, Merida is calling out her three bear friends.

The bears appear behind her.

Here I am with Merida and her bears.

Inside Fairytale Garden, try your hand at archery.

I hit the bull's-eye!

Merida's Meet and Greet area comes with Hidden Mickeys on the ax weapons:

I'm looking forward to Merida's movie; maybe it will include some Hidden Mickeys?

At Teppan Edo dinner in Epcot's Japan Pavilion, our chef created a fabulous vegetable full-body Mickey holding a Mickey balloon, and he spouts steam from his mouth!

I hope more Teppan Edo chefs can offer this amazing image!

Vickie and I visited the new Princess Guest Rooms at the Port Orleans Riverside Resort at Walt Disney World. These rooms are filled with striking Disney details. After you admire the fireworks on your bed's headboard (very cool effect!):

look for the classic Hidden Mickey on the table at the front area of the room. It's a dark Mickey image in the wood design of the table surface. Be patient; it may take you a few minutes to find it!

I toured WDW's Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course to check out Hidden Mickey images. The gingerbread cookie with Mickey ears still peeks out from a stocking that hangs on the right side of the mantelpiece as you walk up the 16th hole of the Winter Course.

Kyle informed me that Donald has disappeared! In the past, a Donald Duck nutcracker stood proudly by Goofy on the left side of the Winter Course 16th hole mantelpiece.

But as you can see, he's been removed!

This is the reason we all must remain vigilant. Hidden Mickeys (and other hidden characters) sometimes vanish. Maybe Donald will return someday to his rightful place at the 16th hole of Winter Summerland!

Thankfully, Mickey, Minnie and Pluto are still smiling in a sleigh on another mantlepiece, visible from the 16th holes of the Summer and Winter Courses.

Hidden Mickeys add even more fun to miniature golf at Walt Disney World!

I visited Tren-D recently to check out Hidden Mickeys. The designers of this store in Downtown Disney Marketplace, Walt Disney World, imagined a few cool Mickey designs. Like the one in blue paint on the upper wall to the right as you enter the store from the main promenade (Thanks to Sharon Dale):

and another small gold classic three-circle Hidden Mickey on a necklace worn by a sassy Minnie painted on a column inside the store (Thanks to Sharon Dale, and Wayne and Angie Vaughn):

Over at Disney's Hollywood Studios, I checked on a display window image on San Francisco Street. Inside the right window display at the China Bowl Restaurant, three round food containers are arranged to form a classic Mickey. I wait a while on display Hidden Mickeys, as they frequently disappear, but this image has stayed in place! (Thanks to Marie and Bruce Daigneault, Bonnie Smith, Larry Brooks, and Jessica Fraser):

I chatted with a Cast Member at the Premier Theater near San Francisco Street. Inside the theater, High School Bands were competing before judges. The Band competition was scheduled over several weekends in April.

I like to admire the posters along the long entrance queue for MuppetVision 3-D. Here's Kermit rising from the mist in a menacing pose:

You can count on it - Disney is always chock full of surprises!

I wandered Walt Disney World recently to check out some new Hidden Mickey sightings. Sarah McGovern wrote me about a pine cone Hidden Mickey on the ground near Fort Wilderness. I walked the trail from the Wilderness Lodge to Fort Wilderness to find the pine cone image. This trail has a dirt path segment that starts from the rear of the Wilderness Lodge property and loops up to join the middle of the main cement sidewalk trail that extends from the front of Wilderness Lodge all the way to Fort Wilderness. As I strolled along the cement sidewalk segment from the dirt path intersection toward Fort Wilderness, I encountered several pine cone Hidden Mickeys! They were all to the left of the path as I approached Fort Wilderness. Here are two of the images:

It appears that guests are creating Hidden Mickeys from pine cones on the ground. I hope this continues every year as a tradition!

I visited the Magic Kingdom and the new Fantasyland area. Several folks (Deb Wills, Rita Ondercik, and Captain Mike) informed me of new Hidden Mickey impressions in the walkway. I spotted several Hidden Mickeys in the Fantasyland Train Station exit area. Here's one located in front of a short brick wall and a tall wooden pole:

While enjoying the sights and sounds of Disney's Animal Kingdom, I was pleasantly surprised to come across Russell and Dug from the movie "Up" on Discovery Island.

My wife Vickie and I enjoyed dinner (and the entertainment!) at Restaurant Marrakesh in Epcot's World Showcase. I like the food here, and we can usually get seated without a reservation if we arrive early.

I think you'll agree with me: with Disney, there's always something new and exciting around the corner, including new Hidden Mickeys!

My wife Vickie and I planned a full schedule for the Run Disney Weekend in late February, 2012. First up was the 1000th podcast for the WDWToday.com crew. We relaxed in the audience in the Atlantic Dance Hall on the BoardWalk as Mike, Matt, Annette, Len and Mike sat on stage and recorded their 1000th episode. That's quite a long run! They promised to continue on with their successful format. Inside the large dance hall, we spotted an image that might qualify as a Hidden Mickey! It's on the right side wall as you face the stage, and it's formed by three swirls (one large swirl and two smaller ones as "ears") along the lower part of a painting.

At my table, Vickie, Marc, Matt, Amy, Charlie, Brad, Tony and Fernando voted in this image as a Hidden Mickey!

Vickie and I walked over to World Showcase in Epcot to check out some Hidden Mickey sightings. In the France Pavilion, a classic three-circle Hidden Mickey hangs in the shop that adjoins the wine shop Les Vins de France. It's at the upper left of a bulletin board on a wall opposite the entrance to the shop, and it's red, white and blue! (Thanks to Wendy, Tawny Peedin and Carlos Font, and The McCully Family).

I was told that Cast Members in the Japan Pavilion placed rocks to form a classic Hidden Mickey at the bottom of a pond. It's right in front of the outdoor seating area for the Katsura Grill counter service restaurant. (Thanks to Orlando Attractions Magazine, Claudia, and Ian B.)

I think it's pretty close to a decent three-circle image of Mickey. What do you think?

Early the next morning, Vickie and I met our neighbors and good friends, Billy and his daughter Brittany, after the Finish Line of the Disney Princess Half Marathon. Billy earned the Goofy Medal last month (he ran the half and the full marathon on the same weekend), and he ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon to support Brittany. Now that's cool! And they both made it! Love those tutus!

I visited Saratoga Springs Resort to check out a few Hidden Mickeys. I drove over to The Paddock pool area. Here I'm standing in front of the counter at The Paddock Grill.

A decent classic (three-circle) Hidden Mickey inside the Aquatic Play Area at The Paddock pool was first submitted by our very own Deb Wills! Allen Stroud also wrote to me about this image. As you enter the Aquatic Play Area

The Hidden Mickey is formed by three stones in the middle front of a pillar, which is on the right side after you pass through the entrance gate:

At the Grandstand pool, a classic Hidden Mickey is at the top of the green trees on the lower front wall below the counter at The Backstretch Bar (thanks to David and Celia Berset):

I payed my respect to a couple of classic Hidden Mickeys at the Grandstand pool area, one on the left side of the gate as you enter:

and another on the back gate near the restrooms:

The next time you visit this scenic resort, take some time to check out these cool Hidden Mickeys!

I enjoy music of all types, and the British Revolution group at Epcot's United Kingdom Pavilion adds a new dimension of rock and roll to Walt Disney World. They debuted in May of 2011 and have delighted audiences since with British rock music from over the decades since the 1960's. This year, my sister Donna visited WDW over Christmas and we sang along with a music set from this great band.

After their performance and when my heart had stopped pounding, I posed with the guys.

Each year, WDW manages to improve the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, including the Hidden (and decorative) Mickey images. Michelle Scribner-MacLean, esteemed member of our own All Ears cast, found a tiny classic Hidden Mickey at the end of the Streets of America, next to the door to the Sporting Goods store.

My sister Donna found more of these small classic Hidden Mickeys in lights in several other areas; this one is above the "News" sign along the Streets of America.

My wife Vickie and our son Steven, along with Donna and I, had a wonderful Christmas day dinner at Shula's Restaurant at WDW's Dolphin Resort. Even though the restaurant was busy, everyone seemed to be in an upbeat holiday mood. It's been a festive season for me, and I hope for you as well!

From our family to all of you, merry Christmas season, Happy Holidays, and raise your glass to a promising New Year!

Vickie and I visited Disney's Hollywood Studios to check out "The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights." I stopped by a Hidden Mickey in a painted window at the entrance to the Streets of America, not far from the Writer's Stop. A classic Mickey sand trap is in the leftmost window as you face the New York backdrop.

We moved to the beat of "Mulch, Sweat and Shears," who were rocking at the New York end of the Streets of America, just before the Osborne Lights came to life.

At dusk, we waited with other excited fans for the Osborne Lights to brighten up the Streets of America.

The music started and the lights came on!

Colorful images appeared in windows of a building along the Streets of America, toward the New York end of the street.

Hidden Mickeys decorate this basketball goal in an alley toward the "Lights, Motors, Action" end of the Streets of America:

Another returning Hidden Mickey above the "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" marquee:

We always look for the lighted cat, which changes locations each year. A Cast Member told me that they place the cat high or low on alternating years. This year, it was high on a roof edge, above the alley where the basketball goal Hidden Mickeys are located.

The Osborne Lights are a wonderful annual holiday tradition at Walt Disney World!

I have to make reservations at the Coral Reef Restaurant at Epcot to admire the classic Hidden Mickey in the decorative tile inside. (This is one of the Disney restaurants that you can't just stroll into for a Hidden Mickey hunt; you need to make reservations for a meal in order to study the inside restaurant decor). We had delicious food with friends Mark (on the left) and John (in the middle) at Coral Reef:

As you face the Seas with Nemo aquarium on the second level of the Coral Reef Restaurant, look for a small classic Mickey made of tiles on the third vertical divider from the left. It's about one quarter of the distance down from the top and on the rear of the divider.

Each year, I like to wave at the Headless Horseman at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. He gallops through the Magic Kingdom before the parade.

Plenty of Disney Characters greeted us during the parade, including one of my favorites - Goofy:

The wait to meet the Seven Dwarfs (near the Splash Mountain exit) was really long.

The Halloween Wishes fireworks show was awesome

Autumn is a wonderful time of year at Walt Disney World!

Vickie and I strolled toward the back entrance of Epcot one morning to check out a D23 event at the Food & Wine Festival. I spotted remnants of some Food & Wine (in this case, Beer) revelers outside the Beach Club Resort. I think they're still asleep!

I very much enjoy Disney's music lineups for the seasonal festivals. That evening, I was able to catch the last part of Starship's (with Mickey Thomas) set ("We Built This City ...") at America Gardens Theatre.

The D23 event started in the American Adventure Pavilion Rotunda.

The highlight of the D23 event was meeting Disney Legend Bob Gurr. He was the early Disneyland attraction transportation guru, conjuring up the vehicles for Autopia, the Haunted Mansion, the Disneyland Monorail, the Submarine Voyage, and the Matterhorn Bobsleds, among others. He is incredibly energetic and enjoys the camaraderie with other Disney fans. It was an honor to meet him! (He did seem to know about Hidden Mickeys!)

The next day, we heard from other luminaries, including Marianne Hunnel and Michael Jenner, the creators of Epcot's Food & Wine Festival. Food & Wine gets better every year; thanks for all you do!

The D23 lunch included some delectable choices:

That evening, D23 had special seating for the America Gardens Theatre show: Sugar Ray ("I... just wanna fly, put your arms around me baby ...")! What a show! The audience (me included) was really into the performance! (One cool fact: Sugar Ray has had the same band members for over 20 years; that's a real working partnership!)

Sometimes, even though I live near WDW, I just don't want to leave! Thanks D23!

One afternoon, Vickie and I had lunch at Paradiso 37 at Pleasure Island. The chips and salsa were fresh, and the Mexican dishes were decent (I had chicken enchiladas with verde sauce). The overhead music was interesting - a combination of current pop music and country songs. I'm not normally a country music fan, but I enjoyed tapping along with really good two-step boot-sliding music.

After lunch, we lined up to soar high in the Characters in Flight balloon. It was a sunny and mostly clear day, so we knew we'd be able to see for miles from 400 feet in the air.

During ascent and descent and while tethered at the top, I snapped many photos from the balloon deck. Here's Future World at Epcot

and Planet Hollywood

I thanked our pilot for a great experience!

Vickie and I wandered over to Wolfgang Puck Cafe to check out the classic Hidden Mickey on the mosaic tile pyramid behind the check-in counter. It's still there!

Two friendly employees showed us some other Hidden Gems in the mosaic. Check out the red fork at the lower right front of the pyramid

and an orange spoon high on the right side of the pyramid

Don't miss the purple fork on the right side, below the spoon

The tile artists had fun with this mosaic design, and I'm glad they included Mickey!

Vickie and I had lunch at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant at Disney's Hollywood Studios. We like to cool off inside this restaurant on a warm day. While watching the cartoons and movie clips, I took photos of Tinker Bell

and Mickey

and the classic Hidden Mickey on the youngster's spacesuit; it's formed by a circle and two knobs on the upper chest.

A helpful Cast Member showed Vickie and me a classic Hidden Mickey in blue lights in the gift shop at the exit of Star Tours. It's at the lower part of the counter to the right as you exit the ride.

Vickie and I had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants: Teppan Edo at Epcot's World Showcase. At Teppan Edo, you sit with other folks that you may not know, and sometimes that allows for making new acquaintances.

This particular evening, we were lucky to enjoy the meal with a family from Canada. Not only was this their first visit to Walt Disney World, it was their first family vacation in 17 years! After dinner, I introduced them to the world of Hidden Mickeys. I pointed out a few Hidden Mickey gems in World Showcase and Future World. In the photo below are (from left to right) Linda, Tony, son John, me, and daughters Jacquelyn and Julia.

We all strolled into the Test Track queue. The Hidden Mickey in the third pre-show room was voted in on my website, and it's still there! It's at the upper left of the greaseboard.

This delightful family from Canada was having a memorable vacation at WDW. They all were reveling in the entertainment WDW has to offer. We walked back to World Showcase, and I recommended they not miss IllumiNations. As luck (or pixie dust) would have it, we were chatting with a friendly Cast Member in the United Kingdom Pavilion, and I introduced him to the first-time WDW visitors from way up North. He pulled out a clipboard and wrote down their names. He declared them to be "VIP's" and reserved a spot for them along the wall behind the Rose & Crown Pub to watch the fireworks. As you might imagine, they were enchanted and amazed by IllumiNations.

Now is that Disney Magic, or what?

Vickie and I visited the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Pioneer Hall in Disney's Fort Wilderness to enjoy the food and entertainment. Before the show, we acknowledged Davy Crockett inside Crockett's Tavern.

I photographed some of the lyrics of "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" posted on the wall. You can't read these lines without singing!

We always enjoy the down-home frontier food, like cornbread, fried chicken and of course, strawberry shortcake. One of the Pioneer Hall Players, Flora Long (a wonderful singer!), stopped by our table.

We saw folks we knew from Texas, the Fuller Family, sitting near the stage. Their son Wellborn was picked to act on stage with the Pioneer Hall Players!

Wellborn acted his part well and was applauded at the end of the show.

What a fun evening!

A couple of notes: The lyrics for the Hoop-Dee-Doo show music have changed recently, as the owner of the score copyright has retained rights to the main music. So Disney has reworked the songs, but the music is as rousing as ever!

Also, I'd heard of a Hidden Mickey inside Pioneer Hall, supposedly on the front of the neck of this deer on the wall to the upper left of the stage.

I'm still studying this image; what do you think?

Vickie and I visited the Magic Kingdom to experience the refurbished "Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room." This show is a tribute to the original Tiki Room show that Walt Disney put together in 1963 and which opened at Walt Disney World as the "Tropical Serenade" in 1971. Iago and Zazu have flown the coop, but the other Tiki characters have stayed behind. Furthermore, the upside down Hidden Mickeys at the bottom of several perches inside the Tiki Room are still in place!

We also stopped into the Carousel of Progress for a spin through the last century. I like to check out Dad's two left shoes in the second scene.

In the third scene, Mickey's Sorcerer's Hat is still perched on the right side of the stage, next to the girl in the shaker machine.

Interesting fact from the last scene: the father is preparing dinner, but only six chairs are around the dining table.

Yes, there are six people on stage in the last scene, but what about Uncle Orville (the seventh person), who is off stage in the bathroom?

Anyway, the Magic Kingdom is always fun for us, especially when Disney leaves our Hidden Mickeys intact!

I was honored to meet up with two families from Texas one evening for dinner at the California Grill, Contemporary Resort. In the photo from left to right are Kathryn, Jason, Chris, Sarah, Wellborn, Whitney, Conally, Debra, and Kirby. Wellborn belongs to Kathryn and Jason and the other young folks are with Debra and Kirby. These fun folks are from southeast Texas, and Kirby and I are related!

After dinner, we strolled around the Contemporary Resort, looking for Hidden Mickeys. I pointed out the classic Mickey on the ceiling of the side elevator tower at Bay Lake Tower. The image is made of metal plates that support ceiling lights. You can spot it from the ground behind the Contemporary Resort's main building.

My wife Vickie and I stopped in at Pop Century Resort. In the registration lobby, Vickie stands before the "Where's the Beef" shadow box.

The last time I was at Pop Century, I didn't find the Hidden Mickey in the Food Court ceiling lights. This Mickey image may not be reliably present. But this day, I was lucky; the classic Mickey was tucked inside one of the lights!

Vickie took a photo of me next to one of the Food Court divider wall classic Mickeys.

The Mowgli display next to the Hippy Dippy Pool was recently refurbished, and I was elated to find that the subtle classic Mickey on the wall behind Mowgli is still visible! It's made of white circles traced in green paint, above a green leaf.

Pop Century guests often decorate their windows for fun. Here's a cool window display:

Now that's a nice image to admire as you're leaving Pop Century!

Follow Steve on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/hiddenmickeyguy

Check out his new page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Hidden-Mickey-Guy-Disneys-Hidden-Mickeys-Hunter/140339662694494

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazon.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

Vickie and I had lunch at the Hollywood Brown Derby, Disney's Hollywood Studios, with Anthony and Ken, who are avid AllEars.net fans! In fact, they've signed up for Deb's cruise next year! Anthony and I had the famous Brown Derby Cobb Salad (one of my favorite salads), Ken had a delicious grouper (I say delicious with confidence since his plate was the first bare plate at our table), and Vickie enjoyed a salad and crab cakes. From left to right in the photo are Anthony, Ken, me and Vickie.http://land.allears.net/blogs/MT-3.34-en/mt.cgi?__mode=start_import&blog_id=16

After lunch, the wait for the Great Movie Ride was only 5 minutes, so we hopped on board. I showed Ken and Anthony the great shadow Hidden Minnie image on the loading dock mural. Look above the roof in the photo. Minnie is just above the short tree stump and she's looking to the left:

I pointed out to our group the advertisements that reference Pocahontas in the Western scene. One sign is to the right of your vehicle on a wall behind a barber pole:

and another is to your left on a fence just past John Wayne.

In front of the entrance to the Great Movie Ride, Anthony, Ken and I posed over the imprint of Carol Burnett's Mickey ears:

I checked out the afternoon Pixar Pals parade (I'm a real fan of the Disney-Pixar movies!). Mike Wazowski from "Monsters, Inc." waved at me:

Carl Fredricksen from "Up" floated by me in front of his balloons:

This summer day in Florida was hot, but who cares? We're at Disney World!

My sister Donna visited WDW for one of her twice yearly trips from her home in Texas. Donna, Vickie (my wife) and I checked out Star Tours at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The Hidden Mickeys and other hidden images are surfacing! Along the entrance queue, a three-circle Hidden Mickey is on C-3PO's control panel, to the right of his head.

Also along the entrance queue is a humorous security robot scanning luggage that rolls by on a conveyor belt. It's worth a few minutes of your time; some interesting images show up on the scanner! Like Goofy -

Buzz Lightyear -

Aladdin's lamp -

and of course Mickey -

and his Sorcerer's hat -

Vickie, Donna and I topped off the evening at Jellyrolls and sang along to some terrific piano rock tunes.

Jellyrolls is one great place to end a day of fun in Orlando!

Follow Steve on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/hiddenmickeyguy

Check out his new page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Hidden-Mickey-Guy-Disneys-Hidden-Mickeys-Hunter/140339662694494

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazon.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

The new attraction at Disney California Adventure Paradise Pier, "The Little Mermaid - Ariel's Undersea Adventure," immerses the guest in the Little Mermaid story and offers a few Hidden Mickeys and some other character images along the way. For example, Ariel is underfoot in the tile work along the entrance walkway to the attraction. (Thanks to Laura Wright).

Look up for a classic three-circle Hidden Mickey repeated in the upper decorative scroll work along the outside entrance queue. (Thanks to Juan M. Martinez III, Cindy McKeown, Evelyn Vides, Robert Powers, and Michael Buell).

At the lower left corner of the huge loading dock mural, above the green tile, three small circular impressions in a large rock form a classic Mickey. (Thanks to Michael Early, Michael Shearin, and Orlando Attractions Magazine).

The ride vehicle takes you past scenes and characters from the Little Mermaid story, including Ariel and Eric

and King Triton

This new attraction at Disney California Adventure is fun for the entire family. Ariel's story unfolds in visual graphics and 3-D characters and colorful scenes, accompanied by much of the timeless musical score from the Disney movie. The attraction itself reminds me of popular Disney Fantasyland dark rides such as "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" at Walt Disney World and "Alice in Wonderland" at Disneyland.

Follow Steve on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/hiddenmickeyguy

Check out his new page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Hidden-Mickey-Guy-Disneys-Hidden-Mickeys-Hunter/140339662694494

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazon.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

Judy planned a college reunion for our small group of friends, University of Houston graduates.

They wanted to converge in Orlando (lucky for me!) so that I could show them around Disney World. John and family are from Virginia, Judy and her clan are from Louisiana, Rhona's group is from Texas and Paula is from Arizona. Taken in the Grand Floridian Resort lobby, the top photo shows (from the left) me, Rhona, John, Paula and Judy. The second photo includes their families.

John's son Zhenya (born in Russia) enjoys wakeboarding behind one of Sammy Duvall's Watersports power boats at the Contemporary Resort. Zhenya will join the Marines this October.

In front of the Contemporary Resort, I was able to snap a photo of the "Hidden Pluto" on the front of a Disney Cruise Line bus.

One afternoon, we enjoyed entertainment along the BoardWalk, like this really good juggler.

One evening from a boat in Bay Lake, we spotted the "bear's face" in the lights on the back of the Wilderness Lodge

and watched the Electrical Water Pageant

Everyone had a blast! They're already planning their return visits!

Follow Steve on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/hiddenmickeyguy

Check out his new page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Hidden-Mickey-Guy-Disneys-Hidden-Mickeys-Hunter/140339662694494

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazon.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

The retooled Star Tours attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios represents a spectacular leap in the technology of simulator experiences.

For many years, I enjoyed the original Star Tours, in which you'd fly the same harrowing, out-of-control route to the Moon of Endor. The refurbished attraction provides over 50 random combinations of journeys throughout the Star Wars Universe! This renders the sighting of Hidden Mickeys on the ride (and several folks have spotted at least one possible Hidden Mickey image) a bit difficult to capture and describe. I didn't experience the specific sequence that these folks did, and I saw no Hidden Mickey images during my several trips through the galaxies.

I was delighted to discover that one of my favorite Hidden Mickeys anywhere is still in place (thank you, Imagineers!). About halfway along the outside winding queue, a white classic Mickey is high on a tree trunk, just below the walkway platform for the Ewok village above. It's on the huge central tree, directly across from the Imperial Walker.

Another classic Hidden Mickey still in place is in the gift shop at the ride exit. On the right side of the shop, near the exit doors from the shop, a Mickey image is on a front right panel of a counter. It's formed by bullet holes with surrounding black burn marks as the "ears" and a center raised circle as the "head."

An interesting image in the gift shop is a collection of tiny creatures (Jawas) peering out from "windows" on the upper corners at both ends of a long counter on the left side of the shop.

Alas, a few Hidden Images are no more. Kermit the Frog, made from tubes and robot parts, no longer sits along the inside entrance queue. The pre-boarding instructional video has changed, and the Ewok who carries a plush Mickey Mouse has vanished.

Follow Steve on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/hiddenmickeyguy

Check out his new page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Hidden-Mickey-Guy-Disneys-Hidden-Mickeys-Hunter/140339662694494

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazon.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

Within the last few days, I've visited all the WDW Resorts to find and verify Hidden Mickeys. One of the real joys in the Hidden Mickey hunt is finding a new one, at least new to me! What makes the hunt even more special is following directions, sometimes unclear, to spot an awesome Hidden Mickey image. It often takes me a long while searching the general vicinity of a sighting to finally gaze in amazement at a great Hidden Mickey!

For example, Alex Abrahamzon, Amanda Gunn, and Debbie Newton and Colin Brooks wrote to me about an image at the Caribbean Beach Resort. To their credit, they all wrote great directions to this Hidden Mickey, so I was able to find it within a short time. It's an awesome image, and better yet, it's traced in concrete, so it will likely stay in place for a while. Find this image by walking from the Trinidad North complex toward the Old Port Royale main pool area. When you reach the pool fence, look to your right to a sidewalk to the parking lot. The classic (three-circle) Hidden Mickey is in the cement, in the right lower corner of a concrete square, near where the two paths meet and close to a green lamppost. It's worth the effort!

Folks introduced me to several new Hidden Mickeys at the Polynesian Resort. Four classic images are in a painting behind the registration counter, the far right counter as you enter the lower level doors. The painting is hanging on the right side of the wall. I don't know how long this painting has been there, but Melanie LeBlanc told me that a Cast Member she spoke with didn't know of these images in the painting. Many such paintings with terrific Hidden Mickeys are in the Polynesian guest rooms, so don't forget to study wall paintings if you stay at this resort. This registration wall painting has four classic Hidden Mickeys, two dark and two white. Can you spot them?

Another compelling Hidden Mickey image is outside the Polynesian Resort; it's best viewed from the second level walkway to the monorail. It's formed of three light gray rocks placed on a larger rock in the water, about halfway from the monorail exit doors to the monorail loading platform. Grant, and Nathan Trent informed me about this Hidden Mickey, and their photos showed an image positioned more correctly. I assume heavy rains at times move the rocks around, but I get the idea! Like the wonderful rock classic Mickey at the Japan Pavilion in Epcot, I think that our esteemed Disney Cast Members check on these rock images from time to time to make sure that these Hidden Mickeys are in place for us to enjoy!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazon.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

My wife Vickie and I visited Disneyland, California recently to look for Mickey - Hidden Mickeys, that is. We stayed at Disneyland Hotel and found several Mickey images in our room. This classic Mickey is on the shower/bath faucet handle.

As in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Peter Pan's Flight at Disneyland has a long wait most of the day (and in Disneyland, it's not a FASTPASS attraction), so I queued up here soon after park opening (right after I zoomed through Space Mountain and the Matterhorn). I verified that a Hidden Mickey is still in place. In a window outside Peter Pan's Flight, to the left of the entrance queue opening, classic Mickeys are on the feet of a plush bear. He's sitting at the lower right, inside a high window.

I also checked out the evil queen image in Fantasyland. Every 20 seconds or so, the curtains inside the window above the entrance to Snow White's Scary Adventures open and the evil queen looks out over the unsuspecting Fantasyland crowd below.

One of the real joys of Hidden Mickey hunting is discovering one that you haven't noticed before. It's often right there, close to you, but well-camouflaged. A while back, Rosemary and Neil (findingmickey.com) informed me of a classic Hidden Mickey in the Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante in Frontierland. Hidden Mickeys in restaurants and shops can disappear over time, and I'm often unable to locate an otherwise decent image that may have vanished. I hadn't spotted the Rancho Hidden Mickey, until now! It's an impression in wood on a pole near a side exit from the restaurant. Now that's a cool image!

On this trip, I took over 650 photos of potential Hidden Mickey images, and I'm not done yet! Disneyland has many unique and compelling Hidden Mickeys; just ask the Cast Members!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazon.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

Every year, I look forward to checking out the Epcot Spring and Fall Festivals. Disney works to add new experiences for us and enhance the ones we know and love. For example, the butterfly-net area in Future World is larger and more intricate this year. As I wandered past Innoventions Plaza in Future World, I soon encountered topiaries of Winnie the Pooh and friends, a teaser for the new Disney animated movie due in theaters this summer.

I searched Future World for Mickey images and was happy to see colorful classic Mickeys in the landscaping to the right of the bridge to World Showcase.

As I walked left toward the Mexico Pavilion from the central bridge to World Showcase, I passed by the Duffy the Disney Bear gazebo and then spotted Mickey holding Duffy outside the Disney Traders store. All Duffy Bears have classic Mickeys on the bottoms of their feet.

As I approached the miniature train exhibit in the Germany pavilion, I saw several folks in front of me stop and point. At the right side of the train exhibit, a new tower rose from the ground and awed me and others around me. It was the tower from the movie "Tangled."

For the Epcot spring festival, there's usually a sand sculpture somewhere in Future World. This year, the gorgeous sculpture is highlighting the upcoming Disneynature film: African Cats, due for release on Earth Day, April 22, 2011.

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazon.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

I explored Epcot recently on a sunny Valentine's Day. The park was only moderately crowded, and folks were in good spirits.

I like moseying around Walt Disney World most any day, and I'm always on the alert for the new and elusive Hidden Mickey. I also check to see if any have disappeared. One compelling Hidden Mickey in Future World has evidently been lost. On the large tip board in Innoventions Plaza, the Mickey-shaped Australia on the rotating earth that forms the "O" in "Epcot" is no longer there. The graphics have changed, so this Hidden Mickey may be lost for good. Very sad!

I traveled through the history of communications on Spaceship Earth several times. Someone told me that they thought they saw a Hidden Mickey on the computer screen as you create and experience your personal future while your vehicle is returning to base. I've chosen many different scenarios for my future, but I've yet to see Mickey. Let me know if you do!

Outside, I sensed that something was in the air at Epcot!

I can't wait for the flowers and topiaries and great music of the Spring Festival at Epcot!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazon.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

I'm working on the next edition of the Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book. It's a great excuse to visit Disney World, as often as I can! On this particular day, I parked at the main MK parking lot and rode the monorail to the MK entrance. If I have the opportunity while on the monorail, I like to nod at one of my favorite Hidden Mickeys. You can spot this relaxed Mickey from either the Express or the Resort Monorail just outside the Contemporary Resort. He's sitting on the roof, smiling at the passengers and enjoying the Florida sun!

I managed a photo of "Let the Memories Begin" above the famous image of Mickey Mouse before my monorail train pulled into the MK station.

One of the great pleasures of Hidden Mickey hunting is discovering a new one, right? Brad and Brittany Paliswat let me know of a classic Hidden Mickey traced on a light fixture at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe in Frontierland. It's on the second light from the far right, as you face the food order registers. Brad and Brittany spotted this image many months ago, and I verified recently that it's still in place, although the left ear has become less visible over time. I want to thank the Cast Member, Manager or Imagineer that created this Hidden Mickey, and I hope it stays around for a long while!

I stopped by the Hall of Presidents to salute George Washington and the tiny classic Hidden Mickey at the end of his sword. (This image was voted in on my website). It's in a painting on the wall in the waiting lobby, just to the right of the theater entrance.

As you know, Hidden Mickeys disappear at times. (That's why we need to continually check them out!) The Hidden Mickey formed by a plate and cups on the dining table at the end of the walkthrough in the Swiss Family Treehouse is no more; the dining ware has been moved around. The Hidden Mickey formed by barrels inside the wheelbarrow outside Columbia Harbour House restaurant has also disappeared.
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But this guy is still waiting to say hello! One of the best side profile Hidden Mickeys anywhere is on the trunk of the Swiss Family Treehouse tree. You can spot this image on the way up and on the trek back down; just keep your eyes on the trunk. Mickey is well camouflaged in the green "algae," and most people walk right by without spotting him!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazon.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

My wife Vickie and I visited Downtown Disney Marketplace one recent winter Sunday. We had lunch at Wolfgang Puck Express. I started with butternut squash soup, which was presented well, with colorful sauces and garnishes, and it was delicious. Vickie enjoyed a turkey sandwich. The day was comfortable and bright, and we weren't the only folks with the idea to enjoy Disney; the Marketplace was packed with people! The big yellow Characters in Flight balloon was flying:

We looked around inside the Tren-D store, and I spotted a classic (three-circle) Hidden Mickey on the top of a merchandise table inside the entrance doors from the main promenade.

Vickie and I can rarely pass by the Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop without at least sticking our noses inside. I ordered an espresso coffee and paid tribute to the side profile shadow of Mickey Mouse on the rear wall to the left inside the shop. He's in a window of the streetcar in the wall mural.

I stopped by the Magic Kingdom later. One of my favorite classic Hidden Mickeys in Tony's Town Square Restaurant on Main Street, U.S.A. had reportedly disappeared. This Hidden Mickey was a tiny impression on a black tile, which was originally in front of a bureau to the right as you entered the seating area of the restaurant. The floor was redone not long ago, and the tile Mickey was gone! But don't despair. Andrew Wierzbicki and Jim Opaleski emailed me that the tile Mickey had been moved. Indeed, I found the tile relocated to the left as you enter the seating area. It's the second black tile from the rear wall, and it's against the left wall, almost in a corner. The black Mickey tile is at the right center of the photo.

If you view the Hidden Mickey from the seating area, it will appear upside-down.

The next time you pass by Tony's, don't forget to stop inside to marvel at this amazing Hidden Mickey!

During the January Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, I took the opportunity to explore the Epcot resorts for Hidden Mickeys.

Jay Stonefield sent me a photo of a classic (three-circle) Mickey on a plate inside Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club Resort. The plate is perched on a small shelf on the right wall just past the check-in podium at the restaurant entrance. The classic Mickey is formed of a red circle for the "head" and two black circles for Mickey's "ears" on the inside of the blue plate. The plate is evidently rotated from time to time, as the classic Mickey is sometimes upside down. Thanks, Jay!

A crayon design display is on a wall just inside the entrance to Cape May Cafe. In the past, a classic Hidden Mickey has been planted inside this display. Alas, this Hidden Mickey comes and goes and is not maintained as a reliable image. Note the current display in the photo below. I don't see a convincing Hidden Mickey in the crayons.

Sara Lodgen wrote to me about Hidden Mickey images on chairs in the main lobby of the WDW Dolphin Resort. Walk to the lobby piano and observe the backs of the brown chairs near the piano. Several classic Mickeys are formed by wood circles on the chair backs. Thanks, Sara!

My wife Vickie and I wandered over to the Magic Kingdom to meet up with some Disney friends who were running in one or more of the events of Marathon weekend. The weather was near perfect for running, much more hospitable than a year ago, when the temperature was uncomfortably COLD for running (at least, by Florida standards). We stopped to enjoy the Dapper Dans on Main Street, U.S.A.

Kudos to all the runners! The runs are good for health and even enjoyable, as Disney provides entertainment along the trails as only Disney can do!

My wife Vickie and I joined Marc Lorenzo and other Walt Disney World Moms Panel members at the Wilderness Lodge Resort to enjoy the Christmas decorations. Vickie found a Hidden Mickey (and Minnie) ornament on the huge Christmas tree in the main lobby.

This small ornament is on the side of the tree that faces the registration area.

Cast members point out three red ornament bulbs that resemble a classic (three-circle) Mickey. It's hanging on the side of the tree that faces the rear of the lobby.

I took the opportunity to check on a few Hidden Mickeys near the Wilderness Lodge lobby. An awesome classic Mickey is still in place in the rear room of the Whispering Canyon Cafe. It's the third decorative cutout from the left corner in the lower grillwork of the fireplace. You have to bend low to see it!

The tiny classic Mickey traced in cement hasn't been worn away in the front car entrance drive-through. It's in the black stripe nearest the center steps from the parking lot.

Several classic Mickeys are etched in the large entrance poles supporting the roof over the car entrance area. This Mickey image is on the left after you walk up the center steps from the parking lot. It's partially covered by the upper black metal band; you can see the head and the lower part of each ear of the three-circle Mickey.

Although seasonal Hidden Mickeys come and go, some Mickey images last a long time (thank goodness!)

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazon.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

I was honored to enjoy WDW early this December with friends from the AllEars® Team. Along the way, I met Max, a bright young Hidden Mickey spotter, in the lobby of the Beach Club Resort. Max had been educating his parents about Hidden Mickeys, and he pointed out a few Hidden Mickeys to me on the holiday gingerbread carousel in the lobby. This one is on the floor of the carousel:

This classic Hidden Mickey is on the side of the carousel:

Good spotting, Max!

I was able to snap a photo of Mike Scopa and Michelle Scribner-MacLean of the AllEars® Team in front of this Beach Club lobby holiday gingerbread carousel.

One slightly chilly morning (for Florida, anyway), a group of AllEars® fans explored the Discovery Island Trails near the Tree of Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom. These trails provide a close-up perspective of the awesome Tree of Life that many guests overlook. In this photo, Deb Wills points to a detailed camel's face within reach of Tree of Life admirers.

It's great fun for me to reconnect with old friends in early December at AllEars® meets. I look forward to these events every year, and I usually take the opportunity to Christmas shop during a few open hours. In recent years, weekends at WDW in December can be crowded with "locals" (like me). So this year, I shopped on a Monday at Downtown Disney, and I was able to avoid long lines and long waits. I actually enjoyed myself, felt no stress and finished all my shopping in just 3 or so hours! I'll remember this for next year!

My wife Vickie and I visited Walt Disney World a few days after Thanksgiving to check out Disney's progress with holiday decorations. We like Disney popcorn, so we bought a small box. You probably know that holiday food and drink containers often contain Hidden and Decorative Mickey images. We weren't disappointed! Some decent Hidden Mickeys are in snowflakes on this Epcot holiday popcorn box.

A nice touch to the miniature train exhibit in Epcot's Germany Pavilion is Santa Claus with his sleigh and reindeer on this house.
Notice the "snowflakes" suspended around and below Santa.

The landscapers in Germany try to maintain the Hidden Mickey bush in the train exhibit. These bush and plant Mickey images are difficult to preserve over time.

Vickie and I stopped by several Storytellers in World Showcase. One was speaking about the spirit of Kwanzaa at the American Adventure Pavilion.

At the France Pavilion, Pere Noel entertains with a child's (Babette's) story of Christmas.

When I'm made aware of new Hidden Mickeys, I often wait a while to see if they persist for all of us to find. Karen Williams and her child, and Tim Devine, informed me of a Hidden Mickey inside Guest Relations near Spaceship Earth at Epcot. Mickey ears sit on a high window ledge beside the entrance. (Thanks to Tim Devine for the photo).

Alas, a few days after Thanksgiving, I checked the area and the Mickey ears are gone! Unfortunately, some Hidden Mickeys don't last!

It was my very good fortune to spend the day recently with Scott Mayerowitz from ABC News. You can imagine our mission: we were looking for Hidden Mickeys around Walt Disney World!

Charles from Disney accompanied Scott, Vickie (my wife) and me around WDW property. In the photo, from left to right, are Charles, Scott, myself and Vickie.

Charles first showed us the backstage way into the Magic Kingdom one hour before the official opening time. Looking for Hidden Mickeys in an empty park is a blast! The first Hidden Mickey that I showed Scott was the tiny classic (three-circle) Mickey in the Aladdin display in an outside window of the Emporium store on Main Street, U.S.A.

We then popped into the Polynesian and Wilderness Lodge Resorts for some of my favorite resort Hidden Mickeys. Scott marveled at the purple tile classic Mickey on the counter at the Kona Island Coffee Bar, second floor of the Polynesian.

We next explored Epcot, with a huge lunch at Teppan Edo in Japan (thanks, Charles!) and then on to Disney's Hollywood Studios. The classic Mickey in green paint on the merchandise bureau inside the Stage 1 Company Store was hidden by a coffee mug, but it was easily brought back into the light.

Our last stop was Disney's Animal Kingdom. On the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride, I showed Scott the flamingo island classic Mickey, located to the left of the safari vehicle in the elephant area. The landscapers try to maintain this island in the shape of Mickey's head and ears. You can just make out the Mickey shape, his head is toward the left lower part of the photo and one ear is at the right middle:

Vickie and I had mentioned to Charles that our son Steven graduated from Auburn University. At one point, Charles disappeared for a few minutes and returned with a Disney pin which referenced Georgia and Auburn Universities, a storied rivalry:

In this photo, Steven and I hold up the Auburn-Georgia pin:

Check out Scott's Hidden Mickeys story, video (of me!) and photo slideshow on the ABC News website.

STORY:
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/walt-disney-world-searching-hidden-mickeys-orlando/story?id=12059924

VIDEO:
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/video/hunting-mickey-mouse-hidden-disney-world-12058371

PHOTOS:
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/slideshow/photos-walt-disney-worlds-hidden-mickeys-11988337

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazon.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

I met up with Marc Lorenzo (a dad on the WDW Moms Panel) and his son Josiah at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. They wore great pirates' costumes!

The Party was terrific fun, with many folks dressed in fabulous costumes. Later, Marc and I searched for Hidden Mickeys in the Wilderness Lodge Villas. (If you take a free informative tour of the Wilderness Lodge, be sure and ask your Ranger guide about the many Hidden Mickeys in the Lodge and Villas.) Marc and Josiah found a classic Mickey on the wall to the left of the front lobby elevators in the Villas, to the left as you enter the Villas. This Mickey is usually hidden by the fabric hanging on the wall; a real "hidden" Hidden Mickey!

Marc and I located a classic Mickey in the "train" room, which is on the right side of the main lobby. It's etched in the rock at the outer left side of the fireplace, just below the wooden mantle. (Thanks to Connie Freese, and Alanna)

We next spotted another classic Mickey in the corners of a frame around a painting hanging on the right wall in the first room to the right of the Villas lobby entrance doors.

High along the hallways of the WL Villas are classic Mickey corner brackets. (Thanks to Deb Silhan)

Marc and I encourage Hidden Mickey hunters to visit the Wilderness Lodge and Villas to find some compelling, well-designed Hidden Mickeys. You won't regret it!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

Disney hosted an "open house" recently at the Wedding Pavilion next to the Grand Floridian Resort. Inside the Pavilion, I enjoyed a question and answer session with Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings and Honeymoons staff. They told us some interesting stories about their Disney ceremonies. For example, imagine a wedding reception (after park hours) inside The Great Movie Ride, with appetizers, dinner and dessert set up in different scenes of the attraction (of course, Munchkinland has to be the place for dessert!)

Accompanied by (left to right in the photo) Coleen, Margeaux (in her Alice in Wonderland outfit) and my wife Vickie, I explored inside Franck's Studio, next to the Wedding Pavilion.

The Studio was filled with wedding merchandise, and we found classic Hidden Mickeys made of jewels on many of the items, including a pillow

a bag

and the stem of the bouquet Margeaux is holding in the first photo

Margeaux and Coleen spotted a repeating image of three small red flowers on the floor carpet inside the Wedding Pavilion. Are these images Hidden Mickeys? Let me know what you think!

It's no surprise to us Disney fans, but Disney can surely create Wedding magic!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazon.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

I tried out the new Via Napoli Restaurant in Epcot's Italy Pavilion with Marc Lorenzo (Walt Disney World Moms Panel) and his son Josiah. I'm on the left in the photo.

Ryan P. Wilson had alerted me to an image on the right side of the rear wall mural inside Via Napoli. It's a wisp of cloud below the thin cloud string that connects two larger clouds. Marc and Josiah agreed that from a distance, the small cloud resembles a side profile of Mickey Mouse. Up close, I'm not so sure. What do you think?

As for the food at Via Napoli, Marc and Josiah declared the pizza to be good. In fact, they cleaned their plates!

I dropped in on Mike Scopa's All Ears® meet at Aloha Isle in Adventureland, Magic Kingdom. In the photo from left are All Ears® team members Mike Scopa, Michelle Scribner-MacLean, Mike Bachand and me.

Later, Mike, Michelle and I stood in front of a Hidden Mickey made of plates on the wall behind us at Kouzzina Restaurant. Michelle is in front of Mickey's "head."

That evening, I felt honored to be able to attend an IllumiNations dessert party sponsored by the WDW Moms Panel. Since the weather was suspect, we congregated inside the World ShowPlace Events Pavilion (the previous Millennium Village Building), which stands behind a gate between the United Kingdom and Canada Pavilions in World Showcase. From the left in the photo are Liam (Michelle's son), me, Michelle, Laura Spencer (a VIP with the WDW Moms Panel) and Mike Scopa.

We enjoyed ice cream and other delectable desserts, then were escorted to Showcase Plaza to be wowed (as always) by a spectacular IllumiNations fireworks show. In all, a memorable day for a Disney fan like me, wouldn't you agree?

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazom.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

One recent warm Florida afternoon, my wife Vickie and I headed out for Epcot's World Showcase to savor dinner at one of our favorite Disney restaurants, Teppan Edo. With us was Jim, a friend and neighbor and fellow Disney fan. (Jim and I have enjoyed a number of special Disney days together.) Who could join us for the fun but Tim Foster! Tim is on the left and Jim is on the right in the photo.

I confirmed that a nearby tiny Hidden Mickey was still in place in the Morocco pavilion. It's in a doorway on the left side of the wall mural in the Character Greeting room at the rear of the pavilion.

After dinner, I met up with a Disney Mom, Beth, and her family in France. We strolled around nearby World Showcase looking for Hidden Mickeys. Her daughters, Nicole and Jessica, found two new Mickey images! In the photo, Beth, Jessica, Nicole and Jim (their dad) are pointing to a Hidden Mickey (spotted by Jessica and Beth) stuck on the wood of a merchandise cabinet just inside the entrance door of The Crown & Crest store in the United Kingdom pavilion. The cabinet is on the right as you enter the store from the outside.

A black classic Mickey is taped to the back of the upper middle wood projection in the photo. You have to put your head inside the cabinet and look up and back to find Mickey. Thanks Jessica and Beth!

Nicole found another Hidden Mickey (a full-body Mickey sticker) in the cabinet at the other side of the entrance door to The Crown & Crest, on the left as you enter the store. Again, you must put your head inside the cabinet and look up and back.

We shook hands with Beth and family and said goodbye, but I'm sure we'll meet again! Vickie, Jim and I wandered over to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Sharon Dale had informed me of a side profile Mickey on a huge display popcorn box near Toy Story Midway Mania. It's still there, and it's a great Hidden image! Look behind the "Hey Howdy Hey!" sign, across from the Toy Story Midway Mania attraction.

Near the popcorn box, we met a friendly Cast Member and talked at length about Hidden Mickeys. It's clear to me that many, if not most, Cast Members enjoy the Hidden Mickey game and, along with me, appreciate these magical images that the Disney Imagineers and artists conjure up for us to find.

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazom.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

I checked out a few Hidden Mickey sightings at Pixie Hollow inside the Toontown Hall of Fame Tent, Mickey's Toontown Fair.

A feeling of nostalgia was part of my motivation for returning to Pixie Hollow, since this colorful area may disappear with the ambitious Fantasyland renovation, although I hope some of these Hidden Mickeys are preserved and relocated, or at least replicated elsewhere.

The first one is encountered near the bottom of the left wall mural inside the first doorway of the long entrance queue, toward the far end of the wall and just before you meet the Disney fairies. A black three-circle (classic) Mickey is on the side of an orange ladybug, who's sitting on a horizontal leaf above a white flower. (Thanks to Dr. E. Kye Layton, and Makenzie).

A friendly Cast Member pointed out to me a black classic Mickey marking at the bottom of a blade of grass along the right wall mural, just as you enter the Fairies room.

On the first winter wall mural to your right is a subtle classic Mickey in white at about eye level, in the snow covering on a tree. (Thanks to Sharon Dale).

Another great classic Mickey image is in the middle of the room on the top of a coin, which is the seventh coin down from the top of a stack of large coins. (Thanks to Lydia and Michael Cross).

The wait to meet the Disney Fairies is worth it; these images are fine examples of artistic Hidden Mickeys!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazom.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

As you probably know, new venues at any Disney property will likely harbor new Hidden Mickeys. The D Street store at WDW Downtown Disney West Side is no exception. I stopped inside to speak with Cast Members about Hidden Characters in their store, and they were most accommodating.

One classic (three-circle) Mickey image that is large but still overlooked by most folks is the one formed by exposed bricks on the wall behind the main counter across from the store entrance. (Thanks to Max Weitkamp and Jamie Hindes)

Another classic Mickey is made of black smudges on the back of a display box near the front entrance of the store. (Thanks to Jamie Hindes)

Various Mickey images float as clouds above you on the ceiling just inside the store entrance. (Thanks to Jamie Hindes)

One Cast Member pointed out a Hidden Pluto made of exposed bricks on the right front wall of the store.

Look up at the troll-like face watching you from near the ceiling, then walk across in front of him. An optical illusion allows his eyes to follow you; a strange effect indeed!

I'm continually amazed at the unique images of Mickey and other Disney characters created by Disney Imagineers and artists. Maybe someday we can recognize and reward in some way the artists who create these imaginative Hidden Images!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazom.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

I visited the Magic Kingdom monorail resorts one afternoon to look for Hidden Mickeys. Disney characters hide in the marble floor around the Grand Floridian lobby. (Baseer Muqri informed me that Mickey and Minnie are also in the marble floor at the entrance to 1900 Park Fare restaurant). Here's Mickey near the lobby entrance doors.

Tinker Bell is near the left-side lobby elevators.

Several folks (Brianna and Stephen Millevoi, Herb Miller, and Holly Bowling) alerted me to this Hidden Mickey image at the top of both elevator towers at the sides of Bay Lake Tower. Ceiling lights hang from the Mickey-shaped metal plates. You can spot the images at night:

In daylight, the image may be obscured, but you can take the elevator to floor 16 to find it on the ceiling.

Fellow AllEars® team member Erin Blackwell spotted these Mickey shapes on small grill work covers high on the walls along the bridge walkway that connects Bay Lake Tower to the main Contemporary Resort.

My wife Vickie and I had a refreshing dinner at the Grand Floridian Cafe; we walked up to the check-in podium (no reservations) at about 5:30 p.m. and were seated without delay. Vickie approved of the French onion soup, and I savored a well-prepared salmon dish.

We then rode the monorail to the Magic Kingdom to marvel again at Disney's Main Street Electrical Parade. The Mickey images in the parade are on the first few floats and are generally more decorative than hidden.

Here's Goofy in the train that pulls the float with the parade sign.

Here's the float with the name of the parade.

We experienced the Summer Nightastic Fireworks Show from the hub area in front of Cinderella Castle, and the perimeter fireworks later in the show literally surrounded us! The guests near us applauded throughout the show. Disney knows fireworks!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazom.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

Vickie and I visited Animal Kingdom Lodge recently to check out a new (to me) potential Hidden Mickey sighting (from Jack Koss, and Cindy).

A classic (three-circle) Mickey image is etched in the cement outside of The Mara restaurant. Go to the walkway leading to the pool directly opposite the rear exit door from the restaurant. On the left side, and near the end, of this short walkway as you stroll toward the pool is the Hidden Mickey. I think it will remain in place for a while, maybe a long while!

We showed up for dinner at the California Grill, at the Contemporary, without reservations, to check out a dining option. If Disney restaurants have a bar area, these seats are often available for walkup guests, especially near the meal opening time.

The Cast Members at the restaurant confirmed that this approach works sometimes, but not always, and there's not a good way that I know of to guarantee access to a bar meal as a walkup guest. However, this time it worked for Vickie and me, and we ordered from the usual restaurant menu (as is the case in the other restaurants with bar areas). We like the California Grill, and we enjoyed another great dinner here.

Vickie and I witnessed the Main Street Electrical Parade when it opened at the Magic Kingdom as part of Disney's "Summer Nightastic" program for this year's special summer entertainment. The floats were bright and colorful and the parade quite engaging.

Vickie's favorite float had Pete on his bright green dragon Elliott.

The parade ended with an American flag float protected by a huge eagle.

The guests around us smiled throughout the parade. Thanks, Disney, for showcasing this wonderful parade at WDW this summer!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazom.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

Vickie and I experimented with a dining option. We'd tried it before at Citricos in the Grand Floridian, and it worked. We were told over the phone that no reservations were available at Citricos for the time we wanted, so we chanced a walk-up request and were seated within a few minutes!

So this day, we wished to dine at Teppan Edo, one of our favorite WDW restaurants. Vickie had been telling me for weeks that she wanted the house salad with ginger dressing at Teppan Edo (along with the filet). She called for reservations and was told that none were available. So we chanced it again; we walked to Teppan Edo before 5 p.m. and asked to be seated. We were told: "No problem, 15 minutes!" Vickie and I had our ginger salads and main courses, and I watched as our entertaining chef made an onion ring volcano:

and an onion ring classic Mickey!

I asked a Cast Member at the check-in podium if walk-up guests normally had a fair chance to be seated in a reasonable amount of time. She told me that is often true before 5 p.m. but not necessarily true after 5.

I checked out some classic Mickeys nearby; I like to make sure the Hidden Mickeys I describe in my book are still present. Here's a good one on a drain grate cover in the koi fish pond. I'm rarely able to get a clean view of it; after all, it's over a drain!

The rock Mickey (one of my favorites) inside a hole in a bush on the right side of the Mitsukoshi store was in place today. The Cast Members usually make sure this arrangement of rocks is preserved, but I'm told that occasionally the image is not there.

This rock Mickey is just to the right of a juniper tree.

Alas, the "Tin Toy Stories" display in the rear of the Japan Pavilion is changing:

so the classic Mickey on the origami ladybug on the inside right wall may well disappear.

Oh, well; maybe the new gallery will have a Hidden Mickey or two. We can always hope!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazom.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

My wife Vickie and I were lucky to spend a recent week at the Tokyo Disney Resort. Jack Spence of allears.net fame helped prepare us for our stay; he's visited this resort a number of times.

The two theme parks, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, are kept clean and well-maintained. Tokyo DisneySea is a unique park, unlike any theme park anywhere, with lands such as "Mysterious Island" and "Arabian Coast." Tokyo Disneyland is similar to Disneyland, California and Florida's Magic Kingdom, but there are some obvious differences. For example, Main Street here is called "World Bazaar," which is larger with more shops and restaurants than the Main Streets in American parks. Furthermore, World Bazaar is completely covered to protect guests from the rain!

As I entered World Bazaar, I was greeted with a familiar image: Roy Disney and Minnie Mouse sitting on a bench!

Pooh's Hunny Hunt ride in Fantasyland is different from other similar dark ride attractions: each vehicle takes a unique "trackless" route through the various rooms and scenes. A master computer uses a local positioning system to guide your "honey pot" vehicle, and each trip through the attraction is unique. Very cool experience! I saw an imaginative classic Hidden Mickey made of roses along the right side of the exit walk from the ride.

The Tower of Terror attraction in the American Waterfront section of Tokyo DisneySea has a different theme (since the Japanese evidently don't know The Twilight Zone theme very well): Harrison Hightower III was a wealthy explorer and collector. He brought back a strange, evil statue named Shiriki Utundu, recovered on an expedition to a remote region of Africa. As Mr. Hightower was taking his statue to the hotel's penthouse apartment, the elevator inexplicably came crashing down to the ground! The statue was the only thing found in the elevator; Mr. Hightower mysteriously disappeared without a trace. A Cast Member showed me a Hidden Mickey on a wall outside the exit from the Tower of Terror.

Another friendly Cast Member pointed out possibly the smallest Hidden Mickey at Tokyo Disney Resort. On a wall near the DisneySea Electric Railway station in the Port Discovery section is an "Aquatopia" poster with a tiny classic Mickey atop a water spout.

One of my many pleasant discoveries here was the plethora of food and snack opportunities throughout the Tokyo parks. For example, the Japanese love popcorn, but not always plain popcorn. Their popcorn is flavored, like strawberry and curry popcorn and many other interesting flavors. You'll encounter a popcorn wagon every time you turn a corner it seems!

I was elated to discover that the Japanese enjoy Disney as much as I do. I hope to return someday to this magical place on the other side of our earth. However, the jet lag on the return to Florida is painful and not soon forgotten!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazom.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

It was the longest plane flight I'd ever experienced: 14 hours in the air from Newark, NJ to Tokyo, Japan (specifically, the New Tokyo Narita International Airport east of Tokyo). As Tokyo Disney Resort is located between Narita Airport and Tokyo, Vickie and I boarded a convenient bus that transported us straight to our destination. One of our first impressions of Japan was that the buses were right on schedule, and they didn't stick around long at their stops!

We were lucky to meet Jeff and Melissa before boarding the bus; they're with the Air Force stationed at Okinawa and answered many of my questions about Japan. Such as: is there really no tipping in Japan? Answer: Correct, the Japanese accept no tips; they feel they're well paid for rendering service and accept no extra money. We tested this practice later and it's true! Our servers and hotel staff actually refused our tips! (One exception: the taxi drivers did take our tips, but they seemed genuinely surprised that we offered!)

I was at Tokyo Disney to find and verify Hidden Mickeys. One of my first visions was of the magnificent domed ceiling over the lobby of the Hotel MiraCosta. Seven of the eight murals in the dome have subtle Hidden Mickeys. Here's one:

The next morning, when I was served my cappuccino, I knew I'd feel right at home at Tokyo Disney!

Later the first morning, we met up with Disney friends Masayo, Mamoru, and Nozomi and her 10 month old daughter. In the photo from left to right are Masayo, me and Mamoru in Fantasyland, Tokyo Disneyland.

Vickie and I were lucky that Masayo and Mamoru could join us for the first two days of our park visits. Masayo was incredibly helpful as a translator for our Hidden Mickeys research. She taught me how to say "Hidden Mickey" ("Kakure Mickey") for my last three days there, so I could continue to interact with the Cast Members, although many of them understood the term "Hidden Mickey" well enough! I found many amazing Hidden Mickeys at Tokyo Disney, like this side profile Mickey on the snake along the Jungle Cruise in Adventureland, Tokyo Disneyland:

Tokyo Disney was a wonderful experience for Vickie and me, and I have more to report later. The Japanese really enjoy the Disney parks and the Disney characters. I'm told the parks here are crowded almost every day of the year. Two more impressions of Japan: it's clean! The Japanese seem compulsive about keeping their surroundings presentable. Also, when you press the "doors close" button on the elevators (at least in our hotel), they really close, and right away!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazom.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

I had the pleasure of meeting a Disney Mom, Andi, and most of her family at The Mara eatery, Animal Kingdom Lodge. The Walt Disney World Moms Panel is an online forum of vacation advisors made up of moms (and dads) who answer questions and offer advice to families who are planning a trip to Disney World.

I've met a few of these folks, and they're a remarkable and intelligent lot, and of course, quite knowledgeable about Disney World. Andi was no exception! Her children are Caroline (12), William (9), and Harrison (6). (I didn't get to meet Zach (15) or her husband Scott). Lucky for me, Andi and her family enjoy hunting for Hidden Mickeys!

Andi provided all the photos in this report.

We looked for Hidden Mickeys around the Animal Kingdom Lodge. In this photo, we're standing by a classic Mickey cut into the rock wall behind the swimming pool's water slide.

In the next photo, Harrison points to a classic Mickey made of stones on the rear of the short wall behind The Mara seating area.

I pointed out a classic Mickey inside the main lobby, near the bottom of the second chandelier on the right (as you face in from the front entrance). The Hidden Mickey is near the bottom of one of the shields on the chandelier.

Later, Andi explored The Boneyard at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park with another Disney Mom, Dannee. With their arms, Dannee and Andi frame a classic Mickey on the right side of the children's dig area. In a small display, a fan and two hard hats form the Hidden Mickey.

It was a pleasure for me to meet Andi and her family. Disney has hit another home run with the Disney Moms Panel!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazom.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

On the first day of spring, my wife Vickie and I were honored to be invited to a wedding at Disney World. We arrived at the Wedding Pavilion near the Grand Floridian Resort before 5 p.m. At one point before the ceremony, some of the guests stood and looked left through the windows of the pavilion and spotted the Cinderella Carriage approaching! You can see Cinderella Castle through the rear window of the pavilion.

After the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom were spirited away in the Cinderella Carriage.

Mickey Mouse came to the wedding reception, too! He danced and posed for photos with the celebrants. In this photo, Susie the bride smiles with her mother Rita, Mickey, and her sister Sheri.

I checked out the classic Hidden Mickey inside the rear of the Wedding Pavilion, on the grate or vent (actually, it's repeated on three grates) near the ceiling. It's still there!

My friends and neighbors look for Hidden Mickeys, too! Several folks (Marc, Bob and Rita, Cheryl, Richard, and Jim) spotted a classic Mickey on the right rear hip of the horse at the right front of the Cinderella Carriage horse train.

Now that's a cool Hidden Mickey!

My wife Vickie and ! enjoyed lunch at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop before meeting up with some friends at Epcot. I took a photo of the classic Mickey holes in the hamburger press. The Cast Member cooks are happy to show it off!

We rendezvoused with Bill and Debbie in the France Pavilion. It was one of the first warm sunny days in Florida in weeks! (Floridians usually don't suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, but the 2009-10 winter has really confused some Florida residents and "snowbirds"). On this day, we were smiling! I took this photo of Debbie and Bill inside the Stave Church in the Norway Pavilion. It was Debbie's birthday!

We checked out the Enoteca Castello Wine Shop in the Italy Pavilion. For several years, Mickey has been hiding at the left front of the wine counter. The images present when I updated the Hidden Mickeys book were classic Mickey holes in the woodwork. These holes were gone, but Bill spotted a newer classic Mickey in the refurbished woodwork. Thanks, Italy!

We completed our afternoon at World Showcase with a visit to the Impressions de France movie. I always enjoy this journey through France, accompanied by relaxing classical French music.

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazom.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

I met up with Valerie, Hailey and Alex in the seating area behind the Yorkshire County Fish Shop in Epcot's United Kingdom Pavilion. Valerie is a very active Disney fan blogger, and her son and daughter like Disney, too! Hailey interviewed me about Hidden Mickeys for a school project. In the photo from the left is Valerie, me, Hailey and Alex.

Epcot had a good-sized crowd on this cool day in mid-February.

My son and I are pictured in etchings on a stone block in front of Spaceship Earth. The photo was taken back when I still had hair!

In the Project Tomorrow interactive area at the exit of Spaceship Earth, two sets of classic Mickey bubbles float by on the overhead blue screens. (Thanks to Tim Rachuba, rjf1423, and Frank Tonra, Jr.)

I took the opportunity to check out a Hidden Mickey in the United Kingdom Pavilion. I'm worried this image may disappear some day, but it's been in place now for several years. On the right side of the inner street, a small Hidden Mickey is in the Crown & Crest Shoppe, inside a left rear cabinet post. You have to put your head inside the cabinet and look left to see it. A similar image behind the cash register nearby is not reliably present. (Thanks to Donna McMurrey).

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazom.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

I met a wonderful family at Fulton's Crab House for lunch. Tammie, Kennedy and Tony visited Disney World from Kentucky. Tammie is a newspaper freelance writer. Kennedy joined us for lunch just after a Disney tennis lesson. From left to right in the photo are Tony, Tammie (standing) and Kennedy.

The food at Fulton's was delicious. After a leisurely lunch, we strolled around Downtown Disney Marketplace looking for Hidden Mickeys. We all agreed that this image in a net just inside the entrance to Cap'n Jack's Restaurant is a decent classic Mickey. (Thanks to Lindsey Naizer, Ashley Rae Fisher, and Jack Koss for alerting me about this image.)

I checked out some more images at "Where's the Fire?" in Epcot's Innoventions. Goofy is on an upside-down magazine draped over a lamp in the Kids' Bedroom.

A classic Mickey bookend is also visible on the desk in the Kids' Bedroom. (Thanks to the Bodmann Family for this sighting.)

I'm searching for a decent photo of the Mickey image on the computer monitor screen in the home office room inside "Where's the Fire?" Anybody have one? It's hard to capture!

My wife Vickie and I visited Disney's Hollywood Studios one rainy afternoon to check out new and old Hidden Mickeys. The wait was short at The Great Movie Ride, so we stepped up to the queue. I like to say hello to Minnie before the ride starts! Her shadow is to the left of the vehicles on the loading dock mural.

From a window in Gangster Alley, Mickey is still watching over us guests, although most folks don't know he's there!

Vickie and I waved goodbye to Dorothy and her friends.

At the Writer's Stop, Vickie and I met some Hidden Mickey fans from Oklahoma! They were having a great week at WDW. Even though the recent Florida weather has been cool and drizzly, it's still more comfortable here than in many other parts of the country. In the photo from the left are Mikki, Chris, Sara and me. The smiles are genuine; we were enjoying ourselves!

I have a question for any New York residents. Do the letters "W" and "D" in the photo below have any Disney-related significance? This sign is along the Streets of America.

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazom.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

Florida has experienced a few cool (cold for Floridians) days recently. I do keep a few jackets in my closet, but I wear them so seldom I sometimes forget that cool weather does visit central Florida once in a while!

I was in Disney's Animal Kingdom on a cool day. I usually try to spot the Giant Anteater, and indeed, he (or she) was motoring around so much I couldn't quite capture a still photo.

Two great Hidden Mickeys are still present on Discovery Island, one on a turtle in Pizzafari Restaurant:

And another on a honeycomb in the Island Mercantile shop.

I drove over to Disney's Hollywood Studios to have dinner with friends at the 50's Prime Time Restaurant. Sparky, a streetmosphere actor, usually has a dark classic Mickey on his chin. He didn't disappoint this day!

I said goodbye to the Studios with Mike, Michelle and Liam. Even though they're a bit out of focus, they're actually good-looking folks!

At least, we in Florida know that cool weather here is temporary!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazom.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

This 2009 Holiday season, I spent time with friends and family in the Magic Kingdom. In this photo are (from left to right) Jeff, Donna, Regina and 7-year old Katie, who is wearing her "1st Visit" button. These Texans love visiting Disney World!

We watched the afternoon "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade" from near City Hall.

The tall Christmas tree in Town Square is behind Mickey and Minnie's float in this photo.

You can often spot Mickey images on the bridle gear on the Magic Kingdom horses.

Mickey's image multiplies during holiday and festival seasons, such as this huge classic Mickey on the side of the Contemporary Resort. I snapped this photo from the monorail station inside the resort.

Katie told me she had a wonderful time at WDW. She has a mission planned for her next visit: she'll help save the world as a secret agent in the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazom.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

I met up with family at Disney World over the holidays. One evening, we stayed until Yeehah Bob, a wonderful entertainer at Port Orleans Riverside, was out of time. In the photo are (from left to right) my sister Donna, my son Steven and my wife Vickie.

It's difficult to catch Yeehah Bob in a photo; he's usually a blur of activity! He's an accomplished piano player, and his piano sways back and forth with him as he plays.

Disney artists place Mickey images on holiday displays in the WDW Resort lobbies. We found several Hidden Mickeys on the display in the Yacht Club lobby. Here's one on the side of the mountain.

The names of Mickey and friends are still on cabinet labels in the Yacht Club lobby.

On Christmas morning, I entered Epcot at opening time and hopped onto the Living with the Land ride. Many folks have sent me photos of a cool Hidden Mickey in the aquaculture area, in the shrimp tank. I like to wait a while to see if Mickey images last, and this one has been in place for over four months now, so I hope it will stay.

In recent years, the Land horticulturists have been growing plants in Mickey-shaped containers. Along the boat ride, I spotted this container, which is evidently growing an eggplant. The sign below the container says "Earning My Ears."

As I was leaving Epcot on Christmas morning, the crowds were building! I hope this holiday season will be busy as usual at Disney World.

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazom.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

I enjoyed Disney's Hollywood Studios recently with my wife Vickie and her mother Elizabeth. The dark photo below was taken at the rear of the Voyage of the Little Mermaid theater.

This attraction is one of our perennial favorites.

Vickie's mother appreciates the shows around WDW, so we can't tour DHS without catching a performance of Beauty and the Beast. We sat on the front row and felt the full force of the outstanding acting.

Next it was onto the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. Disney states that there are at least 36 Hidden Mickeys in the lights along the Streets of America.

I think some of the images are decorative, but a few are decent Hidden Mickeys.

My friend Jim told me a story about these famous lights. It seems that when Mr. Osborne shipped his lights to WDW, an outline of a cat was mixed in with the regular lights. Each year, the Cast Members hide this cat in a different place along the Streets of America. I found it (OK, I admit, with the help of a Cast Member) on a rooftop to the right of the "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" marquee.

The next time you're admiring the Osborne Lights, try to find the Family Cat!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazom.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

We reserved the 5 P.M. Candlelight Processional and a 2:20 P.M. meal time at Tokyo Dining. The restaurants at the Epcot Japan pavilion are among my family's favorites. My wife and I always look forward to our salads there with ginger dressing. Here is our party outside the restaurant next to the koi fish pond. My wife Vickie took the photo; I'm on the left side next to my son Steven and friend Amy (on the right). Vickie's mother is sitting.

After lunch, we took in a show by Sergio in the Italy pavilion. He's a clown mime and an accomplished juggler. We smiled and laughed throughout the entire show.

In the Candlelight Processional show, Isabella Rossellini read the Christmas story, accompanied by beautiful music from the first-class orchestra and huge choir.

While in World Showcase, I checked out two bush classic Mickeys that have been admirably maintained by the landscaping folks for a long time. The first bush image is in the miniature train exhibit at the side of the Germany pavilion.

The second one is in the parterre (patterned hedge) garden at the front of the France pavilion.

It's hard to top Walt Disney World during the holidays!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

NEW! Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets is available on Amazom.com Hidden Mickeys Go to Sea: A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line's Best Kept Secrets

The FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His SECOND 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

I met up with Shontell Crawford and Eric Hollister (of DVC by Resale) to check out some Hidden Mickeys outside the parks. We congregated first at the Grand Floridian Resort.

A friendly Cast Member, Alyssa, showed us a classic Mickey at Gasparilla Grill & Games that I didn't know about. Braces beneath the shelves at the checkout counters are shaped as Mickey!

We stopped by Saratoga Springs Resort, which has some amazing Hidden Mickeys. The classic Mickey rose in the winner's blanket on the horse and jockey statue is one of my favorites.

Shontell and Eric stand in front of classic Mickeys on a jockey's jacket in the hallway to the Turf Club.

At Downtown Disney Marketplace, Eric wanted to confirm that Goofy's shadow is still hiding in Goofy's Candy Co. Store. Take a look; he's still there!

Meeting up with Shontell and Eric for some Hidden Mickey hunting was great fun for me. It's nice to share the passion!

Related Links:

DVCbyResale.com

Shontell's Restaurants, Recess, and Relaxation blog

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

The NEW FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His NEW SECOND 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

I visited Epcot on a day near the end of the Food & Wine Festival. As I walked to Epcot, I spotted the Breathless II out for a cruise.

It was the weekend, so World Showcase was crowded with local Florida visitors. I checked out many of the added Festival kiosks that showcased regional food and drink.

I visited Innoventions with some friends. At "Where's the Fire?" I took a photo of a partial classic Mickey, which is at the lower left of several of the wall graphics.

A new attraction inside Innoventions, "Sum of All Thrills," is a helter-skelter simulator experience programmed in advance by the rider.

I like to check out old favorite Hidden Mickeys, to make sure they're still visible. The tiny blue classic Mickey on the large globe in the Yacht Club lobby is intact, waiting for you to marvel at it.

A comfortable autumn day is a perfect time to visit Walt Disney World!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

The NEW FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His NEW SECOND 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

I joined up with some great folks for a Hidden Mickeys tour in the Magic Kingdom. They bid on the tour this summer at Lou Mongello's auction for the Dream Team Project (at Fred Block's MagicMeets). The Mulfingers brought along a few fellow Hidden Mickey hunters, and we met up near Goofy's statue in Town Square. The group included Yvonne Mulfinger and Brian Mulfinger, along with friends Toni, Jack, Dale and Jeff. The photo shows Yvonne, Brian and me (in the center).

We started with Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland and worked our way through all the lands of the Magic Kingdom, checking out Hidden Mickeys along the journey.

Two great hidden images outside of the Haunted Mansion are still visible, if you know where to look! Mr. Toad stands smiling on a tombstone at the rear left of the pet cemetery. (Chris Macri took the behind the scenes tour at the Magic Kingdom. He was showed the epitaph on Mr. Toad's tombstone. It reads: "Here lies Toad, it's sad but true. He wasn't as marketable as Winnie the Pooh.")

Just past the pet cemetery, a tiny red classic Mickey is painted on the tip of a finger on Mme. Leota's shopping stand. It's faded a bit over the years, but you can still spot it.

We noted signs of autumn at the Magic Kingdom, such as Mickey pumpkins:

We had FASTPASSES for the Jungle Cruise, so we made that our last attraction of the tour. I had a great time with the Mulfingers and their friends. The Magic Kingdom was simply spectacular that day!

I spotted a classic Mickey rope at the Magic Kingdom loading dock for the ferry. It was next to a large post on one side as I walked onto the boat. This image is not reliably present, so I was lucky to find it.

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

The NEW FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His NEW SECOND 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

I attended the September D23 Expo in the Anaheim Convention Center, along with a few thousand other Disney nuts! I shared some of the fun with Deb Wills and Deb Koma in the middle of the Disney magic.

I rented a booth to highlight my Hidden Mickeys website. Each day, I displayed different photos of compelling Hidden Mickeys and challenged novice and pro Hidden Mickey hunters to describe the locations of the little gems. (A few folks scored 100!) The Expo was a wonderful experience for me; I met many new people interested in Hidden Mickeys.

I managed a quick trip over to Disneyland (about a 25-minute walk from the Convention Center).

I checked out some Hidden Mickeys in Innoventions in Tomorrowland. Tom Morrow still has a Mickey-shaped pen in his pocket. (Thanks to Brian Bergstrom.)

Unfortunately, Tom's shoelaces have been replaced and are no longer covered with classic Mickeys. I hope his Hidden Mickey shoelaces will return some day.

Inside Big Thunder Ranch at the exit, a classic Mickey hole is in the wood under the soap dispenser to the left of the hand washing basin. It appears that the "head" of Mickey was chiseled and enlarged to make the image more proportional. (Thanks to Reyna Gonzalez, Diana Poncini, and Laura.)

I hear that the D23 Expo will return annually to Anaheim for the next few years. I encourage you to attend if you can; it's a blast!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

The NEW FOURTH Edition of Steve's Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book is available on Amazon.com. Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets

His NEW SECOND 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

Just after noon, I met up with Bret and his family outside 50's Prime Time Cafe. Bret is a member of the Disney Moms Panel, and we'd recorded a Hidden Mickeys video segment for the Panel last September. In the photo, Bret and his children, Allie and Peter, are in front of The Great Movie Ride.

Later, I caught up with Marc Lorenzo and relatives at Epcot's Camera Center near Spaceship Earth. At an auction for Lou Mongello's Dream Team Project during Fred Block's MagicMeets this summer, Marc bid on a Hidden Mickeys Tour with me, and he won!

We wandered around Epcot this sunny afternoon, checking on Mickey. In the photo, Marc and Josiah (his son) are standing with me in front of the Mexico pavilion. (I'm the one in the hat).

Marc's sister Melissa and her daughter Carolyn were also with us. We enjoyed a few great Hidden Mickeys on Spaceship Earth and Journey into Imagination with Figment. I like to show folks a classic Mickey on the cement path at the rear of Mouse Gear shop. This image was discovered several years ago by a child, and it will probably stick around a while!

The classic Mickey made of rocks at the bottom of the aquarium in The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion is moved around from time to time. We found it through a window at the end of the circular observation area on the second level.

We meandered around World Showcase, spotting Hidden Mickeys along the way and taking in the Gran Fiesta ride several times. Marc and Melissa tasted chocolate eclairs at Boulangerie Patisserie in France. I think the tour was a success; at least I had a great time!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

The NEW FOURTH 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

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

My wife Vickie and I recently checked out the new Kouzzina restaurant for Hidden Mickeys.

All of the previous HM's at Spoodles have been removed, except one! A smiling Mickey still peeks out from an upper recessed light in the waiting area.

Vickie and I found a classic Mickey made of plates in the waiting area, on the wall to the right of the door to the seating area.

Our server showed me another smiling Mickey on a side wall of the lower shelves with bowls to the right of the kitchen.

The menu is Greek-inspired, with a large olive influence and even including Greek red and white wine. I had the grape leaf with goat cheese appetizer, and Vickie sampled a chicken and rice soup (which she said was bland). The customers seemed to be enjoying the Greek entrees, one of which is a lamb burger and another is cinnamon stewed chicken.

We met friends at the Grand Floridian Resort. Jessica and Jessica (roommates in college), Jim, Jake and Ginny are posing inside the antique vehicle in front of the hotel entrance.

Two friendly Cast Members showed me a new Hidden Mickey in the corners of the marble tile floor, which was recently installed on the second level.

New and lost Hidden Mickeys; Disney keeps us on our toes!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

The NEW FOURTH 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

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

My sister Donna visited WDW recently. We first took in the sights and sounds of the BoardWalk area in late afternoon. The Florida heat had diminished only slightly, so we walked leisurely. Folks were pedaling surrey bikes around Crescent Lake, a real workout on a hot day, to be sure!

Donna rested for a few minutes on an antique car near the Yacht Club.

I wanted to confirm one of my favorite Hidden Mickeys was still present, on the globe in the Yacht Club lobby. It was there, undisturbed.

Donna and I enjoyed dinner at Boma. I always taste the various soups.

I hadn't tried the Mulligatawny soup before, and I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I finished off two servings of this slightly sweet chicken and vegetable soup.

I asked our server about the soup's ingredients, and she brought me the recipe! Very cool!

Donna and I sampled many of the fish, vegetable and other offerings, including a mandatory zebra dome dessert to wind up the feast. Another satisfying Boma meal!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

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

I had the privilege of meeting up with Lou Mongello one recent weekend. As you know, Lou is the favorite Disney trivia guy for many Disney fans, including me!

Late one morning, we had coffee (I had cappuccino) at the Kona Island Coffee Bar in the Polynesian Resort. Lou recently redesigned his website and is working hard on his Audio Guides and his many other projects. (I know he doesn't sleep much!) As per the last two years, I'm auctioning myself (a Hidden Mickeys tour with me at WDW, that is) at Fred Block's 2009 MagicMeets for Lou's Dream Team Project, which supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

We rode the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. In Town Square, I took a pic of Lou and Goofy:

I checked out a few Hidden Mickeys, although I don't think these images will be going anywhere soon. At least, the great classic Mickey in the Aladdin window display outside the Emporium Store is still there!

I spotted the horseshoe Hidden Mickey in Liberty Square, near the Yankee Trader Shop. I like to stand there a while and watch as most folks just walk right by it or over it, not appreciating this unique image.

I stopped to admire the chimney stone Mickey in the mural along the queue for Snow White's Scary Adventures. It's the image on the lower chimney, under the flowers and near Snow White's head. This was one of the first Hidden Mickeys that I ever spotted. I wrote about it "long ago" in 2002, in the first edition (2003) of the WDW Hidden Mickeys book. As you can understand, it's a sentimental favorite of mine!

Lou and I said our goodbyes, but rest assured that we'll meet up again soon at our favorite place on earth!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

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

As I'm sure you'll agree, one of the great pleasures in life is meeting up with friends and family at Walt Disney World. Recently, I joined my wife Vickie, my sister Donna and our friend Amy in World Showcase at Epcot. The crowds at Disney World this summer have been erratic. Some days see the usual large numbers of visitors for this time of year, but other days are less crowded. This day at Epcot was not that crowded.

We studied the Times Guide and planned our afternoon. At the United Kingdom pavilion, the musicians in The British Invasion band were decked out in their Beatles Sgt. Pepper's colorful outfits. Nearby in Canada, the Off Kilter guys in their kilts were especially energetic and humorous. I usually try to catch a performance by the Voices of Liberty at the American Adventure.

In the next photo, Donna is standing at the podium at the right rear of the rotunda on the first floor inside the American Adventure pavilion. She's in front of the painting which has a classic Mickey made of holes at the top of a vertical beam behind the workers.

We enjoyed a terrific performance from one of the Summer Concert bands at the America Gardens Theatre. On the stage today, "52nd Street" pounded out the music of Billy Joel. They are outstanding musicians! We topped off the evening at Jellyrolls, and our son Steven joined us. Scott, one of the best piano entertainers you'll ever hear, played a favorite request of ours: Rainbow Connection by Kermit the Frog. Awesome! The photo below, from left to right, shows me, Amy, Vickie, Donna and Steven at the BoardWalk Resort.

Later, I spotted Mike Scopa at the Flying Fish Cafe. Happy Birthday, Mike!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

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

I just finished updating the Disneyland Hidden Mickeys book, so now we're involved with proofing and readying the book for the printer. I want to mention several more compelling Hidden Mickey images at Disneyland.

This classic Mickey image in the cement may be relatively new. In California Adventure's Sunshine Plaza, face away from the Sun Fountain and locate to your right a cement bench that surrounds a planted area. A small classic Mickey is etched in the ground under the right side of the round lip of the bench that juts out. Cast Members and Security Guards nearby may know about this Hidden Mickey, so ask if you need help! (Thanks to Kristi B., Annie Lin, and Phillip Lemon).

The second Hidden Mickey may have been recently placed as well. After the ballroom scene on the Haunted Mansion ride, as soon as you enter the attic, look to the right for a clock on a bureau. It's to the right of the round portrait of a bride and groom and just to the right of a bright orange and blue lamp. A brown classic Mickey is behind the pendulum of the clock. Remember, look for this gem as soon as you enter the attic. (Thanks to Sarah, Alex Goslar, Brad Steinbrenner, Sylvia McNeil and Matt Dickerson, Tamera, and Jennifer Peterson).

You know how excited you feel when you spot a Hidden Mickey that's hard to find? (At least, that's how I feel!)

Well, I finally found this reference to Mickey in Indiana Jones Adventure. Across from the first drinking fountains in the inside Standby queue, Mickey’s initials “M M” in Mara script are on the left wall, just above a horizontal crack in the wall. "M M" is on the far left of the photo below. (Thanks to Luis Valdez).

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

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

If you live in Florida, especially if your address is near Walt Disney World, you can expect to be visited often by friends and relatives. Occasionally, you'll be pleasantly surprised by friends from long ago.

Judy, a past college friend of my wife and mine, recently journeyed to central Florida. She was accompanied by her husband Steve, daughter Amy, and grandkids Isaac and Noah. We rendezvoused in the Magic Kingdom, had lunch, and wandered around looking for Hidden Mickeys.

Judy's family met Mickey at the Judge's Tent in Mickey's Toontown Fair. I showed them the classic Mickey images in the apples near the end of the queue under the video screen and inside the blue ribbon on the wall behind Mickey.

In the photo, Steve is holding a shy Noah, and Amy stands left of Judy.

The Hidden Mickeys game interested Isaac from the start. He quickly discerned the difference between Hidden and decorative Mickeys. In the photo, Isaac stands between Mickey and Minnie. Notice the blue classic Mickey in the middle of the blue ribbon on the wall behind Mickey and Minnie in the photos.

We wandered around Tomorrowland and shot targets in Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. The boys got their photos with Buzz Lightyear at his greeting area near the Carousel of Progress.

I pointed out one of my favorite Hidden Mickeys traced in the cement close to a support beam near Astro Orbiter on the side toward Space Mountain, between Cool Scanner and The Lunching Pad. This image always inspires Hidden Mickey hunters, newbies and oldsters alike!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

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

Recently, I was reminded that Hidden Mickey images, even some really good ones, may disappear. When areas are refurbished, Disney can decide to remove perfectly decent Hidden Mickeys. I was searching out Hidden Mickeys at Disney's Hollywood Studios and discovered that several were gone.

When the Block Party Bash revved up last year, Hidden Mickeys were in the confetti decorations around the "Block Party Bash" post on the Tip Board.

A Cast Member told me that these Hidden Mickeys were not "official," and that the Manager or Imagineer for the area could remove them at any time. The CM's warning was accurate. I checked the Tip Board recently, and the Hidden Mickeys were gone.

The Studio Backlot Tour was refurbished this winter. The mural backdrop for the Special Effects Water Tank area was repainted, and three decent Hidden Images (two Hidden Mickeys and Clarabelle the Cow) disappeared!

Here is the new one. I couldn't find any Hidden Mickeys in this new mural. If you can, let me know!

For years, classic Mickeys were in the tile floor along the inside entryway to Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. I wasn't fond of these images, since all the circles were the same size, but many guests and Cast Members liked them as Hidden Mickeys.

As you can see, these images were not continued in the new tile floor.

We must stay vigilant about Hidden Mickeys (especially our favorite ones)!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

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

I've been working all of my spare time recently on the update for the Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys book. Epcot has been my emphasis for the last few weeks. Of course, I take a short break here and there to enjoy the Epcot offerings. My friend and neighbor Jim and I sang along with The Turtles at the Flower and Garden Festival. Great fun! In the photo, Jim is on the right.

Now and then, Disney removes or changes Hidden Mickeys.

I discovered two at Epcot that had changed locations. One is the rock Mickey on the floor of the aquarium at The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion. Julie Chappa informed me that this Mickey had moved. Indeed, Disney removed the original one and created another classic Mickey made of rocks that can be spotted in a different location halfway around the observation walkway on the upper level. The photo shows the new Mickey. To Disney's credit, this Mickey concept has been preserved (for the present).

In addition, the brass plate classic Mickey in Morocco has changed doors! For years, it's been on the outside green door of the Souk-Al-Magreb shop on the promenade. Recently, I saw it on the nearby red door of the shop. At least, Disney is not removing this Mickey image, just changing its location!

I was dismayed to find that the rock Mickey (in the photo below) on the bottom floor of the Manatee Tank of the Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion had disappeared! It appears that the rocks have either been moved or covered by sand or dirt. Rock Mickey images such as this one (as well as other types of movable Mickey images) must be maintained by Disney personnel or they might be disturbed or lost. Let me know if it reappears!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

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

I joined my sister Donna and a few friends recently at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Debbie and Randy are old friends of Donna's, and they came to Disney World for a short visit with their grandson Charlie.

Donna made her own travel plans without their knowledge and surprised them on their arrival day to Disney World! That's pixie dust for you!

We enjoyed Voyage of The Little Mermaid and then dinner at 50's Prime Time Cafe. From left to right in the photo are Debbie, Charlie, Randy and Donna. (Notice the decorative Mickey on the red utensil holder near Donna.)

Like many Disney veterans, I relish new experiences in the Land of Magic. Carol and Bob allowed me such an experience.

They escorted me through a side door of the Test Track pavilion and up a private elevator to a lounge area overlooking Future World. This lounge is for General Motors employees (such as Bob) and their families and guests. On one side are windows with views of parts of the Test Track ride, such as the vehicle entry into the environmental heat chamber.

On the opposite side of the lounge is an awesome overlook of the center of Future World. After relaxing for a while in the lounge, you receive a special pass to the ride. Another special elevator takes you down to the loading area for direct access to the ride vehicles. Makes you feel a bit special! Carol, Bob and their grandson Curtis are in the photo with Spaceship Earth in the background.

Marie and Bruce Daigneault and Matthew Clemons let me know about an interesting Hidden Mickey image in the Spaceship Earth ride.

As soon as you enter the large computer room, look to the right of your vehicle and find an orange mug on a desk. You'll see one side of a Mickey Mouse sticker on the mug. That's a good Hidden Mickey in itself, but here's the really cool part.

As you pass by this desk, look back to your right to the large mirror at the rear of the room. You can spot the full Mickey sticker on the mug! A Hidden Mickey times two! As you can see, it's difficult to get a decent photo of this Mickey. I think it's a terrific effect! Circles highlight the mug and its mirror image in the second photo.

As Disney veterans know, it's hard to imagine an experience more enjoyable than showing a Disney park to someone who's never been. Especially if it's a good friend!

A few weeks ago, Nona, a friend of ours for many years, visited Orlando and Walt Disney World for the first time. My wife Vickie and I were honored to be her chaperones. Where to begin? Magic Kingdom, of course! In the photo, Nona is wearing her "1st Visit" button, which we picked up at City Hall. Vickie is smiling beside her.

We rode the Headliner attractions first; Nona really enjoyed Splash Mountain. Of course, I pointed out Hidden Mickeys here and there (if I could get her attention between laughs and giggles). We drove to Disney's Hollywood Studios that first afternoon. Nona is a fan of American Idol, so we had to try out the new attraction: The American Idol Experience. She was impressed and told me that the Disney show was a very good reproduction of the television event. We had a blast!

Check out a new Hidden Mickey on the stage. A classic Mickey image is on the light brown arch in the stage backdrop, between the second and third round archway lights (counting from the lower right of the arch). (Thanks to Joe Franceschino, Jordan and Kenya Swiss, Jason trendymagic, Matt Hochberg, Sharon Stevenson, and Marie and Bruce Daigneault)

Over the next few days, Nona experienced great cuisine at the Plaza Restaurant, 50's Prime Time Cafe, Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian, Jiko, California Grill, Sci-Fi Dine-In, Flying Fish, and San Angel Inn. Whew! I wonder if she put on a few pounds? Late one night, Vickie took her to Jellyrolls for a rousing good time.

Epcot was also a big hit with Nona. I had to show her one of my favorite Hidden Mickeys on a fish in the Northwest Mercantile shop in the Canada Pavilion.

IllumiNations and the American Adventure show impressed her, and her last delightful experience before leaving for the airport was the Voices of Liberty singing group.

I hope Nona returns some day and brings along her husband Buzz and sons Jacob, Joseph and Jordan. By the way, Jacob bought her plane ticket to Orlando as a Christmas gift, so she could visit her old friends and enjoy Disney World. Thanks, Jacob!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

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

I like to check out old favorite Hidden Mickeys, just to be sure they're still around. (It gives me another reason to experience the Disney attractions!) In Splash Mountain, the fishing bobber classic Mickey is right where it supposed to be.

The reclining Mickey near the end of Splash Mountain is brighter than ever. Thanks, Imagineers! Remember that this Hidden Mickey is also visible from the Walt Disney World Railroad train as it passes through the Mountain.

Sharon Dale informed me about Hidden Mickeys in the new afternoon parade at the Magic Kingdom, Move it! Shake it! Celebrate it!.

Look for classic Mickeys in the confetti decorations along the sides and back of the Grand Marshal guest automobile:

and on Mickey's float:

I didn't see the art cyclists and their palettes with classic Mickey paint spots, so I may have to move those images to the Lost section of my website, unless Disney brings them back!

The new parade has many of the floats from the previous parade, and you'll now enjoy energetic dancers between floats and a new musical score.

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

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

One evening, I met Jim and Mark, two friends and neighbors of mine, at the California Grill Restaurant. It was their first time to dine there.

We had reservations for 9 p.m. or so, but we arrived at opening (5:30 p.m.) in hopes of getting an earlier seating. It worked! After about 40 minutes, we were seated in the table area to the right, where we had a great view of Cinderella Castle.

As you can see in the photo, Mark and Jim (with the red wine) were impressed with this fine venue.

After sunset, we walked to the outside viewing area overlooking the Magic Kingdom from 15 floors up. We watched Cinderella Castle change colors.

We had a panoramic view of the Wishes fireworks show.

We all had good food and a fun evening at the California Grill!

Although it was Saturday night and I knew it would be crowded, I suggested we meet up at Jellyrolls on the BoardWalk. Sure enough, it was standing room only inside the dueling pianos club. At least, Mark and Jim now know about this great night spot, and we'll return soon when it's not so crowded.

The next day, I rode Pirates of the Caribbean several times looking for Hidden Mickeys.

Several locks on the left side at the end of the boat ride are decent classic (three-circle) Mickeys and are more convincing Mickey images than the lock on the jail cell door (to the right of the boat). This lock with a key is on the left door at the entrance opening of the treasure room. (Thanks to Sharon Dale, and Kristy, Scott, Jim and Kim Todd)

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

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

I was at WDW looking for Hidden Mickeys while thousands were running the Disney marathon and half marathon. I was fortunate to track down Lou Mongello at the Contemporary Resort, and we sampled the food at the new Contempo Cafe (where the Concourse Steakhouse used to be located). At this new eatery, you place your order at a touchscreen kiosk, pay for your food, and then pick it up at the counter when it's ready. The food was delightful; the Contempo Cafe is a level above the usual counter-service restaurant.

I tracked down a few decent Hidden Mickeys at the Magic Kingdom that folks had sent to me. Paul Klein informed me about an image inside the Main Street Bakery, along the left side of the entrance queue. It's a Mickey-shaped serving platter partially hidden in the upper left of a display case. Other plate arrangements in the display cabinet aren't proportioned properly to be Hidden Mickeys.

The hanging coins and jewels in the gift shop near the exit from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride continue to intrigue Hidden Mickey hunters. Victoria Newhuis sent me an image from the jewel collection, which is located just as you exit the ride into the gift shop. These jewels form a sideways classic Mickey and are perched along the rim of the hanging plate, near a large green gem.

A bunch of folks (Sharon Dale, Peter Caldwell, Erin Blackwell, Kyle Lighting, and Martha Tischler) spotted classic Mickey music stands along the upper shelves near the ceiling of the gift shop at the exit of Mickey's PhilharMagic. I usually wait a while to see if Mickey images in shops will stick around. I hope this Hidden Mickey is here to stay!

I might try to run a Disney race one of these years, but for now I'd rather search for Hidden Mickeys!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

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

Central Florida has enjoyed glorious weather most of this December, so I looked forward to my several days of holiday Hidden Mickeys research. In fact, on a comfortable, sunny Florida day at Walt Disney World, I'm easily distracted and often forget the purpose of my visit!

Craig Canady, Alan, and Bill Griffin sent me Hidden Mickey images on the tires of the Grand Marshal's vehicle, the car that carries the Grand Marshal guests before every afternoon parade in the Magic Kingdom. I also spotted some classic Mickeys on the front bumper of this attractive replica of an antique touring car.

The main parade follows the Grand Marshall's vehicle. Throughout the parade, cast members ride on "art" bikes. The Moriarty family and Rebecca Webster spotted some paint splotches on the bike palettes that resemble classic Mickeys. What do you think?

Jonathan Peczinka found a baggage ticket with an image that looks somewhat like Mickey. It's in the right front of the front window upstairs at the Main Street Train Station. Do you like this image as a Hidden Mickey?

I finally took the time to stroll along the long walkway in front of the Magic Kingdom. Paved with personalized bricks, the trail stretches toward the Grand Floridian Resort and ends at a small canal. Across the canal, a backstage dirt path snakes toward the resort. I don't believe Disney wants folks to linger or picnic here, because the sidewalk is devoid of chairs, benches and trash cans. The photos were taken at the end of the walkway.

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

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

I had a great time meeting up with the rest of the All Ears team at the Gaylord Palms Resort on Friday evening of MouseFest. This was a perfect venue for dinner and mingling. After dinner, those of us from the south donned parkas (the Northerners would have been comfortable in swimsuits!) to walk through the Ice artistic display, a unique and awe-inspiring collection of ice sculptures.

My Hidden Mickeys Hunt the next morning at 8 a.m. was attended by old and new friends. We met in front of Spoodles Restaurant and explored the resorts and restaurants in the Epcot Resorts around Crescent Lake for about one hour. Our first stop on the tour was the lobby of the BoardWalk Resort to spot the classic Mickeys on the carousel horse. These Hidden Mickeys have not been moved for years, so I think they're here to stay.

Our group then wandered along the BoardWalk and over to the Beach Club Resort. I pointed out that hundreds of folks walk right by a waving Mickey in a sand castle on the wall beside Cape May Cafe without seeing him.]

I asked the group to vote on a Hidden Mickey submission by Jennifer Keller. It's a group of shells below the Ariel statue in front of the Beach Club Villas entrance. Our folks were split down the middle on this image, so I'll put it on my website for a vote. Let me know what you think.

Thankfully, the globe in the Yacht Club lobby was not moved backstage this holiday season but was still in view in the hall in front of the Fittings & Fairings shop. I showed the group a marvelous Hidden Mickey on the globe. The story goes that a child poked a hole in the globe with a pencil, and the hole was covered with a blue classic Mickey!

Wouldn't you know it, a member of our Hidden Mickeys hunt (I didn't get your name, so please write me) found a new Hidden Mickey! As we were strolling from the Beach Club to the Yacht Club, he spotted a classic Mickey on a curtain inside the Ariel's special meeting area. You can find it by standing at the door to Ariel's from inside Martha's Vineyard lounge. The Hidden Mickey is on a mural or curtain material on an inside wall to the right.

MouseFest provides an opportunity to reconnect with Disney friends and meet new ones. I look forward to MouseFest every year, and I hope this event continues for a long time.

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

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

I had the pleasure of spending time at WDW with family and friends during Thanksgiving week. We enjoyed a few of the Christmas decorations in the parks and resorts; more and more of them appear as the week unfolds.

Most of the decked out Christmas trees and elaborate gingerbread displays have decorative and hidden Mickeys. I snapped this photo of a Hidden Mickey on the Epcot holiday tree, which is located between Future World and World Showcase.

I met my sister and cousins from Texas at the Grand Floridian Cafe for breakfast. My server put a cinnamon classic Mickey on my cappuccino. Check it out!

After breakfast, we rode the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom. My sister Donna showed me a tiny classic Mickey she'd found along the entrance area of Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. It's in a window display of a city, on the rear of the wall to the right just past the entrance doors to the second room. The classic Mickey is under the apex of the triangular roof segment on the building in the front center of the window display.

We had a fun day at the Magic Kingdom, using FASTPASS to our advantage and stuffing ourselves with soup, sandwiches and ice cream at the Plaza Restaurant for lunch. We screamed on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad as the Wishes fireworks lit up the night sky. (I like to ride Big Thunder at night!) This photo shows (from the right) Sherry, Olan, Donna, Camp, Carson, and Landon waiting near Liberty Tree Tavern for the second SpectroMagic parade. The kids' parents, Amy and Kevin, stood near the rope with me. (The later parade is almost always less crowded than the earlier one).

Sharon Dale wrote to me about a possible Hidden Mickey in SpectroMagic.

Does the Cinderella carriage form an upside down classic Mickey? I'll put it to a vote on my website; let me know what you think!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

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

I enjoy visiting Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Some folks don't consider that this park has a full day's worth of activities, but I beg to differ. The Animal Kingdom has plenty to offer, especially if you can slow down and observe the animals after first enjoying the headliner attractions.

I like to spend time in The Oasis. This area with its tranquil animals has a relaxing effect on me. I wandered along the trails and said hello to the Scarlet Macaws.

and the Patagonian Cavy (a long-legged rodent)

>

and two chattering Black Neck Swans.

These trails are usually not crowded, so The Oasis is a great place to unwind.

I strolled over to Camp Minnie-Mickey.

Bradley Lewis submitted to me a photo of a distorted Mickey image, formed by pebbles in the cement. It's near the bridge over the creek before the Lion King Theater. Go to the second fence section between the creek and the cabin in front of Grandmother Willow's Grove (theater). Stand near a bench and close to Donald Duck, who's fishing in the creek. I'll put this image on my website, in the Questionable section. Let me know what you think.

Disney's Animal Kingdom is filled with rocks and pebbles embedded in the walkways, posts, walls, benches and other structures. Which three-pebble images are Hidden Mickeys? I try to imagine if a specific image is purposeful, placed by an Imagineer, or is it just a random collection of rocks? Sometimes that's a difficult decision!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

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

One recent sunny day, I drove to the Animal Kingdom Lodge to check out some old and new Hidden Mickeys. Keep in mind that over 30 Mickey images are hiding in and around this unique resort. I found a few cool new images, thanks to submitters to my website!

I'd been looking for this terrific Hidden Mickey for a long time. In retrospect, I'd not been able to spot it because I was always searching for it at dusk or later. This day, I was at the area in the bright sunlight, and a helpful Cast Member knew right where it was.

To find it, walk outside the rear of the main lobby and to the very back of the Arusha Rock Overlook. In the right middle of the rock wall opposite the Animal Overlook sign and about 5 and 1/2 feet above the ground is a tiny light brown, salmon-colored classic Mickey. It's to the right of a vertical crack in the rock, behind the Cast Member's umbrella. Spotting it is worth the effort! (Thanks to Stephen Lovelette).

If you can enter Jiko Restaurant, stroll to the third table on your left, next to the glass windows. Look outside to the shallow pool area and find the first rock island from the left with one pillar jutting out of it. A classic Mickey image is in the side of the rock. Kudos to the Disney rock sculptors! (Thanks to Robert Grohman).

On the third floor, check out the first short hallway to the right of the main Zebra Trail hallway. An upside-down classic Mickey design hangs on the wall at the end of the hall. (Thanks to David and Celia Berset).

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is an entertaining place to spend an afternoon and evening. Searching out the Hidden Mickeys here can add to the fun!

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

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

I enjoy the music of the Epcot Festivals, so I visit whenever I can to hear great musicians from the (recent) past.

I had the opportunity to catch a performance by David Sanborn, a well-known jazz saxophonist. The America Gardens Theatre was already full of jazz fans when I arrived. After his first few sax notes, the place was rocking! It was a terrific performance by him and his group of fine musicians. The audience was bobbing along to the beat and gave him a standing ovation at the end of the 30-minute performance.

Before Mr. Sanborn's concert, I'd checked out an image in Camp Dolphin, the kid's club in the Dolphin Resort. It's not alway convenient to visit WDW kid's clubs to find Hidden Mickeys; the best time is just after opening when they're not too crowded.

The Cast Members are generally helpful and often excited about this temporary diversion from their usual activities. Sharon Dale had sent me an image from inside Camp Dolphin, but her Hidden Mickey had disappeared. Instead, a CM showed me a new image in a picture on a wall to the left as you enter through the front door. Mickey is giving Pluto a bath, and three floating soap bubbles form a sideways classic Mickey.

After the concert, I walked to the Germany Pavilion to study an image in the rear of the courtyard. Jennifer Moon had described this image, which is a three-circle formation in the ironwork support behind the bell on the front of the clock tower. I think it's a decent classic Mickey! Let me know what you think.

Read more about Steve's Hidden Mickey finds on AllEars.net

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

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

I just returned from a 5-day cruise on the Disney Magic. Deb Wills and I were the hosts for our group.

On the second day, I gave an introductory talk on Hidden Mickeys in the Buena Vista Theater. I encouraged everyone to search the ship for Hidden Mickeys.

The next three days, I led 5 Hidden Mickey hunts on the ship and 1 hunt on Castaway Cay. On every tour, we found one or more new Hidden Mickeys! That was a reflection of the persistence and the discriminating eyes of our group.

We started each hunt on Deck 10, overlooking the bow classic Mickey. Linda Mac took this photo.

We found two new classic Mickeys on Castaway Cay! The first one is on a barrel at the first photo area as you leave the ship. This image is formed by three coconuts; it's not a perfect classic Mickey, but it's close enough! Linda Mac and Deb did not see this image on the barrel last December.

Another classic Mickey is inside the waiting area for the tram to Serenity Bay Beach. Several of our group say that this image is new, maybe within the last year or so.

Two other cool Hidden Characters on the ship were Mickey (a Steamboat Willie version) on a pail in a wall drawing on Deck 5:

and Donald Duck on a pail in a mural at the Port Adventures counter on Deck 3:

The last day, I gave a wrap-up session and showed the audience many of the Hidden Mickeys we'd found during the cruise. We voted on several marginal images, and I'll soon post these and all the Hidden Mickeys we found on my website.

The Magic cruise was a wonderful experience! I connected again with many terrific folks that I've met before, and I was honored to meet new Disney friends. What an amazing community! Many thanks to AllEars and the MEI-Travel team for putting this cruise together!

Tropical Storm Fay visited central Florida on Tuesday, August 19, crossing (west to east) south of Orlando. She stuck around the east coast a few days and then on August 21 crossed Florida again (east to west) north of Orlando. I checked out the Magic Kingdom late afternoon of August 21. As you can see in the photo, lots of guests were there, although the MK seemed a bit less crowded than usual. The cloudy sky drizzled rain and mist much of the day, and gusts of wind blew hats off. It was a good poncho sales day for WDW!

I stopped by the Polynesian Resort to check out a Hidden Mickey sighting. Andrew and Matthew Nypower wrote to me about a classic Mickey image on the back of the Tiki statue outside the Tiki Boutique shop on the first floor. Many folks stop here for photos with the smiling Tiki guy. Sure enough, on his back is a cool (slightly distorted) classic Mickey!

The next day, Fay lightened up a bit. There were fewer ponchos in evidence at Epcot in the United Kingdom pavilion, although the walking paths were still moist.

Louise Herrick had informed me last year, along with a few other folks, that the classic Mickey on the Asepso box (along the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail in Disney's Animal Kingdom) had returned. It's still there, thank goodness. The reason I mention Louise is that she wrote me a story about her 6 year old son, who had a great time searching for Hidden Mickeys at WDW. One night, while Louise and her family were comfortably asleep in their Disney resort, her son yelled out in his sleep: "I've found a Hidden Mickey!" Actually, that happens on occasion to me, too!

A while back, I wrote about the tree grove classic Mickey near WDW. Several people have asked me for more information about this amazing classic Mickey image. A friend of mine, Jim, researched its history. This tree grove Mickey was not present before 1990; it appeared sometime between January 23, 1990 and March 5, 1994. It is 7.7 miles northwest from the center of the Magic Kingdom, and it's in Lake County on private property (not officially on Disney property).

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

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

My wife Vickie and I strolled around the BoardWalk area recently on a warm Florida afternoon. Inside the BoardWalk Bakery, I ordered an espresso and Vickie a bottled water. I'd spotted two Mickey images in the past, on two aprons hanging on the right wall, and they're still in place. Vickie thinks they're more like decor Mickeys rather than Hidden. What do you think?

I looked for a Mickey sugar bowl that was in place several years ago on a high shelf directly opposite the entrance doors of the Bakery. Alas, it's still lost!

We drove over to Disney's Hollywood Studios later in the afternoon. My sister Donna had e-mailed me a few weeks ago that one of her favorite Hidden Mickeys was lost: the "Monet" Mickey in a display window at the end of the Streets of America!

Vickie and I confirmed that indeed it wasn't there! Another lost gem, but I hope only temporarily. Some Hidden Mickey images do reappear, and I'll wait to see if the Imagineers replace the Monet Mickey.

We checked out a Mickey sighting along the entrance queue of Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show. I think it's a cool image.

It's on the right side of the entrance walkway. As you walk around the first building, look in the middle set of windows at a red tool chest to find the black classic Mickey magnet. (Thanks to Denise O, Elton Hughes and Jill Sullivan, and Jennifer Lynch).

Vickie and I then relaxed with an excellent meal at the Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant, one of my favorites!

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

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

My sister, Donna, recently visited WDW with a few of her friends from Texas. I met up with them at Planet Hollywood for dinner one evening. In the photo, from the left, are Donna, Debbie, Shelly, Jim and Michelle. During our meal, we talked about Hidden Mickeys, and I think I won over a few converts that night!

A few days later, Donna, Debbie and I enjoyed a Bon Jovi tribute band at the America Gardens Theatre in Epcot. These guys were terrific musicians! Donna pointed out a classic Mickey image on the side of the stage. It's almost a decorative image, but I think it's "hidden" enough; most folks probably don't notice it.

The next day, Donna and I tried out the Wave, a new restaurant on the first floor of the Contemporary Resort. Andy Jackson wrote me about a classic Mickey image made of wine bottles at the rear of the bar area. He says it was purposefully created by the Cast Members there to be a Hidden Mickey. Pretty cool!

The food theming at the Wave is interesting; it's all about antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acids, sustainable fishing, and organic food and alcohol. (It's the first time I've encountered organic vodka!). Anyway, I enjoyed my fish dish, and after dinner we wandered over to the Magic Kingdom for some more Hidden Mickey hunting.

We struck gold in a display window on the right side of Sir Mickey's Store. Kyla (and her mother Jen) Patton and Ryan and Fairen Frisinger wrote me about a classic Mickey made of buttons in that display window. Check it out!

And to top it off, Donna spotted new classic Mickeys in a painting on the rear wall of the display, along the border of the archer's collar! But you know about display window Hidden Mickeys, right? We'll have to see if they stay in place for a while.

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

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

Vickie and I recently met up with old friends from Oklahoma. Dick and Debi hadn't been to WDW since 2001, so they were excited about experiencing new attractions and old favorites. T

Their son Brian, a graduate student, accompanied them for this special trip to Florida. We met up at the Flying Fish Cafe at the BoardWalk for the first evening. Vickie and my son Steven joined the group.

The photo of all of us (from the left, me, Steven, Brian, Debi, Dick, and Vickie) is a bit blurred; I think I made the cast member nervous? No, I'm just kidding. Most CM's don't know who I am, unless I tell them that I wrote the Hidden Mickeys book. Thankfully, every CM I've talked with knows about my book!

The next day, I joined the group at opening (9 a.m.) of the Magic Kingdom. We used FASTPASS to our advantage and hopped onto any major attraction with a short wait during the morning hours. We didn't have lunch reservations, so I recommended snacks inside the old Diamond Horseshoe in Frontierland. We were pleasantly surprised! The sandwich portions were generous, and we satisfied our hunger in air conditioned comfort.

Later in the afternoon, we headed to Epcot. The wait for Soarin' was too long, and all FASTPASSES had been distributed for that day. My friends would enjoy Soarin' later in the week. Dinner was at San Angel Inn (one of my favorites). Like many WDW veterans, I have my favorite spots for viewing IllumiNations. If I have time, I check out the small alcove behind the Yorkshire County Fish Shop in the United Kingdom Pavilion; it's usually rented beforehand and roped off. Alas, the rope wasn't up! We walked leisurely down to the small area and stood behind the benches near the fence to watch the spectacular show, which seems to erupt right in front of you!

A few days later, I returned to Epcot for research (someone's got to do it!). In the late afternoon, I listened to a great band at America Gardens Theatre, a tribute band for the Bee Gees.

I met Vickie and some local good friends, Jimmy, Ginny and Jake at the Portobello Yacht Club Restaurant at Pleasure Island. After dinner, we checked out some Hidden Mickeys at Downtown Disney. Frank Tonra III wrote me about a rat with a Mickey hat in a display window on the side of the World of Disney store.

Jake and Jimmy are pointing to a map on the rear wall of this display window. Mickey and other character images are on the map.

This type of map has been in Pirates displays around WDW. We'll see if the rat with the hat and the pirate's map last a while. As you know, displays in WDW windows change periodically.

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

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

New Hidden Mickeys can appear anywhere on Disney property at any time. Your best bet is to check out a refurbished area or a new attraction.

Toy Story Midway Mania, a new attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios, doesn't disappoint!

A compelling new classic Mickey image is near the end of the Standby queue (the attraction also has FASTPASS and Single Rider queues).

It's on the wall past the large map of the U.S.A. below a green dinosaur and a red fish, near the floor and behind the handrails on the left side of the queue. So far, 14 folks have written to me about this cool image, but Matt Hochberg, Jesse Kline, and Jennifer Bogdan described it to me first.

Orlando Attractions Magazine and Jake Thompson wrote to me about another Hidden Mickey on the ride.

Look for the words "Circus Fun!" on the wall to your right as you rotate into position for the last screen stop. The dot below the exclamation point is a decent classic Mickey.

I was on the ride with Amy from Massachusetts when we spotted this Hidden Mickey, and she was in position to snap the photo for me. Thanks, Amy!

You can see this third image at loading and unloading, and you can study it as you take the exit walkway. Three ovals encircle Toy Story characters on the wall to the left of the ride vehicles.

Matt Hochberg, Alexis, and Frank Marando described this image to me, and it seems close for a classic Mickey image. Let me know what you think!

The walls, ceiling and floor inside Toy Story Midway Mania are blanketed with colorful images. Undoubtedly, more Hidden Mickeys are waiting for us to find them!

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

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

Now and then, I'm enlightened about an awesome new Hidden Mickey. At least, new to me.

Kelly McAdams wrote to me about a classic Mickey image in Tony's Town Square Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom. I'll admit, I get really excited when folks direct me to any new Hidden Mickey images. However, some images are more intriguing than others.

This one in Tony's is spectacular! It's a tiny imprint on a black tile on the floor in front of the bureau to the immediate right as you enter the restaurant. Look to the lower right corner of the tile as you face the bureau. I have no idea how long this Hidden Mickey has been there; it may have been placed recently. It's a perfect classic Mickey, and it's likely to remain for a long time.

A cast member in Tony's told me that the roses in the rear left of the restaurant formed a Hidden Mickey. The photo shows that the roses are all about the same size. As you know, I have trouble accepting three same-size circles as classic Mickeys. Mickey's head is larger than his ears! However, I understand the CM's dilemma: how can you tell an excited child that a three-circle image is not a Hidden Mickey?

Christina Santoro wrote me about an image in the Crystal Arts Shop on Main Street. It's in the upper section of the left rear wall of the store. It's a "positional" Mickey, in that you must stand right below it to spot the classic Mickey relationship.

I've been told that the CM's in the shop made this arrangement of articles on purpose to form a Hidden Mickey image. I'm normally not fond of positional images, but I'll put these photos on my website soon, in the Questionable section, to let the voters decide. Let me know what you think.

I tend to wait a while to see if missing Hidden Mickeys reappear.

Alas, I think that the classic Mickey on the rose stem in the display window of the Uptown Jewelers Store is gone for good. Display window Hidden Mickeys are especially vulnerable, as displays are constantly changing. Find this image in the Lost section of my website.

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

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

Recently, I visited Rafiki's Planet Watch at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

This area is a real treasure trove of Hidden Mickeys; you could easily spend several hours here searching for the little gems. On the order of 42 Hidden Mickeys live here, and a few more undiscovered ones may be waiting for us to find them.

One of the best side profile Mickeys anywhere is just past the entrance doors to Conservation Station, on the chin of a hippopotamus. It's the fifth animal from the left along the bottom of the entrance mural on the left wall. A side profile of Mickey Mouse is on its lower jaw, under the middle tooth. One of my favorites!

Now for some new images.

Sharon Dale alerted me to three circles arranged correctly on the ground in a mosaic just before the entrance doors to Conservation Station. This Mickey is below and between the elephant tusks and above the second "T" in "STATION". It's not a perfect image, but it's close enough for me!

Sonali showed me a new image in the main lobby of Conservation Station. It's formed from holes in the tree leaves overhead, directly above the first left entrance (as you enter the lobby) to the Song of the Rainforest area. It seems a bit distorted to me, so I put it in the Questionable section of my website for folks to vote on it. What do you think?

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 stayed in a cabin at the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. The best way to research Hidden Mickeys is to stay in the middle of the magic! I like the cabins; they're spacious and well-maintained, and you can park your car right in front of your cabin.

Disney has been placing more and more Hidden Mickeys in guest rooms at their on-property resorts, in the carpets, wallpaper, wall paintings, curtains, and elsewhere.

Here are two Hidden Mickeys I found in my cabin:

One on the Bedspread

One on the Door Curtain

Guests can enjoy many activities at Fort Wilderness, including

Carriage Rides

Pony Rides for the Kids

and Trail Rides on Larger Horses

Now for some Mickey images.

Many of the classic Mickey forms at the Tri-Circle-D Ranch are decorative, in my opinion, and not hidden. The sign for the Trail Rides in the photo above has decorative Mickeys.

These images on the fences and gates in the pony ride area are too obvious to qualify as Hidden Mickeys, as is the three-circle logo under the sign for the Tri-Circle-D Farm (where the pony rides take place).

However, this sign for the Blacksmith Shop has a hidden classic Mickey between the "L" and "A" of Blacksmith. If you're not actively hunting for Mickey, it's easy to overlook this image.

In the evening, I enjoyed Chip 'n Dale's campfire program near the Meadow Trading Post in the middle of Fort Wilderness.

Folks roasted marshmallows over the campfire as a guitarist serenaded the guests with sing-a-long songs and Chip and Dale wandered around greeting everyone. A Disney movie was then displayed on a large screen.

This evening program has been a staple at Fort Wilderness for many years, and I hope it sticks around for many more!

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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!

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?

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!

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)

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)

A few days ago, I was roaming around Disney-MGM Studios with a friend: Bill Iadonisi, a columnist for www.MickeyNews.com. We were checking out a few Hidden Mickey sightings that folks had posted to my website.

When I'm at WDW alone doing research, I usually move around at a fast pace. I have a thick group of pages that I've printed from my website, pages that include descriptions and photos of Hidden Mickey sightings. I'm on a mission to check out these sightings. I often don't interact with Cast Members when I'm doing research. I just zero in on the descriptions and photos.

When I'm at WDW with friends or family, I move around at a more leisurely pace, and we frequently interact with Cast Members. Not all Cast Members are knowledgeable about Hidden Mickeys, and some are overly exuberant ("anything goes") about images that are really "wishful thinking" Mickey sightings. But sometimes, questioning Cast Members can lead to terrific discoveries!

Bill and I were checking out a Hidden Mickey sighting at the 50's Prime Time Cafe. One CM there, Michael, was especially helpful. He told us that he once worked at Star Tours, and he asked us "Do you know about the Hidden Mickey on the tree outside Star Tours?" He described the HM to us and its general location.

Years ago, I'd heard of a Hidden Mickey in the outside queue for Star Tours, on one of the trees. I'd looked at these trees in the past but never saw anything resembling a decent HM. Michael told us: "It's on the last tree on your right as you walk along the outside queue, and it's a perfect three-circle Mickey." I've learned from past experience that these Cast Member statements are not always accurate, so I undertook the journey to Star Tours with only mild excitement. Little did I know ...

Bill and I strolled over to Star Tours, and walked to the last tree on the right side of the entrance queue. These trees supported walkways above for the Ewok village outside the attraction. At this time, the winding queue among the trees was closed off, and guests were walking directly into the inside queue, bypassing the trees. So Bill and I had unencumbered time to study the trees.

Alas, no classic Mickey on the last tree! I've also learned that descriptions of Hidden Mickey locations can be inaccurate. So Bill and I dutifully studied all the trees, working back from the last one. After a while, I was growing more and more skeptical. This Hidden Mickey sighting had to be in the "algae" on the tree trunks, and although some algae groupings were close to a classic Mickey image, none were close enough.

I found myself near the middle of the group of trees. Michael had told us that the Hidden Mickey was high on the trunk, just below the walkway platform for the Ewok village above us. Suddenly, I saw it! "Hey, Bill, over here! Take a look at this!" No mistake, Michael was right on, this classic Mickey image was real. Of course, he'd remembered the wrong tree! It wasn't anywhere near the end of the outside queue. This tree was the huge central tree, directly across from the Imperial Walker towering above us.

This experience is what makes Hidden Mickey hunting so special for me. I live for finding these wonderful hidden gems, and I have unending appreciation for the artists that place these subtle, hard-to-find images of our favorite Disney character(s).

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