Do you remember your first Disney Ear Hat? My first ear hat was royal blue with my name embroidered in yellow on the back. I got it during my first trip to Florida in the early 1980s. The classic Mickey Mouse ear hat has evolved over the years since it was seen on “The Mickey Mouse Club” television show in the 1950s. I’m excited to share that Disney Ear Hats is soon to receive a whole helping of awesomeness with the introduction of hats inspired by classic characters. This will be one of the largest introductions of new ear hat styles at one time. I shared a first look at the one of these hats – Figment – this past May. Most of the remaining character hats will arrive in mid- to late early-September at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort; they will be sold via the Disney Parks Online Store in October. I visited Mark Seppala, Disney Design Group artist and recent Walt Disney Legacy Award recipient for Disney Theme Park Merchandise, to learn about the evolution of these new hats.
“We started with a simple question,” explained Mark. “We wondered what a character would look like if it was reduced to its DNA. Each character has a unique color pallet and shape which later became the basis for design. If you were 10 or 20 feet away from the hat, you would immediately recognize a certain character.”
The first generation of this hat was introduced several years ago and featured Mickey Mouse’s red pants, yellow buttons and mouse tail. Megan Kachur, Product Developer for Ear Hats, said this hat was part of the “Best of Mickey” program.
“The ‘Best of Mickey’ hat became the model for the other classic character hats,” said Megan. “Each of the Fab Five hats, such as Minnie Mouse or Goofy, contains common features like bold colors, character icons, elegant fabric and a velour trim. I think Pluto is adorable, yet I also think the Donald Duck hat is fun because of his tail feathers.”
I think my favorite hat is Dumbo. I had some fun photographing these hats at Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios during one summer afternoon. I asked Megan why some hats had faces.
“Mark drew two different versions of the hats, one with eyes and one without,” continued Megan. “Eyes were kept for Dumbo, Tinker Bell and Cheshire Cat as they looked better with the face. We specifically kept Dumbo’s eyes as they are essential to his character design. We felt Woody was far more interesting with colors and shapes.”
Megan said that additional hats will arrive later this fall including Cinderella (complete with “glass” slipper) and an update to the Jack Skellington hat. Megan also told me she worked closely with the operations team at The Chapeau in Magic Kingdom Park to ensure the hats could have embroidery added.
“Getting a personalized ear hat is like a rite of passage at Disney,” laughed Megan. “It was critical to make these new hats embroidery friendly. I can’t wait to see them on guests this coming fall!”
Can’t get enough of Disney Parks’ Ear Hats? See more in the posts below:
Comments
Steven–
Today the newly released Bolt 9″ Vinylmation figure sold out VERY Early at D-Street in Anaheim. Do you happen to know if Disney will be selling the figure online? Or if any more will arrive at D-Street in Anaheim?
@Fred – My apologies for the delayed response. The 9-inch figure featuring Bolt was released via the Disney Parks online store on September 9. There are no more units planned to arrive for D-Street in California. I invite you to visit this page on Vinylmation.com for a release calendar:
http://eventservices.disney.go.com/static/vinylmation/events.html
OMgosh, I want them all!! We are going to be there at the end of September/beginning of October, I hope they are out by then!!
@Cori – Great news! These ear hats arrived early in California and Florida. As of the last weekend in August, they were in several locations at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. I know I saw them at World of Disney in Florida this afternoon.
OMG! These are fantastic! Please tell me that you are going to have a Stitch!!!! I LOVE Stitch. Coming your way in October, must have one….
Are these available in sizes for both children and adults? I think these would be fun for the whole family during our upcoming WDW family reunion, but we will have 3 small children (toddler and preschool age) with us. Will there be ears small enough for them? I already know that Dumbo would be a big hit with my preschooler.
@Bianca – There is only one size for these hats. Depending on the size of your children, they should fit. I know they have fit my son’s head.
Oh these are SO cute! I’ll have to order some for the kids’ “SANTA” gift of their trip to Disney. I have to say that 2 years ago when we went I was a bit disappointed in the hats, the kids weren’t interested at all. THESE they will like… now, which ones to pick? Great job, really cute.
Love them!!!
So cute!
they need more Chip n Dale merchandise, maybe hats would be a start (yeah was kinda disappointed when I was there 2 weeks ago at the lack of Chip n Dale stuff….they’re too cute!!)
Where’s the Tigger hat!!!???? They GOTTA make Tigger!!! I will SOOOOO buy one of those!!
Love THEM!!
But Where are Buzz and Stitch
Stitch is a natural with his ears
Love them all
I think I’m going to need the Dumbo and Minnie ears. Not that I need any more since I have close to 10.
I’m very glad they made sure the designs will allow them to be embroidered. That was a design issue with the pirate ears causing the name to be placed on the eye patch which I think looks bad. Good planning!
Hi Steve. I love your blogs on the Mouse Ears. I am excited everytime a new Mouse Ears design is released. You see, I wear Mouse Ears all day everyday…to the market, meeting with the kids’ teachers, driving down the road…I even wear them to other Orlando theme Parks. I have to live up to my name “Mouse Ears Missy”! I’m a huge fan of the Make Your Own Ears…any plans to expand on this line?
@Missy – Thank you for the comment. The “Make Your Own” brand for Disney Ear Hats has actually been discontinued. It was a good experience but the Ear Hat team felt it was time to try something new (hence this article 🙂 You can still add personalization to hats though.
Thank you so much for this preview! This would have been the type of thing that, upon first sight, would have caused me to squeal and pass out from the level of cuteness. NOW I can contain myself because I’ll already know which ones I need to own when I see them. 🙂
I love the Dumbo hat! I think Dumbo deserves more credit for his place in Disney history after WWII.
I would love to see a Buzz Lightyear hat! You can’t have Woody without Buzz. I’m “ear” marking some of my money now to add these hats to my collection!
I love the new ear hats.My favorite is Dumbo to go with our new Fantasyland.I cannot wait to show our guests.
I am so excited about not only the new “ears” hats but the ornaments as well. My husband and I have a trip planned to purchase them. My question: Are they going to be available
in Disneyland? I know there are times when merchandise is
only allocated for DisneyWorld, I am hoping the hat ornaments
are not the case. Thank you for keeping us in the loop, I envy
your job!
@Ginny – Thanks for the comments. The hats will be released at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. The only exception will be Figment which will only be found in Florida (since he “lives” at Epcot). Of course, these hats will also be sold via the Disney Parks online store starting in October – http://www.DisneyParks.com/Store
These are adorable. I hope whoever thought of this gets a gold star for the day! Great job! I just hope they continue making other characters.
@Lisa – Just wait … all sorts of fun hats are on the way. I know I’ve seen a Lion King themed one and a Tower of Terror hat that looks like the bellhop costume.
These hats are adorable! I love them! I had a Goofy hat on my first trip to WDW when I was 7 (I am now 30). WDW just keeps getting better!
Minie for DD, Woody for DS, Donald for DH & Tink for me!! I hope these stick around for a while, they’re fantastic!
About the updated Jack Skellington hat, how about making it of Jack as Sandy Claws?
These are really adorable! But, call me a sentimentalist or purist, but I will always stick to the basic black ears. What can I say, they’re slimming!!
These are so cute!!! I want the whole set, but am definately going to have to find a Donald one for my DD!
Very cool, although I wish they had an XL size for the ears! I guess my brain is just too big, because none of the ears fit me well!
Since there is a Woody one, will there be a Buzz Lightyear one as well?
@Ashley – I spoke with Megan who said that at this time there are not plans for a Buzz Lightyear hat. That may change if fans like the first round of hats (which it appears from the comments, people do 🙂
Oh I already have three different hats here I’ve gotta find more room now I love so many of them!
I want the GOOFY one!!!
Oh thanks goodness I’ll be able to get the Cheshire Cat hat on my trip to the World this October! I am over the moon excited 😀
All the hats are quite fabulously designed, if I wasn’t such a Wonderland nut I’d have a hard time choosing which to get.
ahh yes the Mickey hat. I have not yet gotten mine. Last year my family did their hats and will probly do them again this year. I’m going to get mine done this year as well. its like a rite of passage :).. Oh Disney how I will see you in 5 weeks. 🙂
Ahhhh, man, those are so fun and different! Kuddos to whomever came up with these fun ears! I can’t wait to hit Disney World next year but however will I choose?!?!?!
These ears are so cute!
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