Sleeping Beauty Castle is the best Disney castle in the world.
These might be some powerful words to start this review, but they are true. It is the prettiest of them all, the most fun to explore, and it even hides some surprises inside, like what we can describe as an art gallery and a huge dragon animatronic resting in the dungeon. It is a hallmark of excellence, blending a design inspired by classic Disney fairytales with the castles you find across Europe.
If you ever find yourself lost in the middle of Parc Disneyland with just one hour to explore the park, your first objective should be to come here and take a picture in front of this beautiful landmark. Lucky Sleeping Beauty. Once she finally wakes up, she will be happy to know her friends have kept this place in impeccable condition.
What we like about Sleeping Beauty Castle
Sleeping Beauty Castle is gorgeous, and even from the outside you can tell that something special is waiting for you as you come closer. The design feels like a mix of Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World and real castles found in France and across Europe. Its towers and walls look classy and imposing, with a beautiful mix of blue and salmon that makes it truly feel like something out of a fairy tale. I am not an expert when it comes to design, but this looks like something that could exist in a kid-friendly version of Game of Thrones.
Once inside, there are plenty of nooks and passages to explore. There is a store, an art gallery, and of course, the dragon, which is probably the big star of the show. The gallery is beautiful too. You climb a set of stairs to the second floor of the castle and find stunning stained glass windows and huge artworks that tell the story of Sleeping Beauty, featuring the princess herself, the fairy godmothers, and even Maleficent. Each window has a lovely book in front of it describing the scene, a charming touch that perfectly captures the feeling of a fairy tale.
The castle is wonderful to explore, with pieces of armor and other props that feel like they belong to a real place lost to time. You might even wonder if there really is a princess sleeping on the top floor. That is one of the coolest things about this castle: it is made for exploring. There is even a path that leads to a balcony where you can see Parc Disneyland from the second floor. It is amazing, and there are plenty of passages and nooks that give you views of Main Street from different angles. Start saving space on your phone now, because there are hundreds of opportunities for great pictures here.
The best part of the castle is actually found beneath it. Yes, Sleeping Beauty keeps her pet in a dungeon, Daenerys-Targaryen-style. This is where a huge animatronic dragon rests, ready to greet guests with a big Rawr. This massive green dragon looks incredible, with a giant maw and a surprisingly scary appearance. It moves its head from time to time, flaps its wings, and lets out an intimidating roar that looks and sounds amazing. This dragon seems to have learned a thing or two from Smaug from The Lord of the Rings and has mastered the art of looking terrifying. He also chose a great place to live, surrounded by bones and rocky cavern walls that make for some truly amazing photos.
There is nothing we can say we don’t like about this place, so we will skip the traditional Famvia “What we don’t like” section. This castle is beautiful, offers plenty of spots for pictures, and has a huge dragon resting beneath it. It also has two stores, including a candy shop. It hits all the right notes with its stunning design and many areas to explore. For us, it is a perfect 10 out of 10.
Conclusion
Sleeping Beauty Castle is amazing and should definitely be at the top of your list when visiting Disneyland Paris. It offers many cool spots to explore, beautiful artwork, and a huge, impressive dragon beneath it. Aurora will have plenty to talk about and gloat over once she wakes up.
