Going to where your favorite fairy tale and cartoon characters live is the stuff magical dreams are made of.
So, it goes without saying that visiting Disneyland and Disney World are both amazing experiences. Yet, if you were to have a Disneyland castle vs. Disney World castle showdown, which one comes out on top?
Well, that’s what we’re here to find out!
It’s no secret that there’s not much better than walking down Main Street in either park and seeing a beautiful castle up ahead of you.
Make sure you get your picture with the Disney castles in the morning before the Disney parks get really crowded and busy.
Read on to learn about the similarities and differences between these castles in terms of their history, their size, and their interior and exterior features.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Cinderella Castle vs Sleeping Beauty Castle!
Overview
Before we dive into the details of each castle, let’s start with a trip down memory lane.
Disneyland Castle
The Disneyland Castle was built as a tribute to the beloved classic Disney fairytale princess Sleeping Beauty. Construction on Disney’s California theme park started at the end of 1953 and continued until it finally opened to the public on July 17th, 1955.
The castle’s architecture is largely derived from that of Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany and was built under the keen supervision of Walt Disney himself.
It is at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.
Walt Disney World Castle
Now let’s jump over to the East Coast, specifically Orlando, Florida where the Disney World Castle resides. This castle is home to another beloved Disney classic princess, Cinderella.
The Disney World Castle took 18 months to build and was ready for the public in October 1971. It recently celebrated it’s 50th anniversary!
Just like the Sleeping Beauty castle in Disneyland, the architects of Disney World Castle came up with the concept partly from Neuschwanstein Castle. They also drew inspiration from various other European castles, as well as mansions from other fictional stories.
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Height
When it comes to sheer size, Disney World Castle has a whopping advantage over its west coast counterpart.
The Magic Kingdom Disney World castle is a staggering 189 feet tall. The Disneyland castle is 77 feet tall.
The large gap between the heights of both castles is because Disney allocated a much larger budget when building the Disney World Castle. This allowed the engineers to pull out all the stops during construction.
Exterior
Moving on to the castle exteriors, you’ll find that both Disneyland and Disney World castles share a lot of similarities.
For example, both castles have predominantly blue roofs and towers. Additionally, the upper portion of both castles includes hints of gold.
The main structure of the two castles also looks pretty similar to one another on the surface. They both seem to be constructed using bricks.
However, it’s worth noting that the Disney World Castle isn’t made of bricks at all. It’s actually constructed using fiberglass fitted over steel and concrete.
Another difference between the facades is their color. The Disney World Castle is primarily gray and white except for the blue roof and towers mentioned above. On the other hand, Disneyland Castle features a variety of shades of pink.
The Disney World Castle makes up for its lack of color with the easily recognizable 13 gargoyles surrounding the structure. It also features 18 towers that give it a majestic aesthetic.
The Disneyland Castle also has towers, but not nearly as many.
Also, if you look closely, you’ll notice that one of the castle’s spires isn’t plated with gold.
It wasn’t left bare by mistake, but rather, on purpose, as a special request by Walt Disney himself. The rationale behind it was to symbolize that Disneyland would never be complete as long as there’s imagination in the world.
There’s one more distinction between these two castles. It’s the fact that the Disney World Castle has a staging area in front of it while the Disneyland Castle doesn’t.
This stage area is designated for shows that are put on from time to time by all of the beloved Disney characters. When there’s a show in progress, people gather around Main Street to take part in the live entertainment.
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Interior
Now that you’ve seen their exterior facades, you’re probably wondering what the insides of these magnificent castles have to offer.
Disneyland Castle’s interior has gone through quite a transformation over the years. What was once used as mere storage space by Disney has since evolved into a plethora of rooms with opulent designs and decor.
When you step into the castle, you can feast your eyes on some beautiful murals that chronicle the story of Sleeping Beauty. In addition, you’ll enjoy the sights of the medieval-themed banquet hall.
As for Disney World’s Castle, the main attraction inside is the beautiful stained glass windows that line the walls. You can also take a stroll down the walkthrough gallery adorned with a collection of exquisite mosaic murals that depict snapshots from the famous tale of Cinderella.
These mosaics are truly stunning works of art. In fact, it took two years of meticulous work by six artists for these highly detailed murals to come to life.
You’ll also come across a few small exhibits and activities inside the castle.
These include the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, where young kids can get a makeover and see what it’s like to be royal princes and princesses.
You can also enjoy meals at the castle’s restaurant, Cinderella’s Royal Table. In this restaurant, you can treat your taste buds to some delicious food and have Disney princesses visit your table, maybe even Cinderella herself!
The Walt Disney World resort has a Cinderella Castle Suite in its castle. You can’t rent it out though. It’s only available to people who win a stay in it.
Unfortunately, though, the inside of Disney World’s Castle doesn’t offer much else to visitors.
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Other Disney Castles
The Walt Disney Company also has Disney castles in Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland.
Tokyo Disneyland has Cinderella’s Castle and Beast’s Castle. Tokyo’s Cinderella Castle has a Fairy Tale Hall inside of it. The Disneyland Paris castle is called Le Château de la Belle au Bois dormant.
Hong Kong used to have a Sleeping Beauty Castle, but a few years ago it was redone and turned into The Castle Of Magical Dreams. Shanghai Disneyland has the tallest castle of all. It’s called the Enchanted Storybook Castle and is 196 feet tall.
The Disney parks without a castle are California Adventure, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney Studios Park, and Tokyo DisneySea.
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Conclusion
There aren’t many places in the world that are more magical than Disney theme parks. Whether Disneyland in California or Disney World in Florida, a visit to the Magic Kingdom is a real treat.
For starters, both have majestic castles with soaring towers. However, comparing Disneyland Castle vs. Disney World Castle, you’ll notice that each brings unique features that help make it the happiest place on Earth.
From their grand exteriors brimming with color and fine details, these castles will take your breath away even before you’ve had a chance to enter.
Then, as soon as you step inside, that’s when the real magic happens! You’re transported to a magical far away land, thanks to the stunning stained glass windows in Disneyland Castle or the vibrant mosaic murals of Disney World Castle.
Which do you like more between the Disneyland castle vs Disney World castle? There are things to love about both! I love the height of the Disney World castle more, but I love the colors and nostalgia of the Disneyland castle.
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