Sleeping Beauty Castle reopened to guests this morning. The final walls came down as the castle re-opened for guests to walk through and inside of. Both the drawbridge and the walkthrough are now open for guests at the Disneyland Resort. The renovation and new look for the castle was spearheaded by Imagineer Kim Irvine.
Guests looking at the castle will notice that it looks a bit different than in recent years. This is not the first time the paint and look have changed for Sleeping Beauty Castle. Originally it was illustrated by Disney Legend and Imagineering Artist Herb Ryman in the 1950s.
“What’s interesting about this time is that we used an ages-old painting technique called atmospheric perspective to visually heighten the castle,” said Kim Irvine, art director at Walt Disney Imagineering. “We warmed the pink hues on the lower towers and gradually added blue to lighten the colors toward the top.”
The technique was also utilized on the castle roof. All 18 currents were digitally scanned to create a cohesive look and have the same roofline. In the middle, pixie dust was scattered to add extra magic.
“We focused the golden accents and pixie dust around the entrance to the castle, as though it has been magically enchanted,” said Irvine. Around Sleeping Beauty Castle the landscaping, pennants, and banners also were given magical new paint and lighting upgrades.
One added bonus to the reopening of Sleeping Beauty Castle revolves around a small Christmas tree found near the moat. This tree was planted and accompanied with a donation to Ryman Arts, a charity founded in Herb Ryman’s memory. This “Ryman Tree” remembers a Christmas tree owned by Herb Ryman that was planted near the castle after his death.
What do you think of the new look for Sleeping Beauty Castle and the area around it? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
