Top 20 Hidden Easter Eggs in Disney Movies

Following the sound of a gunshot, Bambi makes it home while his mother is nowhere to be found. It’s the last we ever see of Bambi’s mother… at least in that movie. Bambi’s mom has lived on in several other Disney movies, but you’d need a hunter’s sharp eye to spot her. A deer resembling Bambi’s mother can be found in the opening of “Beauty and the Beast” and the “Someone’s Waiting for You” number from “The Rescuers.” Kay hunts a similar-looking deer in “The Sword in the Stone” and Shere Khan preys upon a doe in “The Jungle Book,” although they thankfully miss their targets. Given how traumatizing her death was, knowing that she may still be out there eases the pain a little.

In 2002, Disney released two animated films rooted in sci-fi. Both films also had a certain blue alien in common. We all know that Experiment 626 played a prominent role in “Lilo & Stitch,” but his cameo in “Treasure Planet” may’ve flown under your radar. As a young Jim Hawkins is tucked in by his mother, you’ll find a variety of otherworldly toys on his bedroom shelves. One of his playthings is a Stitch doll, which appears suited up for intergalactic travel. Montressor isn’t the only planet that Stitch merchandise has invaded. In “Big Hero 6,” Hiro’s cat Mochi can be seen wearing a Stitch outfit in a photo. Fred not only has a Stitch pillow, but one modeled after Splodyhead, aka Experiment 619, as well.

At the beginning of “Tangled,” we see that Rapunzel has been rereading the same books for the past eighteen years. When she finally leaves her tower, Rapunzel is not only opened up to new experiences, but a library of new books as well. Three classic fairy tales that inspired Disney movies are on display: “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “Sleeping Beauty.” Aside from being a princess, Rapunzel has a few things in common with the protagonists of these stories. Like Ariel, she wishes to get out from under a parent’s thumb and be where the people are. Like Aurora, she’s been hidden away for most of her life. Like Belle, she’s eager for adventure and can easily get lost in a good book.

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?

“The Princess and the Frog” marked Ron Clements and John Musker’s return to Disney feature animation. So, it only makes sense that the directing duo would throw in a few references to their previous films. During the “Down in New Orleans” number, a character from a whole other world makes a sneaky cameo. As you can tell from its pattern, the rug being shaken out over the balcony is none other than Aladdin’s Magic Carpet. Carpet seems to be full of dust… or maybe that’s sand from its last adventure in Agrabah. Later, as Mama Odie is telling our heroes to dig a little deeper, she digs out the Genie’s magic lamp. You know, Tiana and Naveen could’ve just used that to become human again.

As Tarzan’s jungle friends stumble upon The Porters’ camp, they find themselves surrounded by modern innovations. Among their belongings is a tea set, which includes a white and purple teapot, as well as a chipped teacup. Where Mrs. Potts and Chip were full of life, however, these domestic objects appear to be devoid of life. Maybe it’s like in the “Beauty and the Beast” remake where if the Enchantress’ spell isn’t broken, the castle servants all become permanently inanimate. If that’s the case, then “Tarzan” may be a much darker film than we initially realized.

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.

During their childhood, Elsa conjures up a snowy Enchanted Forest for her and Anna to play with. The playset comes complete with a few icy dolls, although one looks like he belongs in San Fransokyo rather than Arendelle. Although he can easily be mistaken for another snowman, true Disney fans will notice Baymax’s distinctive marshmallow-like physique. Granted, we’re not entirely sure what a high-tech robot is doing in a fairytale setting like this. Then again, Elsa is kind of a superhero, what with her ice powers and mysterious origin story. So, maybe a “Frozen” crossover with “Big Hero 6” isn’t as far fetched as it sounds. Elsa also made an elephant snow doll with oversized ears. Definitely a dead ringer for Dumbo.

“Zootopia” was made just as much for adults as it was for kids. As such, the writers snuck in a few references exclusively for older audiences. During their investigation, Judy and Nick infiltrate a secret lab where a suspicious sheep is wearing a yellow jumpsuit while whipping up a blue serum. If you’ve seen “Breaking Bad,” it’s impossible not to make the connection to Heisenberg's illegal operation. Given the similarities, the filmmakers couldn’t resist throwing in a nod to the AMC series. The chemist is in cahoots with two others named Jesse and Woolter… no, not Walter, Woolter… get it, because they’re rams! At test screenings, the directors always looked forward to hearing adults laugh at this joke while the kiddies were none the wiser.

Moana and Maui run into a few familiar faces on high seas, although most of them blend into the background. It’s hard to tell because there are so many, but one Kakamora modeled its mask after Baymax. When Maui attempts to turn himself into a giant hawk, he instead takes the form of several other animals, including a certain reindeer. In addition to Sven, Olaf is a long way away from Arendelle. While the snowman himself doesn’t appear, some of his body parts are visible as Moana loads up her raft before departing from Motunui. Beside his stick arms, Olaf’s carrot nose is in a basket with other fruits and veggies. Does this mean that Olaf melted? If so, remember that water has memory.

It’s no wonder Maurice and Phillipe got lost in the woods. We couldn’t read the words on those smeared signs either, at least not at first. Upon further inspection, you’ll see that Maurice was even further off course than he thought. Ramona, Saugus, Newhall, Valencia, and Anaheim are written on the signs, meaning that Maurice somehow ended up on route to Southern California. Many Disney animators live around these areas and Disneyland is even located in Anaheim. We guess that means Sleeping Beauty’s castle is only a short trip away from the Beast’s castle. Indeed, it’s a small world after all.

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 had yet to come out at the time of “Zootopia”’s release. There’s “Meowana,” “Floatzen 2,” and “Giraffic,” mimicking the then-upcoming “Moana,” “Frozen 2,” and the now-cancelled “Gigantic,” 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.

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 may 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. 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.

At the beginning of this satirical fairy tale, 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…

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” were inspired by the singing busts from the Haunted Mansion ride at the Disney parks. In any case, there’s no denying that “Hercules” has plenty of clever Easter eggs to go around.

This movie has too many awesome easter eggs to count, although the best can be found in the Oh My Disney sequence. Even then, you’d need to freeze every frame to fully appreciate the attention to detail. This scene is a love letter to everything Pixar, Marvel, “Star Wars,” Muppets, and of course Disney. For anyone who’s ever dreamed of seeing Dumbo soar through the sky with Iron Man, Judy Hopps chatting with Rocket Raccoon, or all the Disney princesses in one place, this scene has you covered. You’ll also find Mickey, Stormtroopers, EVE, Baymax, Buzz Lightyear, Baby Groot, Humphrey the Bear, Ranger Woodlore, R2-D2, Nick Wilde, Grumpy, Peter Pan’s shadow, Tinkerbell, and Heihei, amongst others. There’s even room for a Stan Lee cameo.

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. Though he’s not sitting with them, the Muppets’ Kermit the frog is also part of this underwater audience. 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.