Take a Closer Look At Hong Kong Disney’s Castle of Magical Dreams
All of Disney’s iconic theme park castles are nothing short of magical, but, there is just something extra special about the NEW Castle of Magical Dreams which was recently completed at Hong Kong Disney!
This stunning new palace was completed last November but was officially re-opened last month after the park’s COVID-19 closure! Unlike other Disney castles around the world themed after a particular Disney princess, this particular Disney castle represents not one heroine but over a dozen!
The towering structure you see above was built atop the theme park’s pre-existing Sleeping Beauty Castle which was the centerpiece of the park since it first opened to guests back in 2005. Princess Aurora still holds a special place in the new Castle of Magical Dreams with a tower dedicated to Sleeping Beauty which stands the tallest.
Each of the twelve towers pays homage to princesses, queens and heroines. From Snow White (above) to Mulan (below.)
The original Sleeping Beauty Castle at Hong Kong Disney was directly influenced by Disneyland Resort and during the recreation of the Castle of Magical Dreams, they decided to honor the founders vision by leaving the original castle as the foundation.
By building atop the original foundation it gave the castle some height and meant that the structure was no longer dwarfed by the mountains of Lantau where Hong Kong Disneyland is located. In order to achieve it’s height the architects also settled on a modular design where the castle was constructed into 15 pre-fabricated pieces which were assembled offsite and where then shipped and craned into place over a period of three months!
Inside, guests will find 13 towering columns that are topped with details representing the friends of each of the princesses represented by the towers! This includes Ariel’s Flounder and Sebastian, Merida’s triplet brothers and Moana’s pet pig Pua and rooster HeiHei.
The only direct depictions of the 14 heroines are round inside where Imagineers designed bronze statues of each one!
Like the eclectic towers, the castle was created with different architectural styles in mind. Imagineers drew inspiration from Europe, China and even the Pacific Islands.
As CNN tells us, Hong Kong is a perfect place for this sort of castle as a city with a rich cultural fabric and cultural diversity.
But for all that diversity, the castle also pays tribute to Hong Kong’s rich heritage as well, specifically the concept of feng shui. Based on an ancient Chinese system, it involves positioning objects or buildings in relation to one another and their surroundings to encourage happiness and good fortune. A great example of this was that back in 2005, the gate of the resort was shifted by 12 degrees in the belief that it would keep the positive “chi” flowing through the park!
You’ll also find all of the elements represented here. Wood and earth are symbolized by the landscaping and plants, fire by the evening fireworks displays and water is used by the castle’s moat and dancing fountains!
As CNN states, while still rooted in tradition, Hong Kong’s Castle of Magical Dreams symbolizes Disney’s attempts to modernize and diversify!
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