Magic Behind the Castle: Hear from Imagineers about the Dreams for these Icons

Next up on “We Call It Imagineering” we’re taking you behind the castles at Disney parks around the world with the Imagineering team. Hear how these beloved icons are not only stunning landmarks, but also the symbol of Disney storytelling, innovation and artistry.  

Get ready and dream along with Imagineers as you watch episode 5 and see a breakdown below, highlighting chapters from this episode! 

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This is where Disney castles began. The 77-foot Sleeping Beauty castle evokes a sense of wonder, dreams, and aspirations for guests as they begin their descent down Main Street, U.S.A. From the stained glass to the drawbridge, this iconic structure was modeled after several European medieval castles and made its official debut to the public 70 years ago at The Happiest Place on Earth when the gates first opened at Disneyland park. 

Now you may be wondering, why was the castle themed to Sleeping Beauty instead of Snow White–our first original princess from the animated feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs? 

In the latest We Call it Imagineering episode, former Disney Imagineer, Tom Morris, shared that the Disney Studios were producing Sleeping Beauty during the design period of the castle. To help promote the film, Walt Disney thought it would be a wonderful idea to have the castle at Disneyland be inspired by the beloved film.  

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Now step into the park with a castle that is more French Renaissance than Medieval-themed. At Magic Kingdom, Cinderella Castle stands tall at 189-feet tall with nods to European architecture with Gothic touches throughout and a Romanesque, fortress-like base.  

Our Imagineer team is always excited to find new ways to update this beloved landmark that originally started with a cool gray color palette and has received warmer tones over the years to showcase the last rays of sunlight guests see in Orlando.  

This home for entertainment creates a wonderful space where shows come to life and the structure of the building can be used as a canvas for nighttime spectaculars like Happily Ever After. A performance that evokes an emotional connection, projection mapping on the exterior of the castle allows the Disney Live Entertainment team to bring beloved characters like Peter Pan, Genie, Tiana and many more to guests in an impactful way. 

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Fairytale, unique, and storybook-like – these are the three words Tom used to describe the inspiration behind Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Paris. The pink landmark is built on a hillside, creating a slender look, and utilizes the architecture as an extension of the building. Like other landmarks, this castle has been restored over the years by the same artisans who worked on restoring Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris. 

Have you noticed the square-shaped trees that are on the hillside? This landscaping was inspired by Eyvind Earle’s art style in the film. Additional details from the beloved story come to life in the stained-glass storytelling throughout the interior and La Tanière du Dragon—a dragon’s lair—beneath the castle.  

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In 2020, Hong Kong Disneyland became the first Disney park to have a castle built on top of a castle. You heard that right! The Castle of Magical Dreams is an addition to the original Sleeping Beauty Castle in honor of the park’s 15^th anniversary.  

The re-imagined look is inspired by 13 stories of cherished Disney Princesses and Queens, serving as a mosaic of different cultures with architectural inspirations from Europe, China, and Southeast Asia. 

Take a close look at the different spires and design elements across the exterior. You’ll find sweet nods to these films like lotus blossom flowers adoring a portion under a Mushu statue and an icy, blue-shingled roof that represents the story of Anna and Elsa.  

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Now heading over to Japan, the Cinderella Castle at Tokyo Disneyland is the first international castle our Disney Imagineers tackled. In the episode, we learn that Cinderella was chosen for the inspiration for this landmark because her kindness and strong work ethic were very similar traits to the culture in Japan.  

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Now our last, and possibly most complex castle, takes us to Shanghai. The Enchanted Storybook Castle is our largest Disney icon, housing restaurants, merchandise locations, and two attractions. 

We learn in the episode, that the original goal of this castle was to infuse more Disney stories than ever before while remaining distinctly Chinese.  

On the floor next to these murals, are also the Chinese seasonal flowers that represent those periods. According to Imagineer Ali Rubinstein, another thing you won’t want to miss is the carved Jade piece on the side of the castle, which is also the background for character meet and greets. There are a lot of great meanings behind Jade, and the team went to four different cities in China to find the perfect piece for the Enchanted Storybook Castle.  

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So, what’s next? Our Imagineers are always looking towards the future. Exploring new ways to enhance these landmarks and thinking of the next big thing like Walt. In the upcoming years, they’ll be designing a new icon for the theme park coming to Abu Dahbi. And as Bruce Vaughn mentioned, seeing how the environment we’ll shape the design – possibly incorporating water into the design of the castle.   

Also, for the first time, we’re taking the iconic castle to the sea with our newest Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Adventure. Inspired by broader nature themes with subtle nods to princesses like Moana, Rapunzel, and Anna and Elsa, this will be a castle never done before. 

Stayed tuned for Walt Disney Imagineering updates on the Disney Parks Blog and the Walt Disney Imagineering YouTube and Instagram. Exciting adventures are on the horizon, and we’re thrilled to have you along for the ride with us!