It isn’t hyperbole to say that Walt Disney World’s Cinderella Castle is one of the most iconic buildings in the world. It is also one of the most photographed. That being said, fans have a lot of opinions about how it looks. Last year, at Destination D23, it was announced that it would be getting a refreshed look that was inspired by the rich legacy that this castle has. This refreshed look wasn’t just about the past, however. It was also about current and future guests. Thankfully, this announcement and refreshed look were met with resounding enthusiasm by those in attendance at Destination D23. This sentiment was echoed by fans around the world as the news spread.
Earlier this year, work began on the repainting of Cinderella Castle. This is something that happened through the combination of multiple people and teams. This includes the teams from Walt Disney Imagineering, Facility Asset Management (FAM), and partners in Disney Live Entertainment, Project Development, Operations, and PhotoPass teams. They came together with creative intent and precise execution to make this project come to life.
One of the people who was a part of this project is Nathan, the Associate Project Manager with FAM. For him, this project was very personal. He started his Disney career as an intern just a few years ago. His job is to help maintain the magic across Walt Disney World. During the refreshing of the castle over the last few months, Nathan has helped oversee the repainting of the castle. This is a project that is now completed. While it was still active, he was guiding his teams on one of the most visible projects at Walt Disney World and the Disney community.
“Not every day you are told, ‘Hey, you’re going to change the look of one of the most iconic buildings Disney has,’” Nathan explained. “That excitement hit immediately, and then very quickly, the weight of it.”
Today, guests can take pictures of the completed and refreshed Cinderella Castle. The work to get to this point behind-the-scenes was anything but simple.
Returning to a Classic Look
This newly completed paint scheme looks absolutely beautiful. The colors were selected by Walt Disney Imagineering to bring the Castle back to a more classic look. These colors were chosen to reflect the Florida sunshine in a way that has a magical appearance. This makes the Castle shimmer and shine from every angle, while it also emphasizes the architectural details.
“Presented with the opportunity to introduce a new color palette, it was important for us to consider the history and heritage of our beautiful Castle,” said Chris, Senior Creative Director with Walt Disney Imagineering. ”We took our inspiration from that classic vision of the Castle in 1971 by selecting elegant shades that lean into the element of fantasy. To highlight the architectural details of the Castle, we used deep blue roofs, stonework, and graceful gold trim to celebrate the details and whimsy of our park icon.”
This design process took a lot of work. It included historical research, collaboration, and careful planning. This was to ensure that the final result would feel both refreshed and familiar.
Getting Started
First things first, the FAM team had to take on one of the biggest logistical challenges of the project: the draining of the hundreds of gallons of water in the Castle moat.
“Probably one of the most difficult parts of this project was getting into the moat,” Nathan explained. “The moat had to be completely drained so we could safely work in there.”
This led to the construction of temporary dams. Once the water level dropped, the team then cleaned the moat so that work could proceed safely and efficiently. Once this was done, large booms were lifted into place in the moat so the work of painting the Castle could begin.
A big difference for this project was that the FAM cast members would not be hidden. The Cinderella Castle refresh happened in the full view of guests as the refreshed look came to life. To allow guests to still get their perfect picture of Cinderella Castle, the teams worked together with the operation to create a schedule for the project where the cranes would be lowered and moved aside and out of sight each day at noon.
Over the course of several weeks, painters suited up in safety harnesses and protective equipment, were hoisted up to 150 feet into the air where they carefully painted each piece of trim, wall, and roof of the iconic Castle with small brushes and rollers. One of the final pieces of the painting project happened when crews were able to paint the top of the Castle, normally a view that only Tinker Bell gets to see.
The Cinderella Castle project has been a career-defining moment for Nathan during his time at Disney.
“Five years ago, I was not even working for Disney yet,” he shared. “Now I drive into work and get to say I helped manage the work on Cinderella Castle. That’s something I’ll carry with me forever. It’s truly a dream come true, and it gets me excited about the potential of what else I can do while working here.”
This entire project continues to be a reminder that while Cinderella Castle may feel timeless, it is something that takes constant care to keep it magical. This takes collaboration and teamwork. Cast members are the ones who bring Disney’s most beloved icons and destinations to life. It is this combination that brings these things to life and makes Disney so different than anywhere else!
The full process can be seen in the newest episode of Disney Unscripted. Take a look here:
What do you think of the Cinderella Castle project? What do you think of the new, refreshed look? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
