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Cinderella's Castle Transformation at Magic Kingdom
If you have visited Magic Kingdom, at Disneyworld, Orlando, you will undoubtedly have spent much time admiring and photographing Cinderella’s wonderful castle, which dominates the skyline as you walk down Main Street, USA. It is the backdrop for the amazing firework and laser show, ‘Wishes, ’ each night, and over the years has been decorated to celebrate many events. Recently it has seen the construction of Cinderella’s Castle Suite hidden within its walls, and occupied by lucky guests who are chosen at random during the ‘Year of a Million Dreams’ promotion – which has now been extended to include 2008.
The first time I saw Cinderella’s Castle at Magic Kingdom I was delighted by its fairytale magical appearance. Who could not be enchanted by seeing this Disney icon? Well this year, for Christmas, Disney has transformed it further by adding a fantastic new lighting spectacle. As dusk creeps over the park and the shadows lengthen, Cinderella’s Castle takes on a more magical aura, as now Disney have added more than 200, 000 tiny white bulbs, which bathe the castle in a diamond necklace of glistening and twinkling lights. It is almost as if Jack Frost has nipped down and cast his frosty fingers over the parapets and turrets, making it shimmer as if dusted by millions of ice crystals.
From November 12th, and just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday period, the castle turns into a shimmering ice palace, adding to the park’s winter wonderland theme. To create this wonderful spectacle Disney took 5 weeks, and 2 cranes were used to lower the bulbs into place. There are 15 miles of cables which support 32, 000 square feet of fishing nets which support 200, 000 energy-efficient LED’s. These are interspersed with 500 strobes.
Every night at 5. 45 the unlit castle will form the backdrop of the ‘Show Before the Glow, ’ which stars Disney characters, including the Fairy Godmother. Mickey, Minnie and the gang appear and dance to holiday music but they are worried that although Main Street, USA is full of festive lights, the castle is dark and unadorned. The problem is what to do about it. The Fairy Godmother, Cinderella and Prince Charming all agree that the castle should sparkle in the same way that her glass slippers do.
Guests join in to make her wish come true, and with a wave of the Fairy Godmother’s wand the castle suddenly and magically transforms into a glistening spectacle. This metamorphosis is dazzling and proves yet again that Disney is the master of enchantment. It is certainly one thing which I can’t wait to see for myself at Christmas.
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