Credit: Brian Holland, FlickrA structure near Cinderella Castle disappeared overnight as crews wrap up the months-long repainting of the 54-year-old Magic Kingdom Park icon. Let’s go over what changed, and how it might impact your next visit to the original Walt Disney World Resort theme park.
Cinderella Castle Repainting
In 2025, Walt Disney World Resort announced plans to repaint Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park. The original Central Florida Disney Park icon had been sporting a controversial pink-and-dark-blue color scheme since Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th anniversary celebrations began in 2021. Though the “50” medallion was removed from the front of Cinderella Castle when the anniversary festivities ended in March 2023, the color scheme stuck around for nearly three more years.
The updated light-blue-and-gray color scheme is inspired by Cinderella Castle’s original look from 1971. Construction began earlier this year, with Walt Disney World Resort promising that the project would wrap up sometime in 2026 without confirming an exact date. The “Let the Magic Begin” opening show and Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire were modified to accommodate the ongoing work.
Structure Removed From Magic Kingdom Park
Crews have nearly finished repainting Cinderella Castle, with only spots of the old pink-and-dark-blue color scheme on some turret areas, roof spots, and detached pieces of Cinderella Castle in Fantasyland and the hub near Main Street, U.S.A. Walt Disney Imagineers were recently spotted testing the drained moat for leaks or other damage from the project.
As of April 15, construction walls that previously surrounded much of Cinderella Castle in Fantasyland have come down. The removal of these walls also opens up the walking path up to the castle from the Tomorrowland side, including Cinderella’s Wishing Well.
A crane remains in the area, and the moat around Cinderella Castle is still drained. Crews appear to be focused on finishing up the roof painting at this point in the project. WDW News Today shared this photo on Facebook:
Walt Disney World Resort still hasn’t shared an exact end date for the reimagining of the Magic Kingdom Park icon.
Has construction ever impacted your visit to Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your experience with Inside the Magic in the comments!