The Brilliant Reason Disney Kept Cinderella Castle at EXACTLY 189-Feet Tall

Disney’s icon was VERY precisely built.

Cinderella Castle is arguably the most famous structure in any Disney theme park. Despite being the second of Disney’s castles, the centerpiece of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is arguably the most well-known symbol of Disney’s theme park empire, being featured on merchandise (both official and not), and even the intro for the studio’s animated features, and in the background of millions of photos a year. However, while the structure towers over Main Street U.S.A., summoning guests to cross its bridge into Fantasyland, Cinderella Castle is not as big as it appears.

During the development of Disney World, the company’s Imagineers planned to make the Magic Kingdom much larger and grander in scale than its West Coast counterpart Disneyland. This extended to the park’s castle, which would be well over 100 feet taller than the Anaheim original’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.

In a press release from the late 1960s, the company stated the new castle “…emerged as a romanticized composite of such royal pleasure courts as Fontainebleau, Versailles and a dozen famed chateaux of the Loire Valley. Among them are Chenonceau, Chambord, and Chaumont…. These and many others combined with original Disney designs prepared 20 years ago…for Cinderella [1950]…”

However, while the castle was a grand edifice, Imagineers were careful to make sure it topped off at ONLY 189 ft.

Why?

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations require that any permanent or semi-permanent structure that stands over 200 ft. requires a red aircraft warning light at its peak. As the modern FAA states on its website, “In general any temporary or permanent structure, including all appurtenances, that exceeds an overall height of 200 feet (61m) above ground level (AGL), or exceeds any obstruction standard contained in 14 CFR Part 77, should normally be marked and/or lighted.  However, an FAA aeronautical study may reveal that the absence of marking and/or lighting will not impair aviation safety.  Conversely, the object may present such an extraordinary hazard potential that higher standards may be recommended for increased conspicuity to ensure safety to air navigation. Normally, outside commercial lighting is not considered a sufficient reason to omit recommended marking and/or lighting.  Recommendations on marking and/or lighting structures can vary depending on terrain features, weather patterns, geographic location, and in the case of wind turbines, number of structures and overall layout of design.  The FAA may also recommend marking and/or lighting a structure that does not exceed 200 (61m) feet AGL or 14 CFR Part 77 standards because of its particular location.”

To maintain the thematic integrity of the structure, as well as Main Street and Fantasyland, Imagineers made sure the castle stayed UNDER this imposed height. To make the castle appear larger, the traditional Imagineering tactics of forced perspective were used. These include the castle getting smaller as it gets taller, making the upper levels appear further away, and the buildings of Main Street being structured in such a way as to make the castle appear taller. In addition, a moat around the castle makes it appear taller.

The castle isn’t the only structure at Walt Disney World that was constructed in such a way. Both Expedition Everest and the Tower of Terror are also constructed to fall JUST underneath these regulations so they don’t require aircraft warning lights.

Cinderella Castle is one of Disney’s most iconic structures, and it was meticulously engineered in a way that ensured it would maintain its magical appearance while still adhering to FAA regulations. Stay tuned to AllEars for more on Disney’s obscure Imagineering facts.

“The Castle Comes Down For Hurricanes!”; Disney Adults Are Sharing the Most BIZARRE Things They Used To Believe About Disney World

 

Did you know about Cinderella Castle’s distinct height? Let us know in the comments below.

Post a Comment