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Credit: Zach RiddleyCinderella Castle is currently undergoing a transformation at Magic Kingdom to get ready for the 50th anniversary celebrations at the Walt Disney World Resort, and although the decorations look simple, dainty, and delicate — Disney has done a lot more work to ensure that these shimmering decorations are much more durable than they look.
The state of Florida experiences hurricanes quite often — with hurricane season typically starting in the summer and lasting into the fall — so ensuring that any decoration on Cinderella Castle is securely in place is very important. Considering the castle will be decked out in 113 fabricated pieces, of course, Disney has had to ensure that those pieces will not come crashing down, no matter how bad the storm.
The Orlando Sentinel recently spoke with Elaine Schomburg-LaFleur, a senior project manager at Disney World who is responsible for creating each of the new decorations. In the interview, Elaine noted that the added pieces can “handle any hurricane.” Because the 50th anniversary celebrations — The World’s Most Magical Celebration, as Disney has described — begin on October 1 and last 18 months, it is critical that the fabrications can withstand the Florida weather.
Cinderella Castle as a whole was also constructed to be able to withstand any hurricane. The Magic Kingdom centerpiece is made up of gypsum, plaster, and fiberglass, and contrary to what some may think, nothing needs to ever be removed from the castle during a hurricane, not even the spires! This is something we have seen proven with hurricane Dorian, hurricane Irma, hurricane Mattew, and many other tropical storms.
Walt Disney World Resort as a whole is actually one of the safest places to be if you ever find yourself in Central Florida during a hurricane. Disney World Resorts are all built to withstand any storm and have backup power supplies to ensure that Guests are always feeling immersed in the magic of the resort’s theme, and not thinking about the terrible weather outside. They do this so well that many locals even book a stay at a Disney Resort when they know a bad hurricane is on the way. So, if you are visiting Disney World during hurricane season, rest assured that your Disney Resort hotel will keep you safe and warm if any bad storms hit Orlando during your trip.
It seems that Cinderella Castle still has a long way to go before all the 113 pieces are up, and a lot more work needs to be done — including bringing in a crane and other equipment to install all of the 50th anniversary decorations. That being said, at least we know that once everything is up, it will stay that way until The World’s Most Magical Celebration has ended!
Have you ever been to Disney World during a hurricane? What was your experience like?
If you want to celebrate the 50th at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, or Disney’s Hollywood Studios with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, you need to book your vacation today! Click here to get started.