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marisol
02-24-2006, 11:49 PM
ive tryed a few times but i never seem to find the way to enter or you cant anymore :S

Andrew
02-25-2006, 12:54 AM
ive tryed a few times but i never seem to find the way to enter or you cant anymore :S
It's been closed since October 2001.

geoffa
02-25-2006, 02:44 AM
ive tryed a few times but i never seem to find the way to enter or you cant anymore :S

Found this on an AOL guide:
Symbolically connecting Main Street USA with Fantasyland, Sleeping Beauty's Castle stands at the heart of Disneyland and is easily the most famous and photographed structure in the park. The attraction was modeled on numerous medieval castles from France and Bavaria, although diehard Disney fans still scour the European countryside for the one, exact model. A careful use of perspective makes the structure seem much larger than it is, with its turrets and spires visible from almost anywhere in the park.
Ironically, the iconic castle, an immediately identifiable symbol of Disneyland for decades, has no thrill ride or major attraction connected to it. In fact, when the park opened in 1955, the castle had no interior at all. Legend has it that a group of feral cats made a home in the castle's attic in the park's early years. In 1957 a modest interior attraction was built, which was expanded in 1968 and completely remodeled in 1977. Today, a small side door in the castle's entryway leads to a second floor gallery where a series of animatronic dioramas depict scenes from the 'Sleeping Beauty' story. The castle's working drawbridge has only been raised and lowered twice -- at the park's opening in 1955, and again in 1983 to celebrate the remodeled Fantasyland.:)

Obviously, access is no longer available.

cfrith
02-25-2006, 04:48 PM
Oh my goodness! When we were there last (May 2004) we were told that it was being refurbished and would reopen at a later date. I've already told dd7 that yes, it is open. She always talked about how it wasn't open when we were there and how she couldn't wait to go back to see it :( . Why did they close it? I admit it was pretty boring, but at least the kids could say they'd been in it!

ETA...I told her it was open because I didn't see it on the "being refurbished" list!

nojarama
02-25-2006, 04:58 PM
I thought they closed it because of Sept. 11th (that could be an urban legend though, never read anything on it, just talk amongst Disney fans)...

Regardsarama,

Jon

.................................................. ...................................

Jon A. Leslie
nojarama
noj@west.net
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http://www.myspace.com/nojarama

Disneytwins
02-25-2006, 05:09 PM
to tell you the truth over the years I've seen topics like this and there is no real reason why it closed... nobody really knows why

cfrith
02-25-2006, 05:19 PM
to tell you the truth over the years I've seen topics like this and there is no real reason why it closed... nobody really knows why

You mean not even someone on MousePad?!!!!

Disneytwins
02-25-2006, 05:51 PM
I mean All over the place

MammaSilva
02-25-2006, 06:21 PM
It closed 'mid day' in the middle of the Fall 2001 MouseAdventure, take this for whatever it's worth, we know it closed at the same time that Operation Enduring Freedom kicked off. The walk thru was actually a part of that MouseAdventure event and made the organizers have to come up with a fast plan b, which they did, but it makes remembering the date it closed significant if you're a padder ;)

coronado_g
02-25-2006, 09:45 PM
In that one diorama where the prince is battling the dragon - did the dragon scare anyone? I know it always scared me because it was so darn BIG!

TowerofTerror
02-25-2006, 09:47 PM
No you cant its been closed off since 911

cstephens
02-26-2006, 08:05 AM
I thought they closed it because of Sept. 11th (that could be an urban legend though, never read anything on it, just talk amongst Disney fans)...[/url]

Actually, the closing of the castle coincided with the first attack on Afghanistan.

Or maybe Disney just wanted to screw with that particular MouseAdventure task. :~D

cfrith
02-26-2006, 08:22 AM
Why would the castle have anything to do with 9-11?

geoffa
02-26-2006, 08:53 AM
Why would the castle have anything to do with 9-11?
It's rather like the myth that you can't go up inside the Statue of Liberty because of security since 9/11. The truth is that the fire department insisted that there had to be a staircase up and one coming down.(There's only ever been the ONE) To do this would have meant major alterations inside the body of Liberty. As it couldn't happen they ruled that nobody could go up to the top anymore because it would infringe the fire licence. (Worth noting you couldn't go up to the torch since 1917) - so how did Hitcock manage it in his film "Saboteur".
Disney chose to close admission to the castle because they did. No other reason. Maybe one day it may re-open!:rolleyes:

Squeaky
02-26-2006, 10:06 AM
When I talked to a Cast Member, she said that it was closed because of 9/11 (They didn't want anyone stuck up there if something happened, I guess) and because it wasn't ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant (since it a walking ride ONLY, and there wasn't a way to make it ADA compliant since there are so many flights of stairs.) She also said that when they were painting the castle for the 50th, the painters stored their paint inside the castle and weren't careful with it and slopped it all over the interior of the castle.... so sad :(

geoffa
02-26-2006, 10:14 AM
When I talked to a Cast Member, she said that it was closed because of 9/11 (They didn't want anyone stuck up there if something happened, I guess) and because it wasn't ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant (since it a walking ride ONLY, and there wasn't a way to make it ADA compliant since there are so many flights of stairs.) She also said that when they were painting the castle for the 50th, the painters stored their paint inside the castle and weren't careful with it and slopped it all over the interior of the castle.... so sad :(

Suspect the only true bit of this is the ADA compliancy.Much cheaper to close it than install an elevator. CMs are great sources of myths. Given that paint gives off fumes if not stored correctly and has been the source of many a fire -(a whole department store was gutted here in the U.K. because of such storage) I can't imagine the fire authorities allowing such a situation.:)

MammaSilva
02-26-2006, 10:22 AM
Actually the ADA isn't the true part, exhibit A...the treehouse attraction is not ADA compliant ...reason, people really in general don't understand ADA...or the rules that companies have to follow. If the attraction was built pre ADA then it's grandfathered and isn't required to accomodate the current building codes. If it's updated then in theory it should be made to be compliant however a small loophole exists for all companies, if the cost is prohibitive or the structure won't support it they can get a waiver...as was the case with the tree house and would be the case with the Castle walk thru. Now I doubt any of us mere mortals will know all the reasonings behind the actual closure, but if I were a betting woman I'd bet it all came down to dollars. That maintaining the walk thru didn't generate enough return to justify the costs. The fact that 'evidence' that the park was on the list of targets for the terrorists gave Disney the justification it had been looking for to close the walkthru. They can argue that the they were trying to protect us by trying to prevent access to the inside of the castle so terrorist couldn't plant an explosive device, but where there's a will there's a way...if the terrorist decide to target the park they'll find a way to do it.

geoffa
02-26-2006, 11:34 AM
Actually the ADA isn't the true part, exhibit A...the treehouse attraction is not ADA compliant ...reason, people really in general don't understand ADA...or the rules that companies have to follow. If the attraction was built pre ADA then it's grandfathered and isn't required to accomodate the current building codes. If it's updated then in theory it should be made to be compliant however a small loophole exists for all companies, if the cost is prohibitive or the structure won't support it they can get a waiver...as was the case with the tree house and would be the case with the Castle walk thru. Now I doubt any of us mere mortals will know all the reasonings behind the actual closure, but if I were a betting woman I'd bet it all came down to dollars. That maintaining the walk thru didn't generate enough return to justify the costs. The fact that 'evidence' that the park was on the list of targets for the terrorists gave Disney the justification it had been looking for to close the walkthru. They can argue that the they were trying to protect us by trying to prevent access to the inside of the castle so terrorist couldn't plant an explosive device, but where there's a will there's a way...if the terrorist decide to target the park they'll find a way to do it.


Mamma Silva - I do take your point on board but this 9/11 thing has become a paranoia excuse for everything.We've lived with terrorism in the UK for many years (IRA bombs etc and you still won't find trash cans on our subway services). It does give companies an excuse to get rid of things and I think you hit the nail on the head with the $ generation thing. Had the castle something like the Sleeping Beauty tableaux that are displayed around the balcony at Paris DL then that would be something people would want to see. The stain glass windows alone are worth viewing. (And there's an (AA) dragon in the dungeon.)

See:
http://members.cox.net/al.14/big_als_blog/images/weblog_images/thumb_dpr3.jpg

or:
http://www.atkielski.com/inlink.php?/PhotoGallery/Paris/Disneyland/CastleInteriorLarge.html

or:
http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~dawnsue/disney/disglas2.jpg

These are beautifully breath-taking!:)

cfrith
02-26-2006, 11:43 AM
Yes, it was extremely boring to walk through that castle, as I remember!

cfrith
02-26-2006, 11:44 AM
Mamma Silva - I do take your point on board but this 9/11 thing has become a paranoia excuse for everything.We've lived with terrorism in the UK for many years (IRA bombs etc and you still won't find trash cans on our subway services). It does give companies an excuse to get rid of things and I think you hit the nail on the head with the $ generation thing. Had the castle something like the Sleeping Beauty tableaux that are displayed around the balcony at Paris DL then that would be something people would want to see. The stain glass windows alone are worth viewing. (And there's an (AA) dragon in the dungeon.)

See:
http://members.cox.net/al.14/big_als_blog/images/weblog_images/thumb_dpr3.jpg

or:
http://www.atkielski.com/inlink.php?/PhotoGallery/Paris/Disneyland/CastleInteriorLarge.html

or:
http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~dawnsue/disney/disglas2.jpg

These are beautifully breath-taking!:)


I want to go to Disneyland Paris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That looks so cool!

geoffa
02-26-2006, 12:03 PM
I want to go to Disneyland Paris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That looks so cool!
Seen the castle exterior. It was built like this, as a story book castle (see Perraults Fairy tales) because France has so many pretty castles of its own (chateaux). I think it adds to the fantasy of the place.
See:
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dlptour.de/images/castle.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dlptour.de/&h=463&w=300&sz=28&tbnid=zkmoHE4ozUPmPM:&tbnh=125&tbnw=80&hl=en&start=4&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddisneyland%2Bparis%2Bcastle%26svnum%3 D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official_s%26sa%3DG

but this is my favourite Main Steet and castle last Christmas - click on thumbnail for larger pic):

SeansMom
02-26-2006, 12:51 PM
Seen the castle exterior. It was built like this, as a story book castle (see Perraults Fairy tales) because France has so many pretty castles of its own (chateaux). I think it adds to the fantasy of the place.
See:
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dlptour.de/images/castle.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dlptour.de/&h=463&w=300&sz=28&tbnid=zkmoHE4ozUPmPM:&tbnh=125&tbnw=80&hl=en&start=4&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddisneyland%2Bparis%2Bcastle%26svnum%3 D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official_s%26sa%3DG

but this is my favourite Main Steet and castle last Christmas - click on thumbnail for larger pic):

OMG...this is just beautiful. (Must budget a trip...must budget a trip...)

geoffa
02-26-2006, 01:17 PM
OMG...this is just beautiful. (Must budget a trip...must budget a trip...)
Don't want to go off thread but bear in mind the park is multi language. Most CMs speak at least two languages. Some rides are predominently in French - Phantom Manor for one. The original idea was to have the attraction / show in its language of origin. E.G. Cinderella in French, Star Wars in English but it hasn't happened. Listening to that robot rattling away in French is disconcerting if you don't speak the language! "Cherie, je retricie le public!" (That's "Honey I shrunk the audience") is usually presented in French but headphones are available to the rear of the auditorium for other languages (when they work). The French soundtrack is so loud it's hard to hear on the cans.Some characters have different names - Pooh = Winnie l'ourson, Tinkerbelle = Clochette, Captain Hook = Capitain Crochet and Chip n' Dale = Tic and Tac. Don't get me wrong - it all adds to the mystique of the place but you do need to be aware of it. The food is excellent and if you want great character interaction either stay at the Disneyland Hotel (built over the entrance of the park) - they're present every breakfast and dinner or go to Cafe Mickey for a mind blowing experience (especially if its your birthday)
See thumbnail.

Now back to the original thread..........

I Heart Disneyland!
02-26-2006, 01:40 PM
Seen the castle exterior. It was built like this, as a story book castle (see Perraults Fairy tales) because France has so many pretty castles of its own (chateaux). I think it adds to the fantasy of the place.
See:
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dlptour.de/images/castle.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dlptour.de/&h=463&w=300&sz=28&tbnid=zkmoHE4ozUPmPM:&tbnh=125&tbnw=80&hl=en&start=4&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddisneyland%2Bparis%2Bcastle%26svnum%3 D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official_s%26sa%3DG

but this is my favourite Main Steet and castle last Christmas - click on thumbnail for larger pic):

Gorgeous! All of it!

Sub Maniak
02-26-2006, 03:44 PM
The castle showed many signs that it was getting old towards it's closure.
*Many Dolls stopped working
*No repairs made
*The Dragon scene stopped working and was later covered up with a picture of the dragon fight from the movie!:crying: Very Dissapointing.

It was probably closed from continuous abuse and breakdowns.There is no word on if the dolls from the Sleeping Beauty diorama were removed.(Though they probably were)

Disney probably doesn't care about the castle because it wasn't important and there was nobody to look around. No Video Cameras either!

The enterance is still there. Locked. Many people who knew what was in there have been questioning.

To find the door, look around the cast courtyard! It's near the Once Upon a Princess Shop.