Difference between revisions of "Prince Charming Regal Carousel"

Revision as of 21:06, 23 February 2012

The Prince Charming Regal Carousel is an attraction located in Fantasyland.

Attraction History

The history of the Prince Charming Regal Carousel actually goes back to 1917. The carousel was built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company for use in the Detroit Palace Garden Park. Originally, the carousel was named Liberty and painted red, white and blue. On the canopy, images of Miss Liberty could be seen. In 1928, the carousel was brought back to Philadelphia for repairs, and then sold to the Olympic Park in Mapleweood, New Jersey. The carousel ran there for 39 years, until 1967 when the park closed. The Walt Disney Company then purchased the carousel from the closing park, to use it in the unopened Walt Disney World. Disney Imagineers including John Hench and Isle Voght had to completely restore the carousel. The Imagineers completely stripped and repainted the carousel's horses, giving each horse an unique design. Disney added 23 carrot gold leaf, silver and bronze to each of the carousel's 90 horses. They also painted 18 scenes from the Disney movie Cinderella onto the carousel's canopy.

The carousel was ready in time for the opening day of Walt Disney World. When it opened, the attraction was known as Cinderella's Golden Carousel. Although the carousel has not changed since opening day, on June 1, 2010 Disney announced that they were changing the name of the attraction to the Prince Charming Regal Carousel. With the name change, Disney also released a new backstory for the attraction. The backstory says:

Following their fairy-tale romance and happily-ever-after wedding, Cinderella and Prince Charming took up residence in Cinderella’s Castle. With peace throughout the kingdom, Prince Charming had time to practice for jousting tournaments. In the countryside near the castle, he built a training device of carved horses, on which he could practice the art of ring-spearing, a tournament event in which a knight rides his horse full speed, lance in hand, toward a small ring hanging from a tree limb, with the object of spearing the ring. This event was known by various names throughout the lands, but generally came to be called “carrousel.”

The carrousel device drew the attention of the villagers, who wanted to take a turn on this amazing spinning contraption. So Prince Charming had a second carrousel constructed closer to the Castle, where everyone could take a spin on this wondrous invention. Instead of a working knight’s training device, however, this new carrousel is more befitting its regal location in the Castle Courtyard – its rustic training horses replaced with ornately decorated prancing steeds adorned with golden helmets and shields, flower garlands, feathers and other festoons. Prince Charming invites one and all to test their horsemanship skills and to enjoy their own happy ending.

Attraction Plot

The Price Charming Regal Carousel is a two minute carousel ride. Guests can choose from 90 different horses, each with their own unique color pattern. While guests ride the carousel, class Disney music plays on an organ. Songs that can be heard on the carousel include:

• Hakuna Matata (The Lion King)

• High Ho (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)

• Feed the Birds (Mary Poppins)

• Be Our Guests (Beauty and the Beast)

• Chim Chim Cheree (Mary Poppins)

• When You Wish Upon A Star (Pinocchio)