Skip to content

walt disney world

Interview With Steven M. Barrett, Author of Hidden Mickeys

  • by

Steven M. Barrett, Author and Mouse Hunter

If you’ve been to the Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World, or even on a Disney Cruise, chances are you’ve seen people walking around with a bright yellow book and a tendency to periodically stop and stare at rather obscure signs, windows, and random bits of architecture. Those folks are hunting Hidden Mickeys. Be very, very quiet.

The book in question is by Steven M. Barrett, and is part of his popular series titled Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to (insert Disney location here)’s Best Kept Secrets. There’s also an app for that!

Each book offers a number of Hidden Mickeys for Disney guests to search for on their visit. What is a Hidden Mickey? “A partial or complete image of Mickey Mouse that has been hidden by Disney’s 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.” — from Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Disneyland Resort’s Best Kept Secrets, Chapter 1 “Hidden Mickey Mania”

Barrett has been canvasing Disney parks (and ships) to track the elusive Hidden Mickeys for over 20 years. He’s found a few.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Barrett via Skype about his books, the website that they have spawned (HiddenMickeyGuy.com), and life as America’s most-celebrated Hidden Mickey hunter.  Read More »Interview With Steven M. Barrett, Author of Hidden Mickeys

Magic Kingdom Update – New Fantasyland and more

Time marches on and summer is almost here. That means it’s time for another photo update from the Magic Kingdom. Disney continues making real progress toward opening the rest of Storybook Circus and, hopefully, parts of Fairytale Forest (of whatever they’re calling the new section these days).

It’s a long update today, so let’s get right to it, then, shall we. The Bakery facade remains shrouded along with two buildings in Town Square. I’m glad they’re doing the facade refurbishments, but it has been taking a long time.

Rapunzel is now doing meet & greets next to Town Hall. Her old place near Fantasyland is being converted for the Scottish Princess Merida. I think they should have had a cage match with the winner earning the best location.

Read More »Magic Kingdom Update – New Fantasyland and more

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Photo Update

If I had to rank the four Walt Disney World parks just in frequency of my visits, Disney’s Hollywood Studios would place third. It’s not that I don’t enjoy being in the park, it’s just that the things I do enjoy always sends me walking from one side of the park to the other based on the show schedule, fastpass availability, and availability of decent counter service with air-conditioned seating. The haphazard nature of DHS’s pathways are an artifact of its status as a working studio during its initial years. But this park is top of my list for a drastic new series of placemaking.

Alas, my armchair Imagineering will have to wait for another day, today I have a photo update capturing a few of the changes since my last visit.

We’ll start our tour at The Magic of Disney Animation, which now features this Campus Map. Note how it shows that guests can now skip the movie to get into the main building. It also specifically lists the characters inside by name. So it looks like it will be a while before we see a replacement for Winnie The Pooh. Important to note if an autograph with Winnie the Pooh is a must. You can avoid the crowds at the Magic Kingdom and get it at DHS.

The biggest change inside the Magic of Disney Animation was the updated Animation Gallery. A new exhibit called ‘Setting the Scene’ has been installed. You can still see some of the Academy Awards Disney has won, but everything else is changed.

Read More »Disney’s Hollywood Studios Photo Update

Disney World Merchandise Roundup

Yesterday we shared a new kitchenware and dish set for sale at Walt Disney World, but that isn’t the only bit of new merchandise to show up at the parks. Here are a few more things that caught my eye as I wandered around the parks.

Of late, Disney has been making easy to find the new stuff by grouping it together with other ‘New Arrivals.’

I’m seeing a lot more clothing where the Mickey Mouse element is woven into the pattern. Let’s you were your Mickey clothing without having to have a cartoon on your shirt. I like that idea.

Read More »Disney World Merchandise Roundup

Worst Disney Attraction Ever

Despite creating the genre and 57 years of experience in the theme park industry, The Walt Disney Company has not hit every attraction out of the park. In fact, some were complete strikeouts. Here are a few of my nominees for the worst Disney Attraction… Read More »Worst Disney Attraction Ever

Magic Kingdom Update – Part 2 – New Fantasyland and More

Let’s continue our nice stroll around the Magic Kingdom that we began in part 1. Work continues around the park as they race to get ready for the summer travel season.


As I mentioned in part I, The Little Mermaid attraction is ready to go on the inside, they’re just working on the queue and rock work now. And it looks like much of the rest of New Fantasyland will be soft opening in fall of 2012.


Roofing is going on and a nice tutor look for this building in Gaston’s Village.


They’re now working on extending this wall across the old location of Dumbo. We should see vertical work over the wall soon.

Read More »Magic Kingdom Update – Part 2 – New Fantasyland and More

Disney World Recognizes Local Students

One of the many fun jobs Walt Disney World’s ambassadors enjoy is to take Mickey Mouse out to reward achievers in the community. This last week, Mickey Mouse visited local schools this week to recognize 18 students in the five-county area as Disney Dreamers & Doers Shining Stars.

Disney Dreamers & Doers recognizes students throughout Central Florida who serve as role models at school, at home and in their community. Approximately 400 students were chosen as their school’s 2012 Disney Dreamer & Doer.

In addition to a visit from Mickey Mouse and the prize patrol, Disney Dreamers & Doers ShiningStars receive a Mickey Mouse statue known as a “Mousecar”, Walt Disney World annual theme park passes for themselves and their immediate family, a gold medallion and a special invitation to attend the upcoming Kids and Nature Celebration at Walt Disney World Resort.

From the Dreamers & Doers, a panel of judges selected 18 Shining Stars from elementary, middle and high schools in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Polk counties, as well as the Florida Virtual School. These students are considered the best of the best. They consistently demonstrate outstanding character, lead by example and have a caring spirit.

“The Disney Dreamers & Doers program is just one way we demonstrate our commitment to the children of Central Florida,” said Nancy Gidusko, director of Community Relations for Walt Disney World Resort. “We are so proud of all these students, especially the Shining Stars. They offer bright hope for the future as each of them has a special spark. They truly are making a difference in our community and inspiring others to do the same.”

Read More »Disney World Recognizes Local Students

Star Wars themed art show coming to Downtown Disney

What happens when you plan a Star Wars art show to coincide with Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and then they move the dates on you. Well, you keep the show going any way because the name “A Disturbance on the Fourth” is… Read More »Star Wars themed art show coming to Downtown Disney