Sleeping Beauty's Castle Lament: Disneyland's Disappearing Castle Act

Seeing Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland, California, is pure magic.  Maybe a part of that magic is pure nostalgia, but it's part of the Disney Park experience.  Walk through the entrance, read the "Here You Leave Today" plaque over the archway, dance to Hello Dolly, Joplin, or the band, smile at Main Street USA's facade, and then marvel over the Castle.  Like, this is my pattern every time I enter the Disneyland Cali park. (Unless I'm saving time and hop on the monorail, which is sometimes a must).

Before going to the California Disney parks this last weekend I saw pictures of Sleeping Beauty's Castle all boarded up, picture in place, but nothing prepares you to seeing it in person.  I understand the need for repair and updates.  The park needs to stay fresh.  But it's not the same.  Heh, every time I saw the castle I would shake my head and think, "That's sad."

I just feel bad for those who are visiting Disneyland for the first, and possibly last time, due to the expense, and this is the view of the castle they get.

I don't know when the castle's refurbishment started, but the castle is supposed to be back in time for Star Wars Lands soft opening at the end of May.  A lot of the garden parts of the park are boarded up as well; I'm guessing new or freshened up landscaping.

I'm avoiding Disneyland this Summer and will be checking out Star Wars Land this Autumn.  It will still be crazy, but hopefully not as bad.  But seriously, how crazy uncomfortable will the parks be this Summer?  Disneyland is fun, and I don't mind crowds, despite being an introvert, but there is a point where too much is too much.

 Boarded up castle at the end of Main Street USA.

 The backside of the castle.

At least we know Prince Phillip is still vanquishing evil.

Oh, despite the castle being boarded up you can still walk through the castle to get to Fantasyland.  Just walk around the partition towards Fantasy Faire, hugging the wall, and you'll come through the other side next to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

 The boarded up castle acts as a good theater screen for the firework show.

And a note on the firework show, usually I recommend watching from the central area right in front of the castle.  For this latest show it's best experienced standing in between the stores on Main Street USA.  The projection on the buildings are cool, and they shine colored lights through bubble foam which is a really fun effect.  If the fireworks are canceled due to wind, this part of the show still proceeds.

Visiting Disneyland Paris

(April 2016)

A couple years ago I visited Disneyland Paris for the second time.  The first time I went I was in the 5th grade and Euro Disney, what it was once called, was only 3 months old and brand spanking new with crowds to match.  It was thrilling.

When we went there were a few sections closed in preparation for the 25th anniversary that happened last year.

Next door to Disneyland Paris is Walt Disney Studios Park, which is where the Ratatouille ride is.  We didn't go!!  Didn't properly do my research.  I wanted to ride the ride, as it's 3D with smell-a-vision, or whatever you want to call it, but the lines were long.  In hindsight I found out you can ride Ratatouille as a single rider, and park hopper tickets aren't that much more than a single park pass.  Live learn!

 "Here you leave today and enter worlds of history, discovery and ageless fantasy."

Love it.

Love entering the park to see a great band.  Adds to the magic.

 Main Street U.S.A. is styled more like the Magic Kingdom in Florida.

 My Mom's favorite Disney Character is Tinker Bell. :0)

 The Plaza Inn, Plaza Gardens Restaurant, is a buffet.

 Tomorrowland has a Steampunk vibe in the spirit of Verne and Wells.

 Space Mountain is quite different from its counterparts in other parks.  Inside the enclosed structure there's planets, a couple at least, and there's a loop and a spiral, so a more intense roller-coaster.  My Mom and Patou didn't want to go, so I did single rider.  The line was only a 10 minute wait.

 Next to Space Mountain is Les Mysteres du Nautiles, Jules Verne's ship.  We weren't sure what this was.  Would there be a ride at the end of this long line?  No, it's a walk though to see his ship with a giant squid like creature at the end.

 The clouds move in.

 Inside Sleeping Beauty's castle.

There's a place where you can go see the Dragon, but we couldn't figure out how to get there.

 The Forest of Enchantment, a show I don't think they're doing anymore.

I really enjoyed it.

 Somewhere there's a picture of me in front of this It's a Small World boat when I was a kid, so we wanted to get a picture in this spot.  Pretty special.

 The America section, which is quite large.

 I really like Disneyland Paris's version of It's a Small World.  It's the third version I've been on.  Disney World's was a disappointment.  Disneyland Anaheim, the original, will always be special and sentimental.  This version is almost tied for first place.

 I love this version of Sleeping Beauty's castle.

More like the film.

More enchanting.

Though the castle in California is just special.

Leaving the park where we drove back to Paris in the rain and Google Maps wouldn't connect.  A little scary, honestly.  A good day.  Next time, hopefully there is one, I really want to ride Ratatouille.

Photos by Sarah and Robin Stufflebeam