2012 Hidden Mickey Update - By Steven Miller

A new year means that a new series of Hidden Mickey pins will soon be released at Disney Parks. Some of you may recall that cast members use these specially designed pins when trading with guests. Each pin measures approximately 1.25 inches and contains a small Mickey Mouse icon in the art (hence the name). This is the first year I haven’t been directly involved with creating them so I spoke with Julie Young, long-time developer of Disney pins, to find out what we could expect.

“My inspiration for this year’s collection came from a variety of sources,” explained Julie. “I looked at previous collections, listened to feedback from pin trading fans and found some really cool artwork. My goal was creating two unique pin collections that guests would enjoy trading for when visiting [Disney Parks].”

Similar to the 2011 collection, there will be two different waves introduced at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. The first wave is due to arrive in late January, while the second wave will arrive later in the summer – keep watching DisneyPins.com for an official release date.

One of my favorite series from the 2012 collection is the Zodiac signs, which will be a shared series on both coasts. Zodiac pins were sold in the early days of trading but I always thought they would make a great Hidden Mickey pin series (high-five to all Virgos!).

Julie also shared some of her favorite pins.
“For Disneyland Resort, I love the colorful sea creatures from The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure attraction,” said Julie. “Walt Disney Imagineer Larry Nikolai provided me with the artwork. For Walt Disney World Resort, I like the paint cans. They were once a design concept from Disney Design Group for retail pins. I thought they would work better as Hidden Mickey Pins. I guess I really like color this year [laughs].”

For this first wave, there will be 30 unique pins for Disneyland Resort and 35 unique pins for Walt Disney World Resort (plus the 12 shared Zodiac pins). Julie also selected a handful of pins from these first waves to be released as silver-colored chasers (I included examples in the images above). The chasers are released randomly to cast members for trading.

I need the Casey Jr. Circus Train.

Love the Zodiac pins! Thanks for sharing these

Sadly, nothing really is catching my eye for this wave... Possibly just want mine and my gf's zodiac signs, but that's about it.

ohs I like the zodiacs ^_^! Interesting characters they have picked for them ^_^!

love the new pins!

I want the zodiac and casey jr. train!

Like Julie, I really like the colors of all the pins this year.

I *need* those Disney attraction ones (Storybookland, etc.), but not sure about the Zodiac ones. I really question some of their choices of characters for each sign, I don't think I want my sign (Scorpio--Chessie with with his tail, AND a scorpion tail just stuck on there? Huh?). Gemini, Cancer, Pisces, Leo...spot on! Scorpio, Taurus, Aries...ehhh, not so much.

The other pins have nice designs, but nothing I feel a major urge to collect.

I like the Zodiac and the new icon series with the casey jr., storybook, and dumbo sign. Should be a fun year, but I feel the same way about not feeling the urge to collect them.

The checklists for "wave A" at both parks are now posted on ODPT.COM.

Unless something new comes out just the tiana for me the rest is eh...

I really love the WDW compass pins and the DL Fantasyland icon pins. I just love it when they pull from the more obscure things in the park like Ice and Lagoona Gator.

Hope they have some cool pins planned for Wave B. lol

Unpopular opinion here but I like the paint cans. :dunno:

Stitch must be the completer for the DLR crest set! I saw a pic of that on a blog somewhere. :hsd:

disneyland

Not sure I love the DLR ones - but I do like the perfume bottles and paint cans from world . . . .

Saw the checklists - Chasers are even listed on the checklists - its about time . . . .

I'm not a hidden mickey collector but I will be wanting the pisces pin (go pisces ) and the phil one because Hercules pins are hard to find! Thanks for posting

disneypins.com has the full list for both coasts and also pin releases for february up

The only ones I would want is Cancer (me), Pisces (my fiancé), and the stitch paint can. If anyone wants to help me when those three do come out I would appreciate it.

I do really like the little mermaid undersea band set if anyone would like to help me get them?? not fussed about the completer pin though!! ;-)

I'm still way behind on 2011 Wave B! I have annual passes to DLR and go 3 or 4 times a month. How is anyone supposed to get all of these things? Geez.

Yes i just saw the DLR stuff no hunting pins for me then i can relax for now..

markheardjr said:

I'm still way behind on 2011 Wave B! I have annual passes to DLR and go 3 or 4 times a month. How is anyone supposed to get all of these things? Geez.

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Which ones do you need?

Don't worry. I haven't been started on Wave A of the DLR pins let alone star on Wave B.

markheardjr said:

I'm still way behind on 2011 Wave B! I have annual passes to DLR and go 3 or 4 times a month. How is anyone supposed to get all of these things? Geez.

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