Credit: Disney DiningAfter months of work, the repainting of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park is nearing completion. On April 28, the towering crane used to reach the turrets, towers, and other high portions of the building disappeared, hinting that Walt Disney World Resort is almost or completely done with its reimagining of the Disney Park icon.
Cinderella Castle Repainting
In 2025, Walt Disney World Resort announced plans to restore Cinderella Castle to its original 1971 light blue and gray color scheme. Disney repainted the Magic Kingdom Park icon pink and dark blue in 2021 for the Central Florida Disney destination’s 50th anniversary. While a “50” medallion disappeared from the structure after the anniversary festivities wrapped up in 2023, the updated color scheme remained for nearly three more years.
Work began on Cinderella Castle in early 2026, and entertainment offerings like the “Let the Magic Begin” welcome show and Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire were updated to accommodate the project. The castle moat was drained, allowing crews to take the opportunity to finish an overdue rock repainting project in Tomorrowland while there was no water in the area.
Latest Project Update
Earlier this month, Inside the Magic reported that construction walls had been removed from portions of Cinderella Castle, reopening the walkway between the hub, Tomorrowland, and Fantasyland (including Cinderella’s Wishing Well). Days later, Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire returned to its normal schedule, suggesting that the project was nearly complete.
Now, it appears that crews have wrapped up their work on Cinderella Castle. On April 28, WDWNT reported that the crane had disappeared from beside the Magic Kingdom Park icon, where it helped crews reach the roof, towers, and turrets. The outlet shared this photo on Facebook:
The castle moat is still drained, and some pieces of scaffolding and other construction materials remain in the area. Walt Disney World Resort has not officially confirmed that the repainting project is complete, but previously said it would wrap up sometime in 2026.
What other areas of Walt Disney World Resort would you like to see refurbished? Share your ideas with Inside the Magic in the comments!
