Hidden Mickeys at Hong Kong Disneyland

As millions of guests scurry throughout Hong Kong Disneyland Resort to see Mickey Mouse, little do they realize they may be passing him right by.

And though the Mickeys they miss are not the life-sized, two-legged and four-fingered variety, they are "Hidden Mickeys" -- silhouettes and abstract images of Mickey Mouse cleverly hidden by Walt Disney Imagineers across Disney's newest Vacation Kingdom.

Hidden Mickeys began as an inside joke among Walt Disney Imagineers, the artists and engineers who design Disney's theme parks, attractions and hotels. As word spread of these subtle tributes to Walt Disney's famous cartoon creation, guests worldwide sought to find them all.

Sharp-eyed guests can now spot Hidden Mickeys at Disneyland Resort in California, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Disneyland Paris in France and Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan.

That search continues with the Sept. 12, 2005, grand opening of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.

Like buried treasure, Hidden Mickeys have been placed secretly (and not so secretly) by Disney Imagineers at locations across Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.

"The popularity of Hidden Mickeys has really snowballed with guests," says Dave Smith, founder and main archivist for Walt Disney Archives, and author of the Disney-related encyclopedia Disney: A to Z. "Many will almost use a magnifying glass through the parks to find as many as they can."

No one knows how many Hidden Mickeys exist throughout Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, since Walt Disney Imagineers have never kept an official roster documenting their existence.

In fact, no one knows when the first Hidden Mickey even appeared at a Disney theme park. And, since attractions are renovated and updated periodically, many have appeared and disappeared through the years.

Where the next Hidden Mickey will appear is anyone's guess.

Here are some hints for guests to start their quest for Hidden Mickeys at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort:

• Mickey's a Shining Star: Mickey Mouse is one of the world's biggest stars. So it's appropriate that on Orbitron, the space-themed attraction in Tomorrowland, Mickey's silhouette is found in the starfield among the wildly colored planets. (Another hint: Mickey can be found more than once on Orbitron.)
• Mulan & Mickey: In The Plaza Inn restaurant, Mickey Mouse's famous and familiar silhouette is formed by cherry blossoms painted in murals that feature characters from Disney's hit animated film, "Mulan."
• Mickey and the Beast: In the Royal Banquet Hall at Sleeping Beauty Castle, sharp-eyed guests can spot a Hidden Mickey in the framed portrait of Belle and Beast from Disney's award-winning film "Beauty and the Beast."
• Four Fingers For Fun: At the entrance of Adventureland, a grotto waterfall features rock-wall drawings and handprints from early explorers and settlers to the land. Among the many handprints is a very special one with four fingers -- the same number of fingers Mickey sports on his white-gloved hands.
• Mickey Rocks!: On the path to the "Festival of the Lion King" show and in the shadow of Tarzan's Treehouse in Adventureland sits three special stones that form a Hidden Mickey on the wayside.
• Mickey's Head is in the Clouds: At Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, a grand mural depicting a scene from Disney's animated film "Cinderella" features a large Mickey Mouse head floating in the clouds above the castle's golden spires.
• The Fab Five "Hides" with Mickey: Also at Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, Mickey's not the only one "hiding." In addition to Hidden Mickeys, guests can spot Hidden Minnies, Hidden Donalds, Hidden Goofys and Hidden Plutos among the intricate patterns in the corridor carpet.
• Mickey Makes a Big Splash: At Disney's Hollywood Hotel, Mickey can be found in the rockwork that makes up the slide at the feature pool.