There is no doubt Disney World is an exciting and wonderful place where families can go to make memories and experience something magical that will stick with them forever. One of the most popular attractions for guests is the Castle at Disney World. This iconic structure is a fixture of every Disney resort and there are Disney castles around the World.
While you might assume there would be many different castles available for touring due to the number of royal families Disney’s storytelling represents, there actually aren’t very many out there.
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You will find there are six main castles around the world, most of them like the original Cinderella Castles in Florida, U.S.A; although some may not be the same, they all still provide an enchanting adventure for guests, and a few more miniature castles used for entertainment and dining.
The 3 Princess Castles at Disney World
While there is only One main Castle of Walt Disney World, there are a few others that you might have heard of, but not on the main grounds.
Here is a summary of the three castles you can visit when heading to Walt Disney World U.S.A.
Cinderella Castle, Magic Kingdom
Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom is by far the most notorious of all Disney Castles. Everyone who visits this enchanted vacation spot is dazzled by its beauty and size.
Walt Disney had this Castle built to be the “wow factor” when Disney World first opened its doors in 1971, and he accomplished that goal.
This Castle is the first thing everyone sees when pulling up to the resort; it is one of the first photos families take and is one of the main topics of conversation.
Cinderella Castle stands at 189 feet tall, which is a huge shock to many people who initially look at it and swears it should be taller. The added height comes from visual aid and location, purposely designed to make the Castle look much bigger than it is.
Beast’s Castle (New Fantasyland)
In 2012, Disney World decided it was time to expand the park and added 26 acres to Magic Kingdom, making way for more exciting adventures and experiencing for guests.
One addition that quickly became extremely popular was Beasts Castle. The Castle is actually not much more than a prop that sits high above the restaurant “Be Our Guest,” which is the doorway to get into this establishment.
It turns out the front door of the actual Castle is only about a foot tall. Aside from the restaurant, Beasts Castle also holds Guston’s Tavern and Bonjour! Village Gifts is a little gift shop full of fun souvenirs.
Prince Eric’s Castle (New Fantasyland)
Prince Erics Castle is another castle added to New Fantasyland inside the Magic Kingdom. Yes, this is the same Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid, who destroyed Queen Ursula to save Ariel.
In Prince Eric’s Castle, you ride a clamshell through Ariel’s story, truly experiencing the adventure as the details are revealed.
This Castle was designed with the forced perspective technique, which makes buildings and structures appear much larger than they truly are. While this Castle may not be as big as we would assume, it is definitely still a sight to see.
The Disney Castles Around the World
Walt Disney World Resort, located in Bay Lake, Florida, U.S.A., holds Cinderella Castle, but it is definitely not the only one. There are actually six Disney Castles around the world that deserve a little notoriety.
1. Cinderella’s Castle at Walt Disney World Resort
While we already went into detail regarding this particular Castle, we can still boast about its beauty and attractions a little more.
Did you know that inside Cinderella’s Castle, there is a Luxury Suit original completed for Walt Disney to Stay in? This room is not available for rent, no matter how much money you are willing to offer.
2. Castle of Magical Dreams, Hong Kong Disneyland
As part of Hong Kong’s 15th-anniversary celebration, The Castle of Magical Dreams replaced the old Sleeping Beauty Castle in 2020.
The original plan was to take hold of the popular Cinderella Castle design but instead turned to cementing one location and dedicating it to multiple princesses, where you can meet these royal fairytale females and visit the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
3. Enchanted Storybook Castle, Shanghai Disneyland
The Enchanted Storybook Castle opened its doors in Hong Kong in 2016. This Castle stands around 200 feet tall, making it the tallest Disney Castle, and it is a home to all of the princesses you will find in Disney stories.
Inside you will find fine dining, excellent entertainment, shows, tours, and much more. You will also see a boat-themed attraction directly inside the structure, which is unique and worth visiting.
4. Cinderella Castle, Tokyo Disneyland
The Cinderella Castle in Tokyo is very similar to the original located in the U.S.A., although there has been some remodeling and changes in paint colors over the years.
In this Castle, you can enjoy a quick walkthrough experience where you will hear the tales of Cinderella’s adventures.
5. Sleeping Beauty Castle, Disneyland
Sleeping Beauty’s Castle is the oldest known Castle based on Walt Disney movies. It was constructed on July 17, 1955, and only stood around 77-feet tall.
There is a hidden gem located inside the Sleeping Beauty Castle that not many guests know about, which is a long winding hallway; you can walk through where 3D sculptures are set up to tell the story of Sleep Beauty.
6. Le Château De La Belle Au Bois Dormant, Disneyland Paris
The name translates to Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, and it is located in the center of Disneyland Park in Paris and offers two different attractions.
One side of the Castle is set up with animatronic dragons and other dungeon-themed decor, while the other side showcases Cinderella’s stained-glass windows after traveling down a concrete walkthrough which houses several gift shops full of glass items.
Can You Stay in Walt Disney Castles?
The simple answer is no. However, there is a suite inside Cinderella Castle at Disney World. Very few people get to stay there and when they do it because they have won a competition or they are a famous celebrity. The most recent of which was Katy Perry.
Honestly, though, you wouldn’t want to with most of them. These castles are mainly designed with ongoing excitement and entertainment that wouldn’t provide you any peace.
There are many hotels and lodging that do provide some great rooms that well represent these castles with specific decorations and decor, designed to give customers a real thrilling adventure.
Walt Disney World’s Early Days
Disneyland, located in California, U.S.A., was the first Disney resort developed by Walt Disney in 1955. The new attraction had its issues in the early years, and Disney decided he needed to create a second location; but before construction could begin, he died of lung cancer.
It was in 1967, just one year after Walt died, that Walt Disney World was born, with Cinderella Castle being the first thing you see walking in and the last thing you see walking out.
The inspiration for the design of the Castle came from multiple different sources, including Alcazar in Spain, Notre Dame in Paris, Chambord and Chenonceau in France, and Fontainebleau.
Inside the original Castle, Cinderella’s slipper played a considerable role in decoration and design with glitzy decor and a hand-crafted replica of the slipper out on display.
It didn’t take long for other parks to start popping up worldwide and obviously replicating one of the most extravagant structures ever to exist.
Facts About the Disney Castles Located Around the World
Now that you know where these castles are located, here are some fun facts you probably never heard about.
- If you go to Jaq and Gus, you can find a hidden Mickey right inside Cinderella’s Royal Table. This is only accessible by guests.
- If you keep an eye out, you will find tons of hidden Mickey Mouse figures throughout the entire park.
- 27 towers in total make up the Cinderella Castle
- A huge inspiration for the design of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle was a Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany.
- In the courtyard of Sleeping Beauties castle, there is a time capsule that was buried on Sleeping Beauty’s 40th Anniversary.
- Parts of the Le Château De La Belle Au Bois Dormant castle’s design were inspired by Mt. Saint Michel.
- The Disney castle in Hong Kong has a computerized strobe light, making it look like it is covered in crystals at night.
- In Shanghai, guests can enter the establishment through a magic mirror portal. It is called the “Once Upon a Time” interactive adventure.
- Due to the Events that took place on September 11, 2001, Walt Disney World and the zone above the Castle became a no-fly zone!
- Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom currently has a drawbridge that doesn’t work. However, the company is considering changing that in the near future.
Summing Things Up
It is no secret that Disney is a top vacation spot for families located all over the world, with its beautifully designed and enormous castles. No matter what your Disney destination of choice is, you will definitely want to take time to take a quick selfie and enjoy the magical wonders these castles have to offer.
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Darren
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