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 what it takes to spend the night in the Cinderella Castle Suite.
Disney’s Cinderella Castle
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 its 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 your child can be transformed into a Princess, and of course the Cinderella Castle Suite, which only a few lucky guests have ever experienced.
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 the Magic Kingdom on June 19 1995.
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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
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 in 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 4×6 prints and one 6×8 print of your photo, as well as one 6×8 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
Lunch is served from noon to 3 pm 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.
Fairy Godmother Dinner
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!
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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.
Disney Cinderella Castle Mosaics
Inside the Magic Kingdom Castle
When you walk through Cinderella’s Castle takes 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 feet. Be sure to take a look next time you walk by.
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 place 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, this 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 was 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?
Cinderella Castle at Night
Each evening, when the sun sets, Cinderella’s Castle has 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.
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 have 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.