Vote of the week: Mickey Mouse ears, yes or no?

November 11, 2011, 3:11 PM · So, when you visit Walt Disney World or Disneyland, do you ever buy yourself a pair of these?

Mickey ears

Mouseketeer ears might be the most well-known of all Disney theme park souvenirs. When Laurie and I made an impromptu roadtrip from Bloomington, Indiana to Orlando while in graduate school, we brought back mouseketeer ears for our friends to prove we'd really made the trip. (This was back in the day when embroidered names were free, so we made sure to have the ears personalized, too.)

And when Universal wanted to smack Disney with its then-new Jurassic Park ride, it included a pair of floating mouseketeer ears in the splashdown pool. With a dino-bite out of one ear, of course.

But not everyone loves the Mickey Mouse ears. Let's face it, it's not like a branded baseball or knit cap. If you're rocking the mouse ears, you're trying to draw attention to yourself in a way that "normal" hats never deliver.

So are you a mouse ears person, or not?


If you are, please tell us in the comments which of the many, many varieties of mouse ears (Kermit? Lightning McQueen? R2D2?) you prefer these days. Thank you, as always, for reading Theme Park Insider - and have a great weekend!

Replies (18)

November 11, 2011 at 7:25 PM · Sadly, I have a fat head so the darn ears don't fit properly. If I could wear them effectively, I'm sure I'd have a few pair.

It's the same reason I can't get one of those awesome viking helmets in Norway.

November 11, 2011 at 10:06 PM · I only wear it at DIsney Parks! Other than that, no.
November 11, 2011 at 10:39 PM · Oh My God YES!

I pretty much only have the "special" ears like Disneyland's 50th and WDW's 40th. My dad got Pluto Ears for the Halloween Party this year. I admit that they have gotten better this year!

November 11, 2011 at 11:26 PM · I only have traditional Mouse Ears ;). However, I have to admit the R2-D2 and Tower of Terror hats look awesome!
November 12, 2011 at 6:16 AM · Stitch ears all the way.
November 12, 2011 at 9:51 AM · We bought some gold ones on our first ever trip to Disneyland. They even stitched our names on them for free. We wore them the day we bought them... Which was the last day... But now they sit in our closets somewhere. They have the 50th anniversary stuff on them.
November 12, 2011 at 10:45 AM · In a disney park yes, outside of them no, but I did once see somebody walk around USF proudly displaying mouseEars while wearing a USF t-shirt....
November 12, 2011 at 12:16 PM · Yes, every member of the family has one. They're really getting creative with these and they're fun to wear in the parks!
November 12, 2011 at 12:39 PM · I got a pair of mouse ears on my first visit to WDW, around 1973-74. I remember pulling them out of a closet some years later and thinking how flimsy and cheap they looked and felt. I don't know that I ever wore them, even at the park. The souvenir I remembered most from that first visit was a toy musket Mom and Dad bought for me at some shop in Liberty Square (?)

Subsequent visits? No, thanks.

November 12, 2011 at 3:25 PM · I currently own 3 pairs of Mickey Mouse ears, and they all have special meaning. The first set of ears that I got were the "Dream" ears with the flashing LEDs. I got them when my then-girlfriend came to visit me during my College Program. We wore them pretty much from the time we got them through the end of her stay, which was the majority of the time.

My second set of ears are my College Program ears that look exactly like the ones pictured, but have a tassel on them. My fellow CPs and I wore them from the time we got them through the end of our CP whenever we came to the park as a guest. I also wore them in the airport on the way home (and found some other CPs heading back to Jersey that way), as well as when heading to baggage claim to greet my Mom and my then-girlfriend who surprised me by showing up.

My third set are the "Graduation Cap" ears that I got when I went back later that year for my College Graduation trip. I would have worm them for a while at the parks, but we raced to get them on our last day and just barely got them embroidered on time to catch the group's bus back to the airport.

I still have all 3 sets of my Mouse Ears hanging in my room, and all three have my name embroidered on them. I wouldn't mind adding to that collection either with some special ears.

November 12, 2011 at 7:11 PM · I like Disney hats, but the ears aren't for me. I've got nothing against them. I just prefer other kinds of hats.
November 12, 2011 at 9:10 PM · Most definitely! I have too many to count between my husband and I. Most recently I bought all of the sports-themed ears and wear them to our local football, basketball and baseball games and I always get a great reaction from everyone.
November 13, 2011 at 8:14 AM · I never owned Mickey Mouse ears in my lifetime, but I owned many t-shirts that I no longer keep up with. Now, I don't buy any souvenirs ever. Waste of money.
November 13, 2011 at 12:30 PM · I have a black headband with sequined black minnie ears on them and a sparkly red bow. I wear them a lot when we go to Disney but sometimes they give me a headache because they're on a headband, so I'd really like to get a hat!
November 14, 2011 at 5:48 AM · Yes, love the ears, but don't think I'd purchase anymore and the two pairs I own, I didn't actually buy in the first place!

The first pair me and my family were awarded whilst queuing up for Soarin' (along with everyone else in our loading bay) - a special edition pair for the Year of a Million Dreams. They are sky blue with fluffy clouds on and the ears are silver. (many people have sinced asked where we got and have they can get them too!)

The second pair are very good quality, navy blue hat with silver ears with a load of bright blue LED lights in them. We rocked up at our villa and found them under one of the beds. When nobody claimed then, I took custody and love wearing them as soon as it gets dark.

I too have mine hanging in the house, in the front room. We have also started a new tradition of all wearing ears when we board the Disney cruise...! Really gets everyone in the spirit (even the male members who initially refused to join in!)

November 14, 2011 at 7:53 AM · My only non Mickey/Minnie are Piglet ears!
Its tradition that I but a new pair each visit. I have approx 20 pairs.
I try to buy souvenir editions too - 40th anniversary etc.

I think my pink leopard print Mickeys ears, and sequin silver Minnie's are my favourites....
I have light up ones too for when the sun goes down....

November 14, 2011 at 1:08 PM · The mouse ears are only featured in USH on Jurassic Park - The Ride. At Islands of Adventure, the same figures are fighting over (I believe) a pop corn bag. There is however a pair of abused mouse ears at USF. Next time you experience Twister: Ride it out, look closely at the spinning tire of the car that has crashed through the roof of the second room of the attraction. There is a pair of mouse ears attached to the wheel. If you are having trouble seeing them, wait till the video starts in that room. The wheel stops spinning as the video begins making them easier to see.
November 15, 2011 at 12:23 PM · No Mouse Ears, but I did buy a Grumpy Santa's Hat for Christmas last year.

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