SECRETS & Rankings of the 6 Disney Castles Around the World

Which Disney castle ranks best among the 6 Disney theme parks around the world? Each Disney theme park has its own story with unique ways to sweep you off your feet from reality and into the world of fantasy. And although much of the layout of the parks is similar to each other, their castles allow them to stand out as the visual “weenie” that draws you in to explore the magic.

Each Disney castle has its own unique story, with unique-but-beautiful detailing, along with secrets that only a select few know of. This is exactly what makes ranking the Disney Castles so difficult – but as die-hard Disney fans who visit the domestic theme parks regularly, we just had to do it for you.

Read on for our ranking of the best Disney castles around the world and  the stories and secrets behind them!

6. Cinderella Castle – Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo Disney Resort

Starting off this list is Cinderella Castle in Tokyo Disneyland.

If you've ever visited Tokyo Disneyland, you'll find how beautiful and impressive Cinderella Castle is. However, if you've also been to Walt Disney World before, you'll find that each castle is nearly identical to each other. This is because the original plan for Tokyo Disneyland was to make a near-identical theme park to Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.

Given Disney's position and relationship with the Oriental Land Company in the early 1980's, I understand why they built Cinderella Castle as you see it today.

But while I do love the original design for Cinderella Castle, I also wish that Disney designed a different castle for Tokyo. Just like how Imagineers re-designed Sleeping Beauty Castle at Hong Kong Disneyland, I feel that Tokyo Disneyland's castle is long overdo for a makeover.

Regardless, there is an incredible attraction inside Tokyo's Cinderella Castle that sets it apart from Disney World's castle.

Cinderella Castle in Tokyo has Cinderella’s Fairy Tale Hall, an incredible walk-through depicting the story of Cinderella with various beautiful dioramas. Your walk-through culminates in a magnificent picture-perfect opportunity in the grand Throne Room, where you can pose with a glass slipper or sit on the Throne for a great photo-op.

5. Castle of Magical Dreams – Disneyland Park, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

Speaking of redesigns, Disney's redesign of Hong Kong Disneyland's castle is elaborate and incredibly well-done.

Instead of the castle representing just 1 Disney princesses, why not represent them all? Both thoughtfully and tastefully done, Castle of Magical Dreams is inspired by the courageous stories of Cinderella, Tiana, Aurora, Ariel, Mulan, Snow White, Moana, Merida, Belle, Rapunzel, Pocahontas, Jasmine, Anna, and Elsa.

Another aspect of this castle I like is how Imagineers integrated the surrounding land of Lantau Island into the castle itself.

Walt Disney Imagineers made sure to utilize the island’s beautiful mountains and greenery by adding elements of trees, shrubs, and vines growing at different levels to make it feel like a living castle. They also utilized a vibrant tropical color palette to make sure that the castle looks beautiful both alone and set against the background of Lantau Island’s lush green mountains.

However, I must admit that with all this thought and detail put into Castle of Magical Dreams, I can't help feeling that it's a bit over-the-top in detail and frankly just too much – which is why it's ranked lower on this list.

4. Enchanted Storybook Castle – Shanghai Disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland Resort

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As the largest Disney castle in history, Enchanted Storybook Castle at Shanghai Disneyland also celebrates the stories of the Disney princesses.

One of the aspects of Enchanted Storybook Castle that truly sets it apart from the other Disney castles is its closer design to Neuschwanstein Castle, the original attraction that set the standard for the domestic Disney castles. The inspiration can be seen especially in the castle's base, which is much wider than those of the other Disney castles.

While elegant and beautiful, I also can't help but feel that Enchanted Storybook Castle is too detailed and over-the-top.

I have to admit though, some of its design and detailing is quite incredible.

Take for example the golden peony atop the castle. While the peony is not the official national flower of China, many individuals in China informally recognize it as their national flower. In an effort to make Shanghai Disneyland “authentically Disney and Distinctly Chinese,” Disney imagineers made sure to intertwine Chinese culture and heritage into their Disney theming to create an incredible and unique experience for guests.

While this is a great touch to an elaborately-designed castle, its overall design still puts it lower on this list.

3. Cinderella Castle – Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World

If I told you that I live next to Disney World, you'd probably say, “of course you'd rank Cinderella Castle high on your list!”

Yet it's smack dab in the middle.

Previously as a Disneyland regular, I remember the first time I walked into Magic Kingdom and saw Cinderella Castle for the first time. I was in awe of its size and magnificence – the way it towered over me without feeling overwhelming. It's grand, yet inviting.

But what keeps Cinderella Castle higher up on this list is its simplicity.

Comparatively, it's not as elaborate as the some of the other castles. Its color scheme is simple, yet elegant. Despite its height, it's kept its charm because of these design choices.

Magic Kingdom's castle has 2 facts that I love sharing:

1. You may know of Cinderella’s Royal Table, the restaurant inside the castle. But did you know that the flags inside represent some of the biggest names in the Disney company? They include Marc Davis, John Hench, Marty Sklar, and members of the Disney family
2. At 189-feet tall, Cinderella Castle is the 2nd tallest structure in Disney World behind Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. At the time that the castle was constructed, federal aviation regulations dictated that any structure that stood 190-feet or taller needed to have a flashing light on top to warn aircrafts

2. Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant – Disneyland Park, Disneyland Paris Resort

The beautiful and magnificent castle in Disneyland Paris is absolutely everything to write home about.

Directly translated to “The Castle of the Beauty in the Sleeping Forest,” but known better in English as “Sleeping Beauty Castle,” Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant is a continuation of the castle in our number 1 spot on this list. Just like how the animated feature Sleeping Beauty featured the art of Eyvind Earle, Disney Imagineers took Earle's artistry and literally brought it to life in this castle.

This castle is both magnificent in design and out-of-this-world – because it literally came from Earle's painted artwork.

And while I have yet to visit Disneyland Paris, another aspect of this castle that I absolutely love is La Taniére du Dragon (“The Lair of the Dragon”), a walk-through attraction beneath the castle where you meet and experience Maleficent in her dragon form.

One of the most interesting facts about this castle relates to the stained glass windows in La Galerie de la Belle au Bois Dormant, a walk-through attraction inside the castle. These windows were artfully created by a master craftsman and took months to finish. According to The Imagineering Story, Peter Chapman worked on these windows – he’s also known for helping to restore the windows in famous landmarks like Notre Dame and Westminster Abbey.

Imagineers spared no detail when it came to designing this Disney castle!

1. Sleeping Beauty Castle – Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

It's hard to leave Sleeping Beauty Castle out of the number 1 spot on this list.

Yes, it's iconic. Yes, it's the original. Yes, it feels more home-y (other fans might call it too small, but I beg to differ). Yes, I might be biased because Disneyland is the Disney park I grew up with. But it's the only Disney castle that Walt Disney had a hand in designing and constructing. It's the culmination of Walt's love, dedication, and hard work to bring the magic to his guests. It's elaborate, yet feels simple and understated.

It really is the classic Disney castle.

There's 2 really interesting facts I want to share about Sleeping Beauty Castle.

1. Believe it or not, Sleeping Beauty Castle utilizes a fully functional drawbridge that’s only ever been raised and lowered twice. The first was on Disneyland’s opening day, when a group of children ran across the drawbridge for their first time walking into Fantasyland. The second time was in 1983 for the grand opening of the reimagined Fantasyland.
2. The 2nd story was told by the late and great Disney historian Jim Korkis. According to Korkis, when designing Sleeping Beauty Castle, Herb Ryman temporarily rotated his 3D model so the top half of the castle was backwards. Moments later, Walt Disney walked into his workroom and Herb hastily tried to rotate his model back. However, Walt saw it and reportedly said, “Oh, I like that a lot better.”

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