Updated July 2019

Whether you have little ones who love the latest Disney big screen hits, or an adult who still enjoys one of their classics from time to time, The Walt Disney Company has a special place in hearts all over the world. And it all started back in the 1920s, really taking off with the creation of Mickey Mouse in 1928. Possibly the most famous mouse in the world, find out more about Mickey with our ten facts you didn't know.

1. Mickey Mouse's Voice

Walt Disney, from 1929 to 1946, provided the original voices for both Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. Since then, only two others have had the honour; Jim MacDonald (1946 to 1983) and Wayne Allwine (1983 -).

2. Oscars

The only Mickey Mouse short to receive an Academy Award was Lend a Paw, in 1941. The irony being that Mickey Mouse wasn't even really the lead role, since the main star was Pluto. Despite that, Walt Disney had already picked up an Oscar in 1932 for the creation of Mickey Mouse. Throughout his career he managed to amass a total 22 of these prestigious trophies - more than anybody else ever has.

3. What's the Password?

During World War II, when the Allied forces invaded Normandy on D-Day in 1944, "Mickey Mouse" was used as a secret password between intelligence officers.

4. The Naming

Walt Disney originally called his creation Mortimer. It was his wife, Lillian, who persuaded him to change it to Mickey Mouse. American actor, Mickey Rooney, has claimed that Mickey Mouse was in fact named after himself, following meeting Walt Disney in the 1920s as a child.

5. Hot Dogs!

Mickey Mouse was the first ever cartoon character to talk. In the 1929 episode, Disney's The Karnival Kid, Mickey Mouse's first words were "Hot dogs!"

6. Easter Eggs

To mark Disneyland's(California) 50th anniversary, 50 versions of Mickey Mouse's ears were hidden throughout the park. Hidden Mickeys are elsewhere too, such as within feature films like Disney's Dumbo and within the other Disney Parks.

7. Thirty Year Wait

Due to commitments with other Disney projects, Walt Disney stopped making Mickey Mouse shorts following Disney's The Simple Things in 1953. This would prove to be his last ever Mickey Mouse short, following his death to cancer in 1966. Mickey Mouse wouldn't be in a cartoon feature next until 1983 with Mickey's Christmas Carol, some 30 years after his last. Yet, his next proper short wouldn't come until 1995 with Runaway Brain, after an incredible 42 years of waiting.

8. Attire

Mickey Mouse has a huge wardrobe, packed with no less than 175 different costumes. Minnie Mouse goes one better, having been dressed in over 200 outfits throughout her career.

9. Yoo Hoo!

The first song to feature in any Disney film was "Minnie's Yoo Hoo" in the short, Mickey’s Follies.

10. Fear

The irony of Mickey Mouse's creation is that Walt Disney was in fact scared of mice. However, he pictured mice as sympathetic creatures, despite people being scared of them.

See more from Mickey Mouse and friends on a Disney Cruise Line cruise, or find out more about their extra-special cruise ships with our blogs: Claire Experiences Disney Wonder, The Disney Magic, and Fanos Gets His Disney Dream.