Making Memories: Cinderella Castle Takes on New Light

on October 5, 2021

Each week through the Walt Disney World 50th anniversary, we will be taking a look back at various parades, entertainment, and nighttime spectaculars throughout the history of the resort. Walt Disney World has seen so many different things come and go throughout its 50 year history. So, let’s take a look back at what people remember dearly or forgot quickly.

Walt Disney World has officially begun “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,’ and the Crescent Lake Club has everything from the first day of the celebration and more throughout. You can join in our fun with #CelebrateWithCLC on social media. Be sure to continue to check out our Making Memories series looking back on these 50 years of Walt Disney World and of course our video and written coverage of new offerings at the parks and resort throughout.

Today, we are looking back projection shoes that have brought the resorts most famous icon, Cinderella Castle, to life in new ways. Projection mapping technology is something Disney has been bringing to areas of their theme parks for years now.

The first show to debut with this technology at Magic Kingdom was “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” This debuted on January 18th, 2011 and was a ten minute projection show on the castle that brought it to life in new ways. One way that this show set itself apart was using photos that guests captured throughout the day and projecting them onto the castle. Not only did this show run at Magic Kingdom but also Disneyland Park on “it’s a small world.” 16 state of the art projectors were used for this show. Approximately 500 different guests photos were used in the show.

Replacing “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” was replaced a year later in November 2012 with an all new show called “Celebrate the Magic.” Tinkerbell introduce “Celebrate the Magic” bu flying around the castle as it is transformed into a canvas with Walt Disney drawing none other than Mickey Mouse. Soon characters from many of your favorite Disney films. This show included a pyrotechnic finale as well. Throughout its time at Magic Kingdom different segments were added. In Summer 2013, a Monstrous Summer edition played. A Halloween version played in the fall and a new Frozen segment was added in November 2013. “Celebrate the Magic” ran until November 2016.

Debuting in November 2016 was “Once Upon a Time,” this show was originally developed for Tokyo Disneyland but was modified and brought to Magic Kingdom. Running just under 15 minutes, “Once Upon a Time,” is hosted by Mrs. Potts from “Beauty and the Beast.” Mrs. Potts is telling a bedtime story to her son Chip. That story features Disney films such as Pinocchio, Aladdin, Peter Pan, and more. The show also features a pyrotechnic finale.

All of these fireworks shows were in addition to nightly fireworks spectaculars are Magic Kingdom. More recent shows such as Happily Ever After and Disney Enchantment use the projection mapping technology in their shows as well. And now for the Walt Disney World 50th celebration, guests can see the castle projected as a beacon of magic.

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