What’s Your Cinderella Castle?

February 24, 2012

For most people, when they hear Walt Disney World, whether they have visited the parks or not the first visual image to pop into their mind is Cinderella Castle. And for good reason, the Castle is not just there to look pretty, but it symbolizes that all your dreams can come true and brings to life the kid that lives inside all of us.

We all have our own special park icons though – details or landmarks which we feel compelled to go out of our way to see each trip, or it doesn’t feel like a true Disney vacation, even if it’s something that other individuals would walk right on by. If you read my last article, you know that for me, this icon is Gertie the Dinosaur. (I told you that wouldn’t be the last time I mentioned her). I was so enamored by Gertie after that first trip – whenever I thought of going back to Walt Disney World, my first thought was always whether or not she would still be there. When I was finally able to make my first return trip 18 years later, I was so happy I nearly broke down in tears. It is now a tradition on our trips for me to get a picture in front of Gertie during the first visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios during our trip.

I was curious to hear from some of my friends what they would consider to be their personal park icons.

Morgan, @SillyWhims: The one coming immediately to mind is the ‘umbrella’ structure in Future World. It always struck me as impressive and was more of an icon to me than Spaceship Earth. That and I love the colored lights in the walkways surrounding it. Something magical about to me!

Rebekah, @PopLovingMomma: For my family, it’s the totem pole in Wilderness Lodge. My dad loved it when we stayed there in 2000, so my mom and I bought him a little one for his desk. He retired a few years later so it came home. My son took a liking to it so we took him to go see it at the Wilderness Lodge. He was so excited to see it and couldn’t get over how big it was.

Courtney, @MyLifeIsWDW: Probably the Magic Kingdom train station. Most people just walk under is in a rush to start their day, but I think it is such a fabulous way to start a nice day in Magic Kingdom! I have distinct memories of watching the welcome show on my first trip, and every trip since. I think the train station embodies the wonder that lies in MK. I love the plaque that says “Here you leave the world of today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy” because I think it sums up magic Kingdom and Walt Disney World perfectly. I always make a point to read it as I am walking in the park.

Holly, Disney Fan in Colorado: This is a Disneyland one, but for me, it’s the stained glass window on the main door as you enter the Grand Californian. My mom used to do stained glass when she was younger so on her visit, I took her to see that door and the expression on her face was so priceless. She talks about that door all the time, and I have secret plans to take her back again next year.

There were so many other people I wanted to ask this question, it was really a struggle to limit myself to four. So I welcome all of you to share in the comments stories and pictures of the park icons for you and your family!

Theresa regularly wears her Gertie the Dinosaur pin with pride. She is also going to be spending Leap Day running around the Magic Kingdom and suggests that you follow her @DisneyArb for live updates throughout the day and night, and plenty of feedback and observations once it’s over.