We begin our look at Disney under construction with the central icon of the Magic Kingdom, Cinderella Castle. Since opening day in 1971, the castle has looked pretty much the same, an easily recognized symbol of the joy and magic of Walt Disney World (first 3 photos ©Disney).
It didn't start that way, though. Before topping out at 189 feet, Cinderella Castle started below what is now ground level. The "first floor" of the Magic Kingdom is comprised of a series of facilities connected by passages known as Utilidors. The central corridor of the Utilidor system can be seen in the following image, along with the first signs of vertical construction on the castle walls. Much of this would soon be covered with earth claimed from the formation of Seven Seas Lagoon out in front of the park.
Once the superstructure was complete, detail work began on the castle exterior and interior spaces. Cinderella Castle was finished ahead of much of the rest of the park, so that promotional photos and film could be shot in advance of opening day. The castle stood as a reminder of the ultimate goal for the rest of the crews working on the Magic Kingdom. Take a close look at the clock face on the front of the castle, and you'll see it's a placeholder, stating "Remember Opening Oct. 1971."
Today, all that concrete, steel, Fiberglas and Imagineering artistry blend together seamlessly in the form of a sparkling jewel at the heart of a fairytale kingdom. It's as if Cinderella Castle just appeared here... like magic.
Great pictures! I love old construction photos.
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