The Fascinating Story Behind Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World

Architecture of Cinderella Castle

Construction on Cinderella Castle was completed in July of 1971. It was said to have been completed in only around 18 months. Inspired by French and Bavarian palace fortresses, this 189-foot tall building is actually made from steel beams, plaster, concrete and fiberglass.

The castle was designed so that guests could see it as they approached from the Seven Seas Lagoon in the front of the park. Because of regulations set by the Federal Aviation Administration, the castle (as well as other attractions within Disney World) have to be under 200 feet tall in order to avoid being required to have flashing aircraft warning lights at the top.

Because of the height restrictions, Imagineers used forced perspective to make the castle seem larger than it actually is. As you move up the castle, the architectural details get smaller, tricking the eye into believing it is much taller.

Originally the castle was painted in colors of grey, blue, and gold and there were 13 gargoyles on the outside. Look closely, because you might still see the Disney Family Crest and coat of arms on the Fantasyland entrance to the Castle.

Transformations of Cinderella Castle

Over the years, the castle has undergone several memorable (and sometimes surprising) transformations. Those include:

• 1995: Spires painted a deeper shade of blue
• 1996: Whole castle transformed into a giant pink birthday cake for the Disney World’s 25^th Anniversary
• 2004: Stitch TP-ed the castle and graffitied “Stitch is King!” on the side of it for the debut of Stitch’s Great Escape
• 2005: Outfitted with a mega-sized magic mirror that displayed pictures of other castles and the spires decorated with gold figurines of Disney characters for celebrating 50 years of Disneyland
• 2007: Disney World first began decorating the castle with icicle-inspired Christmas lights
• 2011: Disney first began projecting images onto the castle
• 2021: Pink, gold, and blue overlay for the 50^th year anniversary of Disney World
• 2026: Transforming back to its original grey, blue and gold

For great pictures of these transformations check out The Disney Food Blog and Disney Parks Blog.

Inside the Castle

Next time you walk through the castle from Main Street to Fantasyland, inspect the mosaic scenes along the walls. Each of the five 15-foot-by-10-foot arches depict different scenes from the story of Cinderella. The glass tiles catching the light differently depending on where you stand. You may even spot Cinderella’s tiny animal friends carved into the columns above.

There is also Bibbidi, Bobbidi Boutique, where young guests are magically transformed by their fairy godmother into princesses and knights.

One of the most notable experiences found in the castle has to be Cinderella’s Royal Table. Guests dine with Cinderella and some of her friends while overlooking the park. Want to try? You will have to be on the lookout for reservations because they sell out quick.

Maybe most interestingly, there is a room inside the castle that was originally supposed to be an apartment for Walt and his family. Sadly, though, he never got the chance to see the park completed. After his death in 1966, it was turned into a switch board operating center, and later in 2005, it was renovated into a luxurious 2-bedroom suite. Although you cannot book this suite today, it is still open to VIPs and sometimes used for special giveaways.

Happily Ever After

Happily Ever After is the current Fireworks and projection extravaganza at Disney World. It has been running since May of 2017. During the nighttime spectacular, the castle  becomes a canvas for Disney stories including Moana, Brave, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, The Princess and the Frog, & Aladdin.

During the holiday season, various shows will also utilize projections onto the castle in their shows.

The “Kiss Goodnight”

Nightly upon closing the park, after the fireworks and projection show guests who are still meandering toward the exits of the park will hear the “Kiss Goodnight”. The Cinderella Castle twinkles while “When You Wish Upon a Star” plays in the background followed by Mickey Mouse announcing a final “So long, everybody! See ya real soon!”

Standing in front of Cinderella Castle, it’s easy to see why this structure has become the heart of Magic Kingdom. It’s the place where so many Disney memories begin and end each day. From the first glimpse to the final twinkle of the “Kiss Goodnight,” the castle quietly reminds guests that a little bit of magic still exists.

That magic is exactly what inspired both the Chasing Castle series and the entire Camp’s Chasing Castles blog. There are many more castles, stories, and details to explore together.

Until then, I’d love to know: what is your favorite memory in front of Cinderella Castle?