Magic Kingdom - Fantasyland

Cinderella Castle

Cinderella's Castle, the main entrance to Fantasyland, is the most photographed building at Walt Disney World. Over the years, it has undergone some changes, from being transformed to a large, pink, candy trimmed 25th Anniversary cake, to the more ornate gold-trimmed spectacle that was added to the facade during the Happiest Celebration on Earth.

Standing at 189 feet tall, the graceful spires and towers were inspired by the French castles of the 12th and 13th century, as well as Disney's animated feature, Cinderella. The fairytale Castle may look like the real thing, but it is actually made out of steel beams, plaster, concrete and fiberglass, not bricks.



Inside the Castle you'll see the Disney family coat of arms displayed. As you walk through the Castle, you'll see the intricate mosaic murals. These colorful masterpieces are made from over a million pieces of Italian glass in 500 colors, in addition to real silver and 14-karat gold pieces. The five 15' by 10' murals tell the "happily ever after" story of Cinderella.

The castle's look was inspired by a variety of real and fictional castles, such as Fontainebleau, Versailles and the chateaus of Chenonceau, Chambord and Chaumont, as well as the castle from the film "Cinderella" and Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland.

On the second floor is the Cinderella's Royal Table restaurant. This is one of the most highly coveted dining reservations on Disney property, so calling for advance dining reservations (ADRs) is a must for this popular character dining venue. Cinderella and several of her princess friends will be in attendance at the meals and will pose for photos with guests. 



One of the upper floors holds the Cinderella Suite. The suite was originally built as an apartment for Walt Disney (he had a similar one in Disneyland above the fire station), but he died before the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971.  After that, the suite was used for the resort's phone operators, but they moved out once they outgrew the space.  It was then remodeled for the "Year of a Million Dreams" promotion, when an overnight stay here was one of the most sought-after prizes Disney offered. It is still used for VIPs or special giveaways.

The forecourt area of the Castle is home to stage productions where the Disney characters perform daily. In the back courtyard area, you'll find a fountain with a bronze statue of Cinderella and her mouse and bird friends. Make a wish! The rose gardens in front of the Castle are a great spot to relax and simply absorb the magic that's around.