Cinderella দুর্গ and Wishing Well

I've written many posts about the various attractions in ডিজনি theme parks based around the films I've been watching. Some have been prominent rides such as Snow White's Scary Adventure অথবা Pinocchio's Daring Journey. Others have been obscure areas such as the Fantasia golfing attraction অথবা ephemeral like Bambi's presence in the parks. Some have merely been meet and greets.

Cinderella, however, is a film whose impact on ডিজনি theme parks is huge. It forms, after all, the centre-piece of ডিজনি World itself - Cinderella's Castle; a massive structure visible for miles around the Magic Kingdom and the hub of the theme park. Cinderella's দুর্গ is also the দুর্গ at the centre of Tokyo Disneyland. Although Cinderella's দুর্গ is replaced দ্বারা other princess's abodes in the other parks, this central দুর্গ প্রতীকী is key to Disney's image.

Cinderella's দুর্গ is an impressive and emotional sight for many visiting ডিজনি World. It's iconic white and blue colouring stands out as guests walk down main রাস্তা and dominates the Fantasyland area. Because the front of the দুর্গ hosts the staging area for many of the high পরিলেখ shows and because of its importance to the nightly fireworks show, it is possible for some guests to not actually walk through the দুর্গ on their way to Fantasyland. If visitors do, they are greeted দ্বারা a series of mosaics on the walls of the passageway through. These depict the story of Cinderella. Oddly, though, the style is reminiscent of Renaissance art and is much আরো like the style of Disney's Sleeping Beauty than it is Cinderella. They are beautiful though. The passageway also hosts the entrance to an exclusive area of ডিজনি World, Cinderella's দুর্গ Suite. This is a luxurious suite that guests can stay in, themed around Cinderella. The detailing is exquisite but it isn't somewhere that many guests get to visit, let alone stay in. A stay in the suite is দ্বারা invitation only.

Near সিন্ড্রেলা দুর্গ is Cinderella's Wishing Well. The Wishing Well reflects the theming seen in Cinderella's দুর্গ Suite with a large C and the metalwork and carvings depicting the birds and mice familiar from the film. It is situated in a small, secluded patio area with a bench for resting your feet and soaking in a view of the দুর্গ towering above. It's a beautiful spot.

The Tokyo Disneyland version of Cinderella's দুর্গ is a near replica of its Florida counterpart, right down to the mosaics. However, it also hosts the entrance to a walkthrough attraction - Cinderella's Fairy Tale Hall. Prior to that, it hosted a similar attraction: সিন্ড্রেলা দুর্গ Mystery Tour - both of which I'll examine আরো in separate posts.

Through the years, Cinderella's দুর্গ has been redressed for various events including as a giant birthday cake and covered in toilet paper, ostensibly at the hand of Stitch. But whatever it looks like, whether as the sun rises in the morning as guests enter the park অথবা lit up দ্বারা fireworks, with ডিজনি characters projected across it's surface at the nightly shows, the সিন্ড্রেলা দুর্গ will remain one of ডিজনি World's most iconic attractions.

Cinderella's Fairy Tale Hall

In 2011, a new attraction opened inside the সিন্ড্রেলা দুর্গ at Tokyo Disneyland. Formerly the area had been host to the সিন্ড্রেলা দুর্গ Mystery Tour which featured elements from a number of different ডিজনি films and focussed quite heavily on the villains. I'll look at that attraction, briefly, in another post. The current attraction, however, is 100% Cinderella.

Cinderella's Fairy Tale Hall is a walkthrough attraction. Guests are welcomed into a lift দ্বারা cast members dressed as page boys. The lift is simply decorated with pale colours. On stopping, guests emerge into a large antechamber, the walls of which, on one side, ভালুক artwork depicting the prologue of সিন্ড্রেলা including familiar প্রতিমূর্তি such as Lady Tremaine, along with আনাস্তেসিয়াa and Drizella looking down on সিন্ড্রেলা and her father. On the other wall, we see সিন্ড্রেলা in her life of servitude to her stepfamily - one picture has a great depiction of my personal favourite character, Lucifer, after he has just put muddy pawprints all over Cinderella's freshly-washed floor; his expression is priceless. Each picture has a short passage telling the story (in both English and Japanese).

Leaving this chamber through a curtained doorway, guests advance down a short passage (passing under a simple chandelier), through another curtained doorway and into a larger, hexagonal room with a beautiful blue ceiling. A stained glass window lets natural light into the room and on some of the walls are small displays of scenes from Cinderella. What's odd about these, is that they ভালুক no relation to the style অথবা depiction of characters from the ডিজনি film. Rather they seem like various artists interpretations of elements of the story, such as সিন্ড্রেলা sitting with Jaq and Gus (neither of whom look anything like their movie counterparts). One display is based আরো closely on the film and this one shows the mice and birds creating Cinderella's পরাকাষ্ঠা dress for the ball. This display is really rather sweet with a mechanism which allows bluebirds to fly around the dress with swirling ribbons whilst Jaq and Gus moving up and down on threads either side. It's a lovely 3D representation of a fun scene from the film.

A সেকেন্ড hexagonal room continues to hold small displays in varying styles, including one rather sombre piece depicting the fairy godmother and a kneeling সিন্ড্রেলা and a sharp, angular piece প্রদর্শিত হচ্ছে সিন্ড্রেলা arriving at the ball. A third display, again matching the original's film artwork as with the dress scene, uses mirrors to প্রদর্শনী the fairy godmother transforming Cinderella, the কুমড়া and mice into her beautiful dress and horse-drawn carriage.

A third hexagonal room continues the story in small displays, including one প্রদর্শিত হচ্ছে the Prince and সিন্ড্রেলা twirling around the dance floor (with the King and Duke watching from above) and a piece of metallic sculpture প্রদর্শিত হচ্ছে সিন্ড্রেলা trying on the glass slipper.

Visitors then সরানো into yet another room, this one adorned with huge paintings of scenes not seen in the film such as সিন্ড্রেলা arriving at the palace after the slipper fit her foot and then being crowned দ্বারা the King. There are also depictions of the closing wedding scene from the film including a wedding party painting with the Prince and সিন্ড্রেলা in the middle, flanked দ্বারা the King and Duke on one side and the Fairy Godmother and mice on the other. This room leads into a larger, even আরো impressive chamber with a higher vaulted ceiling, impressive chandelier and curtained alcoves around the room. Against one দেওয়াল stands a canopy and a সিংহাসন for guests to sit in and have photos. There's also a small মল in front of which sits a glass slipper to try your luck on.

Most intriguing in this room are a couple of paintings which have hidden প্রতিমূর্তি in them which, apparently, only appear if আপনি take a photograph of them - the hidden image will appear in your photograph.

After this room, guests exit back into the park.

Visiting Tokyo Disneyland is a bit of a pipe dream for my wife and I but if we're lucky one দিন I'll get to visit Cinderella's Fairy Tale Hall. It looks beautiful and as সিন্ড্রেলা has become a ডিজনি film for which I have a bit of a newfound appreciation, its an attraction I think I'll enjoy. I also like the fact it's walkthrough meaning that, within reason, আপনি can take your time to absorb all the details unlike the rides such as Snow White's Scary Adventure অথবা Pinocchio's Daring Journey where details whip past so quickly আপনি don't have time to appreciate them.

Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

Who doesn't প্রণয় a carousel? The classic fairground ride which I'm sure everyone has ridden at some point in their life. Painted ঘোড়া বিষয়ক rise up and down as the carousel spins elegantly around. রাস্তা organ versions of familiar songs play as the carousel turns and turns.

Walt ডিজনি World's version of the carousel is no different. Formerly known as Cinderella's Golden Carrousel, it is now named after her husband - Prince Charming Regal Carrousel.

What is kind of sweet is that the ride hasn't just been renamed - the Imagineers have invented a whole new backstory for the attraction:

“Following their fairy-tale romance and happily-ever-after wedding, সিন্ড্রেলা and Prince Charming took up residence in Cinderella’s Castle. With peace throughout the kingdom, Prince Charming had time to practice for jousting tournaments. In the countryside near the castle, he built a training device of carved horses, on which he could practice the art of ring-spearing, a tournament event in which a knight rides his horse full speed, lance in hand, toward a small ring hanging from a বৃক্ষ limb, with the object of spearing the ring. This event was known দ্বারা various names throughout the lands, but generally came to be called ‘carrousel.'

The carrousel device drew the attention of the villagers, who wanted to take a turn on this amazing spinning contraption. So Prince Charming had a সেকেন্ড carrousel constructed closer to the Castle, where everyone could take a spin on this wondrous invention. Instead of a working knight’s training device, however, this new carrousel is আরো befitting its regal location in the দুর্গ Courtyard – its rustic training ঘোড়া বিষয়ক replaced with ornately decorated prancing steeds adorned with golden helmets and shields, ফুল garlands, feathers and other festoons. Prince Charming invites one and all to test their horsemanship skills and to enjoy their own happy ending.”

The carousel is beautifully decorated. The ঘোড়া বিষয়ক have a variety of colour schemes: reds, blues, yellows, oranges, greens. The central column is decorated in a diamond pattern, with mirrors reflecting the guests astride their steeds. Lights run along the edges of the carousel's roof.

Around the outside of the roof are painted scenes from the story of Cinderella.

The carousel itself is housed with a wider, medieval tent-like structure topped with flags and a large cone structure in the centre.

This carousel ride has existed at the park, in various forms, from pretty much the beginning making it one of the oldest attractions at ডিজনি World.

In Tokyo Disneyland, দুর্গ Carrousel is a very similar ride, including similar decoration and the সিন্ড্রেলা প্রতিমূর্তি around the শীর্ষ of the attraction. At Hong Kong Disneyland there is yet another iteration of the ride named, rather bluntly, সিন্ড্রেলা Carousel. The tent structure covering of this ride is slightly different to the other two - it lacks the cone structure at it's centre, but it also includes scenes from সিন্ড্রেলা around the roof and similar decorations on the ride.

There's not a lot else to say about this classic ride apart from the fact that it will always be a ride we spend time on, as my daughter loves a carousel. Simple and unthrilling it may be, but it's a classic and a mainstay of the parks - even those without a 'Cinderella' version still have carousels at the হৃদয় of Fantasyland.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

The Fairy Godmother from Cinderella, is also a quite prominent figure at a number of locations. She is the 'owner' of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. There are a number of boutiques at different locations including ডিজনি World, ডিজনি Springs, Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland. There's even a boutique available on the ডিজনি Wonder cruise ship.

At the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, girls can become princesses and boys can become knights. The Fairy Godmother's 'fairy godmother's in training' transform girls with pretty dresses, hair and make-up and a scattering of glitter (all for a pretty price...).

Whilst I imagine this is a জনপ্রিয় attraction for girls, I'm not convinced as many boys would opt for the 'be a knight' package.

Dressing up will always be জনপ্রিয় with boys and girls, though, and despite the hefty $200 price tag for the full package, I'm sure this attraction is usually busy.

It's not an attraction I ever think we'll partake in, simply for the fact that the extra price on শীর্ষ of what is already an expensive holiday, makes this very unappealing.

Cinderella's Royal Table

Cinderella's Royal টেবিল is an expensive টেবিল service restaurant located inside the সিন্ড্রেলা দুর্গ at ডিজনি World. It's the sort of restaurant that আপনি need to reserve well ahead of your visit and involves paying up front for আপনি to then choose, on the day, from various set menus (depending on if আপনি are eating breakfast, lunch অথবা dinner).

Before entering the restaurant itself, আপনি will be received দ্বারা সিন্ড্রেলা herself in the grand hall. The building looks and feels like a medieval castle/cathedral with high, vaulted ceilings, archways and wooden beams.

After meeting Cinderella, guests are summoned দ্বারা chiming bells and আপনি advance upstairs (either দ্বারা steps অথবা lift) to the restaurant itself.

Here আপনি will see an arrangement of tables in a sort of circular-shaped room. It has flags hanging from the ceiling and various shields adorning the walls.

Whilst eating, guests can also meet other princesses such as Jasmine, Ariel, Snow White and Aurora. If আপনি are lucky enough to get a window seat, your view looks out across Fantasyland and, in particular, the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel and Sir Mickey's which fits rather nicely with the medieval, fairy tale vibe for the restaurant.

Mousecellaneous

Cinderella, and its associated characters, is a film with a large presence across all the ডিজনি parks.

Meet and greets with সিন্ড্রেলা herself are regular occurences across the parks at venues such as Cinderella's Royal টেবিল and the Princess Fairytale Hall (at ডিজনি World); the Princess Pavillion and Auberge de Cendrillon (Disneyland Paris); her Wishing Well at Hong Kong Disneyland and even, on rare occasions, in the France area of Epcot.

Alongside সিন্ড্রেলা আপনি may be lucky enough to also meet her husband Prince Charming. He may be seen at Auberge de Cendrillon at Disneyland Paris অথবা at the Grand Floridian's 1900 Park Fare dinner. He is, of course, often seen accompanying সিন্ড্রেলা on many a parade at the various parks.

For me, some of my favourite characters are the ডিজনি villains and Cinderella's horrid stepmother and stepsisters can often be seen flouncing around the parks pretending they are আরো important than they actually are. One time আপনি can be sure to see Lady Tremaine is around Hallowe'en.

Sadly, Gus and Jaq are not often available to meet and greet in the various parks. Their friends, though, Suzy and Perla are regular attendees at Auberge de Cendrillon at Disneyland Paris. Suzy also often appears at the World Bazaar at Tokyo Disneyland.

Cinderella's kind benefactor, the Fairy Godmother occasionally meets and greets in both ডিজনি World (behind the সিন্ড্রেলা Castle), Disneyland and occasionally in Tokyo Disneyland (near the carousel).

And meet and greets aren't the only place. When we visited Disneyland Paris a few years ago, the Fairy Godmother was on a parade float with other magical characters such as Merlin. Many of the other characters feature in various parades and indeed, Cinderella's কুমড়া coach is a spectacular part of the Main Stree Electrical Parade.

Shanghai Disneyland is the newest theme park and it features a rather oddly-named window-service snackery: Fairy Godmother's Cupboard. Here আপনি can purchase a pepperoni pizza, a pineapple sundae অথবা a variety of drinks including the intriguing Bibbidi Bobbid Brew.

সিন্ড্রেলা is also featured in a number of attractions which draw on different films for their inspiration including the Storybook Land Canal Boats (although only in the Disneyland version); the now defunct সিন্ড্রেলা দুর্গ Mystery Tour featured সিন্ড্রেলা and Lady Tremaine; Cinderella, in her rags, appears in the France area of It's a Small World at Disneyland, accompanied দ্বারা Jaq and Gus. I've also seen প্রতিমূর্তি of সিন্ড্রেলা (in her blue dress) and Prince Charming but I can't seem to identify which iteration of the attraction they appear in (it's possible the Disneyland Paris version, but I can't be sure). Gus and Jaq even used to play the পিতলের বড় বাঁশি in the now defunct Mickey মাউস Revue.


Cinderella, and other characters, often feature in the many shows and firework displays, performed at the parks: Lady Tremaine, for example, often features in the various Hallowe'en extravaganzas. Some of these are even named after সিন্ড্রেলা such as Cinderella's Surprise Celebration and Cinderellabration: Lights of Romance. There is even a unique stage sequel to সিন্ড্রেলা only performed aboard the ডিজনি Cruise Line - Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the সিন্ড্রেলা Story. Some of these shows I plan on examining in further blog posts.

সিন্ড্রেলা is such an iconic film and such an important part of the ডিজনি experience that, whichever park আপনি visit, you're sure experience a little bit of magic courtesy of সিন্ড্রেলা and her many বন্ধু (and enemies). Now, organise me a meet and greet with Lucifer and I'll be a happy man.