Today is a special day in history. Today is Disneyland Park’s 68th anniversary. Today is the day that Walt Disney made his dreams come true. When Disneyland opened, there were a few opening day landmarks that are still around today. One of them was the Main Street Station and another one was Sleeping Beauty Castle sitting pretty at the end of Main Street.
Sleeping Beauty Castle is not just some castle sitting at the end of a street. Sleeping Beauty Castle is an absolute icon. Along with Mickey, this castle is the face of the entire company. It is used in company logos and is the backdrop for fireworks shows and so much more.
The castle evokes happiness, joy, and hope. Every time I see the castle, I get filled with so much joy and I instantly smile from ear to ear. During the holidays, the castle is even more magical.
Sleeping Beauty Castle is extra special because it is the only version of any castle in any Disney park that was overseen by Walt Disney himself. There are multiple versions of the Sleeping Beauty Castle. One, which was an exact replica of Disneyland’s, was built in Hong Kong, and another which is larger than the other two is in Disneyland Paris. The Hong Kong version got redesigned and rebuilt into the larger Castle of Magical Dreams.
The castle reaches a height of 77 feet and includes one attraction. That attraction is called The Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough and is a walkthrough of the castle that includes scenes from Sleeping Beauty. The castle uses a forced perspective technique to make it feel larger than it actually is in person.
During major anniversaries and holidays, the castle gets temporary overlays. Each Christmas, the castle gets icicles and a new lighting package. During the 50th anniversary, the castle was decked out in gold. During the 60th, it was decked out in blue, and during the current 100 Years of Wonder celebration, it is decked out in Platinum and has two new fountains in its moat.
No matter how much Disneyland changes or grows, Sleeping Beauty Castle will still be there to bring delight and hope to all guests. My girlfriend had this to say about the castle and how it makes her feel, “When I look at it, I feel the same passionate desire to be a princess like I did when I was a little girl.”
This castle truly is a beacon of hope and happiness in the world.
Happy Birthday Disneyland and Happy Birthday Sleeping Beauty Castle, we love you!
What does Sleeping Beauty Castle mean to you? How do you feel when you see it? What is your favorite Disneyland memory? Let us know in the comments below!
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Ethan Becker is a columnist for the Boardwalk Times
