| In 2002, the WDW Cast Lanyard Collection, now | | | | finding all of the Mickeys that were hidden in each |
| most widely known for its incorporation of Hidden | | | | set, which are indicated by a small, silhouette like |
| Mickey Pins, was introduced as a collection of | | | | Mickey Mouse shape. As Mickey Mouse's head |
| trading pins consisting of various Disney themed | | | | shape had already been incorporated into many |
| characters, attractions, and other icons. This set | | | | Disney theme parks and movies for years and |
| originally consisted of approximately one hundred | | | | had been a growing fad with fans, the addition of |
| pins and encouraged the collecting of and trading | | | | Hidden Mickeys into their trading pins was a |
| of pins throughout the Disney community. Disney | | | | smooth transition. |
| then decided to release a new set of pins each | | | | By 2007, the Hidden Mickeys had become so |
| year, which were showcased as a sneak preview | | | | synonymous with the series, that the Lanyard |
| at the September Event, and eventually officially | | | | Collection was officially renamed the Hidden |
| released a couple of weeks later. | | | | Mickey Collection. Since its inception, the Hidden |
| After two years and two complete sets of | | | | Mickey Collection has annually released a set of |
| Lanyard pins, the designers began to place Mickey | | | | new pins consisting of approximately 75 trading |
| Mouse's silhouettes on the pins, starting with the | | | | pins each. The trading of the pins has even |
| third set in the Lanyard series. These Hidden | | | | reached a point that the new designs often reach |
| Mickey Pins became very popular with guests and | | | | the secondary market before they are even |
| boosted the popularity of the series. Many | | | | officially released. |
| collectors became obsessed with collecting and | | | | |