Hidden Things in Disney Movies

Many rumors exist regarding hidden things in Disney movies. While there are a few jokes, mistakes and coincidences in the films, there is not nearly as much hidden in the movies as popular myths imply.

The Walt Disney Company enjoys harmless and hidden jokes in many of its works. Walt Disney World and Disneyland were specifically designed with lots of hidden treasures, especially Mickey Mouse faces, scattered in the background. However, you'll find many more secrets hidden in one of the theme parks than you will any Disney movie.

Hidden Things in Disney Movies
Considering the many creative people involved in making a Walt Disney movie, it's not surprising that someone with a quirky sense of humor may add a silly background joke during the creation process. When the hidden parts of the movie are not a prank, they're usually a coincidence, mistake or myth.

• In the 1992 movie Aladdin the "Beast" from Beauty and the Beast and Pinocchio are among the toys in the Sultan's toy chest. In the scene where Aladdin asks the genie to make him a prince, the genie pulls Sebastian, the crab from The Little Mermaid, out of a cookbook. The rumor about Aladdin whispering something naughty during a scene on the balcony with Princess Jasmine is merely myth.
• In the 1996 movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame there are many hidden things. The beginning of the movie starts with a pan shot of the city. Careful examination reveals a tiny satellite dish on top of one of the houses. Near the beginning of the movie, there's a shot of the town. Belle, from Beauty and the Beast, walks by with her nose in a book. A merchant shakes out the magic carpet from Aladdin in the same scene.
• In the 1994 movie The Lion King there was a huge fuss about the letters "sex" rising up from the dust. The letters are blurry at best and the existence of the hidden message depends on personal opinion. It's generally believed that the letters are actually "s-f-x," which means "special effects," and were slipped in by a special effects group.
• In the 1989 movie The Little Mermaid the scene where King Triton rides his shell boat into the crowd has many surprises. If you look closely, you can see Goofy, Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse sitting in the crowd. The same scene also has a shadowy figure that looks suspiciously like Kermit the Frog. The famous "phallic" castle spire in the first video release was attributed to a coincidence and Disney changed the art for later releases of the movie.
• In the 1998 release of the 1977 movie The Rescuers there is a blurred picture of a naked woman in a window. The picture could not be seen during normal viewing and only appeared in two, non-consecutive frames. Disney claimed that someone added the pictures in the post-production phase of the video release. The company recalled millions of the tapes and replaced them with edited tapes.