Who needs the Seven Wonders of the World when you have this beauty to look at?!
Cinderella Castle is not just one of the most iconic structures in Walt Disney World but it’s also one of the most easily recognized across the globe.
Any Disney fan can show you their camera roll full of pictures of this beautiful landmark but even still, here are 10 things you may not know about Cinderella Castle:
1. Cinderella Castle is only 189 feet tall. This is for good reason; when Cinderella Castle was being constructed prior to opening day in 1971, any structure taller than 190 feet would have had to have a red, flashing aircraft beacon on top of it. In order to avoid this disruption in the magic and beauty of the castle, Imagineers kept the castle below the height for this requirement and in turn, used forced perspective to make it seem larger.
2. Cinderella Castle is much taller than its counterpart Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland. Disney Imagineers also used forced perspective to make Sleeping Beauty Castle seem larger; it is actually only 77 feet tall. This is only about 20 feet taller than the main drop in Splash Mountain, which comes in at about 52 feet.
3. While certainly the most notable, Cinderella Castle is not the tallest structure in Walt Disney World. Currently, Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom is the tallest at 199.5 feet tall.
4. Ever wonder how many turrets Cinderella Castle has? Well, wonder no more. There are currently 27 turrets on Cinderella Castle, although, they are officially numbered 1-29. Turrets 13 and 17 were taken out of the design at the last minute because they would have been blocked by buildings in Fantasyland and not easily visible.
5. Cinderella Castle has a twin. There are actually two of these beautiful structures in the world. The second castle resides in the Tokyo Disney Resort and was built for the resort’s opening in 1983. Technically, they would be considered fraternal twins as they are not actually identical. The one in Tokyo is actually only 168 feet tall.
6. We all know that Cinderella Castle houses a restaurant, but did you know that there are actually 3 elevators within the castle as well? The first is used to ferry guests up to the dining room for Cinderella’s Royal Table. The second elevator is used by cast members traveling between the Utilidors, a break room, and a second-floor kitchen. The third services the Utilidors and kitchen as well but this elevator is also how you gain access to the coveted Cinderella Castle Suite.
7. Speaking of the Cinderella Castle Suite. Some guests do not realize that there is a secret suite hidden within the castle. Originally, this was meant to be used by the Disney family themselves, but sadly Walt passed away almost 5 years before Walt Disney World’s opening day. The space went unfinished for decades and was used for other purposes such as dressing rooms. But in 2005, an announcement was made that the suite would finally be completed and used for its intended purpose. It was turned into a beautifully decorated, lavish 650-square foot suite that can accommodate up to six guests. On many a Disney fan’s bucket list, this suite is unfortunately not open to the general public for reservation but is reserved for VIP guests, celebrities, and give-away winners only.
8. What is a castle without a moat? Never ones to skip a detail, the Imagineers thought of everything when creating Cinderella Castle, which is surrounded by millions of gallons of water.
9. While the presence of a moat also means that a drawbridge is needed, the one at Cinderella Castle is actually non-functional. However, the drawbridge at Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland can be raised.
10. Another picture that you can find in any Disney fan’s possession is of the much-loved Partners Statue. The statue was designed and sculpted by Blaine Gibson, a former Disney Imagineer and animator. It took Gibson a year to complete and was officially added to the Cinderella Castle courtyard on June 19, 1995.
Are there any other things we may not know about Cinderella Castle? Please let us know in the comments!