Have you ever wandered through Disney World and thought you were seeing Mickey Mouse everywhere you looked? Turns out you weren't wrong—there are Hidden Mickeys all around the parks.
What Are Disney’s Hidden Mickeys—And How Can You Find Them?
Updated on Mar. 31, 2025
What’s the story behind these Hidden Mickeys?
Hidden Mickeys began popping up in Disney parks in the late 1970s, when EPCOT was being developed, according to Barnes. EPCOT wasn’t initially conceived as a park for kids or associated with traditional Disney characters. “However,” he says, “Imagineers started sneaking Mickey shapes into their designs as a subtle nod to Disney’s legacy, inspired by Walt Disney’s quote ‘We can never forget that it all started with a mouse.’ Over time, what began as an informal tradition grew into a beloved scavenger hunt that guests actively seek out today.”
Early Hidden Mickeys were usually simple and unintentional. As the tradition gained more popularity, they were incorporated more intentionally, using advanced 3D modeling techniques and interactive elements, like with Minnie and Mickey’s Runaway Railway. (More on that below.) Now, there are reportedly around 1,000 Hidden Mickeys scattered throughout the parks and resorts, popping up in the most unexpected spots—on wallpaper, architectural details or even as shadows.
And they’re everywhere; they’re just not marked on any park map. “There aren’t strict rules, but hidden Mickeys must blend seamlessly into their surroundings while still being recognizable to the observant eye,” Barnes explains. Remember, if it’s super obvious, like Mickey-shaped waffles or stickers, it’s not “hidden”—it’s just part of the regular Disney magic.
With that in mind, put on your detective cap (aka your Mickey ears) and get to it! The guide below will get you started, but as we mentioned, it’s just the beginning.
It’s a Small World Hidden Mickey
Location: Magic Kingdom
Where to find it: At one the Magic Kingdom’s best-known rides (you know, the one that will leave you with a perpetual earworm), keep an out for purple vine leaves as you head into the Africa area. You’ll spot Mickey hiding among them.
Hole-punch Hidden Mickeys
Location: All the Disney theme parks
Where to find them: Take a look at the foliage in the Disney parks and you might find a Hidden Mickey created by a hole puncher—yes, right in the leaves! It could be in the shape of Mickey’s head, or even his whole body. When you find one, you’ll feel like you won the Hidden Mickey lottery.
Bird’s-eye-view Hidden Mickey
Location: Hollywood Studios
Where to find it: If you’re flying into Orlando, keep an eye out for Hollywood Studios from the air. As you can see here, the entire entrance to the park is shaped like one big happy Mickey—with green spaces for his eyes and nose, and buildings and a pond rounding out his distinctive ears. It’s a Hidden Mickey masterpiece!
Lunchtime Hidden Mickey
Location: Hollywood Studios
Where to find it: After you’ve worked up appetite screaming your way through the Tower of Terror (and finding the Hidden Mickeys, to boot), head to lunch nearby at the Sci-Fi Dine-in Theater for an all-American burger and milkshake. While you’re here, check out the poster for the Attack of the 50-foot Woman. Do you see it? Look to the left of the highway, and voila—Mickey’s yellow visage is splashed across the building!
Muppet*Vision 3D Hidden Mickey
Location: Hollywood Studios
Where to find it: Before you can find this Hidden Mickey, ask yourself this question: When is a duck not a duck? Answer: When it’s swimming in a fountain outside Muppet*Vision 3D at Hollywood Studios and it’s actually a duck/Mickey hybrid. (Don’t ask questions.) This strange-looking mutt is floating by Gonzo’s foot.
If you want to see this unholy duck-mouse hybrid, you’ll have to act quickly—this attraction is closing on June 7, 2025, and this Hidden Mickey might disappear along with it.
Mama Melrose’s Hidden Mickeys
Location: Hollywood Studios
Where to find them: For a pasta feast, and yes, more Hidden Mickeys, head over to Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano in Hollywood Studios. Take a look at the bunches of grapes on the right of the statue—anything look familiar? And that large dot on the dog’s chest looks a lot like our favorite mouse too. We love a good two-for-one deal!
Slinky Dog Dash Hidden Mickey
Location: Hollywood Studios
Where to find it: In Toy Story Land, you’ll find this colorful poster “drawn” by Andy near the entrance to Slinky Dog Dash, a family-friendly coaster. Now, don’t drive yourself crazy—this is a super subtle one. On the poster, there’s an upside-down Mickey in the torn-out bit of notebook paper at the top. Find the blue pin, then count four places to the right. Ta-da!
Runaway Railway Hidden Mickeys
Location: Hollywood Studios and Disneyland
Where to find them: Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is chock-full of Hidden Mickeys from beginning to end. But there’s a difference between these Hidden Mickeys and the ones you might see elsewhere in the parks. “The Hidden Mickeys [here] use projection technology, creating dynamic and animated effects that weren’t possible in earlier designs,” Barnes says. You’ll have a good chance of spotting them when they pop up in the factory scenes with everyone’s favorite iconic Disney couple.
Norway EPCOT Hidden Mickey
Location: EPCOT
Where to find it: Let it go? Never! Keep an eye out for more Hidden Mickeys in Norway at EPCOT, where you can find the perpetually popular Frozen ride that pays tribute to one of our favorite Disney movies. At the Summer House, where guests line up to meet Anna and Elsa in person, take a look at the cookie press on the wall: There’s another sweet Hidden Mickey surprise.
Painted Hidden Mickey
Location: EPCOT
Where to find it: Head to the American Adventure at EPCOT—specifically to the theater where the Voices of Liberty perform stirring a cappella renditions of patriotic songs. On one of the walls, you’ll see this picture that features a Hidden Mickey. Need more help? Turn your gaze to the middle right of the photo on the bull’s side. It’s like Hidden Mickey Rorschach test!
Gran Fiesta Hidden Mickey
Location: EPCOT
Where to find it: In the Mexico Pavilion at EPCOT, you’ll find the popular Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros, a slow river ride that focuses on the much-maligned Donald Duck. But what’s that we see? Is it a Hidden Mickey in the hotel window?
Rock wall Hidden Mickey
Location: Animal Kingdom Lodge
Where to find it: You don’t need to stay at the lodge to enjoy the cool decor or delicious food. Stop by to grab a bite and go shopping, then go out back to the rock kopjes, where you can view animals on the back savanna. While you’re there, take a close look at the walls; this Hidden Mickey is hanging out within the rocks as you head out back.
DinoLand Hidden Mickey
Location: Animal Kingdom
Where to find it: To find this Hidden Mickey, head to DinoLand in Animal Kingdom, and take a spin on Primeval Whirl. Don’t want to twirl? No problem—the sign is located on the exterior of the ride.
Solar fields Hidden Mickey
Location: Walt Disney World
Where to find it: Wondering where one of the biggest Hidden Mickeys is located? You’ll find it just outside the resort, shedding a lot of light on the parks, but it can be seen only from the air. Any guesses? It’s the solar energy panels at Disney’s solar fields. In total, Disney World’s four solar facilities generate up to 40% percent of its annual energy consumption.
FAQs
How many Hidden Mickeys are there?
Nobody knows for sure, but estimates suggest more than 1,000 worldwide. Mickey’s definitely been busy making sneaky appearances!
What is the rarest Hidden Mickey?
According to Disney enthusiasts, the rarest Hidden Mickey is the one that is visible only once a year, on Mickey’s birthday—Nov. 18. You’ll need to be at Magic Kingdom in the queue for the ride Under the Sea — Journey of the Little Mermaid around noon. When the sunlight hits the rock formations at a certain angle, it will create a shadow on the wall in the shape of Mickey Mouse!
What is the smallest Hidden Mickey?
Here’s a fun bit of Disney trivia: Although unconfirmed, it is believed that one of the smallest hidden Mickeys in the world is at the Walt Disney World Resort. It is found on a booth divider panel near the rear exit of the End Zone Food Court in Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort. Look on the last design pane near the rear exit. There, in the stand behind Minnie Mouse playing hockey, is a caricature of Steve Barrett, a self-described “Walt Disney World zealot” who has written books on Hidden Mickeys and is aptly nicknamed “The Hidden Mickey Guy.” On his shirt in the picture, you’ll see the classic three-circle Hidden Mickey.
Are Hidden Mickeys only at Disney World’s parks?
Nope! While this started as a lark in EPCOT and the other Orlando parks, it has since spread to Disneyland in Anaheim, as well as Disney locations around the globe, from Paris to Tokyo. So no matter where you go, you can embark on a quest to find Hidden Mickeys. And while a big part of the fun is spotting them on your own, here’s a pro tip to find even more: You can also ask cast members (aka Disney employees) for hints!
About the expert
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Sources:
- Jeff Barnes, author of The Wisdom of Walt book series; email interview, Jan. 11, 2025
- Hidden Mickey Guy: “Splitsville Hidden Mickey Walt Disney World”
- Inside the Magic: “Expedition Everest Is a Hidden Mickey AND A Hidden Oswald”
- AllEars: “Checking Out Hidden Mickeys at Splitsville and the Magic Kingdom”
- AllEars: “Blink, and You’ll Miss This RARE Hidden Mickey in Disney World!”
- Disney History: “Walt Disney World’s Smallest Hidden Mickey”
- AllEars: “Hidden Mickeys”
