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Searching for Hidden Mickeys at Animal Kingdom

After the ropes drop at park opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a herd of folks heads first for Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain in Asia.  It’s a roller coaster that takes you up into the mountain, and down, and backwards at one point!

If you’re involved with this Everest dash, don’t forget to admire the amazing detail at the Everest attraction, detail that Disney does so well.  For example, take a look at this display of equipment from an unfortunate campsite that was smashed by the Yeti!

While you’re in line for the Everest ride, look around for a few Hidden Mickeys.  Here’s a cool one inside the Yeti Museum, which is part of the Standby Queue for the ride.  Just after a display of books under glass, spot this classic (three-circle) Hidden Mickey etched into the top of the near end of a wooden handrail.

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IMAGE GALLERY: Hidden Mickeys at Disney's Animal Kingdom
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Stroll over to Africa to continue your search.  Keep in mind that the Disney Imagineers and artists hide characters other than Mickey!  Check out this Hidden Baloo (the bear from the Disney movie ‘The Jungle Book’).  He’s inside the small seating area behind Tamu Tamu Refreshments, on a wall nearest the path to Asia.  Sometimes, he’s covered by a curtain.

The next Hidden Mickey is just outside Tamu Tamu Refreshments, and it’s one of the great images at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  It’s on the walkway that connects Africa and Asia, and it’s formed by a small utility cover and the pebbles adjacent to it.  Now that’s an imaginative classic Hidden Mickey!

Along the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail in Africa, don’t miss the Hidden Jafar (from the Disney movie ‘Aladdin’).  He’s sculpted out of a huge 25- to 30-foot rock, which stands to the right of the first section of the first suspension bridge just past the gorilla viewing window.  It’s worth the effort to discover and admire this amazing Hidden Image.

As you’re leaving Disney’s Animal Kingdom, stop into the Island Mercantile shop on Discovery Island to search for this next classic Hidden Mickey.  He’s made of spots on a lower cell of an orange and blue bumblebee honeycomb on an inside post.  It’s on the right rear wall opposite the entrance doors closest to the walkway to the Oasis.  Kudos to the artist for this great image!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Steve Barrett is the author of the Hidden Mickeys Guide Book Series (Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and the Disney Cruise Ships) available in the Disney Parks and in book stores, Amazon, and on Kindle and other downloadable formats.  The WDW and Disneyland Hidden Mickeys Guide books are also offered as iPhone apps.  Steve and his wife Vickie (hiddenmickeygal) are the webmasters of http://www.HiddenMickeyGuy.com, and are on Twitter  @hiddenmickeyguy and Facebook as Hidden Mickey Guy Disney's Hidden Mickeys Hunter.