Last month we shared that refurbishment walls had been put up around the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland.
Walls up around Sleeping Beauty Castle
We already knew that Sleeping Beauty Castle would maintain its classic color scheme of warm pink and bright blue while it underwent some needed repair work. But Disney has revealed that the Castle will also receive a subtle sprinkling of “pixie dust.”
Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle
The Castle refurbishments are part of Project Stardust which will involve “a number of enhancements” to the entire Disneyland Resort — and in particular Disneyland park– in an effort to “continue to deliver a world-class guest experience.” These will involve beautification of the park to maximizing the comfort level for guests. This is intended to result in greater enjoyment of the classic Disneyland experience while simultaneously preparing the park for “its next phase of significant growth, starting with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, where tradition meets a new frontier.”
©Disney from @DisneyParks on Twitter
Parts of the project which are underway or already completed include curbs on Main Street U.S.A. enhanced with slow inclines to improve guest access upon entering the park, new brickwork, and a full replacement of the horse-drawn streetcar track. In Fantasyland, queues have been reconfigured for Matterhorn Bobsleds, “it’s a small world” and Dumbo the Flying Elephant. The recent addition of The Tropical Hideaway is also a part of the efforts, welcoming guests “to a brand new area that was previously underutilized.”
Disneyland’s Matterhorn
Additional work includes the adjustment of planters and outdoor vending cart placements to create more walking room and more efficient stroller parking. More overall seating will be added around the park, too.
To cap off this discussion of Project Stardust, Disney has shared a video about the work being done on Sleeping Beauty Castle. Note that Disney Imagineer Kim Irvine shares that during the refurb, guests will be able to take pictures in front Herb Ryman’s first rendering of Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
Hi AJ and the team. Can I ask when the construction walls to the castle will come down? I dont think i saw a date. Thanks for your help.
Jo, the only official line is “spring 2019”, but we’ll keep you updated!
I went to Disneyland on Saturday, February 2, 2019 (and, fortunately for me, it was not my only visit to Disneyland). The weather was DOWNRIGHT AWFUL (it was cold, it was windy, and it rained most of the day) and the castle was “blocked off” (obviously, it was a terrible day for taking pictures around the park, especially around the castle). Regardless, I got to experience something that most people on Earth never will: a NEARLY EMPTY Disneyland (on a Saturday, of all things)!!!!! I rode each and every single ride in the park (not a single ride was closed for refurbishment), and I even rode some of the rides more than once. I basically walked on to most of the rides (I only had to wait in an actual line for “space mountain”, “matterhorn”, “peter pan”, and “indiana jones”, but even then, I only waited around 10 minutes). The boat on “small world” was totally flooded inside, the rain felt like bullets on “matterhorn”, “big thunder”, and “gadget coaster”, and I had to wait until right before park closing to ride “alice in wonderland”, so I did not get to see daylight during the “outside portion” of the ride (it was shut down most of the day, except for like the last 10 minutes), but besides that, I had the absolute best day ever at Disneyland, hands down!!!!!