Information about the Cinderella Castle Suite...

[Janet2k]

I'm not sure if this info has been posted before. I just found it on Disney's official website this afternoon and thought I would share it here.

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A Day (and a Night) in the Life of the Cinderella Castle Suite

* 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.)

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[Janet2k]

More info from the official Disney website. Since most of you have seen photos of the suite by now, this information will describe what you saw in those phots.

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Cinderella Castle Suite: A Regal Tour

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.
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[Janet2k]

To see a photograph of the custom-made Cinderella Glass Slipper that was crafted by Steuben Glass and will be showcased in the suite, click here (http://www.wdwnews.com/PrintableImage.aspx?ImageURL=assets/images/printable/0123AT_1672DR51890509.JPG&AssetID=105774).

[Janet2k]

For those of you who will be vacationing in Walt Disney World this year, I hope you're lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. And please remember to share photos of your Cinderella Suite stay here on the Dis upon your return home.

[Janet2k]

I thought I would share a few links to audio clips about the Cinderella Castle Suite prize. The man speaking is Mr. Tom Fitzgerald, Executive Vice President, Senior Creative Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering.

Audio Clip # 1 (http://www.wdwpress.com/yomd_apk/fitzgerald2.mp3)
Audio Clip # 2 (http://www.wdwpress.com/yomd_apk/fitzgerald3.mp3)

[ppiew]

This is all so far beyond a wish or a dream I can hardly fathom it!!! Disney sure went all out on this one! What a magical experience some families will be able to have!! I wish all good luck!! (and please don't scratch the furniture!!)

[glitzybabes]

What will happen to the suite after YOMD is over??? Does anyone know???

[Janet2k]

I attended a VIP Tour of the Magic Kingdom last summer. One of my favorite Dis'ers had invited me on it. During the tour, our VIP Tour Guide pointed out the location of the Castle Suite. I took a few photos of it as we walked by it. I have now uploaded those photos into an on-line photo album so I could share them with you. They should give you a pretty good idea of where the suite is located:

Castle Photo #1 (http://new.photos.yahoo.com/janettwokay/album/576460762326622469/photo/294928804198363387/9)
Castle Photo #2 (http://new.photos.yahoo.com/janettwokay/album/576460762326622469/photo/294928804198390699/10)
Castle Photo #3 (http://new.photos.yahoo.com/janettwokay/album/576460762326622469/photo/294928804198363376/11)
Castle Photo #4 (http://new.photos.yahoo.com/janettwokay/album/576460762326622469/photo/294928804198390698/12)
Castle Photo #5 (http://new.photos.yahoo.com/janettwokay/album/576460762326622469/photo/294928804198363371/13)

From the photos that I recently saw on the Internet of the suite's parlor room, I believe that is where the three tall, blue windows (circled in red & yellow on my photos) are located.

Disney should be releasing their photos of the suite soon. I can't wait to view them (even though the unofficial photos showed just how ~magical~ that suite is).

[kmab00]

So when is the magical "first night" in the Castle? Anyone know??

[Fantasmic303]

I think the official nights begin tomorrow (Thursday, the 25th), but there have been VIPs and special guests staying there over the last week or so.

[LisaNJ25]

so silly question but I guess they would have staff around all night so you dont sneak out of the castle and walk around the park?

[TigrLvsPooh]

Ok... so it looks like we need to be up and awake early every morning so we can get out there and be chosen! ;) I wonder if the randomly selected locations are only in the parks?? Or also at the resorts?? Hmmmm....

I can't wait to see who the first DISer chosen will be!!! :thumbsup2

[Janet2k]

I thought I would share a few links to audio clips about the Cinderella Castle Suite prize. The man speaking is Mr. Tom Fitzgerald, Executive Vice President, Senior Creative Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering.

Audio Clip # 1 (http://www.wdwpress.com/yomd_apk/fitzgerald2.mp3)
Audio Clip # 2 (http://www.wdwpress.com/yomd_apk/fitzgerald3.mp3)

Here are some more. The first three audio clips are by Stephen Silvestri, Imagineering Art Director for Cinderella Castle:

Audio Clip # 3 (http://www.wdwpress.com/yomd_apk/silvestri1.mp3)
Audio Clip # 4 (http://www.wdwpress.com/yomd_apk/silvestri2.mp3)
Audio Clip # 5 (http://www.wdwpress.com/yomd_apk/silvestri3.mp3)

And here are two audio clips by Cathy Carver, Imagineer and Lead Designer for the Cinderella Castle Suite:

Audio Clip # 6 (http://www.wdwpress.com/yomd_apk/carver1.mp3)
Audio Clip # 7 (http://www.wdwpress.com/yomd_apk/carver2.mp3)

[Janet2k]

As soon as Disney releases photos and video of the Castle Suite, I'll be sure to post links to them here. I did see the suite on "Good Morning America" this morning. It looked beautiful.

[Janet2k]

I wonder if the randomly selected locations are only in the parks?? Or also at the resorts??

Only the computer knows for certain. ;) According to Disney's official press release:

* 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.)

[Janet2k]

This is all so far beyond a wish or a dream I can hardly fathom it!!! Disney sure went all out on this one! What a magical experience some families will be able to have!! I wish all good luck!! (and please don't scratch the furniture!!)

Ppiew, I agree. What a ~magical~ experience. I hope you are lucky enough to stay there (and I hope the furniture hasn't been scratched by the prior guests!).

[Janet2k]

What will happen to the suite after YOMD is over??? Does anyone know???

That is the million dollar question, isn't it? ;) So far, nothing has been announced yet by Disney.

[Janet2k]

so silly question but I guess they would have staff around all night so you dont sneak out of the castle and walk around the park?

Disney has already thought of that and that is why you get time alone in the theme park after-hours with a VIP Guest Relations Cast Member. According to the official press release:


* 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.)

[Janet2k]

Here is a link to the video clip of today's segment on "Good Morning America" regarding the winners of their Castle Suite Contest: click here (http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2822419).

[Janet2k]

From Disney's official press release: click here (http://www.wdwnews.com/PrintableImage.aspx?ImageURL=assets/images/printable/0125AT_2533GD54826885.jpg&AssetID=105816)

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The Fouch Family of DeWitt, Mich., is the first family to receive an overnight stay in the Cinderella Castle Suite at the Magic Kingdom theme park

(Jan. 25, 2007): Lisa (far left) and Jim (far right) Fouch of DeWitt, Mich., flank their children Brad, 16, and Hannah, 8, while being escorted by Cinderella through the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Jan. 25, 2007 after being randomly awarded the very first overnight stay in the brand new Cinderella Castle Suite as part of Disney's "The Year of a Million Dreams." Brad was in the right place at the right time -- seat 8 in row 2 of simulator 4 in the Star Tours attraction at the Disney-MGM Studios theme park around 10 a.m. Thursday -- the location and time a computer had designated a single guest to be awarded the Castle Suite dream-come-true experience for his family. As part of their royal treatment, the Fouch family was scheduled to act as grand marshals in Thursday's "Dreams Come True" parade at the Magic Kingdom before dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table and their magical evening in the suite. During "The Year of a Million Dreams" more than one million dreams will be awarded at Walt Disney World and Disneyland resorts throughout 2007. To date, more than 303,400 have been awarded at Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World in Florida. (Gene Duncan, photographer)
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[Janet2k]

Here is a video tour of the Cinderella Castle Suite that is posted on the Orlando Sentinel website: click here (http://video.orlandosentinel.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?ClipID1=1192935&h1=Cinderella%27s%20Castle%20Suite&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=119067&LaunchPageAdTag=News&fvCatNo=&backgroundImageURL=&activePane=info&playerVersion=1&hostPageUrl=http%3A//www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/newsletter/mu-html/orl-mcinderella2507jan25%2C0%2C2621766.story%3Fcoll%3D orl-middayupdate-latestnews&rnd=96736508). Here is a link to their photos: click here (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/newsletter/mu-html/orl-magickingdomhotel-pg,0,6232253.photogallery?coll=orl-middayupdate-latestnews). And here is a link to their news article: click here (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/newsletter/mu-html/orl-mcinderella2507jan25,0,2621766.story?coll=orl-middayupdate-latestnews).

[Janet2k]

I'm hoping that after the Year of a Million Dreams has come to an end, that Disney allows theme park guests to tour the suite as an attraction. That way everyone would get a chance to see it.

[Janet2k]

Click here (http://www.wdwnews.com/PrintableImage.aspx?ImageURL=assets/images/printable/0125AT_0207DR_164359560.JPG&AssetID=105834) to see the photo of the glass slipper and tiara.

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Harry Winston Tiara and Steuben Glass Slipper Celebrate Opening of Cinderella Castle Suite

Befitting a princess, this Harry Winston tiara is an exquisite, one-of-a-kind piece is made of platinum and 18K white gold and features 366 diamonds totaling more than 62 carats. It is valued at more than $325,000. It is pictured inside the new Cinderella Castle Suite with the custom-made Cinderella Glass Slipper, crafted by Steuben Glass Company, that will be a featured piece in the Cinderella Castle Suite. The piece was created exclusively for Walt Disney World to be on display for guests staying in Cinderella Castle during Disney Parks’ “Year of a Million Dreams” celebration. (David Roark, photographer)
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[Janet2k]

Click here (http://www.wdwnews.com/PrintableImage.aspx?ImageURL=assets/images/printable/0103AT_0022GD61009366.jpg&AssetID=105825) to view photo.

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FIT FOR ROYALTY – Rich furnishings, fabrics, stained glass and other appointments lend a regal air to the new Cinderella Castle Suite in the Magic Kingdom...

FIT FOR ROYALTY – Rich furnishings, fabrics, stained glass and other appointments lend a regal air to the new Cinderella Castle Suite in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Custom-designed headboards feature the royal crest of Cinderella. Most days during Disney’s “Year of a Million Dreams” celebration in 2007, lucky guests will be chosen at random to spend a dream-come-true night in the suite, the first-ever overnight accommodations inside the Magic Kingdom’s iconic castle.
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[Janet2k]

Click here (http://www.wdwnews.com/PrintableImage.aspx?ImageURL=assets/images/printable/0107AT_0593GD61107275.jpg&AssetID=105826) to view photo.

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FIT FOR ROYALTY – Centerpiece of the Cinderella Castle Suite...

FIT FOR ROYALTY – Centerpiece of the Cinderella Castle Suite is an antique limestone fireplace – 17th century Gothic molded from an original wood fireplace from France. The fiber optics create the sensation of a fire giving off embers. Above the fireplace an image of Cinderella magically changes into a television. Most days during Disney’s “Year of a Million Dreams” celebration in 2007, lucky guests will be chosen at random to spend a dream-come-true night in the suite, the first-ever overnight accommodations inside the Magic Kingdom’s iconic castle at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
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[Janet2k]

Click here (http://www.wdwnews.com/PrintableImage.aspx?ImageURL=assets/images/printable/0107AT_0563GD61195255.jpg&AssetID=105827) to view photo.

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FIT FOR ROYALTY – Centerpiece of the Cinderella Castle Suite...

FIT FOR ROYALTY – The sitting room inside the Cinderella Castle Suite is anchored by a custom sofa bed – a one-of-a-kind creation with French carved details. In the entertainment center, a mirror magically transforms into a television. Most days during Disney’s “Year of a Million Dreams” celebration in 2007, lucky guests will be chosen at random to spend a dream-come-true night in the suite, the first-ever overnight accommodations inside the Magic Kingdom’s iconic castle at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
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[Janet2k]

Click here (http://www.wdwnews.com/PrintableImage.aspx?ImageURL=assets/images/printable/0107AT_0614GD61898405.jpg&AssetID=105829) to view photo.

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FIT FOR ROYALTY – Under a starry constellation and surrounded by beautiful mosaics, guests of the Cinderella Castle Suite....

FIT FOR ROYALTY – Rich furnishings, fabrics, stained glass and other appointments lend a regal air to the new Cinderella Castle Suite in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Custom-designed headboards feature the royal crest of Cinderella. Most days during Disney’s “Year of a Million Dreams” celebration in 2007, lucky guests will be chosen at random to spend a dream-come-true night in the suite, the first-ever overnight accommodations inside the Magic Kingdom’s iconic castle.
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[Janet2k]

Click here (http://www.wdwnews.com/PrintableImage.aspx?ImageURL=assets/images/printable/0107AT_0571GD62294552.jpg&AssetID=105832) to view photo.

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FIT FOR ROYALTY – Rich furnishings, fabrics, stained glass and other appointments lend a regal air to the new Cinderella Castle Suite in the Magic Kingdom...

FIT FOR ROYALTY – Rich furnishings, fabrics, stained glass and other appointments lend a regal air to the new Cinderella Castle Suite in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Custom-designed headboards feature the royal crest of Cinderella. Most days during Disney’s “Year of a Million Dreams” celebration in 2007, lucky guests will be chosen at random to spend a dream-come-true night in the suite, the first-ever overnight accommodations inside the Magic Kingdom’s iconic castle.
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[Janet2k]

Click here (http://www.wdwnews.com/PrintableImage.aspx?ImageURL=assets/images/printable/0107AT_0551GD61690584.jpg&AssetID=105828) to view photo.

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FIT FOR ROYALTY – Under a starry constellation and surrounded by beautiful mosaics, guests of the Cinderella Castle Suite....

FIT FOR ROYALTY – Under a starry constellation and surrounded by beautiful mosaics, guests of the Cinderella Castle Suite can luxuriate in the royal bath. Most days during Disney’s “Year of a Million Dreams” celebration in 2007, lucky guests will be chosen at random to spend a dream-come-true night in the suite, the first-ever overnight accommodations inside the Magic Kingdom’s iconic castle at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
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[Janet2k]

Click here (http://www.wdwnews.com/PrintableImage.aspx?ImageURL=assets/images/printable/M2-25a_114_114.jpg&AssetID=100779) to view photo.

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Cinderella Castle

CASTLE SPIRES -- Rising 17 stories into the Florida sky, Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort serves as a landmark for park visitors and provides an entryway into Fantasyland.
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[Janet2k]

I'm hopeful that other Dis'ers will post information about the Cinderella Castle Suite here in this thread. I only started it so that we would have a central location for information. I'm sure there are various threads on other boards, but since this is the Dis' Year of a Million Dreams board, I thought it was the most appropriate place for this information.

So, if any of you have links to news articles, video clips, audio clips, and photographs, please feel free to share them here.

[ead79]

Very cool, Janet! Thanks for compiling all that info! I sure hope a DISer wins so we can get a first-hand report.

[Janet2k]

I sure hope a DISer wins so we can get a first-hand report.

Ead79, I agree. I can't wait to read a trip report from a Dis'er who has stayed in that suite. I hope it happens soon, and then happens again and again and again... ;)

[Janet2k]

Click here (http://www.wdwnews.com/PrintableImage.aspx?ImageURL=assets/images/printable/0125AT_1018DZ82404859.JPG&AssetID=105835) to view photo.

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First ‘Year of a Million Dreams’ Guests to Find ‘Suite Dreams’ As Disney’s Cinderella Castle Opens for Overnight Stays

(JAN. 25, 2007): A Michigan family made history as the first Walt Disney World guests to win a night's stay inside Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom Park as part of the unique Disney Dreams Giveaway. The Fouch family of DeWitt, a small town near state capital Lansing, gained the key to the brand new Cinderella Castle Suite Thursday during "The Year of a Million Dreams," a Disney spectacular celebrating the dreams of guests at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California. Jim and Lisa Fouch and their children, Brad and Hannah, were to spend Thursday night in the regal dwelling place -- the world's most exclusive resort, with only one room available and no reservations accepted. The Fouches became the recipients of the opportunity to become honorary Disney royalty for a day and night because 16-year-old Brad Fouch was sitting in seat eight in the second row of Simulator 4 of the Disney-MGM Studios' Star Tours attraction at 9:50 a.m. Thursday. That was the randomly selected location and time determined by the Disney Dreams Giveaway computer to award the Cinderella Castle stay. (Diana Zalucky, photographer)
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[Janet2k]

Click here (http://www.wdwnews.com/PrintableImage.aspx?ImageURL=assets/images/printable/0125AT_0252JD82790594.jpg&AssetID=105836) to view photo.

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First ‘Year of a Million Dreams’ Guests to Find ‘Suite Dreams’ As Disney’s Cinderella Castle Opens for Overnight Stays


(JAN. 25, 2007): A Michigan family made history as the first Walt Disney World guests to win a night's stay inside Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom Park as part of the unique Disney Dreams Giveaway. The Fouch family of DeWitt, a small town near state capital Lansing, gained the key to the brand new Cinderella Castle Suite Thursday during "The Year of a Million Dreams," a Disney spectacular celebrating the dreams of guests at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California. Jim and Lisa Fouch and their children, Brad and Hannah, were to spend Thursday night in the regal dwelling place -- the world's most exclusive resort, with only one room available and no reservations accepted. The Fouches became the recipients of the opportunity to become honorary Disney royalty for a day and night because 16-year-old Brad Fouch was sitting in seat eight in the second row of Simulator 4 of the Disney-MGM Studios' Star Tours attraction at 9:50 a.m. Thursday. That was the randomly selected location and time determined by the Disney Dreams Giveaway computer to award the Cinderella Castle stay. (Diana Zalucky, photographer)
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[Janet2k]

Both of the links that I provided above are of nighttime photographs of the family who was randomly selected to sleep in the castle tonight. The words on Disney's press release were identical, but the photos were different so please check them out.

[ForKeeps]

That is the million dollar question, isn't it? ;) So far, nothing has been announced yet by Disney.

On my KTTK tour our tour guide indicated that after the YOMD the suite would be used for Disney's Make A Wish Foundation Guests....

[Janet2k]

On my KTTK tour our tour guide indicated that after the YOMD the suite would be used for Disney's Make A Wish Foundation Guests....

ForKeeps, that would be wonderful. I saw a statement by Disney yesterday that mentioned that they still hadn't determined what they were going to do with the suite after the Year of a Million Dreams ended. Hopefully, they have a few ideas because using it for various charitable foundations such as the one you mentioned would be a wonderful gesture.

It also would be wonderful if they auctioned off a handful of one-night stays in the castle and donated the proceeds to charity. Two summers ago I was at a Disney auction in Disneyland as part of their 50th anniversary celebration. The proceeds from that auction were donated to various charities.

[Janet2k]

Here is a photo of the first family to be randomly chosen for a Cinderella Castle Suite stay: click here (http://www.wdwnews.com/PrintableImage.aspx?ImageURL=assets/images/printable/0125AT_1018DZ82404859.JPG&AssetID=105835). And here is a close-up photo of the tiara that the young lady wore in that photo: click here (http://www.wdwnews.com/PrintableImage.aspx?ImageURL=assets/images/printable/0123AT_1647DR36964402.jpg&AssetID=105844). What follows is the press release regarding that tiara.

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Harry Winston Princess Tiara-- Befitting a princess, this Harry Winston tiara is worn by actress Scarlett Johansson as she portrays Cinderella in a new image created by world-renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz...

Befitting a princess, this Harry Winston tiara is worn by actress Scarlett Johansson as she portrays Cinderella in a new image created by world-renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz. To help kick off the “Year of a Million Dreams” celebration, Leibovitz was commissioned by Disney Parks to create “Dreams” images featuring celebrities playing the roles of fabled Disney characters. Valued at $325,000, this exquisite, one-of-a-kind tiara is made of platinum and 18K white gold and features 366 diamonds totaling more than 62 carats.
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[Janet2k]

Since Disney has hired Annie Leibovitz to take photographs as part of the Year of a Million Dreams celebration, it will be interesting to see if she takes any photographs inside the Cinderella Castle Suite. Today she unveiled a photo with the castle in the background: click here (http://www.wdwnews.com/PrintableImage.aspx?ImageURL=assets/images/printable/0126AT_0006KP42371547.jpg&AssetID=105853) (there's that tiara again) and click here (http://asp.usatoday.com/_common/_scripts/big_picture.aspx?width=490&height=306&storyURL=/travel/destinations/2007-01-25-disney-ad-campaign_x.htm&imageURL=http://images.usatoday.com/travel/_photos/2007/01/26/scarlett-large.jpg) (there's that glass slipper again). Here's what Disney's press release had to say:

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Stars Play Out Disney Park Fantasies In New Images Unveiled by Annie Leibovitz

World-renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz poses Jan. 26, 2007 in front of her image featuring Scarlett Johansson as Cinderella – one of three images unveiled today to launch Disney Parks “Year of a Million Dreams.” Leibovitz, wearing the 62-carat, $325,000 Harry Winston diamond tiara worn by Johansson in the photograph, was at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. today to unveil her new Disney Parks-commissioned "Dreams" images. Johansson, clad in a Cinderella ball gown and the diamond tiara, glides down the palace staircase at the stroke of midnight and unknowingly leaves behind a single glass slipper. Each of Leibovitz’s three “Dreams” images feature a scene, with celebrities playing the role of a Disney Parks character, expressing their own dreams and imagination. The other two images feature singer/actress Beyonce, actor Oliver Platt and singer/songwriter Lyle Lovett in a giant, whirling teacup from Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland,” and international soccer star David Beckham portraying Prince Phillip atop a white steed and slaying a fire-breathing dragon in the climactic scene from Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty.” In addition to the three debut images, Disney Parks has commissioned additional images by Leibovitz featuring more celebrities in fairy tale settings. (Kent Phillips, photographer)
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Here's a link to more photographs: click here (http://www.usatoday.com/travel/disneyads/flash.htm).

[Janet2k]

If you click on the following link and go to photo # 6, you will see a photo of the Castle Suite's bedroom: click here (http://www.usatoday.com/travel/disneyads/flash.htm). On the chest sitting in front of the bed on the left, is a tray of "suite treats." I can make out chocolate truffles, cookies, and what appears to be a chocolate painting sitting on a chocolate easel. I cannot, however, make out the image on that chocolate painting. My guess is that it is of the castle or maybe even Fantasyland.

[beattyfamily]

Thanks so much for all the links to info and photos about the Castle Suite. I, for one, am totally enjoying seeing the photos and reading the information about the suite.

Those who get to stay there are SO very lucky.

[labdogs42]

Thanks for getting all of the info here in one place. I love the DIS! I'm so excited to hear the first story about someone from the DIS winning a stay in the suite! I'm sure it will happen soon. Good luck to everyone!!

[Janet2k]

Beattyfamily and Labdogs42, the other day I was gathering together a bunch of Cinderella Castle Suite information for some friends of mine who are heading to Walt Disney World soon. I wanted them to get excited about the possibility of winning a night in the suite.

After I had gathered together a little information, I decided to share it here on the Dis, too. I had never been on the Year Of A Million Dreams (http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=147) board before, but it seemed like the most appropriate place for this information. Sadly, I don’t think this board gets a lot of traffic, so some folks will never learn of the special portion of each Castle Suite stay that includes time alone, after-hours, inside the theme park with a VIP Guest Relations Cast Member:

- - - - - - -
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.
- - - - - - -

When I read about that in the press release, you should have heard me ~sigh.~ I have been fortunate to have been in most of the theme parks either before park hours or after park hours. There is something ~magical~ about walking through an empty theme park and yet the lights are on and the soundtrack is playing as if the park were still open. It is a very surreal experience, and I am so glad that Disney has added that experience to the Cinderella Castle Suite stay.

I should note the flip side of that experience. When the park is closed, that is when an awful lot of behind-the-scenes work happens. The street cleaning equipment comes out, the power washing equipment comes out, the maintenance team comes out, and so on. The Cinderella Castle Suite winners will, no doubt, run into a little of that, but I think the VIP Guest Relations Cast Members will try to steer them clear of as much of that as possible. ;)

[Janet2k]

It's not a Castle Suite photo, but it is a series of photos, two of which show the castle in the background: click here (http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disneyparks/en_US/index?name=Gallery).

Those photos were taken for Disney by Annie Leibovitz as part of the "Where Dreams Come True" campaign. Be sure to click on the images on that webpage in order to see them in a larger size.

[Janet2k]

I'm not sure if every winner of a Cinderella Castle Suite stay will be measured for royal sleepwear, but it was something that the first winner experienced. Read on.

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DeWitt family wins stay at Cinderella's Castle (http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007701260337)
By Mike Hughes, Lansing State Journal
Published January 26, 2007

On a cold and rainy morning Thursday, a DeWitt family accidentally became famous.

At random, the Fouches were chosen as the first people to spend the night in Cinderella's Castle, in the heart of Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Fla.

"I was really stunned," Lisa Fouch said by phone Thursday. "Except for little drawings, I'd never won anything."

Then they won big. "It probably took 15 or 20 minutes for everything to sink in," Jim Fouch said.

The Fouches (rhymes with "couches") have a DeWitt mailing address and live in the Bath School District. Jim, 49, works for IBM; Lisa, 40, is a preschool teacher.

Brad is 16, a Bath High sophomore. Hannah turned 8 on Monday - the first day of the Disney World vacation - and loves the castle. "I think it's beautiful," she said.

This is the third time the Fouches have been to Disney World and a lot of happenstance was involved.

"It was kind of cold and rainy," Jim said. "We stayed in the car for a while, hoping it would let up."

It didn't, so they reluctantly stepped into the MGM Studios portion of the park. "We all got our ponchos on," Jim said. "We looked like a bunch of wet ducks."

That's where they caught the "Star Tours" ride, Brad's choice. "I'm a big 'Star Wars' fan," he said.

Hannah was hesitant. "I didn't want to go on the ride," she said. She did and the Fouches promptly scored in Disney's "Year of a Million Dreams" campaign.

First, it was announced that everyone on the ride had won a "fastpass," allowing shortcuts to other rides. Then the Fouches started to exit the ride.

"As soon as we got out, there were lights and cameras," Jim said. "We didn't know what it was."

A computer, at random, had chosen Brad's seat on the ride as the first winner of the daily contest. That meant by the end of Thursday they would be:

• Grand marshals at the Disney World parade.
• Honored at a dinner in the Cinderella's Royal Table restaurant.
• Measured for royal sleepwear.
• The first people to stay in the Cinderella Castle Suite.

The suite was originally empty space, about four stories above the park. The plan was to have living quarters for the Disney family.

That never happened, though; then this promotion began. The suite was fixed up with a marble foyer and a bedchamber, bathroom and salon, all suitable for royalty - and for the Fouch family.
- - - - - - -

The Fouches were measured for royal sleepwear. Wow! Disney certainly thought of everything.

[roseprincess]

On my KTTK tour our tour guide indicated that after the YOMD the suite would be used for Disney's Make A Wish Foundation Guests....
That would be so awesome for the Make-A-Wish kids and families! :thumbsup2

[Janet2k]

I'm not sure if every winner of a Cinderella Castle Suite stay will be driven down Main Street in Cinderella's Carriage, but it was something that the first winner experienced. Read on.

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No pumpkins at midnight for Mich. family in Cinderella's Castle (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070126/UPDATE/701260437/1003/METRO)
Santiago Esparza And Gregg Krupa / The Detroit News
Friday, January 26, 2007

Brad Fouch of DeWitt thought he got a bum seat at the very end of a simulator at Disney World, but it turned out to be a ticket to the grand prize. His family won the right to spend the night in Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom, becoming the first people to sleep overnight in the luxurious suite.

Brad, 16, was sitting in seat eight in the second row of Simulator 4 in the Disney-MGM Studios Star Tours Florida attraction about 9:50 a.m. Thursday when he won the prize. His selection was at random, Disney officials said.

He, his parents and 8-year-old sister Hannah got the star treatment when they stayed the night in the castle suite, once planned to be onsite living quarters for members of the Disney family.

"This is a dream come true," Hannah said in a press release after her big brother won.

Hannah has been having a dream week. Monday was her birthday and before the family came to the amusement park, she had watched a commercial about the Cinderella Castle suite.

"That's what I want to do," her mother, Lisa, recalls Hannah saying, according to the press release.

The lavishly decorated suite features a foyer floor made of marble, a salon and a bedchamber with bathroom.

In addition to the night's stay, the family was given a ride in Cinderella's carriage, met a character dressed as Cinderella and won passes that allowed them to avoid lines for rides.

The family is expected to leave Disney World today, a spokesman said.
- - - - - - -

The family was given a ride in Cinderella's Carriage. Wow! Again, Disney has thought of everything.

[triplefigs]

We met the winners of the 2nd night at the Castle Suite during the P&P last night (Jan 26). They were so cute and excited! I got a picture of them with Mickey. I'll try to post it later. BTW, they were chosen at the Land at Epcot yesterday morning.

[Janet2k]

We met the winners of the 2nd night at the Castle Suite...

How exciting -- you got to rub elbows with royalty! I can't wait to see your photo of the family.

[Janet2k]

I found a few more links to Annie Leibovitz’s photos, so I thought I would share them here. I'll probably post these links in the other thread (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1336284), too.

Cinderella Photo (http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/disney/26636/images/26636-hi-cinderella_wout.jpg)
Prince Phillip Photo (http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/disney/26636/images/26636-hi-beckham_wout.jpg)
Alice in Wonderland Photo (http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/disney/26636/images/26636-hi-alice_wout.jpg)

And here is a video clip: click here (mms://a336.v167315.c16731.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/336/16731/1169785/stream-1.onstreammedia.com/cdn_stream/multivu/8001/26636_300k.wmv).

[orchjoe]

Those are some great shots

[Janet2k]

“Walt Disney World Resort: Plugged In” released a video podcast of the Cinderella Castle Suite the other day. I just downloaded it to my video iPod and played it. The footage of the suite is very nice and shows details of the foyer, bedroom, parlor, and bathroom. The video podcast also contains short interviews with both Ms. Cathy Carver (Lead Designer) and Mr. Stephen Silvestri (Art Director / Producer).

Click here (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/special/podcasts/detail?id=PodcastsDetailPage&pid=PluggedInPodcast) to go to the podcast webpage and download the podcast entitled, ”Walt Disney World Resort: Sneak of Peek of the Cinderella Castle Suite!”

Enjoy!

[janine]

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When I read about that in the press release, you should have heard me ~sigh.~ I have been fortunate to have been in most of the theme parks either before park hours or after park hours. There is something ~magical~ about walking through an empty theme park and yet the lights are on and the soundtrack is playing as if the park were still open. It is a very surreal experience, and I am so glad that Disney has added that experience to the Cinderella Castle Suite stay.



I agree with Janet. After my wedding reception at the American Adventure at Epcot, we were allowed to have extra photos taken outside. It was so strange not to have people walking around, and to hear the background music playing.
It was a memory I shall never forget.
Janet I love to read your posts, you are so lucky to have such an insight into the 'wonderful world of Disney'.

[Janet2k]

After my wedding reception at the American Adventure at Epcot, we were allowed to have extra photos taken outside. It was so strange not to have people walking around, and to hear the background music playing. It was a memory I shall never forget.

Janine, that's a beautiful photo in your signature, ~sigh.~ And thanks for sharing just how ~magical~ a theme park is after hours.

[Janet2k]

Someone has posted a trip report of their recent Cinderella Castle Suite stay: click here (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1353437). At the bottom of their first post is a link to their photos.

It sounds like they had a ~magical~ stay in the castle.

[Janet2k]

What follows is an article that was written by an Associated Press reporter who spent the night in the Cinderella Castle Suite (article link (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-0217cinderella,0,7981920.story)). I enjoyed his take on things. It was interesting to read something that was written from a single person’s perspective. But please note that the reporter did invite a family with two small children to join him in the suite, which I thought was a lovely gesture (my guess is that they were either family or family friends). It shed his article in a different light than if he had spent the night in the suite alone.

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Guy with no kids spends a night in Cinderella's Suite

The Associated Press
February 17, 2007, 11:20 AM EST

LAKE BUENA VISTA -- I am in hundreds of strangers' vacation pictures -- the bewildered guy in the sputtering truck at the front of the Walt Disney World parade. I'm sitting next to Daisy Duck and wearing mouse ears embroidered with my name, waving like an idiot and smiling like I just won a toaster.

That's the first place they put you when you've won an overnight stay in the three-room suite inside the Cinderella Castle. It's the crown jewel in Walt Disney Co.'s ``Year of a Million Dreams'' sweepstakes, the squeal-inducing fantasy of millions of little girls -- and my home for the next 17 hours.

Disney typically awards one random family a day with a free night in its new Cinderella Suite, but I am among a small cadre of journalists invited to stay there (The AP paid the estimated $587 value). That means I'm also grand marshal of the parade, the honorary guest in Fairy Godmother's dinner theater and the front-of-the-line guy at anything I want to ride.

I am a tattooed 27-year-old guy with Buddy Holly glasses and no children. But I'm just not that into princesses. So to enhance my appreciation, I've adopted a family with two little girls (ages 5 and 2) to stay with me.

I am tired of smiling and waving when the parade ends, and I wonder how the full-grown adults dressed up like Goofy and Minnie do it every single day. Besides that, what will become of all those pictures when they make it back to Iowa or Idaho or Kalamazoo?

The Magic Kingdom is designed so you can see the castle from just about anywhere, and the walk to our suite seems longer than it should. We are led up a far pathway, past a side door and into a small room with stone walls.

Our guide, dressed as a 17th century castle guy, swipes a card to call our elevator and takes us four stories up. The suite is brand new. The elevator is not, and moves eerily a few inches up and down when it's boarded or stopping.

Each of us is given a swipe key with our name and ``Cinderella Suite'' written on it, and before long there are bite marks all over 2-year-old Emily's. Her sister Hannah has the honor of opening our door the first time.

There are golden flecks in the floor and ornate squares on the ceiling, making the whole room feel gilded. The desk in the corner is a 17th century Dutch antique with velvet-lined shelves that Disney has retrofitted with a high-speed Internet hookup. There are two queen beds under headboard with a canopy and a fireplace that can't burn anything, but holds a fiberoptic display of flame and pixie dust.

The television in the sitting room is a mirror that converts at the touch of a button, while the ``royal bedchamber'' TV changes from a framed electronic portrait of Cinderella. There is television with at least five channels in foreign languages, an array of DVDs (all Disney, of course) and free calls to anywhere on an antique-looking phone.

I get wild ideas about that last part until I remember I don't know anyone in Paris or Tokyo anyway.

Perhaps most impressive is the bathroom, which features a 4-foot square Jacuzzi jet tub with a waterfall faucet, a separate shower that could comfortably fit three and a square toilet. Over the tub are three sparkling mosaics made of hand-cut Italian glass.

All of these things I like -- especially the mirror that turns into a TV. But I am disappointed in the minibar. It has juice boxes but no Jack Daniels.

Much of the royal family's day -- like the parade and dinner reservations -- is preset, so there isn't a lot of time for rides. Emily isn't tall enough for the roller coasters, which basically leaves the other category -- the ones where you sit in a car, ride along a track and watch animatronic pirates or fish or jungle people sing and dance.

But because we're staying inside the park and Disney provides us a front-of-the-line escort, we've got to ride something. We end up on Peter Pan's Flight and then the ride whose name Disney refuses to capitalize, it's a small world. When it's over, the girls' father and I are yawning. It's only 5:30 p.m. but we've been on the go nonstop since the parade at 2 p.m.

We have dinner reservations at Cinderella's Royal Table, a place where the Fairy Godmother and other Disney characters weave between diners performing songs. It is expensive, but we aren't paying because it's included in our stay.

Before dinner we finally meet Cinderella. In blond wig, powdered cheeks and lilting voice, she is convincing, and poses for pictures with us. She embraces my arm; I do not tell her I will later be naked in her bathtub.

The restaurant serves everything from hot dogs to prime rib, but they also do not have booze. I found out the hard way after asking for a Sam Adams when I thought our waiter said they have ``great beer.'' Root beer, it turns out, but there is no alcohol at the Magic Kingdom.

I guess that explains our minibar.

Godmother identifies our table as the lucky suite winners during dinner, and the rest of the restaurant offers rousing applause. Later, a woman stops by to ask us where we were when we found out when we won. I feel like a jerk telling her we didn't win anything, it's just that I'm a reporter.

Our Disney escort is waiting sharply when we're done with dinner, which is starting to become a pattern. It almost feels like we're being watched. The pretty girl dressed like a stewardess who guides us around reports into a hand radio whenever ``The Royal Family'' is on the move. Who is she talking to? I have no idea but it's kind of creepy.

Disney has left princess wands, crowns and Minnie Mouse dolls for the girls back at the suite. They have also turned back the covers on our beds, put out a tray of cookies and traded our barely used bathroom soap for an unopened bar. All of those are hotel luxuries I have never before experienced.

We watch the fireworks show that closes the park through the suite's stained-glass windows, and everyone tries out the Jacuzzi. Separately.

I haven't taken a bath since my mother was holding the wash rag, but I can't resist this thing. I turn on the jets for 20 minutes, thinking there's no way I'll be there longer than 10. They have all kinds of fancy soaps lining the side, and I use some shampoo that smells like weird plants and expensive salons. I finally pry myself out after 16 minutes, feeling like I'm hogging the bathroom.

At about 9:30 p.m. I press 0 for the concierge and ask for an after-hours look outside the castle. You can't really leave the suite without asking, but it somehow doesn't feel like you're trapped. Someone is posted round-the-clock just to handle our requests.

I do literally have the park to myself, but there's not much to do in it because the rides are closed. Everything remains lit up as if it were packed, and piped-in Disney music fills the air. Most striking is the number of trash cans I see -- dozens within a few feet of one another -- that I never recognized before. They blend in seamlessly when the whole place is cluttered with people.

Back at the suite, Hannah has fallen asleep clutching her Minnie doll but little Emily somehow outlasts her usual 8 p.m. bedtime. She's wearing her tiara upside-down, spinning and banging her wand on the ground in between pleas for more cookies.

She finally crashes at 10:30 in her parents' bed, and the grown-ups follow shortly thereafter. The bed and comforter are soft and thick, and I don't stay up long.

I awaken with a 7:35 a.m. call I didn't ask for, to prepare for 9 a.m. breakfast reservations Disney made for us. I spend the next hour trying futilely to go back to sleep as dad plays with the girls in the sitting room. They don't want to leave the suite, and frankly neither do I.

It's foggy outside when we emerge from the castle, and the park is already full of families just starting their day. I feel strangely like I don't belong -- like I've stayed out all night and am watching people go to work the next morning.

I already dread the lines I'll be waiting in. The mouse ears I can do without.

Copyright © 2007, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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[StephSFL]

Great thread! Thanks for posting the article- it definitely gave the whole experience a twist! I hope a diser wins, too! That would be wonderful!

[SRUAlmn]

A DISer has actually won :goodvibes

Here is a link to the thread
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1353437

[Mickey1122]

This thread is wonderful-the suite is a dream beyond my wildest dreams. I think it's a shame that the press can buy their way in though-they should have the same chance as everyone else, and quite frankly, I would rather read the happy report of a winner than the cynical musings of some reporter.
I hope that after the Year of a Million Dreams they open it up as a mini attraction so that you can walk through. The winners will still be winners, but everyone else will be able to experience a piece of it. :) I really would love to stay there. :wizard:

[Kae]

I think I would go & sit right in the' "Middle of Main Street USA" wouldn't that be cool. No one but me.

Kae

[Disneygrl36]

subbing so I can come back & read more

[Bell30012]

The really hard part would come when the clock strikes whatever hour and they tried to drag my two darling (4 and 5) year old daughters out of Cinderella's Castle.

Hmm, I wonder if an out-of-state visiting press pass would get me any passes to the castle...

[beattyfamily]

HERE's (http://www.laughingplace.com/Latest.asp?I1=ID&I2=1813) a little info and a couple of photos on the couple who won the wedding contest (on Valentine's Day) from Brides Magazine.

What a LUCKY couple! :love:

ps...they showed some footage of this lucky couple on ET last night and said they will show some more stuff tonight.

[TinkRBel_In_Training]

I wonder what they will do with the Castle Suite after YOMD is over?

[leanan]

I am not picky. I do not need the castle suite. I would just be happy with a week in one of the midrange hotels darn it. Give me a room and food I will be happy happy happy.

Although it is walt's personal suite overlooking mainstreet that interests me more than the suites in the castle.

[Janet2k]

Here is a lovely video clip from Disney entitled, “Designing the Cinderella Castle Suite in the Magic Kingdom Park”: click here. (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/PopupMedia?id=BackstagePassCastleSuitePage) (Note: It's a Flash video that takes a few seconds to load.)

The video is narrated by Mr. Stephen Silvestri, the Art Director for the Cinderella Castle Suite. He explained where some of the inspiration for the suite's details came from. Photographs and drawings were shown to highlight this.

The video also showed footage of the suite as it was being built. It's amazing how quickly Disney was able to transform an empty space into a ~magical~ place where dreams come true.

I hope you enjoy the little video clip.

[kmab00]

Wow! That video was great! Thank you so much for sharing!!! :)

[sham101505]

Thank you so much for the video clip! I have always wondered what the suite looked like. How absolutely amazing!!:thanks:

[suzimar57]

great video - just makes me want to stay there even more!

[Janet2k]

Click here (http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/03/18/20070318-H1-00.html) for the original article.

- - - - - - -
Family wears unexpected glass slipper during vacation

Sunday, March 18, 2007
STEVE STEPHENS

Sometimes dreams do come true, even dreams you didn’t know you had. Last month, the Winget family of Fredericktown started on a routine shopping trip and ended up spending the night in Cinderella’s Castle. The magic happened while Ron and Carolyn Winget and children Brent, 5, and Bethany, 2, were visiting relatives near Orlando, Fla., along with Mrs. Winget’s parents, Paul and Marcella Phillips.

Although the children and Mrs. Winget are big Disney fans ("Eeyore was always my favorite," Mrs. Winget said), the family hadn’t planned to visit Walt Disney World until the children were a bit older.

But those plans changed when Brent went for a drink at the water fountain at the Downtown Disney Marketplace mall near Orlando. His drink -- the right place at the right time -- marked him and his family as the winner of the day’s Disney Dream Giveaway.

Before you could say "Bippity boppity boo," the family was whisked away for an all-expense paid overnight stay in Cinderella’s Castle at Disney World.

"We signed the papers, and they picked us up and took us to the park and a ride in an antique car parade," Mrs. Winget recalled.

"The kids thought it was great. They got tired of waving."

The family also spent time in the park, rode some rides and had dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table, the restaurant at the castle.

The castle’s interior had been planned as accommodations for the Walt Disney family, but that idea was dropped before the park opened. The interior had never been used before.

A lavish guest suite was completed as part of the park’s 2007 "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration. On most days this year, one family will be selected randomly at the park or at Downtown Disney Marketplace to receive free accommodations at the castle that night. The Wingets were the fourth contest winners.

"After the fireworks display, I think it finally sunk in that everybody was leaving the park and we were staying," Mrs. Winget said. Brent "was in awe of that," she said.

The suite featured two queen-size beds and a parlor sofa, perfect for a family of six. The rooms were furnished in a style appropriate for Cinderella, with stained-glass windows, carved wood wall coverings and panels, porcelain accessories and copper sink basins.

But perhaps most magical were the 21st century touches, Mrs. Winget said. The kids used the huge garden tub as a mini-swimming pool. And the 17th century-style portrait of Cinderella over the fireplace transformed itself into a high-definition television.

"And they could watch any Disney movie, of course," Mrs. Winget said. "They watched Cars."

"I love the cars," Brent rejoined.

Even the youngest member of the family was impressed.

Bethany "has no trouble remembering" the experience, her mother said. "The other day she came in the room and did a little dance and said, "I spent a night in Cinderella’s Castle!”

"I really liked staying in the castle," Brent said. "And I saw the glass slipper!”

To top things off, the family met Cinderella, Mickey Mouse and, to Mrs. Winget’s delight, the gang from Winnie the Pooh’s 100-Acre Wood, including Eeyore. They did not, however, meet Brent’s favorite character, Donald Duck.

"No, he was gone," said Brent, somewhat wistfully.

Oh, well. That’s a dream for another day.
- - - - - - -

[Mandy1]

Awesome video...thanks for sharing!

[A_NY_Outlaw]

That's kind of funny- I basically had the same question as asked above- what happens if you win the suite for a night and go sneaking around the park. I would think they would have some type of all-night guard or something to prevent that.

[SRUAlmn]

That's kind of funny- I basically had the same question as asked above- what happens if you win the suite for a night and go sneaking around the park. I would think they would have some type of all-night guard or something to prevent that.


From what I read from someone that won the castle stay, they do have an all night guard posted at the entrance to the suit to prevent people from doing this. Can you imagine the safety issues involved if they didn't and people could just roam the parks?!

[Janet2k]

I posted the following in another thread (click here (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1336284)) but thought I would post it here, too, since the numbers for the Cinderella Castle Suite (and Mickey Mouse Penthouse) stays were interesting (see items notated in red).

- - - - - - -
Disney Parks ‘Year of a Million Dreams’ Celebration Fun Facts
(As of May 16, 2007)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- During "The Year of a Million Dreams," more than one million very special dreams are being awarded to guests at Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida as part of the Disney Dreams Giveaway.

Since the Oct. 1, 2006, launch of "The Year of a Million Dreams," dreams have been awarded to theme park guests visiting from as far away as Glenrothes, Scotland, or as close as Mickey Mouse's "backyards" of Central Florida and Southern California. Dreams are awarded every day at Disney Parks and Downtown Disney locations in the U.S.

Presented in random, surprise fashion by Disney's Dream Squad, Disney Dreams have come in all shapes and sizes so far, including a night in the Cinderella Castle Suite, Dreams FASTPASS badges, admission to special sold-out Disney Parks events, 14-night sailings aboard Disney Cruise Line, $500 Disney Parks shopping sprees and more.

Following are a few fun facts (* refers to prizes valued at $25 or more):

Total number of Dreams given away: 618,915 and counting!

*Most-awarded prizes (valued at more than $25): Overnight stays in the Mickey Mouse Penthouse at Disneyland and Cinderella Castle Suite at Magic Kingdom

*Dreams winner from farthest away: Steven Brannican from Glenrothes, Scotland, won Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party tickets at Magic Kingdom

*State with the most overall Dreams winners: California

*U.S. cities with the most overall Dreams winners: Las Vegas, NV; Mesa, AZ; Phoenix, AZ; San Jose, CA (tied at four each)

*Cities (outside the U.S.) with the most overall Dreams winners: Calgary, British Columbia; Coquitlam, British Columbia (tied at three each)

*Country (outside the U.S.) with the most overall Dreams winners: Canada

State with the most Cinderella Castle Suite winners: Florida

Country (outside the U.S.) with the most Cinderella Castle Suite winners: Canada

Total number of Cinderella Castle Suite overnight guests: 470

State with the most Mickey Mouse Penthouse winners: California

Country (outside the U.S.) with the most Mickey Mouse Penthouse winners: Canada

*Most common first name of winners: David

Biggest single group to win a Dreams giveaway: 100 (Dreams FASTPASSES; multiple giveaways)

Total number of Dreams mouse ears given away: 124,125

Total number of Dreams FASTPASS badges given away: 248,476

Total number of Dreams pin and lanyard sets given away: 208,576

Current number of Walt Disney World Dream Squad members: approximately 80

Total number of Walt Disney World Dream Squad members to date: approximately 120
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[Mouse-n-Mini]

would the CMs select a family without children to stay in the castle overnight?