Cinderella Castle Suite Tour & Photos
This photo tour showcases our visits to the Cinderella Castle Suite in Magic Kingdom–the most exclusive hotel room at Walt Disney World, and a popular spot for celebrities and what used to be an exclusive prize for promotional giveaway winners. (Updated January 11, 2021.)
Recently, there has been renewed interest in the Cinderella Castle Suite thanks to this viral video on the Disney Parks TikTok account, which has garnered 3 million views and counting. We’ve since been receiving a lot of questions about the royal room, which has largely gone unused by Walt Disney World for the last decade.
Our hope is that this new excitement will spark Disney to do something with the Cinderella Castle Suite. It’s such a lavish and regal room, but about the only use it has received recently is for occasional auction winners. (See what price those fetched in How Much Does a Night in the Cinderella Castle Suite Cost?) Now, let’s take a look inside and share some history of the Cinderella Castle Suite…
When Magic Kingdom opened and Cinderella Castle debuted in 1971, this was not built as a hotel room. It was pretty much the polar opposite, as the space that’s now Cinderella Castle Suite was originally a multi-purpose utility space. Some desks, phones, and storage.
It was converted by Walt Disney Imagineering, which completely decorated and upholstered the space as a ‘royal bedchamber’ in the process. The Cinderella Castle Suite can sleep up to six people, and opened for the Year of a Million Dreams, a promotional campaign that ran over decade ago (hard to believe it’s been that long!). During this contest, it was given away as a grand prize of sorts to one lucky family each day.
Since, the Cinderella Castle Suite has become the dream experience for some Disney fans. Along the way, this fan-desire has been spurred by Disney-forum accounts from the Suite by lucky guests who won stays in the Suite, podcast details of the Suite from travel agents, and everyone’s favorite, Samantha Brown Travel Channel special tours of the Suite.
In just a few short years, it has attained the cult-like status of exclusive Club 33 restaurant or Walt’s Apartment in Disneyland, and rightfully so, as it’s arguably more exclusive than either of those locations. The photos that follow throughout this post are some of our unique photos from our visits to the Cinderella Castle Suite.
Let’s start our photo tour of the Cinderella Castle Suite!
In recent years, there have been a few tours of the Cinderella Castle Suite offered. These tours are conducted by a Walt Disney World Guest Relations Cast Member–the same type of Cast Member who would serve as the overnight concierge for celebrities and giveaway winners who would stay in the Suite.
To call the Castle Suite opulent would be an understatement. Lavishly adorned with the full royal treatment, its “Beauty-Per-Square-Foot” Ratio is through the roof.
We have been in the Suite twice, via tours held during the D23 Magic & Merriment Event. Unfortunately, we haven’t had the opportunity to stay overnight…yet! 😉
Staying overnight inside Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is a dream of ours, but apparently we do not have the clout of Suri or Tom Cruise, Mariah Carey, and other recent celebrity guests. Oh well, perhaps after we get our own reality TV show on which we act like buffoons we’ll be invited.
The Cinderella Castle Suite cannot be booked, it’s by invite or via winning a contest, only.
There are rumors that Disney has turned down large sums of money ($40,000+ per night) to book the Suite.
$40,000 for a 1-night stay seems like an insane amount of money, but given that it could only be booked 365 times per year and also given that there are a lot of stupidly rich people in the world, it would probably fully book up well in advance at that price point or higher.
The high demand for the Suite versus the limited supply probably partly explains why Disney does not book the room.
Originally intended to be an apartment for Walt Disney and his family when they were in Florida, the space became an area for telephone operators after Walt died in 1966. The Suite is visible from the bridges to Liberty Square and Adventureland; it’s the small stained glass windows some distance above Cinderella’s Royal Table.
Cinderella’s Royal Table is one of Disney’s most popular restaurants; it’s a princess character meal that is popular because it’s actually inside Cinderella Castle, making it a popular restaurant for families. So popular that it often fully books up 180 days in advance. You can read about it and other Walt Disney World restaurants in our Disney Restaurant Reviews.
Any visit to the Suite begins by boarding its elevator activated by what else, but a Key to the World card. While quite small, the elevator’s look foreshadows what is to come, with its intricate design and beautiful details.
Upon exiting the elevator, guests find themselves in a small marble-floored foyer area before entering the main quarters.
This area is a veritable treasure trove of all things Cinderella, with the highlight being the fairytale pumpkin coach in the center of the floor. From the foyer, guests head to the Suite itself.
Upon entering the Cinderella Castle Suite itself, the first area visible is the bedchambers, where two lavishly adorned queen size beds sit opposite a fireplace.
Signs bearing the words “Show Ready” adorning chairs and beds provide a gentle reminder to Cast Members and guests just how nice their surroundings are.
I imagine the screening process for MouseKeepers who will be allowed to clean the room is a little greater than normal. Understandably so, as Disney probably doesn’t want someone like me in there, so filled with exuberance that it causes them to jump on the beds.
Behind this extravagant exterior lies 21st century technology. The ornately framed, 17th-century-style portrait of Cinderella above the regal fireplace in the bedchamber magically transforms into a flat-screen HDTV.
Likewise, in the den there is a mirror that can be turned on to reveal another HDTV. This isn’t your (fairy) godmother’s suite!
Lavish it is, but large it is not. The entire space is slightly larger than a Studio room at a Disney Vacation Club resort. It may look large from the photos, but it is quite compact (hence the need to use the fisheye lens to capture the space). Fortunately, it utilizes its space quite well.
The Suite itself contains a salon, bedchamber, and bathroom all befitting of royalty. In typical Walt Disney Imagineering form, the entire Suite looks like something straight out of a fairytale, or more likely, an authentic, Medieval Castle.
Also in typical Imagineering fashion, the Suite is bursting with details. These are a mix of nods to the film, plus the amenities expected of a luxurious hotel suite (despite its seldom use, it is a functional hotel room).
Disney has made efforts to ensure that the room is plausibly authentic as a suite in Cinderella Castle despite its modern conveniences.
The Cinderella Castle Suite carefully toes the line between modern and Medieval.
Each celebrity guest who stays in the Suite is given one of these glass slippers commemorating their stay (at one time, we were told that this slipper cost $18,000–there is considerable doubt that this is its actual cost/value…unless there’s some serious Disney mark-up going on!). This slipper was given to Mariah Carey, who elected not to take it.
Some of the stately details include two queen size beds draped by regal canopies, a gorgeously stitched parlor sofa, and those beautiful stained glass windows mentioned above.
Unfortunately, these windows don’t allow for much of a view of the park (it’s far from one of the Best Magic Kingdom Fireworks Viewing Locations), but they’re pretty, nonetheless.
One question that often comes up when people hear that celebrities use the Cinderella Castle Suite or that it goes empty many nights is, “why isn’t Disney donating it to ‘Make A Wish’?” Unfortunately, given the size of the Suite, its accessibility limitations, etc., this simply is not a feasible option. I would suspect liability issues also have something to do with it. So, blame the lawyers and laws!
The most beautiful space, I think, is the bathroom and, more specifically, the bathtub itself.
With its walls covered in mosaics reminiscent of those lining the walls of the passageway from Main Street to Fantasyland below, and its star-covered ceiling, guests bathe in style in this royal tub.
Here’s a view from the bottom of the bathtub looking up at the ceiling, because, why not? So, now you have an answer to the pressing question “what would it be like for Gus Gus to view the tub?”
The ambient lighting in the bathtub is exceptional. Take a look as it goes from normal (above)…
…to moody green.
I think if I had the opportunity to stay overnight in the Suite, I would spend about 75% of my time in this resplendent tub. (Not that I’ve already allocated my time in such a hypothetical scenario or anything.)
The toilet, well…let’s just say there’s good reason to call this bad boy the “throne.”
The myriad of details in the Suite are such that you could spend hours poking around in there and still not discover everything. It is quite unfortunate that Disney hasn’t utilized this Suite more, as it presently is only used, on occasion, for visiting celebrities who supposedly make charitable donations for use of the Suite.
Tours of the Suite have not been offered to the public for several years, and often, the Suite goes months with nary a guest stepping foot inside.
Seeing the guest quarters is such a wonderful experience that it’s a travesty that park guests do not have the opportunity to see the inner chambers of the Cinderella Castle Suite. I know an overnight stay in the Castle Suite is in Sarah’s thoughts each time she stares longingly at the Castle on our Walt Disney World trips. I guess until the Year of a Million Dreams 3.0, that stay will only be once upon a dream!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? If you’re interested in learning more about hotels, our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page is a good place to start. For where to eat, try out our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews page. If you want to save money on tickets or determine which type you should get, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at unconventional things you should take on your trip. Once you arrive at the parks, our Walt Disney World “Ride Guides” are great for determining what to do and when to do it. For overviews of all of these topics and so much more, the best place to start is our comprehensive Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide to make the most of your experience!
Your Thoughts…
What do you think of the Cinderella Castle Suite? Would you like to see the Cinderella Castle Suite used for charitable purposes? Do you wish you could spend a night here? Or would you rather stay at a larger Walt Disney World hotel? Share your thoughts or any questions about the Cinderella Castle Suite in the comments!
It is every girls dream come true to stay a night at the castle. You don’t have to be little to dream. Disney is a fantasy of what a world full of imagination, love, and family should be if only for a day.
It would be a real dream come true to stay a night here.
I just went to wdw last year. I was 27. My husband and I had our 5 year old(it was her birthday trip) and our 9 month old with us. I had the time of my life. When we got home it was all I could talk about to any and everyon (so much that we(I) couldn’t wait to go back and we are going again in a few weeks.) I feel like I’m turning into some sort of disney freak. It does stink that the people in charge don’t open it up for people to even tour. But ya know what? Since it is disney world, why not build castle hotels instead of hotels?! I remember telling my husband “I don’t understand why celebs builds mansions. If I were rich I’d build a castle!” And it would be a replica of Cinderella’s! Sorry for the long post. I just love Disney World. I remember at like my 8th birthday party the kids wanting to watch a movie. They wanted a goofy movie. I wanted Cinderella.
I have stayed in the suite and it is an awesome experience.
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I want to go there and torn into a princesses my wish is come true
A friend of my sister’s got picked to spend a night in the suite with her family, and said the coolest part of the whole night was having a personal concierge on call for the duration of their stay. She was so excited she couldn’t sleep, so at 3:00 in the morning, she called the concierge and told him she wanted to walk around the park. Off they went! Disney magic.
I Love your photos! They capture the wonderful bliss of Disney. I was wondering if you would give me permission to use these photo on a project for a club? I would very much appreciate it. Thank you for taking such beautiful photos.
Certainly!
I hope you have a lovely time there
I would sooo love to stay here! At the risk of sounding mean (and yes I probably am mean and jealous!) it seems so wrong that its just used for celebrities who probably don’t appreciate it. Why would Mariah turn down the shoe?! That would soooo precious to most people! Nothing aimed at kids should be so divisive – all kids are special and deserve to have a dream experience. And tbh, I dont even think just kids that are seriously ill. All children. No child should feel second class to another, so I really strongly disagree with a ‘family friendly’ company having such an amazing treat and then using it only for people who already have so much.
Bitterness over!
We live in Tampa, and have had passes to WDW for quite some time. I always wondered what the suite looks like. And sadly, yes I did attempt to win the “Year of a Million Dreams” though obviously did not. Anyway, I enjoyed looking at your photos. For me…it’s enough. I am also happy for the little Cruise girl to have such an amazing experience.Some of us are fortunate to have worked so hard to give our kids what we did not have, yet can enjoy new and fun experiences through our children. Thanks again for sharing your amazing photos.
I want to stay there! But I also appreciate the photo tour. Looks beautiful!!!!
I really had no Idea about the suite, and ive been there numerous times. I really wish they would do more tours. My little girl cried last time we were at Disney because she wanted to go into the castle. Thanks for sharing. It is truly amazing 🙂
I’m sad and appalled that only the rich and affluent have opportunities to stay in this beautiful suite. Suri Cruise has been blessed with parents who can afford to stay anywhere. Wouldn’t this be an awesome destination for “Make a Wish” kids?… If I had an opportunity to stay here I would happily give it to a child in need…. Just sayin!!
Just to bring everybody back down to earth about a few things…
The reason why “Disney doesn’t give the suite to Give Kids the World candidates” is very simple…there are literally thousands of children who participate in this program…also, many of those children need special accommodations regarding medical exceptions. The room is not easily accessible in a medical emergency…the last thing anyone needs on a vacation with an ill child is a slow response time from paramedics. Disney is a massive supporter of GKTW…so please ease back on all the outrage about how selfish Disney is about not letting every child, their families and victims of tragedy stay in the Suite…and while we’re at it…why not every soldier that has ever served, or teacher that tirelessly dedicates themselves to their jobs or low income single moms??? You see….it’s a slippery slope for a room that holds one family a night.
There is also a tremendous cost to the room…there is an attendant that is up in the castle that is awake and on call every second a Guest is there to ensure they can get assistance the entire time…it is not a huge hotel with a staff of dozens overnight…it’s one person fielding all requests. A crew has to be brought in to clean one single room…it’s not a money maker by any stretch.
Also…one other thing….Disney DOES NOT take “money donations” from rich celebrities to stay in the Suite…utter hogwash….Tom Cruise and Mariah Carey among others have been able to stay there because the savvy Disney media team understands that it allows them the opportunity to photograph high profile celebrities there and then send those images out to magazines and online sites…so, people see those images and decide they would like to take THEIR families on a glorious Disney vacation. There is absolutely NO TRUTH to the rumor that they paid for the opportunity. Whether we all like to acknowledge it or not, Celebrities carry a lot of readership and that’s why you always just magically happen to see pictures of your favorite celebs at Disney vacations…they are exchanging their fame for some Disney perks…that reality folks.
Lastly…there is one hilarious error in this story…the glass slipper that Guests are presented with is not $18,000. It is purchased from the Arribas Brothers glass shop on Amani Street for each Guest. You can go there and buy one for yourself when you visit the Magic Kingdom…it’s about $30. This “$18,000″ myth was a story lost in translation about the glass slipper in the lobby that is the slipper custom made for Scarlet Johansson when she filmed the famous Annie Liebowitz ad for Disney when she was portraying Cinderella. I promise you, Disney is not giving away $18,000 slippers…and for that matter…I ask you…”What in the heck would ,ale you think a glass shoes would cost that much money.” If it smells like a rotten fact…it probably is.
Superb comments!
All true and correct and completely understandable … Except one thing…. The glass slipper in that picture is over 100 dollars….. The smaller one is 35 dollars 🙂 ( its prettier than the big one. It has sparkly christals on the heart instead of the heart just being frosted :-))
Thank you Ghost6 for your explaination about use of the Suite vs. GKTW kids. I was thinking the same thing while reading the “cussing Disney” remarks. People like to be outraged without thinking first. I think GKTW families are quite lucky and should be happy to get the trips, rather than complaining they did not get more.
Wonderful comments…plus…there is only ONE suite. Think of the bidding wars for this room!! It really seems the only way to utilize this room is through some special promotion. I wish they would do it again, though.
And even if the “evil rich people” did pay an “insane” amount to stay there, good for them. All of you people sitting there casting stones would not hesitate to do the same if you had the money and opportunity. It’s always different when it’s someone else doing it… And yes, surprise surprise, Disney is a business and like any business they exist to make money. There is nothing wrong with providing people with great experiences AND making money while doing it.
I completely understand and agree that the room wouldn’t be suitable for an ill child due to the fact that it isn’t equipped properly for what they may need as well as the point made about the response times not being reasonable in an emergency. I even agree that celebrities are leaders, for better or worse, and people are influenced to take their families there based on which “hot celeb” is visiting. I, however, don’t agree that they should be the ones being invited. I mean, it’s a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’…and how many ‘once in a lifetime opportunities’ do celebrities get, thanks to their wealth? Tons. I mean, it’s not like they can’t afford them. I just think that maybe this special experience should be saved for someone a little less fortunate. Make someone’s honeymoon that can’t afford that resort for $400/night. Make a princess’/prince’s birthday. Afterall, it’s not like the celebrities won’t get complimentary tickets into the park for Disney’s benefit (ie: publicity). And Mariah Carey didn’t even accept the glass slipper…can you imagine a little girl in a princess outfit doing that? I think that shows who would value the experience more. Just my opinion:)
Thank you very much for sharing truth and defending! I have been huge support of Disney my whole life and after everything I have seen and been apart of with the Disney cooperation they are certainly not greedy. I would go as far as saying that they are one of the most giving cooperation out there who know how to do PR and serve their customers extremely well! Thank you for supporting this company and being outspoken about the good they do! This is the first time I have visited your page and this will not be the last.
Hi I am Maddie I’m 14 years old I hope you are ok
I think Walt Disney would be appalled that only the wealthy could stay in what would have been his apartment. Too bad they couldn’t have converted this space into replicating what Walt’s apartment would have looked like instead of this garish indulgence for moneyed pigs.
I heard about the suite when I was in Disney in January. I came home & Googled it. Tom, this article was the one I found on Google, which led me to DisneyTouristBlog and DisneyPhotographyBlog. Now, I read both blogs daily. While I do not want to sleep, I think it is sad that they do not give tours. If Disney would allow tours again, I would rent a fisheye lens just to photograph the suite.
How can you stay there. I love to be in there. Cinderella is all been my fart princess in i was lil
With an influx of studies about the best time to buy airline tickets, search engines that aggregate the prices of dozens of travel websites!
This castle is the most spectacular Cinderella castle i have ever seen.I want to go in there.I been to Disneyworld every since i was a little girl,Pretty much i been there since i was born.Let me tell you,i really want to go there grandma.Hey Tammy,i know i just met u but i reallywant to go there to,but i have to stay at home to cause of my step-cousin. Sincerely,Paris Luke To:Disney world Resort-Cinderella Castle
sad that privileged children like Suri are able to stay in this exquisite room…a dream come true for a little princess while children who are fighting life threatening illnesses, going through chemo, surgeries, etc. cannot even if it is their one dream to do so. They don’t have to spend their whole week there just one night…or even a special tour just to say they were there. Just to hold that memory close as they battle for their life <3 My little girl is getting her wish to go to Disney. She is 4. She has been battling a brain tumor since she was 23 months old…I know Suri is probably a sweet little girl with dreams like everyone else…but who deserves to feel like a princess more than a sick child.
I agree, and at the risk of offending readers of this blog who are obviously passionate Disney World fans, I think Disney’s policy regarding the Cinderella suite is just proof of their outsized greed. Their corporation feeds on people’s fantasies but they’re too stingy to share this lovely dream with their public at large, or even with sick (sometimes dying) children.
Tammy, I hope your little girl’s other dreams come true and pray for her recovery.
Tammy: Does your daughter have a website? I just heard tonight that a few years back a friend’s daughter’s first MAW was to sleep in the castle. I was surprised that MAW couldn’t make that happen. Not that I don’t love GKTW. I volunteered on both my Disney Internships. GKTW is the best place in the world. I volunteered but honestly got so much more out of it then I could ever give. In 2000 I had over 100 hours in the village from 1/2000-6/2000. I helped with parents night out, tuck in with the mayor and a Christmas. I agree that these kids deserve something like that. I wonder how high up in management we’d have to go to get that to happen. Funny thing I don’t think many cast members make it up there. I worked in Fantasyland Merch and I never got to go up there.
I’m also curious if since the castle redo the rooms were left untouched??
Disney should offer up this suite to families of the victims in Newtown, CT.
That would be a great gesture. If I were a family who just lost my child, though, the last place I’d want to go is Walt Disney World.