Top 10 Easter Eggs in Disney Movies

At the beginning of this satirical fairytale, the animated maiden Giselle is nearly devoured by a hungry troll. Fortunately, Prince Edward and Pip the chipmunk save the damsel in distress. While the troll doesn’t gobble up Giselle, a subtle Easter egg suggests that he’s probably eaten a few other princesses. The troll’s loincloth is comprised of iconic dresses that belonged to Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, and Belle. His earrings are also shells from Ariel’s bikini, hinting that he had a hankering for seafood. Could it be that this troll ate some of our favorite Disney princesses? That almost sounds like something out of “Shrek.” Come to think of it, the troll does share a resemblance to the green ogre…

If you want to catch every hidden reference in “Wreck-It Ralph,” you’re going to be up all night. As Ralph makes his way through Game Central Station, numerous video game characters can be seen in the background. However, a couple Disney characters make cameos as well. Both Maximus and Vladimir from “Tangled” pop up, along with Tiny the T-Rex from “Meet the Robinsons.” In another scene, you can spot a paper from the Oscar-winning short “Paperman,” which coincidentally accompanied “Wreck-It Ralph” during its theatrical run. Does this mean that all of these Disney characters are actually part of the arcade universe? Maybe they’re just lining up to appear in “Kingdom Hearts III.”

As the title suggests, “One Hundred and One Dalmatians” has no shortage of canine characters. Since the film packs in so many dogs, you likely never noticed that several “Lady and the Tramp” characters make appearances. When their fifteen puppies are dognapped, Pongo and Perdita use the Twilight Bark to spread the word. Jock the Scottish terrier is one of the first pooches to receive this news. The gossip eventually reaches a pet store where Peg the Pekingese resides. Even the eponymous Lady and Tramp get in on the action, although they’re both draped in darkness. It’s a dog eat dog world out there. At least these Disney dogs are looking out for each other, though.

“Lilo & Stitch” and “Mulan” might seem like two completely different Disney movies. However, these animated features share a similar theme regarding the bonds of family. In order to protect her father during wartime, Mulan must disguise herself as a man. When her mom and dad die in a car crash, Nani must act as a parental figure to her little sister Lilo. Both Mulan and Nani find themselves taking on roles they weren’t prepared for. Yet, both of these strong women ultimately keep their families together. Because of this, it makes sense that Nani would have an inspirational “Mulan” poster hanging in her room. It wouldn’t be surprising if Mulan Wok turned out to be her favorite restaurant too.

In the midst of a case, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde interrogate a petty criminal named Duke Weaselton. This crooked weasel makes a living selling bootleg DVDs, all of which sendup other CGI Disney movies. In addition to “Pig Hero 6,” “Wrangled,” and “Wreck-it Rhino,” Weaselton has copies of Disney movies that haven’t even come out yet. There’s “Meowana,” “Giraffic,” and “Floatzen 2,” mimicking the upcoming “Moana,” “Gigantic,” and “Frozen 2,” respectively. On top of those ingenious in-jokes, the voice behind Duke Weaselton is Alan Tudyk, who also played the Duke of Weselton in “Frozen.” Elsa might not be around to ice this weasel, but Mr. Big is.

Quasimodo wants nothing more than to leave his sanctuary and explore the outside world. As the lonely hunchback observes the streets of Paris, we’re treated to three awesome Easter eggs in the blink of an eye. With her nose stuck in a book, Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” seemingly wandered away from her provincial French village and arrived at Notre Dame. She walks right by a peasant who appears to be holding Aladdin’s Magic Carpet. We also get a glimpse of two men carrying a warthog, which looks suspiciously like Pumbaa from “The Lion King.” Speaking of Pumbaa, he makes another cameo in the form of a gargoyle as Quasimodo and Frollo fight atop the cathedral. But where’s Timon?

Believe it or not, it’s possible that “Hercules” and “The Lion King” took place around the same time period. During the Battle for Pride Rock, the treacherous Scar falls to his demise and is ripped to shreds by his hyena minions. What happened to Scar’s remains? Well, look no further than Hercules’ lion skin. It appears Zazu was right; Scar would make a very handsome throw rug. If that’s not enough to blow your mind, it’s also possible that the Muses from “Hercules” was inspired by the singing busts from the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland. In any case, there’s no denying that “Hercules” has plenty of clever Easter eggs to go around.

Elsa’s coronation attracts royalty from all over the Wonderful World of Disney. As the guards open up the gates, you can clearly see Rapunzel and Flynn Rider from “Tangled” among the countless guests. If you look closely, you’ll also notice Tiana and Naveen from “The Princess and the Frog” in the assorted crowd. Anna doesn’t interact with any of these characters, although she does run into the hunky Prince Hans. While Hans looks like a dream come true, he turns out to be a nightmare. Maybe that’s why he winds up on a wanted poster in “Big Hero 6,” which came out one year after “Frozen.”

At the time of its release, “Aladdin” was quite possibly the most self-aware Disney movie ever made. So as you can imagine, this animated comedy works in a ton of references and in-jokes. In one instance, a Beast figurine can be found among the Sultan’s tower of toys. (xref) Yet, the film’s funniest Easter egg comes courtesy of the Genie, as he looks over a recipe for Alaskan king crab. Sebastian from “The Little Mermaid” subsequently pops up, clamping down on Genie’s finger. The song “Under the Sea” is briefly played in the background as well. Seeing how Ron Clements and John Musker directed both “Aladdin” and “The Little Mermaid,” this cameo must’ve been too appetizing to resist.

Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

Tick-Tock the Crocodile
“A Goofy Movie” (1995)

‘The Jungle Book’ and ‘Toy Story 2’ Banners
“Meet the Robinsons” (2007)

Shadow Jack Skellington
“The Princess and the Frog” (2009)

Madam Mim Face
“The Princess and the Frog” (2009)

“Rapunzel” and “Little Mermaid” Books
“The Princess and the Frog” (2009)

Mrs. Potts and Chip
“Tarzan” (1999)

When people think of Disney, Mickey Mouse immediately comes to mind. Thus, it’s only natural that the company’s mascot would make cameos in various movies. Over the years, Mickey has dropped by the Powerline concert in “A Goofy Movie.” He’s visited King Triton’s palace, along with Donald Duck and Goofy. There’s also a Mickey doll for sale at the trading post in “Frozen.” You can additionally find the Mickey Mouse icon hidden in many locations, such as the library from “Beauty and the Beast.” A few characters have even sprouted Mickey Mouse ears, including Rajah from “Aladdin.” You’ll need to pause your screen to spot every Mickey. Whenever he pops up, though, we’re reminded that it all started with a mouse.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite Disney Easter egg? For more entertaining Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.