Magical Makeover Has Transformed Cinderella Castle to Accommodate ‘Suite Dreams’ of 
Lucky Walt Disney World Guests

Unused space within the Magic Kingdom landmark originally envisioned as in-park accommodations for the Disney family has been magically transformed into Cinderella Castle Suite -- a place where lucky Walt Disney World guests can spend a dream-come-true night amid surroundings that hark back to the 17th century fairytale and the French chateaus that inspired the design of Cinderella Castle.

Eligible Walt Disney World guests will be selected randomly at a park or Downtown Disney by early afternoon most days now through the end of 2007 as part of the unique Disney Dreams Giveaway. (Because the Castle stay requires same-day use, mail-in winners will be awarded a prize of comparable value.)

The guest and up to five members of their party begin their dream-come-true night that evening at Cinderella's Royal Table, the popular restaurant located in Cinderella Castle. After the rest of the Magic Kingdom guests have headed home, these lucky guests can keep the castle lights burning brightly well into the night, wrapping themselves in the cozy comforts of their dream suite some four stories above the surrounding Magic Kingdom -- a salon, bedchamber and bathroom off of a private marble-floored foyer, all replete with rich details:

Fluffy feather comforters beneath the regal canopy draping of two queen beds ... A cut-stone bedchamber floor inspired by the mosaic art masterpiece that adorns the castle's breezeway entrance to Fantasyland ... A parlor sofa that invites kicking off the shoes and curling up to read a chapter beneath the richly detailed vaulted ceiling of the salon ... Familiar castle-gray stone walls, rich hardwood paneling and ornate stained-glass windows.

While the idea of having living quarters inside Cinderella Castle dates to the time when Walt Disney World Resort was being planned, until now the space had been a backstage area -- essentially a blank canvas for a creative team from Walt Disney Imagineering. In the fashion of a Disney attraction, Cinderella Castle Suite emerged regally from their meticulous research and design skills.

"The architecture of the castle, the Cinderella story and the suite are all interwoven," said Stephen Silvestri, the Walt Disney Imagineering show producer/director who led a team of designers and craftsmen in the dream makeover. "We want our guests to feel as though they are inside our castle but also immersed within the fantasy realm of the Cinderella story."

In the foyer of the suite, guests will discover a design of the fairytale pumpkin coach in the marble floor inlay. A memorable artifact from the story, the famous glass slipper, adorns a cove. And through the doorway, the bedchamber and salon are appointed with furnishings in the style of the era of "the Louies," as Silvestri refers to the French rulers of the period inspiring the castle and Cinderella story. Nooks showcase clocks, porcelain and accessories befitting the period. Doors are richly detailed; the walls are covered with wood panels and wall coverings. In the bathroom, hand-decorated copper basins sit atop the vanity, recalling a time when fresh water was carried to the bedchamber.

Despite all the careful attention to centuries-old details, the amenities of the Cinderella Castle Suite are definitely 21st century. There's a lavish garden tub plus a shower. There are also wheelchair accessible bathroom and bedroom facilities and elevator access to the suite. As for an ornately framed, 17th-century-style portrait of Cinderella above a regal fireplace in the bedchamber: it magically changes into a modern, 21st-century flat-screen television.

"We want to balance the practical realities within the fantasy place to make the experience truly a dream-come-true for our guests," Silvestri said.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to enter or win in the Disney Dreams Giveaway. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Open only to legal residents of 50 U.S., D.C., Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico & UK. Void elsewhere and where prohibited. Giveaway runs October 1, 2006 -- December 31, 2007 (mail-in entries postmarked starting September 18, 2006 & received by January 14, 2008 on a 3.5x5 postcard with complete name, address, daytime phone#, birth date and proper postage sent to PO Box 8629, Elmhurst, IL 60126 USA). UK residents only mail to 483 Green Lanes, London N13 4BS. Castle Suite stay will be awarded most days starting January 25, 2007, will likely be awarded early in the day and will be for a stay that night. Approximate retail value Cinderella Castle Suite Stay US $587. Prizes range in value from US $3.83 to US $83,701. All prize awards are subject to verification. Odds of winning on a given day depend on the number of eligible participants at a selected location or within the mail-in entry pool for the time or date (as applicable) selected. Subject to official rules.  Sponsor: Magic Kingdom Productions, Inc., PO Box 10000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830.

For residents of Canada, a mathematical skill-testing question must be correctly answered to win any prize.

• Each morning, a magical time and place is randomly selected from anywhere on Walt Disney World property to find a winner of a night in the Cinderella Castle Suite.
• A Disney Dream Squad of cast members is advised of the selection, heads to the location and identifies the winning guest from the selection criteria.
• The Disney Dream Squad informs the guest of their prize, explains the details of the prize and asks if they want to accept it.
• If they accept, after a short verification process, the fanfare begins. (If the guest does not accept the prize, the computer randomly selects another lucky guest. The computer will select up to three guests each day.)
• The winner and up to five guests head back to their hotel to pack an overnight bag. Then it's on to their day of royalty.
• First event is a photo session on Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom. They are proclaimed royalty for the day and led down Main Street to their suite.
• The Royal Concierge checks them into the suite and gives them a formal tour, regaling them with the history and spectacle of the suite's royal heritage.
• After a bit of free time to explore their imperial quarters, the winning family is awarded one of the highest honors bestowed on guests of Magic Kingdom as they become Grand Marshals of the "Disney Dreams Come True" parade.
• Following more luxurious relaxation time in the suite, the winner's magical evening begins with dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table, a feast fit for a monarch, with a meet-and-greet with Cinderella.
• Dinner is capped with VIP viewing of the "SpectroMagic" nighttime parade and "Wishes" fireworks spectacular. *
• For up to two hours after the scheduled close of the park, the family will have access to Magic Kingdom with a VIP Guest Relations cast member.  This will allow them to enjoy the atmosphere of the park before they retire for the evening.  Suggested after-hours tours will be available which include modified versions of "Art of the Theme Show" and "Keys to the Kingdom," which are tours that explore the history and creativity behind Magic Kingdom. This special "after hours" opportunity gives these guests an amazing opportunity to see Magic Kingdom in a way that few guests have experienced.
• Then it's back to the suite for a night of "suite dreams." At the suite, they discover their beds turned down with royal sweets, and their room stocked with a variety of snacks and drinks. (The Royal Concierge is just a stone's throw away should the family require anything during the night.)
• After a glorious night's sleep in the royal chamber, the winning family is awakened by a personalized wake-up call from Cinderella.
• Then, as with every fairytale, the clock strikes and the family returns to their magical vacation, checking out of the Cinderella Castle Suite, which is then readied for the next day's royal visitors.

* Available most non-special-event nights.

Foyer

• Cinderella's Coach mosaic tile floor contains more than 30,000 tiles, including 3,400 24-carat gold and more than 120 white-gold pieces.
• The tile creation entailed four months of hand-cut work by four craftswomen who share more than 100 years of experience working with mosaics.
• (Coming) -- Custom-made -- and priceless -- glass slipper (Steuben Glass).

Royal Bedchamber

• From the Netherlands, a Dutch secretary desk (17th century) with inlaid wood and velvet-lined shelves.
• From Thailand, three hand-woven rugs.
• Two authentic antique "slipper" chairs. They look like children's furniture, but were actually used during the 17th and 18th century by adults who sat in the chairs to put shoes on.
• Two custom designed headboards stand 8 feet, 2 inches with "C" (for Cinderella) crest.
• Venetian glass sconces adorn either side of the fireplace and contain a Cinderella and prince likeness etched on each.
• A painted portrait of Cinderella magically changes to a television above the fireplace, using newly created special effects dreamed up by Imagineers.
• Inspired by the Cinderella story, playful carved mice cavort on support columns.
• 600-pound antique limestone fireplace -- 17th century Gothic molded from an original wood fireplace from France. The fiber optics give the appearance of a fire with glowing embers.
• Two cinder pots reflect Cinderella's humble roots. Made from hand-hammered copper. French reproduction, red with gold accents.
• Rich wood furnishings. Mahogany and maple throughout.

Royal Sitting Room

• Magic mirror -- based on French design. Special glass mirror that transforms into a TV as part of the entertainment center.
• Custom designed sofa bed -- one-of-a-kind with French-carved details.
• Stained-glass windows telling the story of Cinderella. They face west fittingly toward Cinderella's Golden Carrousel in Fantasyland. Crystal jewels adorn the windows.
• Right and left mirrored spaces in the parlor open to reveal hidden drawers and space for hanging clothes. (Castles always were full of hidden doors.) The center space opens to reveal the DVD player and small refrigerator.

Royal Bath

• Grotto-inspired design.
• Ceiling features a dome of twinkling stars.
• Custom-made 4 x 4, multi-jet Jacuzzi tub with waterfall faucet and Chromatherapy Lighting.
• Three mosaics containing a total of 30,000 tiles made of Italian smalti glass, hand-cut and placed by Disney artisans. Features include a crystal slipper, a crystal pumpkin, the initials "WD" (Walt Disney) and a mouse looking up toward the castle -- plus a few other surprises.
• Hand-hammered copper leaf basins with silver leaf.

Academy Travel is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
Specializing in Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney Vacations
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