Disney News

What is a Hidden Mickey? A Hidden Mickey is a representation of Mickey Mouse that has been inserted subtly at the Walt Disney World® Resort, Disneyland® Resort, and on the Disney Cruise Line®.  The Hidden Mickeys are placed by the Imagineers and artists to blend into the designs of attractions, hotels, restaurants, and other areas.

Three drum heads make up the Hidden Mickey on the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros attraction in the Mexico Pavilion.

Hidden Mickeys started in the late 1980’s in Epcot® as an inside joke among the Imagineers.  Some historians believe in that Hidden Mickeys were born as the Imagineers were designing Epcot® in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. At that time, Disney management felt that the characters belonged in the Magic Kingdom® Park only. The Imagineers disagreed and began slipping Mickeys into Epcot®!  Because of the popularity, Imagineers are encouraged to place them all over the Disney parks and cruise ships.

The most common Hidden Mickey is a formation of three circles that may be perceived as the silhouette of the head and ears of Mickey Mouse.  The term Hidden Mickey has now come to refer to a range of possibilities.  It can be anything from a more complete representation of Mickey Mouse as one mixed in with a crowd or in the background, or a representation of another Disney character.  Mickeys may be painted, made up of objects, or be references such as someone wearing Mickey Mouse Club ears in a painting.  Hidden Mickeys can take on many sizes and forms.

A true Hidden Mickey is one that is not meant to be seen immediately, and is usually placed purposefully by a Disney Imagineer or artist in a context that would not normally contain Mickey Mouse. When the shape of Mickey Mouse is used as an obvious part of the design, such as Mickey ears on the top of lampposts, it is considered decorative and sometimes referred to as a decor Mickey.

Although approximately 600 Hidden Mickeys have been recorded, The Walt Disney Company has never compiled a complete list of all the “known” or “deliberate” Mickeys (whether created by an Imagineer or a Disney Cast Member), so there is no way to confirm or disprove every single Mickey sighting.

Can you find the Hidden Mickey in the mural at The Garden Grill Restaurant in Epcot?  Click the smaller image below for the answer.
Hint: It isn’t the three circles that make up this Mickey.  Look for his eyes and nose. Click for larger image.

Click image to see the answer.

Where have you found Hidden Mickeys at the Walt Disney World® Resort,
Disneyland® Resort, or on the Disney Cruise Line®?

Today, were looking ahead in the galaxy to the “reimagining” of Star Tours at the Disneyland® Resort and the Walt Disney World® Resort. Scheduled to open in 2011, the power of the Force and the magic of Disney once again will combine to create an all-new Star Tours. When it reopens, it’ll feature a new 3-D, immersive experience that’ll take guests to familiar places in the Star Wars galaxy. To prepare for the reopening, Star Tours will close at Disneyland® Park on July 27 and at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ on September 8.

If you’d you like to take a last daily express ride to Endor,
make your plans to visit the parks before the closing dates.
Click one of the destinations below for a quote:

Walt Disney World® Resort
Disneyland® Resort

Don’t forget the annual Star Wars Weekends is going on right now!  Fans of the Star Wars universe don’t have to travel to “a galaxy far, far away” to come face to face with droids, alien creatures and many of their favorite Star Wars characters.  You just have to travel to Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ at the Walt Disney World® Resort.

Dates left in 2010: May 28 – 30, June 4 – 6, June 11 – 13

Can’t make it this year?  Stay tuned for more information for next year’s event!

From Magic Maker® Julie Paolino

If you’ve ever been to the Walt Disney World® Resort, you know that the Magic Kingdom® Park is divided into themed lands.  Fantasyland® is the place to go to feel nostalgic about some of Walt Disney’s most beloved movies of all time.  It is home to rides where you taking flight with Peter Pan, bounce around with Tigger and Pooh, or soar with Dumbo. In Fantasyland® you will also find other attractions such as the classic ride, “it’s a small world” and the more recent addition, Mickey’s PhilharMagic.  Very little has changed in Fantasyland® in the 38 years since the Walt Disney World® Resort first opened its doors.  But hold on to your Mickey ears, because Fantasyland® is getting significant makeover!

The Fantasyland® makeover will focus strongly on the princess theme.  One of the biggest additions is a new attraction based on Disney’s The Little Mermaid, called Under the Sea: Journey of The Little Mermaid. New storybook interactive areas will feature three of Disney’s best known princesses in an area called the Fantasyland Forest. Here Guests will visit Cinderella’s Chateau and help her prepare for the ball, visit Sleeping Beauty in Briar Rose’s Cottage just in time for her 16^th birthday party, and have a storytelling session with Belle in the Beast’s library. If you are feeling hungry, you will be able to stop by the Be Our Guest Restaurant for a bite to eat.

In addition to the princesses, little ones will also take pleasure in another area based on the Disney Fairies.  This new Pixie Hollow character meeting area will allow Guests to get the feeling of being fairy sized and truly immersed in the Fairy world.  Here a visit with Tinker Bell will certainly be the main attraction!

Beyond princesses and fairies, the classic Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction is being relocated. It will soon reside in new “circus grounds” where Guests will participate in interactive experiences, under an air conditioned big top tent, all while waiting to board one of the flying elephants. Parents take note, there will be two Dumbo spinners under one big top which will cut the usual wait time in half!  Also being incorporated into the new “circus grounds” is Goofy’s Barnstormer, the kid sized roller coaster, which will take on a clown theme.

You may wonder where all this is going to fit. Sad to say, but Mickey’s Toontown® Fair will be removed to make room for the Fantasyland® expansion. But don’t worry; Mickey and Minnie are rumored to be getting new houses near the front of the park.

The first phase of the Fantasyland expansion, which will include Under the Sea: Journey of The Little Mermaid attraction, the Fantasyland Forest, and Dumbo’s Circus is set to debut in the fall of 2012. Pixie Hollow will follow in 2013.  Now, with such exciting changes on the horizon, let Off to Neverland Travel® help you plan your next magical getaway!

*Images Walt Disney Imagineering Concept Art, actual construction may vary

Question:

How much will a three day ticket cost at the Walt Disney World® Resort?

Answer:

The current 2010 pricing for a 3 day Magic Your Way Base ticket for the Walt Disney World® Resort is $219 for guests age 10+, and $187 for guests age 3-9.  Children under the age of 3 are free.  These prices do not include applicable taxes.

For an addtional price, there are several add-on options for your Magic Your Way park tickets.  Be sure and talk to your Magic Maker® for more details, as well as the additional savings for purchasing park tickets for stays longer than 3 days.

Marcie Munoz, Navigator

By popular demand, “Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular” will remain at Disney’s California Adventure® park. It was announced earlier in the year that the Genie would be leaving the Hyperion Theater at the end of this summer.  The Disney Company received many comments on their blog asking for Aladdin to continue its run.

Although “Toy Story – The Musical” was scheduled to move into Hyperion Theater following Genie’s last bow, Buzz, Woody and their pals will stay focused on the new additions in Toy Story Mania…for now.

Construction has been scheduled near the Hyperion Theater for August 15. That may still impact some performances, but Disney’s California Adventure® park is doing everything they can to keep the show up and running.

Now, close your eyes, make a wish and click here to see Genie in action at the Disneyland Resort.