It is an iconic pop-icon recognized universally around the world. It is a small, well GIANT, beacon of hope for Disney dreamers everywhere. It is what makes people around the world believe that fairytales really can come true. It is Cinderella’s Castle.

Shining as the crowning jewel to Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Park, Cinderella’s Castle has been the well-recognized icon for the Orlando theme park since its opening October 1, 1971. Completed just months before the opening of the Walt Disney World Theme Park, the Castle took nearly 18 months to be built. Standing at a height of 189 feet tall, the Magic Kingdom icon is more than twice the size of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. Made up of beautiful white and gray stone, blue adorning roofs, an indoor mosaic mural (which took 22 months to create and over 300,000 pieces of Italian glass), and gold and gold leaf turrets, Cinderella’s Castle makes guests feel like they are experiencing a real life fairytale right before their very eyes.

Inspired by French palaces, including Neuschwanstein Castle, Chateau de Pierrefonds, Chateau d’Usse, Fontainebleau, Versailles, and the chateaux of Chenonceau, Chambord, and Chaumont, and the animated tale of Cinderella, Cinderella’s Castle came into reality. But, is it really the size of an actual castle? Or, does it just appear to be? Such, is the working of Disney magic! Disney Imagineers used the optical illusion trick of forced perspective, making the castle appear larger than it really is. As the castle continues to grow taller, the proportions become smaller. This technique is actually universally used all over Disney theme parks throughout the world.

There is no prettier place in Orlando at nighttime than in front of Cinderella’s Castle. Illuminated by 16.7 million colors, the castle’s ever-changing colors are truly breathtaking. Changing colors to the music of nighttime entertainment of Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams fireworks and the “goodnight kiss” from Disney, as the dedication speech by Roy O. Disney is played throughout the park, Cinderella’s Castle shines late into the night. A special addition to the park was in November 2007, where the entire surface of the castle was blanketed with over 200,000 LED Christmas Lights, throughout the entire holiday season.

Other than being known for its ever-changing colors along the Orlando nighttime sky, Cinderella’s Castle has rarely changed its iconic appearance. In October of 1996, the castle put on its birthday suit to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort. The entire front of the castle was morphed into an 18-story birthday cake, complete with red and pink “icing”, 26 shimmering candles, sprinkles, candy canes, and other look-alike treats. It took nearly 400 gallons of pink paint to cover the entire castle for its birthday best! On November 16, 2004, the castle was morphed into the stomping ground of Disney jokester Stitch, as it was toilet-papered and marked with graffiti marking the opening of “Stitch’s Great Escape!” attraction. And, most recently, the castle was adorned for the Disney-wide celebration of Disneyland’s 50th anniversary throughout 2005. Statues of favorite Disney characters were scattered throughout the castle property and a stained glass mirror, modeled after that of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, was put at the forefront, revealing images of the Disney castles throughout the world (in Anaheim, CA; Magic Kingdom; Tokyo Disneyland; Disneyland Paris; and Hong Kong Disneyland).

Home to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Cinderella’s Castle Suite, Cinderella’s Royal Table Restaurant, and the fond memories of vacationers at Walt Disney World, Cinderella’s Castle remains as one of the most iconic structures ever built. Making fantasies and dreams a reality, Cinderella’s Castle makes for the perfect icon to represent Magic Kingdom Park. After all, Cinderella was first described by Walt Disney, himself, by saying that “she believed in dreams, all right, but she also believed in doing something about them. When Prince Charming didn't come along, she went over to the palace and got him." Magic Kingdom is that one theme park where dreams really do come true!