Have you ever wondered about the magical castles that grace the entrance to each Disney theme park? Each castle is a unique and captivating structure, a testament to Disney’s enduring legacy. Today, we’ll explore these iconic landmarks, delve into their construction stories, and discover what makes each one special.
How Many Disney Castles Are There?
You might be surprised to learn that there are six Disney castles around the world, one at each of the global resorts:
- Disneyland Resort (Anaheim, California): Sleeping Beauty Castle
- Walt Disney World Resort (Orlando, Florida): Cinderella Castle
- Tokyo Disneyland Resort (Urayasu, Chiba, Japan): Cinderella Castle
- Disneyland Paris (Marne-la-Vallée, France): Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty’s Castle)
- Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (Penny’s Bay, Lantau Island, Hong Kong): Castle of Magical Dreams
- Shanghai Disney Resort (Pudong, Shanghai, China): Enchanted Storybook Castle
While Beast’s Castle can be found at Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland, they’re not the primary castles and therefore aren’t included in this count.
The First Disney Castle: A Sleeping Beauty Tale
Believe it or not, Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, not Cinderella Castle, was the first Disney castle built. Walt Disney himself oversaw its construction, even making a key decision about its direction:
- Inspired by: Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria and Chenonceau Castle in France.
- Construction Notes: Disney Legend Herb Ryman reversed the model, and Walt loved the new perspective. “Oh!” he exclaimed, “I like that better.”
- Fun Fact: Sleeping Beauty Castle was not ready when Disneyland opened, but Walt chose Sleeping Beauty as the princess to promote the upcoming film.
The castle is now a walk-through attraction, although the passages are narrow and may not be ideal for those with claustrophobia. The castle’s drawbridge is functional, but it’s only been lowered twice: once on opening day in 1955 and again when Fantasyland was rededicated in 1983.
Cinderella Castle: A Grand Icon of Magic Kingdom
Easily the most recognizable Disney castle, Cinderella Castle is significantly larger than its Sleeping Beauty counterpart at Disneyland. While grand in scale, it employs forced perspective to appear even larger. The castle has undergone various makeovers throughout the years, including its 25th-anniversary birthday cake design and the 50th-anniversary design.
- Construction Notes: Made of steel and concrete, Cinderella Castle took 18 months to build.
- Fun Fact: The original plans included 29 turrets, but Imagineers realized some wouldn’t be visible, so they opted to keep the same numbering.
Despite its impressive height of 189 feet, Cinderella Castle isn’t the tallest structure at Walt Disney World. That honor belongs to Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom, towering at 199.5 feet.
Tokyo Disneyland’s Cinderella Castle: A Majestic Replica
Following the success of Disney’s US parks, Oriental Land Company approached Disney to build a similar park in Tokyo Bay. Instead of opting for a unique castle, they requested a replica of the majestic Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom.
- Inspired by: Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria and Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom.
- Construction Notes: Herb Ryman led the project, but communication was a challenge, as the construction team spoke Japanese while Herb spoke English. Sketches became their primary language.
- Fun Fact: From 1986 to 2006, guests could enjoy the Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour, featuring Disney Villains, including the Horned King.
Inside Cinderella’s Fairy Tale Hall, you can find artwork depicting Cinderella’s story and even see her royal throne. Tokyo Disneyland also boasts Beast’s Castle, a towering structure that stands 108 feet tall.
Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant: French Beauty and Secrets
Disneyland Paris faced the challenge of creating a castle that would resonate with French culture, given the abundance of castles in the country. The chosen name, Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant, translates to “the castle of the beauty in the sleeping woods.”
- Inspired by: Castles and chateaus of the Loire Valley, France; Eyvind Earle’s cubist artwork; and elements of all previous Disney animated castles.
- Construction Notes: A master stained-glass window maker who worked on Notre Dame came out of retirement to assist with the castle’s stained-glass windows.
- Fun Fact: One of the turrets features a nod to French culture: an abundance of escargot shells.
Beneath the surface of Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant lies a sleeping dragon animatronic, a hidden secret waiting to be discovered.
Hong Kong Disneyland’s Castle of Magical Dreams: A Transformation
Like Tokyo Disneyland, Hong Kong designers initially sought a replica of the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. However, the castle eventually underwent a major transformation to become the Castle of Magical Dreams, a tribute to multiple princesses and queens.
- Inspired by: Various Disney Princesses and Queens, with architectural inspiration from Europe, China, and Southeast Asia.
- Construction Notes: Imagineers used 4D modeling technology to reimagine the castle, a project that took four years.
- Fun Fact: The castle features nods to beloved Disney Princesses, including Snow White’s apple, Mulan’s sidekick Mushu, and Merida’s bow and arrow.
Inside the castle, visitors can find a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and sometimes meet their favorite Disney Princesses. The expansion cost roughly $1.4 billion USD, half of which was funded by Hong Kong taxpayers.
Shanghai Disney Resort’s Enchanted Storybook Castle: A Cozy Home
Rather than replicating previous designs, Shanghai Disney Resort’s Enchanted Storybook Castle was created with a unique vision. It incorporates elements of every Disney Princess, evoking a sense of a cozy home.
- Inspired by: Multiple princesses, with the idea that every Disney Princess has lived there.
- Construction Notes: Due to Shanghai’s pollution, Imagineers opted for brighter colors, using massive cranes to test different color options.
- Fun Fact: The live-action Disney films use a version of the Enchanted Storybook Castle, rather than the traditional Disney castle.
The castle houses a boat ride called Voyage of the Crystal Grotto, a walk-through area, princess meet-and-greets, a restaurant, and a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Doug Rogers, who animated the castle, likes to imagine stories behind each door and window.
The Magic of “Weenies”
Walt Disney used the term “weenies” to refer to Disney castles and other park icons like the Tree of Life and Spaceship Earth. He wanted these structures to attract crowds from the entrances, providing a sense of direction and creating a sense of anticipation for the magic within. And, just like a hot dog entices a hungry dog, the “weenies” successfully lured visitors into the parks.
