The surprising Easter eggs found in new Disney film, Wish

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs make a comeback in a special way. And if you blink, you might even miss Mickey's cameo. 

As the self-appointed Disney correspondent for Kidspot it was a treat to see Wish, knowing that this was the movie to mark 100 years of Disney. 

And even though I love Disney movies, I can honestly say it won’t blow everyone away in the way that Frozen or The Lion King did, but it definitely sparked joy!

When I heard about Wish, I understood that it would explore the origin story of wishes as it pertains to the Disney universe and loosely ties all the other Disney movies together.

I ignored the online chatter and skipped over Spotify’s suggestion to listen to the music so I could go in with an open mind.

I may be a Disney-adult but I’m not a Disney-sucker (or so I thought). 

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Wish follows 17-year-old Asha, voiced by Ariana DeBose, who discovers that the wish-granting King Magnifico (Chris Pine) isn’t as benevolent as he wants to seem.

After Asha learns that the wishes that Magnifico takes from the city Rosas’ subjects won’t be granted, she, along with the magic-wielding star, her friends, and a talking-goat named Valentino (Alan Tudyk), endeavour to return the wishes to the people. 

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Wish marks Disney's 100th year. Source: Disney

The music is Frozen meets Moana meets Hamilton 

I thought the music was catchy, and once it’s released, TikTokers will be flooding my feed recreating the dances. The songs lean heavily into the Lin-Manuel Miranda sound, even though he was not part of this production. 

My boys, who came with me to the screening, have been asking for the villain song ‘And This Is The Thanks I Get’ over and over. The more and more I hear it, I realise it’s the official parenting anthem. And while I loved the title song, 'This Wish', it didn’t catch my breath the way that 'Let It Go' did, or make my smile wider like 'Under the Sea' did (and still does). 

I liked how the movie explored wishes and what happens to people when they let them go. I won’t say too much more - I don’t want to spoil it. 

One element that seemed very un-Disney was that Asha’s father had passed away and her mother was a present character in the film. 

What I really loved about the film was knowing that there were many Easter eggs planted within the film. In fact, the creators behind the movie claim that there are over 100 Disney Easter eggs and references throughout Wish. I’ll be honest, while me and my boys tried our best, I didn’t catch all 100 but I’m proud of the ones that I spotted, both obvious and obscure! 

RELATED: The sad reason why Disney films often don’t have mothers

Asha with King Magnifico, ready to become his apprentice. Source: Disney

Top Easter eggs from Wish

• The movie’s opening is framed through the use of a storybook to explain the backstory and plot line - which is exactly how Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty opens.  

• There are Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs references, given this was the first animated musical fantasy film by Disney. Asha’s seven friends each bear a resemblance in looks and/or personality to the original Dwarfs. This point is driven home by their names: Dahlia (Doc), Simon (Sleepy), Gabo (Grumpy), Hal (Happy), Dario (Dopey), Bezeema (Bashful), and Safi (Sneezy). 

• Asha is trying to become Magnifico’s apprentice, making her the Sorcerer's apprentice. 

• Asha’s grandfather Saba is turning 100, just like Disney. The animation of the film bears a liking to the original Walt Disney’s style of animation. 

• The bear called John is a reference to little John from Robin Hood.

• Aurora’s blue dress in Sleeping Beauty comes up as the wish of the dressmaker in Rosas is fulfilled. 

• Fantasy Land is mentioned a few times in the film, which is one of the parks in Disneyland. 

• One of the wish balls that Magnifico brings up is a scene from Peter Pan, and he comes up again at the end of the film. Peter himself is introduced to another character who resembles Wendy. They invent a flying object together.

• Magnifico as the villain has many Disney villain traits. He decides to embrace forbidden magic, including the Evil Queen’s poison apple and magic green hands that resemble the ones Ursula used to steal Ariel’s voice. 

• Without being too much of a spoiler… Magnifico and Jaffar’s fates are very similar.

• As the dark magic of Maginico spreads around Rosas, it has a very similar feel to when the thorns grew around Aurora's castle in Sleeping Beauty.

• Asha’s cape is a lot like the fairy godmother’s from Cinderella. SPOILER, at the end of the film Asha becomes a fairy godmother - not that she is Cinderella’s but the first of a long line of fairy godmothers. 

• Asha’s hair blows in the wind the same way Pocahontas did as she sang 'Colours of the Wind'. 

• Valentino, the goat has a wish saying “I wish for a place where all animals live in a utopian society and wear clothes.” Wish granted, Zootopia. 

• There is a subtle nod to Pumba in The Lion King when Valentino sings “See that's where all the balls of gas come from.”

• The deer in the film is called Bambi, no sign of Bambi’s mum!  

• Star brings a quill to life and starts to draw Mickey Mouse's ears before setting Magnifico’s study on fire. 

• There are lots of animals and trees that have similarities to many characters in Pocahontas. 

• Magnifico also destroys a wish likely belonging to Mr Banks, who wants to find a nanny who can bring joy to their home. *Parents this scene will really ring true as we still search for a Mary Poppins of our own.

• There is a quick ode to Frozen with a mention of “true loves kiss” as well as Asha trying to make the doors open by swooping her hands like Elsa does in Frozen.

• “When You Wish Upon A Star '' is the undertone to the closing song. It originally appeared in the Disney movie Pinocchio. Since then, the song has gone on to become Disney’s theme song.  

• Star’s exit from Rosas is the perfect Easter egg to cap off Wish, as Star has made Rosas into the Disney logo that we all know and love. 

My boys, Cooper and Mason came with me to the screening & haven't stopped listening to the soundtrack. Source: Kidspot

So is it worth taking the kids to? 

Who am I kidding, I’m listening to the soundtrack as I type, and am falling in love more and more as I write each Easter egg.

I am a Disney-sucker, I take back my original review. I loved it because Disney created this for die-hards just like me. 

The boys' review is short and sweet. Not even an ice-cream, popcorn, and reclining seats could get more than four or five words out of them.

"I liked the star," said Cooper, eight.

While Mason, six, said: "I liked the songs and I want a goat!"

Hope you enjoy wishing upon a star.

Wish is in cinemas from Boxing Day.

Originally published as The surprising Easter eggs found in new Disney film, Wish