One of my favorite things to do while visiting Disney World and Disneyland (actually, Disney Cruise, too) is to search for Hidden Mickeys.  A "Hidden Mickey" is a Mickey Mouse shape that Walt Disney Imagineers have strategically placed throughout the Disney Parks.   It comes in many forms, from a complete Mickey Mouse profile to the outline of his head and ears.  Most Imagineers, if asked, will deny their existence -- of course, with a little smirk and twinkle in their eye when they do.

Some of my favorites include the ones you'll find hidden in pictures hung on the walls of resorts (go wander the halls of Disney's Yacht and Beach Clubs next time your in Disney World), one in rocks in Japan at Epcot's World Showcase -- one of the first I ever found on my own, and the ones that involve some controversy as to their "officialness" -- i.e., the plate and saucers at the table in the Haunted Mansion.

Disney Parks blog recently released a video with some of their "favorites."  Can you tell where they are all located?

Where are your favorites?  What was your first?  Let us know in the comments!

We've done a fair number of posts on Hidden Mickey's.  Check them out if you have an interest in the "hunt."

Inside the Wilderness Lodge, just off the beautiful lobby sits the Whispering Canyon Cafe.  The Wilderness Lodge Whispering Canyon Cafe features western-style food such as pulled pork, ribs, chicken, and baked beans smoked up just like you're out on a wagon-train trip through the Old West.

Come ready to get rowdy, though.  The Cast Members serving up your food family-style may just treat you like family with a mild insult, admonishment, or good old-fashioned teasing, so be ready!

The Cafe sits on an elevated deck just off the lobby with western log-style furnishings and a fireplace (in which you can find a hidden Mickey, if you look real hard).

Whispering Canyon serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  The menu for dinner features the items listed above, as well as steaks, fish, and much more.  Lunch has burgers, salads, and sandwiches and breakfast includes common breakfast items such as buttermilk pancakes, as well as the Cafe's own all-you-care-to-enjoy Canyon Skillets.  Regardless of the meal, be sure to bring you appetite and leave room for the amazing desserts.

This is one of my favorite places for breakfast at Disney World.  It helps that it's at one of my favorite resorts and I love the western theme.  The Canyon Skillet's will definitely fill you up and you won't go away wanting.  Lunch and dinner are both excellent, also.

There's usually not too much of a wait at Whispering Canyon Cafe, but as always we recommend advanced dining reservations.  If you do have to wait, there is a Lincoln Log table to entertain the kids, while you wait.

Leave us a comment, below and share your favorite Disney World breakfast dining experience.

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One of the more unusual dining experiences at Disney World is the Artist Point at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort.  Artist Point is a signature table service restaurant that would count as two meals on your Disney Dining Plan.

Cast Members, guests and Orlando locals rave about Artist Point and it's fine cuisine.  Additionally, Artist Point has some unique offerings including wild boar tenderloin and buffalo short ribs.

The prices at Artist Point can be pretty expensive with entrees ranging in price from $20-$43.  Entree offerings include grilled beef tenderloin, the buffalo short rib we mentioned above, seared jumbo day boat scallops, duck, pot stickers, and their signature dish - cedar plank roasted pacific king salmon (absolutely delicious, if you like salmon).

Artist Point is on an elevated deck with indoor and outdoor seating that provides some spectacular views of the pool, waterfall, geyser and lake at Wilderness Lodge.  It's situation just off the main lobby and right next to the Territory Lounge (the bar at Wilderness Lodge), so you could stop by for an after dinner drink to catch the game.

Additionally, the Artist Point restaurant at Wilderness Lodge has two hidden Mickeys that we featured in yesterday's post hidden in two beautiful murals high on the walls in the main dining area.

Not often mentioned on "top" lists, however, still one of our favorites and could become one of yours when you give it a try on your next Disney World vacation.

A free, fun adventure at Disney World is the hidden Mickey hunt at Disney's Wilderness Lodge.  You don't even have to be staying at the Lodge to participate!  Last week, we decided to give it a shot and hunt some hidden Mickey's.

To start the searching, you need the hints for the hunt.  Get these by visiting the Wilderness Lodge's concierge desk and ask for the hidden Mickey hunt.  You'll be given a two-sided piece of paper with hints for each hidden Mickey in the form of a riddle.  Let me say, they can be quite challenging!

Here's the first one on the hunt.  The picture makes it easier to find.  It's not that easy, live.

Here's a couple from the Artist Point restaurant.

Really had a hard time seeing this one and it's even harder in the picture, but it's right next to the red window on the right.

Do you see it?

Here's one from the Firerock Geyser, back by the pool.

..and another one that was likely made by a Cast Member (not on the hunt)...

This one's not on the hunt, either, but we found it to be pretty cool, anyway.

There are several more on the hunt, but this gives you a taste of the type of free adventures you can take in and around Disney World resorts during your Disney vacation.

Over the next few days, you'll see a lot of "photo" posts.  I'm catching up on uploading pics going back several months.  I think I take too many pictures when I go to Disney....nah!

These are from the grand opening of Tren-D at Downtown Disney. 

Nice Hidden Mickey!

Not sure if Steve would classify these as Hidden Mickey's.  I doubt it.

Can't believe I didn't get a better shot of this, but I know there's a Hidden Mickey on the purse or dress of these ladies.

The Cast Member asked me if I knew how many chandeliers were in this bunch.  I said, "A lot."

Such a cool framed picture of the Cheshire Cat.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to try out Tony's Town Square Restaurant.  Tony's is located right in the town square of Main Street, USA at Disney's Magic Kingdom.  It's in the first building on your right, as you enter the park.

It can actually be a little confusing, as the restaurant is part of a larger building and you actually enter what looks like a store entrance to get to Tony's Town Square Restaurant.  The host/hostess stand is located just to the left after you enter the big, double main entrance doors.  If you miss it, don't worry -- there's an outdoor host/hostess stand with Goofy sitting on a bench to greet you and direct you into the restaurant.

Tony's offers typical Italian cuisine, including one of my favorites, tomato and mozzarella salad -- although I must admit that Tony's was a bit bland.  Tomatoes were just OK and the sauce really didn't add much to the flavor.

In addition to the tomato and mozzarella salad, we tried the pumpkin soup, toasted cheese and garlic bread, minestrone with orzo pasta, and the baked ziti.

The pumpkin soup was delicious, however it was too sweet for my palate.  I loved the soup, don't get me wrong, but I just couldn't finish a whole cup, due to the sweetness and richness of the flavor.

I could not understand why they brought us two spoons for the pumpkin soup.  Although we were sharing everything amongst the entire table, this was the only item that came with two utensils.  Notice anything different about this view of the cup of soup? (Hint: HM)

Although called Toasted Cheese and Garlic Bread on the menu, this item was really more like bruschetta on toasted cheese garlic bread.  It was amazing!!

The Minestrone with Orzo Pasta was the better of the two soups (only two are available at Tony's Town Square -- the minestrone and a seasonal; pumpkin for our visit).  Deep, rich flavor and the orzo added bulk and texture to a fantastic soup.

The baked ziti was the best dish of the meal!  Amazingly flavorful marinara sauce, lots of pasta and meat -- it was more than I could finish and that's saying something.

I did not particularly like the crostini you see pictured with the ziti.  It was VERY hard (crispy) and didn't add any flavor or dimension to the dish.

The restaurant provides a very comfortable environment without a whole lot of fancy decorations.  Pretty simple and plain, overall.  There was a beautiful fountain in the center of the restaurant.

The "Lady and the Tramp" theme carried throughout the restaurant, even to the restrooms.

The restaurant also looks out over the "Town Square" at Magic Kingdom with a great view of the park and you could see part of the parade, if you're eating during one of the parades.

While we visited, they had the restaurant decorated for Halloween, which really added some needed flair to the restaurant.

Here's a pic of a booth seat in the restaurant.

Overall, the food was very good at Tony's Town Square.  Would I go back?  Not to say never, no, but it's not likely.  It's good Italian food, but nothing real out-of-the-ordinary.  It's all stuff you could get at pretty much any decent Italian restaurant and probably for much less money.  If I'm going to pay Disney prices for dining, I expect something I couldn't just cook up at home or get at the local "mom-and-pop" Italian joint.

Disney also has a ton of superb restaurants that would make my list long before Tony's.  Also, the ambiance, design (or lack thereof), and character needs a little updating and pizazz.  It's a bit plain and dated.  I feel like the Imagineer's sort of stopped midway through the plan.

If you're in the mood for Italian in the Magic Kingdom, I'm sure you'll love Tony's, just don't expect much more than an average Italian restaurant.  If you want some really good food, interesting dishes, and better theming, try Mama Melrose in Disney's Hollywood Studios.

]]> http://www.guide2disney.com/blog/2009/11/04/tonys-town-square-restaurant-review/feed/ 2 http://www.guide2disney.com/blog/2009/04/14/tren-d-grand-opening/ http://www.guide2disney.com/blog/2009/04/14/tren-d-grand-opening/#comments Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:11:12 +0000 admin http://www.guide2disney.com/blog/?p=422

Last Friday, Downtown Disney's newest store, Tren D, had their grand opening.  The store has trendy fashions for women, all with that slight Disney touch.

As you walk in, you notice the amazing chandeliers hanging from the central ceiling that seem to go on, forever!

There are 85 of these beauties hanging from the ceiling!

I also noticed a LOT of hidden Mickey's in the store.  I was only able to make a quick search, so I'm sure there's more to be found, but here's just a small sampling.

First Hidden Mickey I Found In Tren D

This One's Questionable - Can You Spot It?

These, Too Are A Bit Shaky - Still Cool, Nonetheless

My Favorite One - Do You See Him?

The store also had some great art on the ceiling, including my personal favorite.

..and some Tren D ladies...

The store was very popular with the wife, so I'm sure we'll be spending a lot of our Downtown Disney time in this new shop.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Downtown Disney's newest store?  What did you think?

]]> http://www.guide2disney.com/blog/2009/04/14/tren-d-grand-opening/feed/ 0 http://www.guide2disney.com/blog/2009/03/13/happy-birthday-donald-duck/ http://www.guide2disney.com/blog/2009/03/13/happy-birthday-donald-duck/#comments Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:18:21 +0000 admin http://www.guide2disney.com/blog/?p=413

Today, Donald Duck celebrates his 75th birthday!  However, there seems to be some discussion as to whether this is Donald's birthday or whether his film debut should be his birthday.  What we celebrate, today, seems to be a combination of the two.

Donald Duck first appeared in the Disney short, The Wise Little Hen in 1934 (hence, the 75 years):

In Happy Birthday, Donald, his birthday is cited as March 13th:

So, between the two dates, we have today as Donald's 75th birthday! The number 13 shows up throughout Donald's film history, including his birthday being mentioned as "Friday the 13th" in The Three Cabelleros. In Donald Gets Drafted, his draft order number is 13 and the recruiting station is number 13.

It's said that this would account for Donald's bad luck in almost all of his appearances and could even turn into a game or challenge like the Hidden Mickeys.  How many times can you spot the number 13 in Donald's appearances?

Technically, the new TRex restaurant at Downtown Disney Marketplace only has one hidden Mickey, shown below.  However, I found one in the Coral Room made out of coral that I believe is an unofficial hidden Mickey.

I don't believe this is just an "accident."  This coral is clearly shaped like a Mickey.  What you think?