The repainting of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom is officially finished, and Disney has shared a closer look at how the project came together. The completed palette brings the park icon back toward its original appearance, pairing deep blue roofs with refined gold accents. Disney first teased the new scheme at Destination D23 in August 2025, and the work has now wrapped with the moat refilled. Here is a look at the project, the people behind it, and the challenges they faced along the way.
A Return to the 1971 Palette
Imagineering selected a color scheme designed to bring the Castle back toward how it looked when Magic Kingdom first opened. The team chose shades meant to catch the Florida sunshine and highlight the building’s architectural details from every angle.
When given the opportunity to repaint the castle, it was really important to us to look at the rich history we have here. So we wanted to make sure we were bringing back that classic 1971 color palette, but in a more refined way.
Chris Weck, a Senior Creative Director with Walt Disney ImagineeringWeck said the team leaned into the building’s details more than the previous scheme did, calling attention to the stonework, the roof colors, and gold accents made to stand out.
We took our inspiration from that classic vision of the Castle in 1971 by selecting elegant shades that lean into the element of fantasy. To highlight the architectural details of the Castle, we used deep blue roofs, stonework, and graceful gold trim to celebrate the details and whimsy of our park icon.
Chris Weck, a Senior Creative Director with Walt Disney ImagineeringThe finished result combines deep blue roofs and stonework with gold trim for a look Disney describes as both refreshed and familiar.
The Teams Behind the Project
Disney framed the announcement around the people who completed the work rather than the finished product alone. Several groups collaborated, including Walt Disney Imagineering, Facility Asset Management, Disney Live Entertainment, Project Development, Operations, and PhotoPass.
Nathan Collahuazo, an Associate Project Manager with Facility Asset Management, described how his group fits into projects like this one. His team handles long-term maintenance, rehab, and construction work across the parks, partnering closely with Imagineering.
They have the vision, and we help execute that vision for them. And so being told that, ‘Hey, you’re going to change how this looks for, you know, the foreseeable future’, it was really exciting to me and a dream come true. Not every day you are told, ‘Hey, you’re going to change the look of one of the most iconic buildings Disney has.’ That excitement hit immediately, and then very quickly, the weight of it.
Nathan Collahuazo, an Associate Project Manager with Facility Asset ManagementDraining the Moat to Begin
Before any paint reached the front walls, the team had to clear its largest logistical hurdle. The moat needed to be completely drained so crews could work safely around the base of the Castle.
Nathan pointed to that step as the toughest part of the job. “Probably one of the most difficult parts of this project was getting into the moat,” he said. “The moat had to be completely drained so we could safely work in there.”
To make it happen, crews built temporary dams and lowered the water level. After cleaning the moat floor, the team brought in large boom lifts one at a time so painting could begin on the front of the Castle.
Painting in Full Guest View
Unlike most Facility Asset Management projects, this one could not be hidden behind construction walls. The work took place in plain sight along Main Street USA, so the teams built their schedule around the guest experience.
Weck acknowledged the difficulty of painting a park icon during operating hours. “As you can imagine, working on a live construction site in the middle of a park on our park icon is a challenge,” she said. Facility Asset Management kept the project moving, while live entertainment partners worked to maintain the Cinderella Castle projection effects throughout.
To protect the photo opportunity guests count on, crews carefully lowered the cranes and moved them out of view each day at noon. Weck said that timing was set with visitors in mind. “In the afternoon, our guests could still take those beautiful photos of the castle that they want to go home with,” she said.
Working at 150 Feet in the Air
Over several weeks, painters worked in safety harnesses at heights reaching up to 150 feet. They finished each section of trim, wall, and roof using small brushes and rollers, including the very top of the Castle, a spot most guests never get to see up close.
Watching the project develop in public turned out to be a highlight for the team. “Truly, one of my favorite parts of this project has been the way guests have followed along with us,” Weck said. “We’re working in front of them and they’ve truly embraced this.” She also recalled the morning the roofs first showed their new color, describing the sunlight hitting each new facade.
Nathan felt the same lift when the new blue tones became visible. “When I first saw the new blue and all of the new shades of color on there, it was just really exciting and it lit me up,” he said. “It felt like a new heart to our park.” He added that he hopes guests can sense the care the team put into the work.
The Moat Is Refilled and the Project Is Complete
With the painting finished and the moat refilled, the project is now fully wrapped for guests visiting Magic Kingdom. The water has returned to the basin, and the surrounding rockwork has been refreshed alongside the Castle itself.
The timeline traced a clear path. Disney announced the repaint at Destination D23 in 2025, drained the moat early in 2026 to start the surrounding work, later shared an updated look while the moat sat empty, and has now shifted to celebrating the crew who completed it.
Conclusion
The completed repainting gives Cinderella Castle a look rooted in its 1971 origins while showing off its architectural details in a more refined way. It came together through the combined effort of several Disney teams working in full view of guests, navigating a drained moat, midday crane retractions, and painting at significant heights. With the moat refilled and the project finished, the next time you walk down the middle of Main Street USA, you can take in the classic palette for yourself.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
