We Bet You’ve Never Seen This Giant Hidden Mickey Before

Are you really a Walt Disney World fan if you haven’t spotted at least one Hidden Mickey? 

Guests can spot Hidden Mickeys all around the Disney Parks. Mickey Mouse has such a recognizable shape that he has become the ideal character for Disney Imagineers to disguise around the Walt Disney World Resort. Mickey head shapes can be found in theme park attractions, hotels, carpets, restrooms, pavements…the list goes on!

And if you’ve ever stayed at or visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – located near Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park – then you may have spotted this huge, rarely spotted giant Hidden Mickey.

Where is the Giant Hidden Mickey Located?

The beautiful Disney Deluxe Resort is made up of two distinct areas, Jambo House and Kidani Village. Both sides of the hotel participate in the Disney Vacation Club (DVC), with a wide range of accommodations available, ranging from a standard hotel room to an expansive 3-bedroom villa.

Jiko—The Cooking Place is a Disney Signature Dining restaurant located in Jambo House and features African-style cooking with influences from the Mediterranean coast, India, and Europe. Jiko means “a cooking place” in Swahili, thus the restaurant’s subtitle “The Cooking Place”.

We thought we’d seen all the biggest Hidden Mickeys located at the Walt Disney World Resort, across Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and Disney hotels.

Disney rides such as Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and the Jungle Cruise all feature some fun Hidden Mickeys, but we were in for a surprise at our first dining experience at the wonderful Jiko.

Related: Family Spots Once In A Lifetime Hidden Mickey at Hollywood Studios

Can you spot the giant Hidden Mickey yet?

The Disney signature restaurant was designed by Disney Imagineer Jeffrey Beers and draws inspiration from an African lodge. The color palette is made up of earth tones, with subtly changing light mimicking the warm red, orange, and gold tones of an African sunset.

The dining room surrounds an open kitchen which includes twin wood-burning stoves. The high-end Disney dining location, in fact, has its own “jiko” in the center area of the restaurant. You can actually sit and watch the chefs as they prepare flatbreads, all while you wait for your dinner!

How about now? Can you see the Mickey ears or Mickey face hidden in the restaurant?

Jiko is home to our favorite mac and cheese at Walt Disney World: the Bobotie Mac & Cheese, an “enhancement” (side dish) that mixes four cheeses, spiced beef, almonds, raisins, kachumbari, and a red wine reduction.

Guests can also enjoy delicious appetizer menu items such as Jiko Salad, Scallops and Moroccan Snails, and their famous Duck Confit and Honey-Raisin Flatbread.

Entrees include Oak-grilled Filet Mignon, Cocoa-crusted Venison Loin, Botswanan Seswaa Short Rib, and Seafood Tagine.

Now, back to that Hidden Mickey.

There it is! According to Disney Cast Members, this is the largest Hidden Mickey found indoors at the Walt Disney World Resort and can go unnoticed.

The tops of the wood-burning ovens join together to form a giant Hidden Mickey that many guests during our dinner experience at the Animal Kingdom Lodge restaurant didn’t even see until it was pointed out.

It’s definitely a fun, magical discovery in a location that emulates so much of African culture.

Related: We’ve Ranked The Table Service Restaurants At Disney’s Deluxe Resorts

Note that this is a Disney Signature Dining experience, thus guests are expected to dress accordingly in attire that respects the restaurant’s sophisticated and upscale aesthetic. Clothing should be clean, neat, and in good condition, with no swimwear.

Other Dining Options at Animal Kingdom Lodge

Guests staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge hotel have an array of choices when it comes to dining.

Located near Jiko, Cape Town Lounge and Wine Bar features a huge variety of African wines, along with hand-crafted cocktails and beer. The fan-favorite buffet restaurant Boma—Flavors of Africa is also located in Jambo House and offers African-style cooking for breakfast and dinner from fifty different African countries.

Of course, we can’t mention Jiko without talking about Sanaa, another upscale dining location at Animal Kingdom Lodge found in the Kidani Village, overlooking the savanna. This Disney restaurant draws its inspiration from the cuisines along the historical spice route of Africa, India, China, and Europe.

Also available is The Mara, a quick-service dining location with a mix of American and African food, while Victoria Falls Lounge is a great place to relax with a drink after a theme park day. Both the pools at Jambo House and Kidani Village have pool bars too – Uzima Springs Pool Bar and the Maji Pool Bar at Samawati Springs. “Maji” translates to water in Swahili.

Next time you visit Walt Disney World in Florida, be sure to stay on the lookout for this giant Hidden Mickey Mouse that may have escaped you!