Adventure seekers and scavenger hunt masters, this one’s for you.
Disney is famous for hiding magic throughout its parks. One source of such surreptitious magic is the sprinkling of hidden mickeys found everywhere from rides to signs to even immortalized in concrete!
Going on a scavenger hunt to uncover as many as you can is a fun, free activity for the whole family!
It is estimated that there are about 1,000 Mickeys to discover all over the Disney World resort. So what exactly is a hidden Mickey and how can you find one? Let’s find out!
This will be a (mostly) spoiler-free guide, with a few examples added of classic Mickeys.
Non-spoiler tip: this hidden Mickey can be found in EPCOT!
What Are Hidden Mickeys?
Hidden Mickeys are small, Mickey-shaped designs that can be either the classic Mickey (a circle for the head and two smaller circles for the ears) or a profile view or silhouette.
According to Hidden Mickey Guy, hidden mickeys were created by the Disney Imagineers in the 70s and 80s when Mickey Mouse was considered to only be a Magic Kingdom character. They started hiding his likeness throughout EPCOT and the Mickeys grew from there!
There is no prize or ultimate goal with hidden Mickeys. They are simply meant to be a bit of extra fun! Don’t take the game too seriously and you’ll become a pro in no time.
If you are a fan of geocaching, this is a sort of Disney-specific hobby that you will probably enjoy.
Where Can I Find Hidden Mickeys?
Once you start looking for hidden mickeys, you’ll start seeing them everywhere!
Hidden Mickeys can be small or large. They can be a permanent part of Disney’s design, or something temporary like a seasonal kiosk or decor piece.
In fact, you can even find these hidden gems at home! Many are only visible from high up, such as the track layout for Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom.
What is NOT a Hidden Mickey?
It may seem nebulous, but there are some way to discern a true hidden Mickey from a coincidence. Any obvious decor item like the topiary Mickey in front of the train station at Magic Kingdom would not be considered a hidden Mickey.
Any other character that you may discover is probably an easter egg, but not a classic hidden Mickey.
I also personally do not consider food to be hidden Mickeys. In fact, most food you are served will be shaped like the head guy himself! In fact, no trip to Disney World is complete without at least one Mickey waffle or beignet!
Tips for Hidden Mickey Hunting
Looking for hidden Mickeys is a great way to pass the time in line for a ride or keeping younger kids entertained! Here are tips to get you started:
Look High and Low
Hidden Mickeys are rarely easy to spot on first glance. You’ll want to look for any sort of circle or dot, especially in smaller areas. See if you can spot the famous mouse blending in!
Some of the most common places to find hidden Mickeys are in the permanent decor. If you see a carpet or a wallpaper (like the one in the Haunted Mansion hallway, maybe?), check for the three circles!
Look closely at walls, signs, and displays. Soon you’ll be seeing circles in your sleep!
Come Prepared
There are tons of guides and printable lists of hidden Mickeys so you can track your progress along the way. Walt Disney famously said “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination in the world.” This applies to Disney World too – it’s always changing. This means some hidden Mickeys made be removed and new ones will take its place. Make sure you have the most up-to-date guide for easier hunting!
Start with the Famous Hidden Mickeys
Some hidden Mickeys are more well-known and easier to spot than others. Get your feet wet with some classics and then hunt for the more rare Mickeys!
In the Haunted Mansion you can spot one of my favorite Mickeys. When you enter the dining room scene after the seance with Madame Leota, check out the table. You might spot a few hidden Mickeys made up of the plates set for the ghostly guests!
Soarin’ Around the World in EPCOT is one of my all-time most favorite rides! You can spot a hidden Mickey as you’re flying over Monument Valley. Did those hot air balloons happen to look like a mouse, or was that just me?
Another hidden Mickey in Soarin’ Around the World is a little easier to spot. At the very end when you’re flying over EPCOT, two fireworks will burst right next to the EPCOT ball. A very fitting hidden Mickey location!
Read More: The Hidden Secrets of the Haunted Mansion
Ask For Help
These Mickeys have been around for decades, so most cast members know where to find the tricky ones. If you don’t want a full-on spoiler, ask them to point you in the right direction to find the challenging Mickeys. I was excited to find a tiny one in Magic Kingdom’s Main Street USA cement – a toughie!
Pre-Trip Reading
If you’re looking to start searching for hidden Mickeys, I highly recommend The Hidden Mickeys of Walt Disney World by Kevin and Susan Neary. It’s compact enough to toss in your bag, includes pictures, and has specifics in the back if you get stuck. It is a few years old now, but many of the hidden Mickeys are still discoverable!
Another fun tip is to mark in your book the date when you found each hidden Mickey! Then when you come back year after year you can continue to discover and check off new finds.
Now that you have a head start, get out there and start hunting. The first person to find every one gets a front-row seat on Space Mountain. Happy hunting!
Ready to plan your Disney trip? Check out this complete step-by-step planning guide!
This is super cool. A few years ago I traveled from Australia to visit Disney World. A dream come true. Didn’t take too much notice of the hidden Mickey’s at the time, but I’ll know for next time!
This is the perfect guide for me to share with some of my friends! They are visiting Disney next month. They will love this article!
Such a delightful guide to finding hidden Mickeys at Disney parks! Your enthusiasm for this fun activity shines through. Your tips, personal experiences, and recommendations make it clear that hunting for these magical surprises can add an extra layer of joy to any Disney adventure. Keep spreading the magic!
Ah yes, I played the hidden mickey game years ago at Disneyland. It was fun to try and pick them out, and they were certainly in some interesting locations.
That bit about asking for help from cast members? Genius. It’s like having an insider’s tip without giving away too much. And your book recommendation – a treasure map to hidden Mickey paradise! Your enthusiasm for hidden Mickeys is contagious. I can practically hear you saying “Get out there and start hunting!” with that thrill of adventure in your voice. Thanks for making my next Disney trip an even more magical and adventurous experience.
This is so fun! Finding hidden Mickeys is a great activity to keep the kids busy and entertained.
yeah, Surely Disney cast members are great about pointing you in the right direction of where they can be found. Dont be afraid of asking help.
Its so fun to look for Hidden Mickeys. is it true that they .They aren’t always meant to be obvious but once you find them, the feeling is amazing!
wow, this is SO my speed. i am not a big disney, or even Mickey fan, but when I go with my nephews next month I am totally going to get that hidden mickey book and see how many we can find! thanks for the awesome blog!
This is such a fun thing to do on a family trip. I didn’t know this was a thing at Disney!