We Call it Imagineering: Castles, Storytelling and Innovation

Subsequent up on “We Name It Imagineering” we’re taking you behind the castles at Disney parks around the globe with the Imagineering workforce. Hear how these beloved icons usually are not solely beautiful landmarks, but in addition the image of Disney storytelling, innovation and artistry.  

Prepare and dream together with Imagineers as you watch episode 5 and see a breakdown under, highlighting chapters from this episode! 

That is the place Disney castles started. The 77-foot Sleeping Magnificence citadel evokes a way of surprise, desires, and aspirations for visitors as they start their descent down Principal Avenue, U.S.A. From the stained glass to the drawbridge, this iconic construction was modeled after a number of European medieval castles and made its official debut to the general public 70 years in the past at The Happiest Place on Earth when the gates first opened at Disneyland park. 

Now it’s possible you’ll be questioning, why was the citadel themed to Sleeping Magnificence as an alternative of Snow White–our first authentic princess from the animated function movie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs? 

Within the newest We Name it Imagineering episode, former Disney Imagineer, Tom Morris, shared that the Disney Studios have been producing Sleeping Magnificence throughout the design interval of the citadel. To assist promote the movie, Walt Disney thought it might be a beautiful thought to have the citadel at Disneyland be impressed by the beloved movie.  

Now step into the park with a citadel that’s extra French Renaissance than Medieval-themed. At Magic Kingdom, Cinderella Citadel stands tall at 189-feet tall with nods to European structure with Gothic touches all through and a Romanesque, fortress-like base.  

Our Imagineer workforce is at all times excited to seek out new methods to replace this beloved landmark that initially began with a cool grey colour palette and has obtained hotter tones through the years to showcase the final rays of daylight visitors see in Orlando.  

This house for leisure creates a beautiful house the place reveals come to life and the construction of the constructing can be utilized as a canvas for nighttime spectaculars like Fortunately Ever After. A efficiency that evokes an emotional connection, projection mapping on the outside of the citadel permits the Disney Stay Leisure workforce to deliver beloved characters like Peter Pan, Genie, Tiana and plenty of extra to visitors in an impactful means. 

Fairytale, distinctive, and storybook-like – these are the three phrases Tom used to explain the inspiration behind Sleeping Magnificence Citadel at Disneyland Paris. The pink landmark is constructed on a hillside, making a slender look, and makes use of the structure as an extension of the constructing. Like different landmarks, this citadel has been restored through the years by the identical artisans who labored on restoring Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris. 

Have you ever observed the square-shaped bushes which are on the hillside? This landscaping was impressed by Eyvind Earle’s artwork model within the movie. Further particulars from the beloved story come to life within the stained-glass storytelling all through the inside and La Tanière du Dragon—a dragon’s lair—beneath the citadel.  

In 2020, Hong Kong Disneyland grew to become the primary Disney park to have a citadel constructed on high of a citadel. You heard that proper! The Citadel of Magical Desires is an addition to the unique Sleeping Magnificence Citadel in honor of the park’s 15^th anniversary.  

The re-imagined look is impressed by 13 tales of cherished Disney Princesses and Queens, serving as a mosaic of various cultures with architectural inspirations from Europe, China, and Southeast Asia. 

Take an in depth take a look at the totally different spires and design parts throughout the outside. You’ll discover candy nods to those movies like lotus blossom flowers adoring a portion below a Mushu statue and an icy, blue-shingled roof that represents the story of Anna and Elsa.  

Now heading over to Japan, the Cinderella Citadel at Tokyo Disneyland is the primary worldwide citadel our Disney Imagineers tackled. Within the episode, we be taught that Cinderella was chosen for the inspiration for this landmark as a result of her kindness and powerful work ethic have been very related traits to the tradition in Japan.  

Now our final, and probably most advanced citadel, takes us to Shanghai. The Enchanted Storybook Citadel is our largest Disney icon, housing eating places, merchandise places, and two sights. 

We be taught within the episode, that the unique purpose of this citadel was to infuse extra Disney tales than ever earlier than whereas remaining distinctly Chinese language.  

On the ground subsequent to those murals, are additionally the Chinese language seasonal flowers that characterize these intervals. In accordance with Imagineer Ali Rubinstein, one other factor you received’t wish to miss is the carved Jade piece on the facet of the citadel, which can also be the background for character meet and greets. There are a variety of nice meanings behind Jade, and the workforce went to 4 totally different cities in China to seek out the proper piece for the Enchanted Storybook Citadel.  

So, what’s subsequent? Our Imagineers are at all times wanting in the direction of the longer term. Exploring new methods to reinforce these landmarks and considering of the subsequent huge factor like Walt. Within the upcoming years, they’ll be designing a brand new icon for the theme park coming to Abu Dahbi. And as Bruce Vaughn talked about, seeing how the surroundings we’ll form the design – probably incorporating water into the design of the citadel.   

Additionally, for the primary time, we’re taking the enduring citadel to the ocean with our latest Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Journey. Impressed by broader nature themes with refined nods to princesses like Moana, Rapunzel, and Anna and Elsa, this will likely be a citadel by no means finished earlier than.