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Disney's Cinderella Castle

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Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World

Want to know the secrets of Cinderella's Castle? Maybe even get a look at what is inside? If you think of Disney World then the first image that comes into your head is probably Cinderella's Castle. This amazing structure is the focal point of Disney's Magic Kingdom and has become one of the most recognized buildings in the World.

Cinderella's Castle was completed in 1971 for the opening of Magic Kingdom. The design was inspired by several French Castles. It is 189 feet tall and can be seen for miles around the Disney World resort.

Take a tour around this Disney World iconic landmark and find out what lies inside the walls of Cinderella's Castle, decide it you want to dine with Cinderella herself, and learn just how do you get to stay in Disney's Cinderella Castle Suite

Photos used under Creative Commons from expressmonorail

Contents at a Glance

Disney's Cinderella Castle
Walt Disney in the Magic Kingdom
Free Guide To Walt Disney World
Cinderella's Royal Table
Disney World Dining
Cinderella Castle Decorated for Christma...

How was Cinderella's Castle made and what is inside?

How many bricks were used to construct Cinderella's Castle? Well this is a trick question because the answer is - absolutely none.

The Castle is made of ten inch thick reinforced concrete and fiberglass over a steel braced frame structure. Most of the exterior is a thick, very hard fiber-reinforced gypsum plaster that is supported by light gauge metal studs.

Legend has it that the Castle could be taken down if a hurricane was heading it's way. Not so unfortunately - the construction is way too complicated and heavy!

Disney World Cinderella Castle is surrounded by a moat which contains 3.37 million gallons of water. Lots of ducks live there and swim around very happily!

You can walk through Cinderella's Castle - over the drawbridge and thought to Fantasyland.

What is inside the Magic Kingdom Castle? The restaurant Cinderella's Royal Table, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo where you child can be transformed into a Princess, and of course the Cinderella Castle Suite, which only a few lucky guests have ever experienced.

Photos used under Creative Commons from expressmonorail

Walt Disney in the Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney's Dream Park

As you approach Cinderella's Castle in the Magic Kingdom you will see the iconic statue of Walt Disney. This is known as "Partners" Statue as it shows Mickey Mouse hand in hand with Walt Disney.

Walt Disney Imagineering President Marty Sklar commissioned retired Imagineer and Disney legend Blaine Gibson to capture Walt and Mickey in a statue many years after his death. The statue, which is made of bronze, was added to Magic Kingdom on June 19 1995.

Photos used under Creative Commons from expressmonorail

Free Guide To Walt Disney World

Free Disney World Guide: Disney World may be the most magical place on earth - but it can be difficult and time consuming to plan how to get the most from your vacation. This FREE guide is a great place to start.

Cinderella's Royal Table

The Restaurant Inside Cinderella's Castle

Cinderella's Royal Table is located right inside the Castle.

Cinderella's Royal Table serves breakfast,lunch and dinner. It is a Disney character dining experience. Which characters appear? Well like all Disney World character dining the appearances cannot be guaranteed but these are the usual attendees:
Cinderella, Fairy Godmother, Belle, Aurora, and Snow White.

It is the most popular restaurant in the whole of Disney World - so if you want to dine there then be sure to make Advance Dining Reservations 90 days ahead by calling 407 WDW DINE. Disney resort guests have a slight advantage - they can call 90 days ahead and make bookings for the first 10 days of their stay.

Breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table sells out within minutes of the reservation lines opening. Lunch and dinner and also very popular - so for this Disney restaurant you really do have to make that call!

This character meal location is also a photo package experience. What does this mean? The price of the meal also includes a photo with one of the characters. When you arrive at the restaurant you will be shown into the lobby and a photo of your party will be taken. When you are eating your meal the photo print will be delivered to your table. The photo package is four 4x6 prints and one 6x8 print of your photo, as well as one 6x8 print of Cinderella Castle in a Cinderella photo holder. You will also be able to buy more copies if you wish.

Breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table is priced at $34.99 for adults and $23.99 for children aged 3 to 9. It is all you care to eat - the food is brought plated to your table. You will find the usual breakfast favorites including French Toast, waffles, bacon,egg, and pastries.

Lunch is served from noon to 3pm every day. The price is $37.99 for adults and $24.99 for children aged 3 to 9. This is also a family style meal so the food is brought plated to your table. Entrees include pan seared salmon,herb crusted pork tenderloin and Pasta al Pomodoro.

Dinner is hosted by The Fairy Godmother.You choose an appetizer, entree and dessert from the menu. The cost is $42.99 for adults and $26.99 for children aged 3 to 9.

For all the meals at Cinderella's Royal Table there is a children's menu available. Most beverages are included with the meal although you will pay extra for specialty coffee and alcohol.

If you are participating in the Disney Dining Plan then any meal at Cinderella's Royal Table will use 2 table service credits.

Is Cinderella's Royal Table worth a visit? Well many guests absolutely love it. It is of course the only chance that you have to get inside the Castle (apart from those lucky few who stay in the Cinderella Castle Suite). The meal is pretty pricey though for what it is, and many would also prefer not to have the photograph and have the meal cost a little less.

I can't say enough that if you want a table you must book as far in advance as you can! Those reservations really do go on the morning they are released. Keep checking back for cancellations as they do happen. Your chances of a walk in? Pretty much zero!

Photos used under Creative Commons from opus2008

Disney World Dining

Cinderella Castle Decorated for Christmas

Christmas is a wonderful time at Disney's Magic Kingdom

For the Christmas season since 2007 the Castle has been covered with over 200,000 LED lights. In the day time you can barely see that the Castle is covered with the mesh that houses the lights. Each part of the mesh was specially dyed with the colors of the Castle so that they would blend in during the day.

Photos used under Creative Commons from expressmonorail

Disney Cinderella Castle Mosaics

Inside the Magic Kingdom Castle

When you walk though Cinderella's Castle take the time to look at the walls - you will see 5 spectacularly detailed mosaics which each tell the story of Cinderella.

It took a team of 6 craftsmen led by mosaicist Hanns-Joachim Scharff, more than 2 years to complete the mosaics which are made of 300,000 pieces of Italian glass and rough smalti (glass made specifically for mosaics traditionally used by Italian craftsmen) in over 500 colors.

The Castle mosaics were designed by Imagineer Dorothea Redmond and measure 15 by 10 foot. Be sure to take a look next time you walk by.

Photos used under Creative Commons from expressmonorail

Disney's Magic Kingdom Castle

The detail on Cinderella's Castle is amazing. Take some time to have a closer look!

Photos used under Creative Commons from expressmonorail

The Cinderella Castle Suite

How can you get to stay in the Cinderella Castle Suite?

Do you dream of staying the night in Cinderella's Castle Suite?

Disney World first announced the creation of the Cinderella Suite in 2006. The space which is now the Suite was originally intended to be a place that Walt Disney and his family would stay in the park. Sadly of course Walt never got to see his creation as he died in 1966, five years before the Magic Kingdom opened. Throughout the history of Cinderella Castle the space has been empty, or was used for a time by the Disney telephone operators.

But with the launch of The Year of A Million Dreams in 2007, Disney wanted something as a very special prize for a select few lucky guests. So each day a winner was chosen who with up to 5 guests could stay in the Cinderella Suite.

The inside of the Cinderella Castle Suite has the kind of detailing that you would expect from the Disney Imagineers. The Suite is intended to make you feel not just that you are inside the Castle but that you are immersed in the whole experience.

The inspiration for the design of the Cinderella Suite were the 17th century French chateaus upon which the Castle was modeled. So you will find ornate furnishings in dark woods with opulent fabrics.

The Castle Suite is on the 4th floor and is accessed by a special elevator. Inside the area is perhaps smaller than most people imagine at just 650 square feet. The bedroom has 2 beautiful Queen sized beds facing an ornate fireplace. Above the fireplace is a 17th century style portrait of Cinderella - but all is not what it seems. This magically transforms into a flat screen television! The bathroom houses a huge garden tub with ornate stained glass windows.

Guests may be surprised that it isn't easy to get a view of the Magic Kingdom from the Suite. The windows are small and stained glass. There is a balcony outside the Suite but it is not accessible for guests.

Even though the Year of A Million Dreams is over Disney has said that they will retain the Cinderella Castle Suite as a prize award. Will you be one of the lucky ones to stay there? The most recent guests were Kevin Jonas and his wife Danielle who stayed there on their first wedding anniversary on 19th December 2010.

Photos used under Creative Commons from shadowstorm

Disney Cinderella Castle Cake Topper

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

Let's just suppose you don't get to stay in the Cinderella Castle Suite........

All these Disney World Resort deluxe hotels are located on the monorail system connected to Magic Kingdom. So you won't be far from the magic.

Cinderella Castle at Night

Magic Kingdom Castle Lights

Each evening, when the sun sets, Cinderella's Castle is transformed once again. The Castle is illuminated in 16.7 million colors giving wonderful changing lighting effects.

The colors on the Castle also change during the Disney Wishes Fireworks display.

Photos used under Creative Commons from expressmonorail

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Cinderella's Fountain

Cinderellas Fountain was inspired by Walt Disney's classic Princess. The fountain is also known as La Fountaine de Cindrillon. You will find Cinderella's Fountain in Fantasyland just beyond the Castle. It is a good place to sit and take in the atmosphere and just take a break!

Photos used under Creative Commons from expressmonorail

Disney Magic Kingdom Wishes Fireworks

Fireworks at Cinderella's Castle

Since 2003 guests of the Magic Kingdom have been enjoying the spectacular Disney Wishes fireworks. Cinderella's Castle makes a wonderful backdrop.

The Wishes fireworks were created to launch the Magical Gatherings concept which is designed to bring family and friends together at Disney World.

Wishes is 12 minutes long and has 557 fireworks firing cues, and 655 individual pieces of pyrotechnics. The fireworks and effects are brilliantly set to music from some of your favorite Disney movies including Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Fantasia,Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. Call me sentimental but I find Wishes a very emotional experience! No trip to Disney World is complete without viewing Disney's Wishes.

Where is the best place to view Wishes? Most places on Main Street give a great view. The second story platform of Main Street Station is also good - and gives you the advantage that you can get out of the park quickly when the fireworks end. My usual spot is the terrace of the Plaza Pavilion. This is a less crowded spot (until I just told you anyway)!

You can see Wishes from outside the parks. The best spot is the California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort. You can also see the fireworks from the beach at the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian as well as the Contemporary.

:Photos used under Creative Commons from expressmonorail

Disney Cinderella Castle

Have your own magical Disney Cinderella Castle at Home

Disney Cinderella Castle Play Set

Have you ever seen Walt Disney's Cinderella Castle?

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villasandhomes Jan 4, 2012 @ 2:51 am | delete

It looks magnificent! The Castle of Cinderella is really a wonder! Thanks for sharing

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jadehorseshoe Dec 17, 2011 @ 6:26 pm | delete

Yes. .... Nice Lens!

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Elhamstero Dec 17, 2011 @ 12:05 pm | delete

We've been to Disney Land Paris. Still saving up to go to the "proper" one though.

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artbyrodriguez Dec 17, 2011 @ 11:52 am | delete

Yes, a few times, and it's always an exciting experience...even looking from a distance.
Beautiful and interesting lens.

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squidooGUROO Dec 16, 2011 @ 11:53 pm | delete

Very nice lense. I need a caste now.

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DonMiguelito Dec 16, 2011 @ 1:19 am | delete

Very nice lens! Disney land is such a great place specially the Castle of Cinderella.

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Omaster Dec 15, 2011 @ 8:31 pm | delete

Great lens! Hers a pat on the back!

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j5hale3 Dec 15, 2011 @ 4:39 pm | delete

Great lens! a good example for me of a well built lens. I can only hope my first lens can be 1/2 as good. Best wishes. I'll have to send this to my wife, she is a disney fanatic!

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Dec 15, 2011 @ 2:37 pm | delete

Yes...loved it.

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egosney78 Dec 15, 2011 @ 11:39 am | delete

My biggest memory from going to Disney World when I was a kid is that Cinderella's Castle was CLOSED!! :( I was so disappointed! Thanks for allowing me to finally see what's inside!