Searching Disney with Steve

I had a day off work and, naturally, I wanted to spend the day at WDW looking for Hidden Mickeys! The day was really special because I had a dinner meeting with my publisher, Kelly Monaghan, at Raglan Road in Pleasure Island at 6 pm.

I studied my file of Hidden Mickey posts that needed verifying and planned my day. I arrived to the Wilderness Lodge at about 1 pm and located a HM on the lamps on the upper floors. (It's a good one; I think it's the same lamp cover that's in the Beach Haus at Blizzard Beach.) I took a boat to the Magic Kingdom. There might be a decent tiny classic Mickey on the moon to your left on Peter Pan's Flight. But the FASTPASS return time was already after 5:30 pm.

So I headed over to the Carousel of Progress. Someone thought one of the Grandmas had a Mickey-shaped broach; I'll have to study my photos on that one. I walked over to the Contemporary Resort to get a cappuccino at the small coffee bar on the lobby level (as it turned out, a big mistake!).

I hopped a boat to Fort Wilderness. Someone thought that a few of the horses or ponies at the Tri-Circle D Ranch had classic Mickeys shaved into their coats. I didn't find any, and a cast member there told me they haven't maintained those Hidden Mickeys for a while.

It was after 5 pm by now, so I decided to walk the trail from FW to the Wilderness Lodge. Actually I walked and jogged the trail so I wouldn't be late to Raglan Road.

There's a common thread here that I haven't mentioned. It was a hot day. I was zipping around nonstop like I normally do when I'm on a mission to find HM's. I know where every water fountain is at WDW, and I usually stop frequently to drink. Today, I broke that rule. I didn't drink nearly enough.

By the time I walked up to Raglan Road, I was feeling lightheaded and queasy. I couldn't eat any food or even keep down liquids. I would have to excuse myself to the restroom every 10 minutes or so. Thankfully, Kelly was understanding. I returned to my car, slept about 90 minutes in my back seat, then somehow made the 40 minute drive home. I was able to put ice cubes in my mouth and begin to rehydrate myself.

I'm an ER doctor, and I frequently treat patients in Florida with heat exhaustion! I should know better! Anyway, this experience will stay with me a long time. When at WDW, drink before you're thirsty! (And cappuccino is not a thirst-quencher).

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, stayed at Pop Century last week for one of her twice yearly visits to Disney World. Donna is an Assistant Principal at a Dallas area high school. When she visits, we plan days or evenings in the parks (depending on my work schedule); we look for Hidden Mickeys and generally have fun.

One evening, we had dinner at the Yachtsman Steakhouse. I had heard that the Yachtsman had a new Head Chef, and I wanted to try out the food. I ordered the sea bass, and Donna had filet mignon. We both cleaned our plates; the food was delicious!

On our way out, we paid homage to Minnie Moo (a photo of the famous cow with her Mickey Mouse marking is on the wall near the entrance podium).

We walked into Epcot to catch the next show of the Bee Gees tribute band. For the last few summers, WDW has scheduled tribute bands (i.e., not the original band but experienced musicians who mimic the real thing). Last summer, Donna and I enjoyed the Eagles tribute band (excellent!), and the Bee Gees tribute group was equally good. After numerous shows at WDW (three shows nightly for several nights at Epcot), the lead singer had to work hard to hit those HIGH notes ("Stayin' Alive, Stayin' Alive!"). Anyway, I was hoarse after singing along for just one show! I believe Disney is doing a great job with the music groups scheduled each year for the Flower & Garden and Food & Wine Festivals, and now for the last few years, the summer season. I'm lucky: I live near WDW and can enjoy these musical treats whenever I'm not working! Rock On!

P.S. You can also see a photo of Minnie Moo and her Hidden Mickey just inside the horse barn at Fort Wilderness. I'll post this Fort Wilderness photo on my website soon.

Larger Version Here

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)

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