Searching Disney with Steve

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

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 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 was fortunate to able to join a tour of the special suite in Cinderella Castle, Magic Kingdom. (Actually, Deb Wills had toured the suite before, so she kindly offered me her spot! Very cool!)

We entered an anteroom through a door at the side of the walkway through the Castle. An elevator took us up to another vestibule room that opened through a door into the bedroom of the suite. The bedroom had openings to the bathroom and to a sitting room (at the far end of the bedroom) with windows that overlooked Fantasyland. Although it's easy to lose one's concentration when in this marvelous suite, I was intent on checking out the Hidden Mickeys here.

Two images impressed me. One is on the mural at the rear of the bathroom. Look in the reddish-orange clouds to the right of the castle in the mural. Some swirls approximate a classic Mickey image.

The Cast Member Tour Guide told me that some guests like an image of three blue flowers at the bottom left corner of a mural on a right wall of the bathroom, just to the right of the mural with the castle mentioned above. She implied that it wasn't an "official" Hidden Mickey. However, I agree with the guests; I like this image as a classic Mickey!

Now comes the difficult question. I'd heard of a Hidden Mickey in the fireplace in the bedroom of the suite.

Lights at the rear of the fireplace repeatedly form circle patterns. The Cast Member pointed out an image to me as a Hidden Mickey. Two light blips form "ears" on a larger circle "head." I'll put it as a Questionable image, since I'm not convinced at this point. Let me know what you think!

As to the suite itself, yes, it's magnificent! I could imagine Cinderella walking with us inside her elegant suite. I'm sure most Disney fans (including me!) would very much enjoy spending a night 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

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

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)

Recently I met up with Bill and his wife Donna, and Byron Hall for lunch at the Concourse Steakhouse in the Contemporary Resort. Bill and Donna help me find Hidden Mickeys at WDW.

Byron is accumulating donations for his weight loss plan. He's using the donations to sponsor a child in the Make A Wish program. I met Byron to donate my autographed books (Walt Disney World's Hidden Mickeys, Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys, and my annually updated guidebook The Hassle-Free Walt Disney World Vacation) to his first sponsored child Tommy.

The day was sunny and hot. The restaurant wasn't crowded, and we had a long, leisurely lunch. Bill is an accomplished photographer, and we reviewed his recent photos of Hidden Mickeys. (Bill also drinks more coffee than anyone I've ever known, so he talks fast.) Byron updated us on his fascinating program. By the way, I recommend anyone visit and tour the Give Kids The World Resort near WDW. A neighbor of mine volunteers there; it's an inspirational, eye-opening place sponsored by Disney and other central Florida businesses.

We strolled over to the Magic Kingdom to hang out for a while. The park wasn't crowded. (Early September is a great time of year to visit WDW). Several folks have posted on my website about a classic Mickey antenna topper on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride. Supposedly, it's to the right of the vehicle, near a lamp at the beginning of the hill that has the loose boulders that threaten to fall on you.

BTMR had only a 10-minute wait (at 4:30 in the afternoon!), so we hopped in line and were soon on the ride. Bill and Byron (who's also an accomplished photographer) took photos and videos of the ride, and I just kept my eyes peeled and tried to spot the antenna topper. Alas, none of us saw it! Of course, we'll study the photos soon to determine if it's still there. If it's not there, I'm wondering if the antenna topper was removed because it wasn't placed there on purpose by an Imagineer or Cast Member?

After BTMR, we located some cool, tried-and-true Hidden Characters in Frontierland. One is the Hidden Tinker Bell at the outside exit of BTMR.

Another is the tiny, red classic Mickey on a hand (on the index finger) on the side of the Madame Leota's shopping stand in Liberty Square.

Donna enjoyed a Dole Whip from Adventureland. (Of course, at this point, we all paid homage to Mike Scopa and the Dole Whip!) We basked in the Florida sun while taking in the uncrowded sights of the Magic Kingdom. What a great way to spend the afternoon! It's difficult to go back to the real world, but we'll all return soon to WDW.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

Hi there,

I"m Steve Barrett, the Hidden Mickey Guy!

When I have a large number of Hidden Mickey sightings to verify or photograph at WDW, I tend to go it alone and motor around at top speed. Talk about aerobic exercise, especially in the summer! But I have more fun when a friend or family accompanies me to help find the little gems. Like a few weeks ago, when I had the pleasure of joining up with Beci Mahnken and Annette Owens to scout out some Hidden Mickeys in the Magic Kingdom.

I think there may be a decent classic Mickey on the moon in Peter Pan's Flight. I can't seem to come by a good photo of it, so if anyone out there can get one to me, I'd really appreciate it!

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)