Searching for Hidden Mickeys is a fun FREE activity to do at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.
When our family stayed at Art of Animation, we had a lot of fun going on a quest for hidden Mickeys. It’s a great, low-budget activity you can do at your own pace. It can also be a convenient way to pass the time before dining reservations or on days you are not visiting the theme parks.
Currently, Art of Animation does not provide a list of hidden Mickeys (as some other resorts do), but they can give you a scavenger hunt sheet for the Art of Animation resort and the other Skyliner resorts!
Hidden Mickeys at Art of Animation:
In case you don’t know, hidden Mickeys are subtle representations of Mickey Mouse. To recognize a hidden Mickey, look for a circle representing Mickey’s face with two circles above it representing his ears.
Hidden Mickeys #1: Interior Carpet in Nemo buildings
Hallways and entryway carpets throughout Art of Animation have hidden Mickeys subtly woven in. Most are fairly obvious if you’re looking down for them, but they could be easy to miss if you are not paying attention. The first ones I could find were inside the hallways of the Nemo buildings! As you can see, three bubbles form the classic Mickey shape.
Hidden Mickey #2: Interior Carpet in Cars buildings
In the Cars section, you can find hidden Mickeys in the corners of the carpet design.
Unfortunately, I don’t think the carpet in the Lion King buildings has any hidden Mickeys (I couldn’t find any, at least!). And the Little Mermaid section has outside entrances to its rooms – so no carpets to hide Mickeys on!
Hidden Mickey #3: Simba and Nala in the Lobby Chandelier
The next hidden Mickey can be found in the large chandelier in the main lobby of Art of Animation. This chandelier features artwork from all sorts of original Disney films and even has signatures from the artists, voice actors, and more!
In one sketch visible from the side of the chandelier closest to the bus pickup area, Simba and Nala are facing Scar’s three henchman hyenas.
Their heads are a bit too round and look a lot like Mickey’s head! I’m not sure if this is an intentional Mickey since a lion has a round head and ears like Mickey, but it nonetheless goes onto our list!
Hidden Mickey #4: Package Pick-Up
Inside the Ink and Paint Shop (gift shop) adjacent to the lobby check-in area is a sign for package pick up. This is the spot to go if you need to receive a package during your vacation stay (which is a great way to get access to cheaper items or avoid paying extra for luggage), and it’s also the location of a hidden Mickey!
Once you find the package pick-up sign, look under it to find a small hidden Mickey doll. The doll is the same plastic-type sold in stores across Disney World. This one is interesting since it’s Mickey’s full figure instead of the classic ear shape.
It’s also curious because of how hidden it is. The doll is really shoved up into the hole directly under the sign, so it is tricky to spot even when you know exactly where it is. I’m not sure if Imagineers intentionally placed this or if a rogue Cast Member hid it there – but I do know it has been there for at least seven years!
Hidden Mickey #5: Landscape of Flavors
While in the lobby of Art of Animation, you can venture over to the Landscape of Flavors food court. To find the first Mickey hidden here, you’ll need to look up at the large chandelier lights.
Specifically, look for the Lion King-themed lights, which are the closest ones to the Ink and Paint shop. In the picture on the lighting, you’ll see trees and foliage – lots of browns and greens.
On the trunk of one of these trees, you will see three circles of green leaves in the middle of a brown area, making a Mickey. It’s directly in the center of this picture!
Hidden Mickey #6: Landscape of Flavors
Next, you will need to find the Little Mermaid chandelier light. It is located on the farthest side of the seating area from the lobby entrance and features Ariel’s grotto.
As you can imagine, it’s filled with all sorts of things, from dinglehoppers to “who’s its” and “what’s its.” Near the top of one of the shelves, she even has a full picture of Mickey’s face!
Hidden Mickeys #7 – Squirt’s Righteous Reef
Art of Animation’s main pool is the Big Blue Pool, located as you walk out the back of Animation Hall. You need to head to this area to find the next hidden Mickeys.
First, go to Squirt’s Righteous Reef playground behind the Big Blue Pool. If you have younger children, you will definitely be spending time here anyways. 🙂
You need to start searching the barnacles for hidden Mickeys!
There are actually a few barnacles that form the classic Mickey shape!
Hidden Mickeys #8: Squirt’s Righteous Reef
Stay in the playground area to find the next hidden Mickey.
It’s smaller and harder to locate than the barnacles. You need to look at the rock itself for circular indentations that form a Mickey.
Hidden Mickeys #9: The Big Blue Pool Area
After exiting the playground area, you can head down the path back toward the main lobby.
Look for a green fish statue with blue dots. After searching it for a minute, you can probably spot the thee circle Mickey shape!
When looking from the resort lobby, I found this one on the fish to the left of the Big Blue Pool. Other fish are similar in color, but I could not find a definitive Mickey them.
Hidden Mickey #10: The Little Mermaid Seaweed
This hidden Mickey is located in the Little Mermaid section of Art of Animation. These buildings are found at the north end of the resort.
As you get closer, you’ll find larger-than-life recreations of the Little Mermaid characters and other under-the-sea-themed sculptures.
On the side of the buildings, look closely at the green seaweed.
It features a hidden Mickey in purple on the green leaf! This one is easy to spot once you start looking.
How many Hidden Mickeys are there at the Art of Animation Resort?
We tracked down ten total on our quest to find hidden Mickeys at the Art of Animation resort. Due to the subtle nature of hidden Mickeys, there might be more out there to see, or you may count some that we decided were not true “hidden” Mickeys. If you find hidden Mickeys not mentioned in this article, please let us know in the comments.
When can you look for Hidden Mickeys at The Art of Animation Resort?
One of the great things about looking for hidden Mickeys is that you can do it whenever it is convenient for you! Consider this fun activity when you have free time in your schedule, such as before a dining reservation or during an afternoon break from the theme parks. Just make sure to observe any quiet hours that may be posted if your kids are getting a bit too excited during the search.
Can non-guests look for Hidden Mickeys at The Art of Animation Resort?
Yes! Non-guests can look for hidden Mickeys. You don’t have to be a guest at The Art of Animation Resort to participate in this activity. For example, you can explore the Art of Animation and other resorts by hopping on the Skyliner from Hollywood Studios or EPCOT. Searching for hidden Mickeys can be a great way to spend some time seeing more of Walt Disney World and its amazing resorts.
Have you ever searched for Hidden Mickeys at Disney’s The Art of Animation Resort?
If so, please let us know below if we missed anything. In addition, if you have other questions, feel free to ask, and we will try to answer!
