Searching Disney with Steve

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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