Cinderella Castle Magic Kingdom

Updated on May 28th, 2024

Cinderella Castle Highlights:

• Magic Kingdom’s icon
• Daily performances featuring Disney characters take place on the Castle Stage, and nightly fireworks burst into the sky in the evenings
• If you’re able to walk through the Castle Breezeway, you’ll see a stunning mosaic that tells the story of Cinderella

ATTRACTION

Cinderella Castle opened when the Magic Kingdom debuted on October 1, 1971. Originally painted in grey, blue, and gold, the Castle represents the Walt Disney Imagineers’ concept of a French palace-fortress. For Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration, it received a makeover and now has pink tones as well. The base of the Castle is medieval in nature, while the turrets and graceful spires on the the upper level represent the architecture of a more Gothic era.

Measuring 189 feet high, the castle is the tallest structure in the Magic Kingdom.

Inside the Castle, you’ll find a walk-through mosaic exhibit and Cinderella’s Royal Table, a character meal with the Disney princesses.

Additionally, there is the Cinderella Castle Suite inside the Castle. This is not accessible to most guests and is mostly used for sweepstakes winners and marketing.

Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire is a live stage show featuring Mickey Mouse and friends that will be performed several times each day on the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage.

TOURING TIPS

Don’t just walk through the Castle archway — take the time to look around you! Inside the main hall, the tale of “Cinderella” is told on five mosaic murals, each a Gothic arch 15 feet high and 10 feet wide.

Note that at certain times, the Castle Breezeway may be partially or fully blocked off due to the Stage Show performed several times a day in front of the Castle.

The Castle is wheelchair/ECV accessible.

Don’t miss Tinker Bell’s nightly “flight” from the Castle down toward Tomorrowland during the evening’s fireworks display. Tinker Bell flies 750 feet, averaging 15 miles per hour. It takes approximately 34 seconds for the trip.

KIDS AND CHARACTERS

Cinderella’s Royal Table, located upstairs in the Castle, hosts an extremely popular character meal every day, during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This is an extremely popular dining location, and reservations. are highly recommended.  (Dining reservations open up 60 days)

Along with Cinderella, other Disney royals, such as Ariel, Snow White, Aurora, and Jasmine, will join you at your meal. (Characters are subject to change.)

Magic Kingdom Characters At A Glance
Character Meet and Greet FAQ!

DINING

A circular stairwell or a themed elevator takes you to the second floor of the Castle so you can dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Younger guests are treated like royalty, called “princes” or “princesses,” while adult guests are addressed as “lords” or “ladies.” And young guests will also receive either a sword or a wishing wand.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served here — and all are served prix fixe, meaning you’ll pay one set price for multiple courses. Dinner prices start at $84 per adult and $49 per child, plus tax and gratuity.

Breakfast is $69 per Adult and $42 per Child. 

The breakfast menu for Cinderella’s Royal Table offers Assorted Breakfast Pastries along with breakfast entrees with traditional plates like Scrambled Eggs, Sausage, Bacon, and Potatoes, and also Shrimp and Grits, Baked Quiche, Beef Tenderloin and Egg, Royal Avocado Toast, and Caramel Apple-stuffed French Toast.

The kids’ menu has both entrees and a create-your-own-selection option, so you know even the pickiest eaters can find something to eat for breakfast!

The lunch and dinner menu offer a selection of roasted lamb chops, slow-braised beef, grilled filet mignon, grilled chicken, roasted cauliflower, and crab-topped fresh fish. There are also some really photogenic desserts like the Jaq and Gus Cheesecake and the Clock Strikes Twelve tart.

The kids’ menu has both entrees and a create-your-own-selection option, so you know even the pickiest eaters can find something to eat for dinner!

SHOPPING

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is a magically immersive experience in which children ages 3-12 can be transformed into a princess or knight by one of the Fairy God Mother’s Apprentices. These makeovers typically take up to one hour and include hair styling, makeup, nail polish, and lots of glitter! You can also choose a package that includes a beautiful princess or knight costume and a few coordinating accessories.

There are tons of package options to choose from at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique! Each one of them is just as magical and the best part is that there is a package for every budget.

Sir Mickey’s, themed to the cartoon “Brave Little Tailor.” is another merchandise shop near the Castle, located across from the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and has plenty of dress up accessories for the new prince or princess in your party.

Sir Mickey’s, themed to the cartoon “Brave Little Tailor.” is another merchandise shop near the Castle, located across from Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

Even if you don’t get the full princess treatment at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, stop into Sir Mickey’s and ask a Cast Member about getting “pixie dusted” for a free magical experience!

PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

We’re breaking down how to get the PERFECT Cinderella Castle picture.

If you want to be in the photo yourself, there are a few spots that you wouldn’t expect to be the BEST places for your Cinderella Castle photo. And, surprise! It’s not in the front of the castle, straight on, since there are usually people milling about!

We recommend heading to the ramps right at the side of Cinderella Castle for a snap that features the Castle’s front, minus the people!

As you make your way to the back of the castle on the Fantasyland side, there are two more great photo spots along the way! The first is right on the ramp, where you can snag a side view of the castle that serves as an awesome portrait.

Of course, we couldn’t forget the Wishing Well, which is already photogenic on its own! This photo area isn’t as easy for selfies, but if you have someone with you…

…then you can get a GORGEOUS photo that has both the Wishing Well and Cinderella Castle in the background!

Now, we’ve arrived at the back of Cinderella Castle! While you might see the front in most people’s photos, the back is a surprising hit for the perfect shot! Not only does the area include a special mural on the ground, but the back view of the castle has more windows and way fewer people.

We seriously recommend going over to ramps and bridges for your standalone castle photo. Two of our favorite spots include the Tomorrowland Bridge and the ramp to Liberty Square. The castle’s a real beauty, right??

INTERESTING FACTS

Cinderella Castle has 18 towers with corresponding spires. They were prefabricated near the site, then slated, gilded, and hoisted into place.

There are 13 gargoyles on the outside of the castle.

A decorative portcullis (iron grating suspended by chains hung over a gateway of a fortified place, normally used to prevent passage) that is permanently raised is located above the gateway to the main hall.

The mosaic in the Castle archway was designed by Disney artist Dorothea Redmond and created and crafted by a team led by the world-famed mosaicist Hanns-Joachim Scharff.

The five murals contain about 500 colors and a million pieces of glass, many of them fused with real silver and 14-karat gold. Smooth-faced Venetian glass and rough-surfaced smalti (enameled or glazed glass), traditionally used by Italian craftsmen, were incorporated into the design. It took a team of six people more than two years to complete the murals. Note that each of Cinderella’s wicked stepsisters has her own special facial tint. One sister is red in tone to show that she is “red with rage,” while another is greenish (“green with envy”), as they both look on as Cinderella tries on the glass slipper — a perfect fit.

Tinker Bell took her first flight from Cinderella Castle on July 4, 1985.

The castle was originally gray and blue-toned, but for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration, it received a makeover and now has pink tones as well. The renovated facade also makes it ideal for projection mapping for the nightly fireworks show, which includes projections from classic and beloved Disney films.

In honor of Walt Disney World’s 25th Anniversary, Cinderella Castle was transformed into a giant pink castle cake (known by some as the “cakestle”) decorated with gum drops, Life Savers, lollipops, and red candy hearts. The castle cake reigned for 15 months, from October 1, 1996, through January 31, 1998. At the conclusion of the 25th Anniversary Celebration, Cinderella Castle was transformed back to its original traditional blue-and-gold-spired storybook splendor.

Prior to April 28, 1997, Cinderella’s Royal Table was called King Stefan’s Banquet Hall, which opened with Cinderella Castle on October 1, 1971. Walt Disney Imagineers wanted to give the restaurant a regal name, and since no well-known characters from “Cinderella” met their criteria, they instead took a little dramatic license and chose the name of Sleeping Beauty’s father, King Stefan.

On November 16, 2004, guests heading down Main Street were met with a little mischief. Experiment 626 decided to celebrate the opening day of his attraction, Stitch’s Great Escape, by covering the Castle with toilet paper and graffiti!

The columns situated in the walkways that curve around either side of the forecourt to Cinderella Castle are decorated with mice and birds from the Disney animated feature film “Cinderella.” The characters were sculpted by Blaine Gibson, who also sculpted the “Partners” statue on Main Street, U.S.A. and the Cinderella Wishing Well statue located on the walkway between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.

There are more than 40 coats of arms on display inside Cinderella’s Royal Table restaurant. Each coat of arms refers to someone who has played a significant role in the heritage and history of the Walt Disney Company. These are just some of the noteworthy Disney people whose family names are represented: Roger Broggie, Sr.; Marc Davis; Roy Disney, Sr.; John Hench; Diane D. Miller; Dick Nunis; Marty Sklar; Card Walker.

There is a penthouse inside Cinderella Castle that was intended to be an apartment for Walt Disney and his family when they were in Florida. After Walt Disney died in 1966, the apartment was never finished. Instead, the penthouse served as the operations area for Vista United Telecommunications (switchboard operators). It now serves as a dressing room for the entertainers performing in the shows at the Castle Forecourt Stage.

The Castle was completed in July 1971 after about 18 months of construction. No bricks were used, and contrary to a popular legend, the Castle can NOT be taken apart in the event of a hurricane. It was, however, built to withstand hurricane winds of at least 90 miles per hour. The inner structure is steel, covered with fiberglass, and secured to a concrete foundation. The turrets and towers also have internal steel framing, which is lifted by a crane and then bolted permanently to the main structure.