Steven M. Barrett - Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets

HIDDEN MICKEYS

A Field Guide to Walt Disney Worlds

Best Kept Secrets

7th edition

Published by

The Intrepid Traveler

P.O. Box 531

Branford, CT 06405

http://intrepidtraveler.com

Copyright 2015 by Steven M. Barrett

Digital Seventh Edition

Cover design by Foster & Foster

Interior Design by Starving Artist Design Studio

Maps designed by Evora Taylor

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014946170

ISBN-13: 978-1-937011-47-5

(ISBN-13 of Paperback Seventh Edition: 1-978-1-937011-46-8)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

Trademarks, Etc.

This book makes reference to various Disney copyrighted characters, trademarks, marks and registered marks owned by The Walt Disney Company and Disney Enterprises, Inc.

All references to these properties, and to The Twilight Zone, a registered trademark of CBS, Inc. are made solely for editorial purposes. Neither the author nor the publisher makes any commercial claim to their use, and neither is affiliated with either The Walt Disney Company or CBS, Inc. in any way.

Also by Steven M. Barrett

Disneylands Hidden Mickeys:
A Field Guide to Disneyland Resorts Best Kept Secrets

Hidden Mickeys Go To Sea:
A Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Lines Best Kept Secrets

About the Author

Author Steven M. Barrett paid his first visit to Disney World in the late 1980s, after attending a conference in Orlando. He immediately fell under its spell, visiting it twice yearly with family and friends for the next several years, offering touring advice to the less initiated, and reading almost everything written about the WDW theme parks. When a job in his field opened up not far from WDW in 1998, Barrett relocated to the Orlando area from Houston, Texas. He began visiting the WDW parks every chance he got to enjoy the attractions, sample the restaurants, escort visiting friends and relatives, and find Hidden Mickeys! His interest in Hidden Mickeys led him to take pen in hand. The result is this book of Hidden Mickey scavenger hunts arranged to help you spend the least possible time waiting in line as you hunt for the elusive Mouse.

Dedication

I dedicate this book to my wife Vickie and our son Steven, who willingly accompanied me on countless research visits to Disney World and added invaluable insight to this book. Furthermore, updating this book would not be possible without the many wonderful Hidden Mickey fans Ive met through my website and in the Disney parks. Thanks to you all.

Thank You, My Fellow
Hidden Mickey Hunters

No Hidden Mickey hunter works alone. Scores of dedicated Mickey sleuths have helped me find the elusive Mouse in WDW. Thanks to each and every one of you. Youll find your names in the .

Finding Mickey
Without Scavenger Hunting

Want to look for Hidden Mickeys in an attraction, restaurant, shop, or resort without scavenger hunting? Check . If Mickey is hiding there, there will be a link to the appropriate Clues. If the venue isnt listed, Mickey isnt hiding there. Or if he is, I havent yet found him.

Hidden Mickeys Are Elusive

New Hidden Mickeys appear from time to time and old ones may disappear (). When that happensand it willI will let you know on my website:

www.HiddenMickeyGuy.com

So if you cant find a Mickeyor if youre looking for just a few morebe sure to check it out.

Steve Barrett

Read This First!

My guess is that you have visited Disney World before, perhaps many times. But if Ive guessed wrong, and this is your first visit, then this note is for you.

Searching for Hidden Mickeys is lots of fun. But its not a substitute for letting the magic of Disney sweep over you as you experience Walt Disney World (WDW) for the first time. For one thing, the scavenger hunts I present in this book do not include all the attractions in WDW. Thats because some of them dont have Hidden Mickeys! For another, this book doesnt cover many things the first-time visitor should know and do to make that first trip to Disney World as magical as possible.

That doesnt mean you cant search for Hidden Mickeys, too. Just follow the suggestions in Chapter One of this book for

Have you ever marveled at a Hidden Mickey? People in the know often shout with glee when they recognize one. Some folks are so involved with discovering them that Hidden Mickeys can be visualized where none actually exist. These outbreaks of Hidden Mickey mania are confusing to the unenlightened. So lets get enlightened!

Heres the definition of an official Hidden Mickey: a partial or complete image of Mickey Mouse that has been hidden by Disneys Imagineers and artists in the designs of Disney attractions, hotels, restaurants, and other areas. These images are designed to blend into their surroundings. Sharp-eyed visitors have the fun of finding them.

The practice probably started as an inside joke among the Imagineers (the designers and builders of Disney attractions). According to Disney guru Jim Hill (JimHillMedia.com), Hidden Mickeys originated in the late 1970s or early 1980s, when Disney management wanted to restrict Disney characters like Mickey and Minnie to the Magic Kingdom. The Imagineers designing Epcot couldnt resist slipping Mickey into the new park, and thus Hidden Mickeys were born. Guests and Cast Members (Disney employees) started spotting them and the concept took on a life of its own. Today, Hidden Mickeys are anticipated in any new construction at Walt Disney World, and Hidden Mickey fans cant wait to find them.

Hidden Mickeys come in all sizes and many forms. The most common is an outline of Mickeys head formed by three intersecting circles, one for Mickeys round head and two for his round ears. Among Hidden Mickey fans, this image is known as the classic Hidden Mickey, a term I will adopt in this book. Other Hidden Mickeys include a side or oblique (usually three-quarter) profile of Mickeys face and head, a side profile of his entire body, a full-length silhouette of his body seen from the front, a detailed picture of his face or body, or a three-dimensional Mickey Mouse. Sometimes just his gloves, handprints, shoes, or ears appear. Even his name or initials in unusual places may qualify as a Hidden Mickey.

And its not just Mickeys that are hidden. The term Hidden Mickey also applies to hidden images of other popular characters. There are Hidden Minnies, Hidden Donald Ducks, Hidden Goofys, and other Hidden Characters in Disney World, and I include many of them in this book.

The sport of finding Hidden Mickeys has caught on and adds even more interest to an already fun-filled Walt Disney World vacation. This book is your field guide to more than 1,250 Hidden Mickeys in WDW. To add to the fun, instead of just describing them, Ive organized them into six scavenger hunts, one for each of the major theme parks, one for the Walt Disney World Resort hotels, and one for all the rest of WDW: the water parks, Disney Springs, and beyond. The hunts are designed for maximum efficiency so that you can spend your time looking for Mickeys rather than cooling your heels in lines. Follow the Clues and you will find the best Hidden Mickeys WDW has to offer. If you have trouble spotting a particular Hidden Mickey (some are extraordinarily well camouflaged!) you can access a Hint for a fuller description. Simply click on the Clue to link to the appropriate Hint.