If you love a good mystery, Walt Disney Imagineering has something exciting going on right now, and you can actually be a part of it. A new interactive puzzle is unfolding in real time, and at the center of it all is a brand new character from the beloved Society of Explorers and Adventurers.
It All Started at D23
The mystery kicked off back at D23 2026 in August, when Imagineers unveiled what was supposed to be a special crate from the S.E.A. Archive. When the crate was opened in front of the crowd, no one found what was expected inside. Instead, there were only bricks — and a mysterious note. Something, or someone, had gotten there first.
The Hunt Is On
Since then, S.E.A. Archivist Bonnie Booker has been posting riddles on the Walt Disney Imagineering Instagram account, each one tied to images of Disneyland. Solving each riddle reveals a scrambled letter, and when all the letters are unscrambled, they will spell out the name of the thief — and introduce a brand new S.E.A. character to the world.
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So far, fans have solved the first three riddles and uncovered the letters T, L, and A. The remaining riddles are still out there waiting to be cracked.
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What We Know About the Thief
The clues revealed so far paint a pretty intriguing picture. 
The mysterious figure was rejected from the Society of Explorers and Adventurers at some point, and they are believed to have stolen an artifact known as the “Ridge Jewel.” Strangely, their clues seem to span different time periods, and there is already a connection being drawn to Rainbow Ridge referenced in an 1886 S.E.A. newsletter. Whoever this is, they have a long and complicated history with the organization.
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Now we also have the 4th clue:
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How You Can Play Along
Here is the best part — you do not need to visit a Disney park to participate. The riddles can be solved online using images of Disneyland, so anyone can join in the hunt. If you crack a riddle, you can share your findings with @WaltDisneyImagineering on Instagram.
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This is exactly the kind of immersive, fan-driven storytelling that makes Disney so special. We will be keeping a close eye on how this mystery unfolds and will bring you updates as more letters are revealed. What do you think the name spells out? Let us know in the comments!
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