Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella Castle

Magic Kingdom‘s impressive castle was designed by Imagineer Herb Ryman, the same person who designed the original Disney castle: Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Park. Ryman based the new design on the one seen in the 1950 animated classic film with additional influences from Neuschwanstein Castle and other real European castles.

A representation of the Disney family coat of arms can be found on the center balcony on the castle’s Fantasyland facing side. The official Coat of Arms consists of three gold fleur-de-lis on a red fess (representing purity), a crest with a red lion passant-guardant (representing bravery or courage), and the motto Vincit qui patitur meaning: He conquers who endures. The emblem used on the castle is a custom design featuring the lion symbol. Similar emblems can be found on its clone castle in Tokyo Disneyland and on Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland.

A close-up of the Disney family coat of arms on Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom Park

Inside you can find forty additional coats of arms displayed around Cinderella’s Royal Table, a restaurant on the second floor. These flags represent key people involved with the development and design of Walt Disney World including Imagineer Marc Davis, John Hench, and Marty Sklar among others.

Inside of Cinderella’s Royal Table. Photo by davef3138 on Flickr

This castle also makes a brief easter-egg style cameo in Lilo & Stitch (2002) on a gift shop postcard while the titular characters explore their town.

Sharp-eyed fans can spot a familiar castle in this scene from Lilo & Stitch (2002). Image ©Disney

Cinderella has one other full-scale castle in a Disney Park, a near replica of this one which can be found in Tokyo Disneyland. 

Be sure to take a look at the other iconic Disney Parks castles:

This location is mentioned in our blog post: A Photo Tour Of The BoardWalk’s Hidden Disney Castles

Official Information: WaltDisneyWorld.com

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