A Classic Look Returns: Cinderella Castle’s New Color Palette
During the Destination D23 panel, Beyond the Spires: An Insider Look at Disney Castles, Disney shared a rendering of a new color palette for Cinderella Castle. The colors are inspired by the original castle, taking it back to its classic and timeless beauty. Here is the rendering that was shared.

Per Disney, the updated color scheme will consist of grays, blues, creams, and touches of gold, with the overall aim of enhancing the castle’s architecture. The following excerpt from the parks’ announcements shares details of the time, effort, care, and research being poured into the project.
Around the globe, there are six Disney “Castle parks,” where the castles serve as the heart of the parks —the landmarks that draw guests in, the backdrop of cherished family photos, and the icons that represent the magic of Disney around the world. At Walt Disney World, the castle’s iconic look is built on a timeless color combination: deep, handsome blues paired with radiant golds. These colors were chosen to reflect the Florida sunshine in a way that makes the castle shimmer from every angle.
No matter the season or the perspective, Cinderella Castle is designed to be picture-perfect, much of which can be attributed to the paint and themed finishes. Because of that, the paint we use has to undergo accelerated UV and weather testing, simulating years of sun exposure. This rigorous process ensures that the castle’s colors stay vivid for years to come.
For hard-to-reach locations, such as the roofs, we use a high-performance paint that is actually used for cars! The paint is durable and long-lasting, reducing the need for touch-ups.
Sheen also plays an important role. Subtle variations help the castle feel more lifelike: stones are finished with a lower sheen to appear natural, while rooftops and gold accents shine with higher gloss, giving them a decorative sparkle. Gold is used strategically around the spires, to catch the last reflections of sunlight.


Disney did not announce any timeline for this project. We will let you know when we know more. For more updates and announcements out of Destination D23 this weekend, you might like the following:
- Tron Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom to Receive Special Red Overlay Celebrating ‘Tron: Ares’ Film
- Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic and Other Updates Announced for Carousel of Progress
- New Zombie Holiday Mug Coming to Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto
- Disney Shares Architectural Inspiration Behind New Villains-Themed Land Coming to Magic Kingdom
Or you can preview all 4 Major Walt Disney World Announcements at D23 in 2025.
More Planning
Resorts Gal specializes in Disney World Resorts, Characters, and Dining. Explore our resources, including our Disney World Resorts Guide. It provides an overview of everything you need to know about the Disney Resort Hotels. For dining, our Disney World Dining Guide is an excellent place to start. Our Disney World Transportation Guide is a wonderful resource for planning your routes. It’s one of our most popular resources. If you plan to meet characters in the parks, we have an updated list of Disney World Characters. It includes every available character meet-and-greet in the parks and where to find rare characters throughout the year. Lastly, our Disney Parks Guide provides a complete overview of all four theme parks and water parks.
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