Cinderella Castle

Well we made it. Today marks the final Monday installation of Ears to the World. We have quite a bit of WDW history for this week which includes some park openings, previews, and even the birth of a radio icon (with not much Disney affiliation). 

Here we go...

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Walt Disney World 

is a tribute to the philosphy and life of Walter Elias Disney...

and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney's dream come true.

May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all who come to this happy place... 

a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages 

can laugh and learn -- together.

-- October 1, 1971

Dedication plaque on Main Street, USA 

by Roy. O. Disney

You can see the towers rising over the buildings whether you take a bus, ferry, or monorail. Though it is partially obscured you know exactly what is going to be coming. As you get closer you lose sight and pass through one of the many turnstiles. Your excitement starts to build as you walk under the tracks of the Walt Disney World Railroad. Finally you are on Main Street USA in Town Square. You are so close you can almost taste it... though it could be the smell of that popcorn cart that is getting your mouth watering. Slowly you turn the corner and it is a straight shot down Main Street to Cinderella Castle. The sights, sounds, and smells add to your excitement which at this point is overwhelming. For a moment you wonder... could this be perfection?

Cinderella Castle stands 189 feet tall, making it twice the size of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland. It took 18 months to build and was modeled after real chateaus in France. Though the exterior of the castle looks to be made from brick and stone, there is not one actual brick or stone in the structure. As with most of Disney's architecture, steel and concrete make the illusion of a castle that was build in the 1500's.  There are a total of 27 towers on the castle numbered 1 to 29. Tower number 13 and tower number 17 were deleted when the Imagineers realized that these towers were not going to be visible from any point in the park. 


Of course we all know that no castle would be complete without a moat. Cinderella's moat contains somewhere in the order of 3.37 million gallons of water. In keeping with the castle theme, there of course needs to be a drawbridge. Unfortunately the one in Orlando is non-operational. California's has been raised and lowered in the past for certain celebrations, I believe twice in its history.


There have been quite a few rumors through the history of Cinderella Castle. One of which states that the castle can be disassembled if there was ever a threat of a severe hurricane. In order to take the castle apart, Disney would need months to unbolt the spires as well as a 300 foot crane. Since wind speeds could reach up to 110MPH a 300 foot crane would be more of a danger than an actual help. There were also rumors of a nuclear reactor as well as a missile silo under the castle. Right. Ridiculous. 

It was reported in the past that a section of the castle was to be set aside to build an apartment for Walt and his family. It was not until recent years that this was confirmed. During the Year of a Million Dreams celebration the Cinderella Castle Suite opened to lucky guests selected at random. While the interior of the suite is immaculate, the views offered are not the most amazing. Stained glass and obstructions of balconies make it tough to see some parts of the park. The suite of course comes complete with a flat screen HDTV, a garden tub and shower, and a glass slipper. 

A similar suite was built in Disneyland, but not in the castle. The Disneyland Suite was built in New Orleans Square above Pirates of the Caribbean. Walt had an apartment in the park, but it was above the fire station. When Walt died, they left the apartment as it was. Often when he was staying at the apartment he would switch on a small lamp in a window over looking town square. Today, that lamp is always on signifying to Cast Members and guests that Walt is in the park in spirit. 

TODAY IN WDW HISTORY:

1932 - (For the hell of it) Casey Kasem is born in Detroit, Michigan. 

1940 - Walter E. Disney receives patent #2,201,689 for the multiplane camera giving animation incredible dimensional depth. We will see an example in One Man's Dream, a walking exhibition about the history of Walt Disney.     

1983 - Card Walker steps down as chairman of Disney turning the job to Ray Watson. 

1986 - At EPCOT, the Good Turn Restaurant closes and reopens as Garden Grille. 

1989 - Cast Member previews are held for Disney's new water park, Typhoon Lagoon. It will open May 1. 

1989 - Disney - MGM Studios holds a press preview.

1989 - Disney - MGM Studios opens!

1989 - Pleasure Island also opens!

1990 - Mickey's Magical TV World show opens at Mickey's Starland in the Magic Kingdom.

1991 - Jim Henson's Muppetvision 3D premiers at Disney - MGM Studios.

1992 - American Express Travelport located in CommuniCore West closes. 

1994 - The first phase of Disney's All-Start Sports opens. This section is surf themed. 

1998 - The Wonderful World of Disney airs "Disney's Animal Kingdom: The First Adventure." The one-hour television special gives viewers a first look at the new park.  

2000 - Michael J. Fox adds his hand prints to the collection at Disney - MGM Studios. 

2004 - Michael Eisner makes Forbes' list of worst CEOs in America. 

2004 - Comcast announces that it has withdrawn its multi-billion dollar bid to buy the Disney Company. The bid was first announced in February.  

2006 - The New Mickey Mouse Clubhouse opens at Disney - MGM Studios. 

2007 - The new Project Tomorrow post show at Spaceship Earth opens. 

2009 - Kidani Village, a new Vacation Club location opens in "first phase".

2009 - Disney's Hollywood Studios celebrates its 20th anniversary. 

DAYS UNTIL OUR VACATION: 2