The Art of Disney’s Castles

More Than a Centerpiece

Icons have been the heart of Disney Parks since Disneyland first opened its gates in 1955. They’ve only become increasingly larger, more complex, and more breathtaking ever since.

Park icons are—well, it’s in the word—iconic. Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park has been said to be among the more photographed landmarks in the world. Whether or not that’s entirely true, it’s definitely among the world’s more recognizable buildings for good reason.

But, park icons are more than a nice looking centerpiece; they define parks and are a snapshot of their greater theme. Icons set the tone and establish a world of fantasy. Beyond that, their careful designs are essential to a park’s layout and can even be a venue for an attraction.

Let’s explore what makes them so great. This is the art of Disney park icons.

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Appreciating Disney Park Icons

The icons of Disney Parks—while unique for the most part—are alike enough to be grouped into four categories. That way, we can fully appreciate each icon and understand what makes them special.

The categories will be Castles, Hidden Attractions, Fabricated Wonders, and Iconic by Default.

Castles

The first category is a display of Disney at its finest. Castles are classic park icons that capture the magic of Disney.

Sleeping Beauty Castle

Disneyland Park

For Disney, it all started with a mouse; for the parks, it all started with Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland.

Design

When planning his first theme park, Walt Disney insisted it needed a prominent castle. Thematically, Sleeping Beauty Castle establishes the fantasy of Disneyland. Functionally, the castle is the central point of the park’s hub-and-spoke layout; it all connects back to the hub and Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Sleeping Beauty Castle is more than a quaint backdrop for Main Street, U.S.A.: Just beyond the serene moat and welcoming drawbridge, guests are transported to Fantasyland, which is key to the Disneyland experience.

Sleeping Beauty Castle has an inviting—not imposing—presence, standing at a modest 77 feet tall. Despite being small in stature, the castle plays a big role in Disneyland’s fairytale environment.

Development

Sleeping Beauty Castle was not always going to be Sleeping Beauty’s; other concepts were considered, such as Snow White. Sleeping Beauty Castle—along with Disneyland—actually opened four years before Sleeping Beauty, the film, was released in 1959. As to why, it simply came down to marketing; synergy has been Disney’s method for decades.

Above the castle walls, which are inspired by Bavaria’s Neuschwanstein Castle, Sleeping Beauty Castle is one of Disney’s many buildings that uses forced perspective. The elements toward the top are scaled down to simulate distance and create the illusion of height. Staying atop, the blue roof was Walt’s idea as he thought the castle would appear taller if parts blended with the sky. Blue roofs have been a signature on Disney’s castles ever since.

Creativity

The castle’s upper interior originally was empty, but Disney transformed the space into a walkthrough experience in 1957, with Shirley Temple at the grand opening. The walkthrough showcases storybook dioramas that tell the tale of Sleeping Beauty. Though revised over the years, guests can still enjoy it today as they did in Disneyland’s early days.

Impact

Sleeping Beauty Castle captures the cozy environment of Disneyland, retaining Walt’s creative touches and the innocence of Disney. Sleeping Beauty Castle has extended beyond Disneyland in the company’s branding. It’s a symbol of “the happiest place on Earth,” a reminder of Walt’s dream, and a high standard for Disney Parks going forward.

Cinderella Castle

Magic Kingdom

Everything about the development of Walt Disney World in Orlando was bigger than Disneyland: a bigger plot of land, bigger resorts, and a bigger castle.

Design

Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom is the next evolution of the original Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. Magic Kingdom’s castle is more than 100 feet taller than Disneyland’s, reaching 189 feet tall. The structure is famously just shy of the minimum height that would require an obstruction light for air traffic—a blinking light on top of a regal castle would not be as magical. The castle can be seen not just from around the park, but also outside the gates as guests approach Magic Kingdom on ferries across the Seven Seas Lagoon. It’s a fantastic sight as guests leave the real world and enter The Magic Kingdom.

The castle walls and spires sprawl around the park’s hub and into Fantasyland as an anchor that pulls all of Magic Kingdom together.

Development

Cinderella Castle was constructed in 18 months with steel framing and plaster that could withstand up to 110 mph winds—that’s crucial in Florida’s climate. The structure is elegantly emphasized with 27 towers and spires. The castle was planned to have an apartment upstairs specifically for Walt Disney himself; however, the living space was never built because Walt passed away five years before Magic Kingdom opened. The upstairs space was used for cast members until being transformed into something more magical in the 2000s.

Creativity

Cinderella Castle has no shortage of embellishments, like the gorgeously detailed mosaic murals in the main breezeway. What most guests will never see, however, is the highly exclusive Cinderella Suite upstairs in the spot originally bookmarked for Walt’s apartment. The suite has many enchanted details, but here’s an interesting one to point out: The grandfather clock is permanently stuck at 11:59 p.m., just before midnight so the magic never wears off. Cinderella Castle is also home to the Cinderella’s Royal Table dining experience and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique where young ones can get the Royal Treatment.

Impact

At night, Cinderella Castle is the canvas for Magic Kingdom’s nighttime show with fireworks, projections, music, and an appearance through the sky by Tinker Bell. The castle’s architecture defines the mood of Magic Kingdom and has also become a defining symbol of The Walt Disney Company. It’s a testament to the grandeur of Disney Parks. Tokyo Disneyland, which opened in 1983, has a Cinderella Castle that’s nearly identical to Florida’s; it has a walkthrough attraction, Cinderella’s Fairy Tale Hall, which replaced the terrifying Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour.

Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant/Sleeping Beauty Castle

Disneyland Paris

Disney stepped up its castle game for Disneyland Paris in 1992. Say what you want about the park’s early failures, but Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant—AKA Sleeping Beauty Castle—is a masterpiece.

Design

Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Paris is probably the most artful Disney castle. Its elegant design radiates that charming fairy tale aesthetic Disney has mastered. The castle is elevated over the sloped countryside stylized with cubic trees, geometric rocks, a shimmering waterfall, and bright green grass as if it were hand-painted. The scene doesn’t look like real life—it’s straight out of the gentle backgrounds from the 1959 Sleeping Beauty film. A long, curved bridge meanders to the castle’s luxurious interior and transports to Fantasyland.

Development

Euro Disneyland was a new sandbox for Imagineers. They put in a lot of effort to pull off the park icon, especially for Disney’s European debut; it had to be absolutely perfect. Disney considered some unexpected ideas, such as a retro-futuristic tower in the style of Discoveryland. Of course, Disney ultimately built a European-inspired work of art. Every feature was created with intention—such as lighter shades of blue paint toward the top for some forced perspective. Disney also strategically positioned the castle north so the sun wouldn’t backlight the icon in photos.

Creativity

As breathtaking as Sleeping Beauty Castle is from the outside, it’s just as impressive inside. The castle is fully stocked with shopping options and two walkthrough experiences. Upstairs is a gallery brimming with graceful design and craftsmanship that tell the story of Sleeping Beauty through stained glass and tapestries. The upstairs area also has access to a balcony that overlooks the theme park. The basement shows its teeth with La Tanière du Dragon: a darker walkthrough attraction that opened with Disney’s largest Audio-Animatronic at the time.

Impact

Sleeping Beauty Castle in Paris is still among Disney’s most scenic creations. Believe it or not, Disneyland Paris’ castle is the most visited castle in all of Europe. Its hints of European inspiration mixed with Disney’s detailed storytelling make Sleeping Beauty Castle a special park icon.

Enchanted Storybook Castle

Shanghai Disneyland

Disney’s newest ground-up castle is spectacular in its own way.

Design

Most Disney castle park entrances follow a similar format to Main Street, U.S.A., which leads to a typical hub plaza. Shanghai Disneyland greets guests with an early-20th-century entrance area called Mickey Avenue in dedication to classic Disney characters. Mickey Avenue leads to Gardens of Imagination, which is more than just a hub—it’s a full land with attractions, waterways, and flowerbeds.

Towering above Gardens of Imagination is the park’s spectacular icon: Enchanted Storybook Castle. The castle has a sophisticated pastel rose color and luxurious accents, surrounded by intricate pathways, rockwork, waterfalls, and a viewing area for shows. A trip through the castle leads to Fantasyland’s peaceful waterfront.

Development

Enchanted Storybook Castle stands as Disney’s highest-reaching castle, hitting 197 feet. In addition to being tall, Enchanted Storybook Castle is Disney’s most complex one yet thanks to the benefit of new-age technologies during development and the magic of Imagineering. The castle was cleverly designed with infrastructure for a host of attraction spaces, nighttime show units, and other uses. It’s a masterfully functional structure that is a passage for Disney magic.

Creativity

The centerpiece of Shanghai Disneyland was the first Disney castle to celebrate every Disney Princess. Its design unifies Chinese cultural influences and Disney’s premier stories—both classic and new. Inside, Enchanted Storybook Castle has retail options, dining locations, meet-and-greet opportunities, elegant murals, and an overall classy atmosphere. Like other Disney castles, Enchanted Storybook Castle has a walkthrough experience called Once Upon a Time Adventure with glamorous effects and storytelling based on Snow White. Beneath the castle, the Voyage to the Crystal Grotto boat ride passes through tunnels below. Enchanted Storybook Castle truly makes the most of its space.

Impact

Enchanted Storybook Castle is a brilliant display of what modern Disney can accomplish when relying on its tradition of thoughtful architecture and storytelling.

Castle of Magical Dreams

Hong Kong Disneyland

Hong Kong Disneyland opened in 2005 with a recreation of Sleeping Beauty Castle—just like the original Disney icon from 50 years earlier. However, Disney said goodnight to Hong Kong’s Sleeping Beauty Castle in 2018 and dreamed up a magical overhaul.

Design

In 2020, the Castle of Magical Dreams opened as Hong Kong Disneyland’s reimagined icon. The castle unifies the stories of 13 Disney Princesses. Its towers include various symbols, colors, and other unique architectural elements that represent Princesses such as Ariel, Elsa, and Moana, among many others. Small touches like Merida’s bow, Snow White’s apple, and Mushu from Mulan—for example—pay tribute to these stories. The base of the castle has a classic regal design, surrounded by a medieval forest and viewing areas.

Development

The Castle of Magical Dreams is now 167 feet tall, which is more than twice as high as the park’s original castle. It reaches new structural and story-driven heights. Hong Kong Disneyland’s castle represents a wide group of Disney Princesses, so it has a range of global architectural influences, including European, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Polynesian, and Native American connections. The castle harmoniously balances an assortment of designs and qualities of feng shui.

Creativity

The breezeway of the icon leads to a covered area with columns featuring etched symbols of the castle’s Princesses. The Castle of Magical Dreams has countless captivating details to appreciate, but it also has a few offerings in its compact interior. Young guests can get a makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and meet some characters at the castle. Its courtyard doubles as a venue for shows for even more Disney magic.

Impact

The Castle of Magical Dreams was a step forward for Disney icons. Its diverse theme represents more than just Disney Princesses—it represents the hope of their stories that have resonated with generations. The Castle of Magical Dreams is engaging, inspiring, and iconic.

Keep reading to learn about the wonders of Disney’s other icons!

CONTINUE TO PART II