Mickey Mouse may get top billing as Disney’s most iconic figure, but Cinderella Castle is just as recognizable. The stunning structure at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom houses plenty of princess power and unexpected surprises within its mosaic-lined walls. Plus, the fairytale castle is set to get a royal makeover to mark the 70th year since “Cinderella” was released.
Curious what other secrets you may find inside this fabled fairy tale tower? Read on to discover the magic within — and how you can explore it yourself:
There’s a Ton to Do Inside the Castle
Cinderella Castle is home to far more than a princess’ towers, including Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, a royal transformation salon for young princes and princesses, and Cinderella’s Royal Table, a beloved restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with special tableside visits from Disney princesses.
Fun Details Outside the Dining Room
Curious guests waiting in line to meet Cinderella before entering the dining room at Cinderella’s Royal Table are in for a treat — Jaq and Gus Gus! The two are not-so-stealthily hiding on the upper wall of the Grand Hall.
Cinderella Castle: A Storybook Proposal Site
The Cinderella Castle restaurant is one of the most popular places at Walt Disney World to get engaged, and with good reason. Cinderella’s Royal Table servers will deliver a glass slipper atop a bed of roses to your table as you pop the question — and even send a photographer over to capture it all.
Next-Level Tableside Service
Too young to settle down like Cinderella and Prince Charming? Regal staffers at Cinderella’s Royal Table can even surprise future princesses with a princess robe, princess sash, or sparkling tiara delivered on a tufted pillow.
The Perfect Spot for Watching Fireworks
If you make a dinner reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table late enough into the evening, you can see the fireworks from inside Cinderella’s Castle, providing a unique perspective that will never be forgotten.
18 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Disney’s Cinderella Castle
It’s the Second-Largest Structure in Disney World
At 189 feet tall, Cinderella Castle is one of the largest structures at Walt Disney World. The massive Tower of Terror building is only ten feet taller! The princess’ home, which is surrounded by a moat, is also built to stay intact during hurricanes and sustain winds up to 125 miles per hour.
It Has a Secret Bedroom Suite
Always wanted to live inside Cinderella Castle? There’s actually a secret bedroom suite inside it with an antique limestone fireplace, stained glass windows that tell the princess’ tale, and gilded furnishings that sleeps six.
The Castle Suite Bathroom: The Room’s Best-Kept Secret
Though all of the Cinderella Castle Suite is fit for royalty, the most impressive space is its bathroom. Special guests can relax in a jacuzzi bathtub beneath a fiber optic night sky while surrounded by castle mosaics on three sides.
The Suite’s Grandfather Clock Doesn’t Exactly Keep Time
There’s some built-in magic to the Cinderella Castle Suite, too. It won’t turn a pumpkin to a golden carriage, but a painting of Cinderella inside the quarters and a mirror in the den are both secretly flat-screen TVs. As for the grandfather clock? It’s permanently set to 11:59!
You Have to ‘Win’ a Stay in the Cinderella Castle Suite
The Cinderella Castle Suite is sadly not available for purchase, as overnight stays can only be obtained by winning a special contest or being “gifted” by Disney. A handful of celebrities including Katy Perry, Kevin Jonas, and Tom Cruise have been lucky enough to spend the evening in Cinderella Castle, waking up in the park before any guests have arrived.
The Mosaics Inside the Castle Are Priceless
There are plenty of riches inside Cinderella Castle, with lavishly detailed mosaics utilizing Italian glass, sterling silver, and 14 karat gold.
There’s a Real-Life Cinderella Castle
It’s not just a fairy tale — Cinderella Castle was inspired by the turrets and towers of real-life French royals’ homes, such as Fontainebleau and Versailles, as well as a dozen other nobles’ homes throughout the Loire Valley and one in Segovia.
Someone Made a Cake Replica of the Castle Once
Cinderella Castle hasn’t always retained its regal look. For the 25th Anniversary of Walt Disney World, Imagineers transformed Cinderella Castle into a shocking pink birthday cake, complete with gummies, frosting, sprinkles, and candle-topped turrets.
Tinker Bell’s Nightly Flight
It takes pixie dust for Tinker Bell to fly across the Magic Kingdom during nighttime entertainment, but it requires some human assistance, too. The famed fairy flies from a Cinderella Castle window courtesy of a heavy shove, and if she doesn’t make her entire distance, has to pull herself hand-over-hand to the end.
You Can Drink Inside Cinderella Castle
Believe it or not, you can now drink alcoholic beverages inside Cinderella’s Royal Table. The brand-new additions of sparkling wines and champagne to the lunch and dinner menus should make dining inside Cinderella’s Castle even more special. Cheers!
Get Married at Cinderella Castle
You can even get married in front of Cinderella Castle. East Plaza Garden weddings not only provide a picture-perfect backdrop but also allow slipper-worthy couples to travel down Magic Kingdom’s Main Street, U.S.A. in Cinderella’s carriage, complete with horses and footmen. Prepare to revel in bystanders’ bliss, because these weddings are performed during park hours, creating a true storybook romance from Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons.
A ‘Secret’ Nightly Show
Cinderella Castle gives each guest a “kiss goodnight” each evening, whether they realize it or not. After the park officially closes, Cinderella Castle is illuminated in twinkling lights as “Wish Upon A Star” plays, and words from Roy O. Disney’s dedication speech from the Magic Kingdom’s grand opening are recited. Linger around Main Street, U.S.A. after the park has closed, and you’ll likely witness this magic display!
The Decorative Flags Around Cinderella’s Royal Table
The many flags and coats of arms decorating Cinderella’s Royal Table aren’t just make-believe. They actually represent some of the people who created Walt Disney World and Cinderella Castle, including Imagineers Marc Davis, John Hench, Marty Sklar, and members of the Disney family.
