Walt Disney Imagineering has revealed the thief behind their S.E.A. digital scavenger hunt and shared one final riddle.
S.E.A. Scavenger Hunt Solution
The scavenger hunt began with the theft of a Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.) artifact at D23. Since then, Imagineering has been sharing riddles, each one pointing to a letter of the thief’s name. Clues referenced various attractions and the stolen artifact, known as the Ridge Jewel. The thief used a Timeskipper to travel through time, placing clues at Disneyland Park for guests to search up online. It turns out the thief was rejected from S.E.A. because of their father, “the one who left me behind.”
We now know the thief is…
Hazel Hightower!
S.E.A. archivist Bonnie Booker wrote on Instagram:
So, it was Hazel Hightower who stole our artifact…another surprise in the Hightower legacy. Congratulations on the brilliant solve, explorers!
When I thought it was all over, another riddle appeared. This one seems to be pointing to a specific location. It came with a final message and farewell from Hazel. If I could speak to her directly, Hazel, you’ve inspired me to build a future for adventurers like you. One made for the brave and made by the ambitious. Like you wrote, Hazel, adventuring changes us for the better, and the hunt you’ve taken us on has definitely transformed me for the better.
While we never know what other mysteries the S.E.A. will uncover, this is goodbye for now. Thank you for all your brilliant work, explorers. I’m honored to take a step to the S.E.A.’s future with you wonderful field researchers.
Until our next chapter,
Bonnie Booker
Hazel is the daughter of Harrison Hightower III, a disgraced member of S.E.A. and the main character of Tokyo DisneySea’s Tower of Terror.
According to Disney Parks Blog, a final letter from Hazel to Bonnie was discovered in the S.E.A. archives and explains how and why she “stole” the Ridge Jewel. Being the daughter of Harrison Hightower made Hazel unwelcome to join the Society, so she concocted a plan to prove S.E.A. wrong while also righting one of her father’s wrongs in the process. Why steal the Ridge Jewel? Why invent the Timeskipper? You can find the answers to these questions and more in the full letter from Hazel:
Dearest Society of Explorers and Adventurers,
By now, at least some of you have discovered my name, Hazel Hightower. Indeed, it was I who stole your artifact. And while that may seem significant, it’s now such a small part of my story. If you lend me a moment of your time, I can tell you my story in my own words – no riddles in sight.
I was born on April 1st, 1881, in Egypt. My father was Harrison Hightower III. Now, I know better than anyone what a controversial figure he was, and I personally don’t agree with all his actions and decisions. But I love him, and he taught me to chase my curiosities, and that an adventurous life is a valuable one.
My father mysteriously disappeared right before I started university in London, and I have never found out what happened to him. After he disappeared, I was distraught and directionless. I buried myself in my studies as a distraction, but after I graduated, I still felt lost. So, I sought to become a member of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers like my father. I hoped S.E.A. would give me the direction and inspiration I was seeking. I even showed them the plans I had been working on in school for a time-traveling device, because what greater adventure could there be than to travel across time? I thought they would be impressed.
They rejected my application. Their reason? I am a Hightower. My father caused enough problems within the organization before he disappeared, and they assumed I would be just as problematic.
This rejection, and their assumptions about my character… infuriated me (my father always told me my temper would get me in trouble). As I left the Society headquarters that day I set my mind to two things:
- Proving to S.E.A. that I was the greatest adventurer of all time, and that they were fools for rejecting me.
- Proving to the world that the name Hightower doesn’t define me.
I traveled to my father’s home in New York to ponder my plan. As I sat there trying to think clearly, I kept thinking about my father and all the treasures he would bring home from his adventures. He would return from some far-away place and show off a new artifact to me. I always marveled at their beauty. One time, when I was just a child, my father brought me on one of his adventures – to a small American mining town in the western frontier called Rainbow Ridge. He was meeting other members of your… sometimes-esteemed society and let me tag along.
The town was celebrating a recent discovery in the mines, a large egg-shaped geode filled with rainbow crystals and had dubbed it – the Ridge Jewel. They put it on display for the entire town to enjoy. On the day I got rejected by S.E.A., I remembered something that I had forgotten long ago. That beautiful egg had gone missing. I remember its disappearance being discussed at S.E.A. gatherings as, “quite the scandal.” It all started to connect for me. It must have been my father who took it. He never could help himself. Always had to have a souvenir.
That’s when I knew, to prove I wasn’t like my father; I needed to return the Ridge Jewel.
But I wasn’t satisfied. It wasn’t enough. In those moments I so desperately wanted to humiliate S.E.A. – make them feel as small and unimportant as they had made me feel. How could I damage the egos of so many members at once?
They had laughed at me when I told them what I had been working on the past few years – a time traveling device that I nicknamed, the “Timeskipper.” These adventurers and explorers had seen it all, traveled to every corner of the world, explored the darkest caves and the highest mountain peaks. I had to have one adventure that none of them could achieve – time travel.
So, I spent the next few years finishing my great work – the Timeskipper. When I was ready to test it, I knew I wanted to try and discover where my father had taken the Ridge Jewel. I had to be very careful about where I chose to go, because I knew I wanted to return the Jewel on the same day he took it, when I was with him at Rainbow Ridge. I set the Timeskipper to the day after our trip, and successfully “skipped” into my own past.
For the first time since the night he disappeared, I saw my father and indeed, he had the Jewel with him. I discovered that after he stole the Jewel, to avoid scandal, he hid his newly found treasure inside an official “S.E.A.” crate within his vast collection. I think his plan was that if the egg was ever discovered, he could try and blame S.E.A. for its disappearance. Before the crate was sealed and moved, I took the egg and replaced it with the note that I assume you found. You see, since I had my Timeskipper, it didn’t matter where or when my note was discovered. I had all the time in the world to execute my plan.
And so, with the Ridge Jewel in tow, I continued skipping across time and leaving behind my riddles so that one day, members of S.E.A. would piece together my story and remember my name. I even traveled to times and places where famous members of S.E.A. had been, just to taunt them and prove I could. However, I discovered something very strange on my adventure. The more I traveled across the world and across time, the less angry I became. My adventure slowly healed my wounds. And I suppose that’s the point my new friends, seeking adventure and discovery, opens our minds to new possibilities. It can change us dramatically. In my case, I think it changed me for the good.
I settled in Rainbow Ridge for a while after that night, enjoying the town and its people. But, as perhaps you’ve clued together – I’m a restless soul and easily bored. I decided to test the limits of my Timeskipper, and aim for a faraway place.
Now you know my story (most of it). Maybe you see me as a villain, maybe a hero, and the truth is I’m a little bit of both. No matter what you believe – I wish you nothing but luck on your next adventure.
Until next time,
Hazel Louise Hightower
Disney shared sketches of Hazel traveling through time, planting various answers to her riddles.
And Imagineering shared one final riddle. Here’s the text:
When this journey began, I was rather upset
I made a promise I would never forget
A hurtful rejection, I’d prove you wrong
I’d show you this Hightower truly belongs.
But I’ll bury the hatchet and settle the score,
Maybe one day, you’ll hang up my oar.
While you solved my riddles and my clues
It’s clear to me now that I have nothing to prove.
To see that I have done my best,
Shine your spurs and head back west
And see returned, rainbow-kissed
A treasure that was dearly missed.
Maybe I’ll explore the ultimate frontier,
Yet to come, inevitable, but for now unclear.
If you’d like to connect with me across time
A souvenir of adventure – yours and mine…
Collect it at a ticket booth
And see any adventure is possible if we first learn our truth.
The Rainbow Ridge Jewel is now viewable at the Ticket Booth outside Pioneer Mercantile in Frontierland at Disneyland.
Beginning today, for a limited time, guests with admission to Disneyland park can witness this rare artifact and ask a cast member at Pioneer Mercantile or use a MagicBand+ to receive a complimentary commemorative ticket from Hazel Hightower herself.
A newspaper clipping in the Ticket Booth has also transformed overnight: a photo that shows Harrison Hightower III visiting the exhibition of the Ridge Jewel with Jason Chandler in 1886 now features our intrepid Hazel, jewel in hand, returning the town’s beloved discovery moments after her father stole it.
Hazel has been honored for this noble act with her own oar at The Tropical Hideaway in Adventureland at Disneyland park, an honor bestowed upon every member of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
The post Walt Disney Imagineering Reveals S.E.A. Riddle Solution, Introduces New Character appeared first on WDW News Today.
