Thousands of Twinkly Crystal Lights Create Icy Cascade

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- A dazzling new lighting spectacle is transforming the iconic Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort into a glimmering, shimmering ice palace at holiday time.

Bathed in more than 200,000 tiny white lights, the castle glows and glistens as "Cinderella's Holiday Wish" delights Magic Kingdom guests nightly. The spectacle debuted Nov. 12.

"We are thrilled to be adding this brilliant new castle spectacle to the holiday festivities at Walt Disney World this season and for seasons to come," said Francois Leroux, vice president of Walt Disney World Entertainment. "This glistening holiday enchantment creates perfect fairytale magic for this festive time of year."

"For a park aglow in holiday magic, this becomes the new and eye-filling superstar," added Disney Entertainment show producer Rob Hamberg who supervised the weeks-long rigging of the turrets and towers for the light show. "Nothing will rival 'Cinderella's Holiday Wish' for sheer visual spectacle."

And what a spectacle.

As if suddenly dusted in a million ice crystals, Cinderella Castle shines like the galaxies, adding to the wintertime wonderment of the holidays at Florida's Vacation Kingdom.

Fun Facts

To transform Cinderella's fairytale castle into a magical ice palace it took...
# Five weeks and 65 elves
# Two cranes
# 15 miles of cables, cut and dyed castle colors, supporting...
# 32,000 square feet of fishing nets, supporting...
# 200,000 energy-efficient LEDs, interspersed with...
# 500 strobes
# One Fairy Godmother working some very special magic...

"Show Before the Glow" Stars Disney Characters

To mirthful holiday music, Mickey, Minnie and the gang appear onstage, admiring the festive lights illuminating Main Street, U.S.A. But what to do about the darkened, unadorned castle?

As they bandy about ideas, the Fairy Godmother suddenly appears. It is Cinderella who should rightfully decide, she insists.

Enter the princess herself, with her Prince Charming. All agree with Cinderella that her castle should sparkle the way her beloved glass slippers do -- like shimmering ice and snow.

With a wave of Fairy Godmother's wand -- and guests joining in to make the wish come true -- Cinderella Castle magically morphs into a glorious wintry confection, twinkling in the sky. "The castle suddenly shines like a glistening blanket of ice," explained Disney show writer/director Alan Bruun. "Guests won't believe their eyes at the spectacle as Cinderella's holiday wish comes true."

Show times are nightly at 5:45 p.m. through Jan. 6, 2008. Cinderella Castle aglow also plays a supporting role in other Magic Kingdom entertainment such as live stage shows, the nighttime fireworks extravaganza "Holiday Wishes," and the after-hours Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, a specially-ticketed event featuring the new "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade."

Like a global necklace, dazzling castle lighting spectacles also adorn Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Resort. Disneyland Paris, now marking its 15th anniversary, started the castle lighting tradition in 2005 when Leroux conceived the concept.

 

Beautiful pictures. Wish we were going at Chirstmas. :-[

 

I'd love to do Christmas at WDW! ; Maybe some year. ;

 

OMG I CAN'T WAIT!!! 32 SLEEPS!!! ;

 

Gee... ; can't you get a little excited??? ; ;

 

Goosebumps!!! ;D ;D ; I've got Goosebumps!!! ; ;D ;D The castle looks amazing. ; I can't wait to get my perfect photo of the castle!!! ; According to my facebook countdown we only have 22 more days till we're there!!

 

To add to our excitement Miss Megara.
Of course if you want to keep it a surprise, don't watch. ; That means you Sean!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjIvYFF1fw0

And also for all of you that are going to miss out.

 

I've heard it's phenomenal but with 16 days left I'm going to try to hold out but I'm not very good at doing that.

 

Oh my gosh.........what is going through my head at this very moment:

1. ; Call my TA

2. ; Tell her that I don't care how she does it, but get me to WDW within the next 2 days.

3. ; Get on a freakin plane and forget about how much it is going to cost and go and see these darned lights before I go completely crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They are so so so so so so beeeeeeeaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuttttttttiiiiiiiiiffffffffuuuuuuuuulllllllllll!!!