You're too young, but the sight of that castle on TV, on a Sunday night meant I had one more hour left of my weekend, watching the Sunday night Disney hour.
I had a similar experience, on Sunday nights, Michael Eisner would introduce himself on hehalf of the Walt Disney Company and tell me a little history and story behind the classic Disney movie or TV show he was about to show. It was an amazing experience of its own, and I knew as soon as the movie was over, so was my weekend.
Disneyland without Sleeping Beauty Castle is like asking, what would Paris look like without the Eiffel Tower, or London without Big Ben. There's so much history, charm, and heart to the castle, so much that it's one of the many landmarks that represent the entirety of Disneyland itself. It's a landmark that adds to the very definition of what Disneyland wants to present to you, a place where you can leave the "real" world for a day and enter one you've only dreamed of. Even though Disneyland has changed so much over the years (in good and bad ways), Sleeping Beauty Castle still looks the way she did when Walt was there. She's still here today, and she still retains the original style of the park with that timeless charm, and the fact Walt himself got to see it, isn't that all you need? I think so.
The castle is not the only thing that retains the original style of the park, the Main Street train station and most of the exteriors on Main Street, the Mark Twain, the Golden Horseshoe, the Jungle Cruise for the most part... all of these things still do. New Orleans Square, even though is not an original from 1955, is still almost the same as Walt saw before he passed.
Personally growing up at Disneyland and going from 1999 to now, I loved the updated 2019 vibrant castle version. I'm so happy it doesn't look sun bleached anymore and it now has a more standout quality to it. It looks so magical in person.
It’s so cool how the castle has change over the 60 some years. I would like to say thank you Walt for doing what you did and of course thank you Alex for making this! I would have know none of the stuff you do your videos on so thank you!
Wow, that was awesome! Your narration was so interesting, heartfelt and compelling! Your closing lines with that music gave me goosebumps! Thanks so much for all the work you put in to that!
Very nicely done. Working for Walt must've been frustrating for everyone at some point or another, haha. Looking forward to more Disneyland content as long as it's something you personally want to continue doing.
Although Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom is my “home” Castle, Sleeping Beauty Castle is my actual favorite. It just has a unique charm and magic among Disney castles around the world. And the fact that Walt himself walked through it makes it extra special. As a Christian, the fact that Sleeping Beauty Castle has a “chapel” makes it even more dear to me. I only get to Disneyland every 5 years or so and I love to sit in the hub and gaze at the Castle for a half hour or more. I wish Cinderella Castle had a walkthrough telling her story as Aurora’s is told at Disneyland. Thanks for a great clip!.
Taking off the "Climbing Vines" was long overdue as they covered up the Forced Perspective that was design into the castles stone block. Alex, again top-notch narration and lots of information to make for a outstanding watch, hats off......
I saw this castle as a baby and I was finally able to go back in July for the first time since I was 1 year old! It was pure heaven and magical! I had chills and tears in my eyes! It was so beautiful
I love all of the footage in this. Some of it was from the 1980’s as it looks, and I’ve always enjoyed that type of footage. Pictures, and presentation always make me know it’s you even with the volume on mute! Great video.
Nicely done Alex! Really loved the fact Walt wanted a smaller castle to create charm and intimacy for Disneyland. When I finally went to the magic kingdom, it’s a difference you can totally feel and makes Disneyland feel more charming and magical. I think that was also something Rolly Crump had also mentioned when he was sharing his frustrations when Disney World opened. It seems parks and it’s fans nowadays are trying to go bigger and grander and it makes Disneyland increasingly more unique and one of a kind
It's funny that it is inspired by Schloss Neuschwanstein, since that castle itself was built by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a fantasy re-imagining of medieval castles. The vertically diminishing scale makes it look full-size from the ground, which is not trivial to do for a structure like that.
Alex, I am a boat nerd. I am here for the Queen Mary content, but I LOVE your Disneyland history documentaries. Your narration conveys both a reverence and a joy for the subject. Thank you for this!
Your voice and narration style reminded me of LeVar Burton and my childhood when I’d watch 🌈 Reading Rainbow. Awesome video by the way. I’ve always lived under 20 minutes from Disneyland and I feel so lucky to live so close to such an iconic place.
Alex, i just found your channel a couple of weeks ago and have been binge watching your videos. Great information, delivered by great narration. I can feel the emotions you are trying to give out and it really helps me pay attention. Keep up the great work.
Ever since my annual pass expired at the end of 2019 and then the pandemic happened, my focus on the Disney parks hasn't been the same. But videos like this spark back my love for Disneyland especially. To experience what the park must've been like in its early days, though, what a dream! I remember the 2019 refurbishment too well. First time seeing the park in years and years and I don't get to see the castle? What a payoff to see it so beautiful and vibrant. And what a sight at night!
Alex there’s just something about the way you narrate these Disney historical stories with comparison, I can listen to you all day talk about my favorite place . Thank you so much. I listen to your vlogs at night so relaxing. You are truly good at this sir. Thank you .
Once again, another great job! Hope Disneyland gets back to what made it so magical, Walt's visions and those who shared it. Love all the great details you found and shared. Thank you!
Hello Alex my friend, it's been a while. Your work just keeps getting more & more amazing! I've always liked you narration, but here it seems you've taken it to a new level! Thank you for sharing your love & knowledge with us in such a polished & heartwarming way. BRAVO!!!
Thank you very much for making this beautiful tribute to one of the most iconic features of the Disneyland experience that has been cherished by the generations that have seen this fine structure.❤
Much Love and Respect to the WED Imagineers who keep this Magical Kingdom Special !! My first visit to DISNEYLAND was only a Year ago at the Young Age of 58 ! YES, I rode ALL the Rides !! INDEED, the Happiest Place on Earth and Greatful to have Finally visited this Wonderful Place !!
As a child, before ever going to Disneyland I used to think the Castle was the entrance to the park. It wasn’t til my first trip there that I realized it was in the center, and that it’s placement made so much sense as the center or beginning of all adventures. Such an awesome structure.
Another fantastic video Alex!! As many times as I’ve been there I’ve never noticed the spire, nor have I paid much attention to the changes over the years, but with years in between my visits it would be hard to remember what it looked like the last time I was there. What I do remember every time though is wishing the castle was a ride. That always bummed me out!
I love the story of the Sleeping Beauty Castle, no matter how many times I've heard it before, nor whether or not I learn anything new about the castle. In this case, the descriptions of the changes in paint color, the various changes to the rooftops and the various subtle additions such as the projection towers, (which I didn't even give a second thought to being relatively new the last time I saw the castle. December 2022.) The first photo of me at Disneyland depicts my mom, who was pregnant with my (eventual) 1yr, 15day younger sister, thus establishing that I was less than a year old as I sat in a stroller in front of my mom, all of us on the walkway in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle in the mid 1970s. Thus, just one of the many reasons of why Sleeping Beauty Castle is my favorite of all the princess castles, not to mention the fact that Sleeping Beauty is my favorite Disney Princess and Disney princess movie. Great video on this icon of not only Disney, but also of historical significance period.
Props to all the Imagineers past, present and future who take the magic of Disney and bring it to life for all who come to the happiest place on earth!
Team Nineties Color Scheme, but I've learned to live with the current version. I was surprised you didn't mention the new fountains. It's hard to believe it took 67 years or so to make that addition. I always welcome these videos. Thanks so much.
My favorite color scheme is the current one. I, too, love the vibrancy. It makes it more fantastical. Also, Sleeping Beauty Castle is still my favorite Disney castle exactly because of what Walt said about not wanting to have such a huge structure be too overpowering. Disneyland is so quaint and storybook-like because of its scale. I think Sleeping Beauty Castle is perfect for a fantasyland-style park. ❤ After, SBC, I love the other Sleeping Beauty Castle (in Paris) because it’s not just tall and big for the sake of being tall and big. It’s propped up on a hill but is still technically small in scale which still lends to the fantasy aspect. All the other castles, just seem like castles that were build by a capitalist. Kind of like they were designed by Las Vegas architects. 😂
I'll be honest, I'm kinda biased about disliking most things about 70s style, architecture, and design. I'm a huge fan of architecture and design from the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco ages, and the 70s came through like a plague, wiping out the previous designs wherever it could.
I remember walking through this attraction at Disneyland. I think this narrator should know that this walk through attraction shows people scenes from the movie Sleeping Beauty. But still, it's on Disney plus and it's a classic fairytale.
LOL the idea that the castle had to be small tickles the s outta me as a WDW guy. Most photographed building on the planet is the "grotesque monstrosity" of Cinderella castle
@@AlextheHistorian I just looked it up. Yeah, the gazebo was first in main street , then Walt felt it blocked the view so it was moved off to the side of the castle , then moved to “ magnolia park “ near Adventureland , and now is at a nursery in corona Del Mar called “ roger’s gardens”
@@AlextheHistorian This is the first time I have heard that they were solid -- I have always read that they were burnished in gold leaf, and recent upgrades mention new gold leaf being applied. With a rough estimate of the material volume for each finial would put the cost with the 1955 gold price at around a million dollars (and the park's construction budget was 17 million).
They are solid gold, but they are hollow inside, the finials are the thickness of cardstock paper. They are basically decorative cones of thin gold that slide on over the tops of the roofs. They aren't solid bars of gold. Even the decorative pieces on them are made of thin, stamp-cut sheets of gold. Hence why it's easy for them to be misshapen when handled too roughly. The gold leaf you heard of is from the decorative "pixie dust" that is put on the center roof. Keep in mind, there is a lot more gold on the castle today, than there was back then. Since the 50th they have also added burnished gold leaf to more areas of rooftop, but the original finial caps themselves are solid gold.
I did a rough cost estimate based on the size of the original 11 (might be one more or one less of the originals). I heard an unconfirmed sum that Walt spent $10,000 (1955) in gold on the castle. Now, when I stood next to those finial caps, most were much smaller than they look, and quite thin and delicate. I'd estimate that if you combined the weight of the 11, you'd get an average weight of no more than two Troy pounds of gold per cap. Some gold estimates say prices in 1955 hovered around $34/$35 per Troy ounce. That means that the cost of about 22 Troy pounds of gold in 1955 set at $35 per Troy ounce, would have cost $9,240. Which kind of lends credence to the $10k sum I heard many years back. Even if I was wrong and there was 3 times as much gold up there, that's still $27,720 (1955). Solid gold (sheet) finial caps don't seem so impossible for Walt Disney.
@@AlextheHistorian Awesome work, Alex! The idea of making them out of hammered sheets makes sense. I was thinking that making solid casts would be extremely wasteful and extravagant. If they were cast solid, they would be prime targets for theft.
I really appreciate your attitude towards the parks. They ARE a monument to imagination. Too many cynics mistake these places as a monument to capitalism. This is a place of PLAY, of WONDER, LOVE, EXCITEMENT and SERVICE. Play is deeply important for adults just as it is for children. And some only open up to it when they visit a Disney park. You may not be a fellow Cast Member but thank you for helping keep the magic alive.
