Happy birthday Mickey and Minnie! Today we celebrate the film debut of the world’s most magical mice! Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse showed up on the big screen for the very first time on November 18, 1928 with Walt Disney’s “Steamboat Willie” cartoon short. Today, they are celebrating 92 “ears” of bringing joy and smiles on film and tv and in Disney theme parks around the globe.

Facts About Mickey Mouse

Did you know that “Steamboat Willie” wasn’t actually the first Walt Disney short to feature Mickey Mouse? While it was the first to be played in a theater, “Plane Crazy” was technically the very first Mickey Mouse cartoon, and his name was almost Mortimer Mouse… but Walt’s wife Lily thought Mickey would be better name, so Walt decided to go with Mickey instead.

Walt also provided the voice for Mickey until the late 1940s, but audiences wouldn’t hear Mickey talk until 1929 in “The Karnival Kid” – about one year after Steamboat Willie. You can learn even more about the history of Mickey Mouse in “Fifteen Fun Facts For Mickey Mouse’s Birthday” on Disney Parks Blog!

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In honor of Mickey and Minnie’s big birthday, here’s some of our favorite photos from all around Walt Disney World, including Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and a few from Disney resort hotels!

Happy Birthday Mickey and Minnie! Thanks for 92 years of smiles, laughter, and fun!

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