The castle was opened July 17, 1955; the castle is the oldest of all Disney castles. The inspiration behind this castle was the Neuschwanstein Castle located in Germany. The Disney family coat of arms hangs above the archway to the castle. It is composed of three lions passant in pale.
On April 29, 1957, visitors were able to walk through the castle and view entire story of Sleeping Beauty. As you walked through the castle you would hear the song When You Wish Upon a Star. These were redone again in 1977 to resemble the windows on Main Street USA. Then in October 2001 the walkthrough was closed for unspecified reasons, but some believe it was because the September 11th attacks and the potential danger if they left it open.
The walkway reopened in November 2008 that featured new technology. Visitors who are unable to climb stairs or navigate the passageways of the Castle can still experience the walkthrough “virtually” in a special room on the Castle’s ground floor. This room is lavishly themed, and presents the closed-captioned walkthrough recreation on a high-definition TV.
Did you know the original geographical center of the Magic Kingdom was in the middle of the round park, where the “Partners” statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse stands. The addition of Toontown moved the actual center of the park a few yards northward, but still on the hub side of the castle drawbridge.
Sleeping Beauty Castle is also used as a Logo for Disney.
Barbara Roach is your Personal Travel & Cruise Concierge. I have been organizing travel for years. We know the where to find the best deals, what really constitutes “value” and how you can make your vacation dollar stretch, especially when it comes to planning travel with kids.??
Regardless of your destination, my goal is to exceed your every expectation and deliver you to a most enchanting vacation. We’re here for you too – just a phone call away; before, during and after your travel.
For information concerning Disney or any other destination, please contact me at 401-323-1294 or email me at barbararoach@destinationsinflorida.com