Searching Disney with Steve

Tropical Storm Fay visited central Florida on Tuesday, August 19, crossing (west to east) south of Orlando. She stuck around the east coast a few days and then on August 21 crossed Florida again (east to west) north of Orlando. I checked out the Magic Kingdom late afternoon of August 21. As you can see in the photo, lots of guests were there, although the MK seemed a bit less crowded than usual. The cloudy sky drizzled rain and mist much of the day, and gusts of wind blew hats off. It was a good poncho sales day for WDW!

I stopped by the Polynesian Resort to check out a Hidden Mickey sighting. Andrew and Matthew Nypower wrote to me about a classic Mickey image on the back of the Tiki statue outside the Tiki Boutique shop on the first floor. Many folks stop here for photos with the smiling Tiki guy. Sure enough, on his back is a cool (slightly distorted) classic Mickey!

The next day, Fay lightened up a bit. There were fewer ponchos in evidence at Epcot in the United Kingdom pavilion, although the walking paths were still moist.

Louise Herrick had informed me last year, along with a few other folks, that the classic Mickey on the Asepso box (along the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail in Disney's Animal Kingdom) had returned. It's still there, thank goodness. The reason I mention Louise is that she wrote me a story about her 6 year old son, who had a great time searching for Hidden Mickeys at WDW. One night, while Louise and her family were comfortably asleep in their Disney resort, her son yelled out in his sleep: "I've found a Hidden Mickey!" Actually, that happens on occasion to me, too!

A while back, I wrote about the tree grove classic Mickey near WDW. Several people have asked me for more information about this amazing classic Mickey image. A friend of mine, Jim, researched its history. This tree grove Mickey was not present before 1990; it appeared sometime between January 23, 1990 and March 5, 1994. It is 7.7 miles northwest from the center of the Magic Kingdom, and it's in Lake County on private property (not officially on Disney property).

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

My wife Vickie and I strolled around the BoardWalk area recently on a warm Florida afternoon. Inside the BoardWalk Bakery, I ordered an espresso and Vickie a bottled water. I'd spotted two Mickey images in the past, on two aprons hanging on the right wall, and they're still in place. Vickie thinks they're more like decor Mickeys rather than Hidden. What do you think?

I looked for a Mickey sugar bowl that was in place several years ago on a high shelf directly opposite the entrance doors of the Bakery. Alas, it's still lost!

We drove over to Disney's Hollywood Studios later in the afternoon. My sister Donna had e-mailed me a few weeks ago that one of her favorite Hidden Mickeys was lost: the "Monet" Mickey in a display window at the end of the Streets of America!

Vickie and I confirmed that indeed it wasn't there! Another lost gem, but I hope only temporarily. Some Hidden Mickey images do reappear, and I'll wait to see if the Imagineers replace the Monet Mickey.

We checked out a Mickey sighting along the entrance queue of Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show. I think it's a cool image.

It's on the right side of the entrance walkway. As you walk around the first building, look in the middle set of windows at a red tool chest to find the black classic Mickey magnet. (Thanks to Denise O, Elton Hughes and Jill Sullivan, and Jennifer Lynch).

Vickie and I then relaxed with an excellent meal at the Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant, one of my favorites!

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

My sister, Donna, recently visited WDW with a few of her friends from Texas. I met up with them at Planet Hollywood for dinner one evening. In the photo, from the left, are Donna, Debbie, Shelly, Jim and Michelle. During our meal, we talked about Hidden Mickeys, and I think I won over a few converts that night!

A few days later, Donna, Debbie and I enjoyed a Bon Jovi tribute band at the America Gardens Theatre in Epcot. These guys were terrific musicians! Donna pointed out a classic Mickey image on the side of the stage. It's almost a decorative image, but I think it's "hidden" enough; most folks probably don't notice it.

The next day, Donna and I tried out the Wave, a new restaurant on the first floor of the Contemporary Resort. Andy Jackson wrote me about a classic Mickey image made of wine bottles at the rear of the bar area. He says it was purposefully created by the Cast Members there to be a Hidden Mickey. Pretty cool!

The food theming at the Wave is interesting; it's all about antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acids, sustainable fishing, and organic food and alcohol. (It's the first time I've encountered organic vodka!). Anyway, I enjoyed my fish dish, and after dinner we wandered over to the Magic Kingdom for some more Hidden Mickey hunting.

We struck gold in a display window on the right side of Sir Mickey's Store. Kyla (and her mother Jen) Patton and Ryan and Fairen Frisinger wrote me about a classic Mickey made of buttons in that display window. Check it out!

And to top it off, Donna spotted new classic Mickeys in a painting on the rear wall of the display, along the border of the archer's collar! But you know about display window Hidden Mickeys, right? We'll have to see if they stay in place for a while.

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

Vickie and I recently met up with old friends from Oklahoma. Dick and Debi hadn't been to WDW since 2001, so they were excited about experiencing new attractions and old favorites. T

Their son Brian, a graduate student, accompanied them for this special trip to Florida. We met up at the Flying Fish Cafe at the BoardWalk for the first evening. Vickie and my son Steven joined the group.

The photo of all of us (from the left, me, Steven, Brian, Debi, Dick, and Vickie) is a bit blurred; I think I made the cast member nervous? No, I'm just kidding. Most CM's don't know who I am, unless I tell them that I wrote the Hidden Mickeys book. Thankfully, every CM I've talked with knows about my book!

The next day, I joined the group at opening (9 a.m.) of the Magic Kingdom. We used FASTPASS to our advantage and hopped onto any major attraction with a short wait during the morning hours. We didn't have lunch reservations, so I recommended snacks inside the old Diamond Horseshoe in Frontierland. We were pleasantly surprised! The sandwich portions were generous, and we satisfied our hunger in air conditioned comfort.

Later in the afternoon, we headed to Epcot. The wait for Soarin' was too long, and all FASTPASSES had been distributed for that day. My friends would enjoy Soarin' later in the week. Dinner was at San Angel Inn (one of my favorites). Like many WDW veterans, I have my favorite spots for viewing IllumiNations. If I have time, I check out the small alcove behind the Yorkshire County Fish Shop in the United Kingdom Pavilion; it's usually rented beforehand and roped off. Alas, the rope wasn't up! We walked leisurely down to the small area and stood behind the benches near the fence to watch the spectacular show, which seems to erupt right in front of you!

A few days later, I returned to Epcot for research (someone's got to do it!). In the late afternoon, I listened to a great band at America Gardens Theatre, a tribute band for the Bee Gees.

I met Vickie and some local good friends, Jimmy, Ginny and Jake at the Portobello Yacht Club Restaurant at Pleasure Island. After dinner, we checked out some Hidden Mickeys at Downtown Disney. Frank Tonra III wrote me about a rat with a Mickey hat in a display window on the side of the World of Disney store.

Jake and Jimmy are pointing to a map on the rear wall of this display window. Mickey and other character images are on the map.

This type of map has been in Pirates displays around WDW. We'll see if the rat with the hat and the pirate's map last a while. As you know, displays in WDW windows change periodically.

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

New Hidden Mickeys can appear anywhere on Disney property at any time. Your best bet is to check out a refurbished area or a new attraction.

Toy Story Midway Mania, a new attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios, doesn't disappoint!

A compelling new classic Mickey image is near the end of the Standby queue (the attraction also has FASTPASS and Single Rider queues).

It's on the wall past the large map of the U.S.A. below a green dinosaur and a red fish, near the floor and behind the handrails on the left side of the queue. So far, 14 folks have written to me about this cool image, but Matt Hochberg, Jesse Kline, and Jennifer Bogdan described it to me first.

Orlando Attractions Magazine and Jake Thompson wrote to me about another Hidden Mickey on the ride.

Look for the words "Circus Fun!" on the wall to your right as you rotate into position for the last screen stop. The dot below the exclamation point is a decent classic Mickey.

I was on the ride with Amy from Massachusetts when we spotted this Hidden Mickey, and she was in position to snap the photo for me. Thanks, Amy!

You can see this third image at loading and unloading, and you can study it as you take the exit walkway. Three ovals encircle Toy Story characters on the wall to the left of the ride vehicles.

Matt Hochberg, Alexis, and Frank Marando described this image to me, and it seems close for a classic Mickey image. Let me know what you think!

The walls, ceiling and floor inside Toy Story Midway Mania are blanketed with colorful images. Undoubtedly, more Hidden Mickeys are waiting for us to find them!

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

Recently, I visited Rafiki's Planet Watch at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

This area is a real treasure trove of Hidden Mickeys; you could easily spend several hours here searching for the little gems. On the order of 42 Hidden Mickeys live here, and a few more undiscovered ones may be waiting for us to find them.

One of the best side profile Mickeys anywhere is just past the entrance doors to Conservation Station, on the chin of a hippopotamus. It's the fifth animal from the left along the bottom of the entrance mural on the left wall. A side profile of Mickey Mouse is on its lower jaw, under the middle tooth. One of my favorites!

Now for some new images.

Sharon Dale alerted me to three circles arranged correctly on the ground in a mosaic just before the entrance doors to Conservation Station. This Mickey is below and between the elephant tusks and above the second "T" in "STATION". It's not a perfect image, but it's close enough for me!

Sonali showed me a new image in the main lobby of Conservation Station. It's formed from holes in the tree leaves overhead, directly above the first left entrance (as you enter the lobby) to the Song of the Rainforest area. It seems a bit distorted to me, so I put it in the Questionable section of my website for folks to vote on it. What do you think?

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 stayed in a cabin at the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. The best way to research Hidden Mickeys is to stay in the middle of the magic! I like the cabins; they're spacious and well-maintained, and you can park your car right in front of your cabin.

Disney has been placing more and more Hidden Mickeys in guest rooms at their on-property resorts, in the carpets, wallpaper, wall paintings, curtains, and elsewhere.

Here are two Hidden Mickeys I found in my cabin:

One on the Bedspread

One on the Door Curtain

Guests can enjoy many activities at Fort Wilderness, including

Carriage Rides

Pony Rides for the Kids

and Trail Rides on Larger Horses

Now for some Mickey images.

Many of the classic Mickey forms at the Tri-Circle-D Ranch are decorative, in my opinion, and not hidden. The sign for the Trail Rides in the photo above has decorative Mickeys.

These images on the fences and gates in the pony ride area are too obvious to qualify as Hidden Mickeys, as is the three-circle logo under the sign for the Tri-Circle-D Farm (where the pony rides take place).

However, this sign for the Blacksmith Shop has a hidden classic Mickey between the "L" and "A" of Blacksmith. If you're not actively hunting for Mickey, it's easy to overlook this image.

In the evening, I enjoyed Chip 'n Dale's campfire program near the Meadow Trading Post in the middle of Fort Wilderness.

Folks roasted marshmallows over the campfire as a guitarist serenaded the guests with sing-a-long songs and Chip and Dale wandered around greeting everyone. A Disney movie was then displayed on a large screen.

This evening program has been a staple at Fort Wilderness for many years, and I hope it sticks around for many more!

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)

The huge classic Mickey stand of trees (visible on Google Earth) has long fascinated me. My son Steven and I recently struck out in my car to find it from ground level. The posters on my Hidden Mickeys Guide website stated that the stand of trees was a few miles northwest of the Magic Kingdom, just off Highway 27 and not far north from where Highway 192 merges with 27.

We approached the area first from Highway 27, but the access roads to the east were all private property. So we drove back to Highway 192 east and looked for a northern bound public road. We found one! It was Avalon road, and we then searched for a road that might lead us west to the Hidden Mickey. About 8 miles north on Avalon, just past Old YMCA Road, we spotted Schofield Road. (Another poster had mentioned that this road approached the HM stand of trees). My pulse rate quickened; we were drawing near!

Schofield Road (also called Shell Pond Road to add some confusion) was paved for the first mile or so but then became a dirt road with deep tire ruts. At least the road was dry! So I was forced to drive slowly as we bounced along into the countryside. After more than a mile into this road, we crested a hill and gazed upon the lake that was not far from the stand of trees. We turned right a short distance past the lake, so we were positioned just west of the trees (on the vertical road, in the upper middle of the photo below). We stopped the car and walked up to a fence near the trees. This group of trees stood alone in a field. I figured we were looking at the right "ear" and the right side of the "head."

The classic Mickey circles were not evident from ground level. Moreover, the trees in the lower part of the "head" were closer to the road and fence than was implied in the overhead Google Earth photo. The current photo on Google Earth is several years old, so the perfect three-circle Mickey image may have become somewhat distorted by now. (In the photo below, Steven is standing near the fence in front of the right "ear" and right side of the "head." The ear is on the left side of the photo).

A few days later, I found myself in Disney's Animal Kingdom. As I ambled through the Oasis, I stopped and admired the giant anteater, who was walking around his territory. I rode the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch. I like to check in with Affection Section now and then, because the Cast Members usually maintain a classic Mickey image on one of the animals in this petting zoo. I wasn't disappointed. Not only was Mickey present on the back of a goat, but Minnie with her bow was evident on another goat! Way to go, CM's!

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)