In the non-celluloid world, a forest of thorns has never inconvenienced King Stefan's Castle. At least not any of its replicas in Walt Disney theme parks worldwide.
Stefan's Castle, endeared to most as 'Sleeping Beauty's Castle,' was actually built before the movie was released. The structure publicly opened with the rest of Disneyland in Anaheim, California in July 1955, or more than three years before
Sleeping Beauty premiered. The movie had taken almost a decade to finish, and the park beat it to opening day.
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Sleeping Beauty Castle looks taller than its 77 feet. Via Tom.Bricker
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| See 3D dioramas of Sleeping Beauty's concept art as you meander through the upper passages. Via jdhilger |
In 1992, while the Disney animated movies were experiencing their Renaissance, a taller repro of Stefan's Castle rose in Disneyland Paris.
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| Faire attention! Watch out for the Maleficent robot in the dungeon. Via WJMcIntosh |
Locally known as
Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant, the structure moves Disney's Sleeping Beauty story closer to its European roots. Neuschwanstein Castle, the model for Sleeping Beauty's palace, is in fact located in nearby Bavaria.
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| Now this is the real Sleeping Beauty Castle. Via lucky.alvy |
Disney continued its park expansion eastward in 2005, when it opened Hong Kong Disneyland. Once again Aurora's castle, albeit a more sedately colored version, became the centerpiece.
Ironically, nothing about these castles will put visitors to sleep. Their beauty will certainly keep uninitiated tourists wakeful throughout their visit.
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