"Guys, I want a castle." — Flynn Rider
By: Maggie Ballantyne, Concierge Agent
March 27, 2025
Did you know that the castles in each of the Disney theme parks are different? Besides their beauty, history, and unique design, one thing I love is that each castle is truly different in the way it interacts with the guests of the parks. Some are just for show while others allow guests to go inside and really immerse themselves in the fantasy of living like royalty. Across the world you will find Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in Disneyland, Cinderella’s Castle in Disney World, Cinderella’s Castle in Tokyo Disneyland, Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty’s Castle) in Disneyland Paris, Enchanted Storybook Castle in Shanghai Disneyland, and Castle of Magical Dreams at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. Of the six castles, I have seen three in person. Of course, my goal is to see them all!
The Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Paris is my favorite Disney castle so far. It’s not only beautiful to look at no matter what time of day or night it is, but there is so much you can do / enjoy in this castle without having to book an expensive reservation. Walk inside and follow the story of Sleeping Beauty through props and stain glass windows. The designs are beautiful and carry through two different floors, so be sure to climb the stairs to see more. You can also go inside to shop! This is where you will find the Christmas store. As a guest visiting for the first time, I enjoyed spending a significant amount of time in the castle as I made my way to Fantasyland!
My favorite parts of this castle are not actually the main level, but underneath at the lowest level and at the top of the second level. If you follow the path below the castle, you can visit Maleficent in her lair. She is waiting to see you and will wake up to greet visitors, move around, and make noises. I made sure to say “hi” to her once a day during my visit. The lifelike details really make it look like this mythical creature really lives there. It blew me away.
On the second level, after you follow the story of Sleeping Beauty to the end, you can walk outside onto the balconies and look out over Fantasyland! The views were great even on an overcast and rainy day like I had.
This castle brought me a lot of joy on this trip. I loved exploring, I loved seeing it every morning as I grabbed a latte and walked down Main Street, I loved seeing it glow at golden hour, and I loved sipping on champagne while admiring it at night.
This castle brought me a lot of joy on this trip. I loved exploring, I loved seeing it every morning as I grabbed a latte and walked down Main Street, I loved seeing it glow at golden hour, and I loved sipping on champagne while admiring it at night.
With Disneyland Paris adding even more to the parks in the coming years, I will surely be back to see this beautiful castle and experience all the new that Disney will be offering. If you are interested in learning more about trips to the Disney theme parks, please follow me at www.facebook.com/wishesfamilytravelmaggie and email me at maggie@wishesfamilytravel.com for travel inquiries and quote requests.