Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
The Prince Charming Regal Carrousel is an attraction located in Fantasyland.
| Prince Charming Regal Carrousel | |
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| The Prince Charming Regal Carrousel in Fantasyland | |
| Magic Kingdom | |
| Land | Fantasyland |
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| Attraction type | Carousel |
| Opening date | October 1, 1971 |
| Vehicle capacity | 1 |
| Number of vehicles | 90 |
| Ride duration | 2:00 minutes |
| Formally Known As | Cinderella’s Golden Carousel (1971-2010) |
| Based on | Cinderella |
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Attraction History
The history of the Prince Charming Regal Carousel actually goes back to long before Walt Disney World opened. The carousel was built in 1917 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, for use in the Detroit Palace Garden Park. Originally, the carousel was named “Liberty” and it was painted red, white and blue. On the original canopy, images of Miss Liberty and other patriotic images could be seen. In 1928, the carousel was brought back to Philadelphia for repairs, and then sold to the Olympic Park, in Maplewood, 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, for use in the unopened Walt Disney World. After purchase, Disney Imagineers (including John Hench and Isle Voght) had to completely restore the carousel. They stripped and repainted the carousel's horses, giving each horse a unique design. Disney also added a 23 karat gold leaf, silver, and bronze to each of the ride's 90 horses. Furthermore, the canopy was rethemed, so that 18 scenes from the Disney movie Cinderella were included in the attraction.
The carousel opened as Cinderella’s Golden Carousel on October 1 1971. Although the attraction has not changed since opening day, on June 1 2010 Disney announced that they were changing the name of the ride to the “Prince Charming Regal Carrousel”. With the name change, Disney also released a new backstory for the attraction which 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 Carrousel 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, classic Disney music plays on an organ. Songs that can be heard on The Prince Charming Regal Carrousel 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)
Fun Facts and Trivia
- The Philadelphia Toboggan Company only made 90 carousels before stopping production in the 1930s. The carousel that is today known as the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel was the 46th one that they made.
- The horses that guest ride on, are made of Maplewood.
- Built in 1917, the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel is the oldest attraction in the Magic Kingdom.
- There are 2,325 lights on the Price Charming Regal Carrousel.
- Some guests (and cast members) believe that Cinderella's horse is the number 37 horse, which is located in the second line (with the gold ribbon on its tail). Although some Disney merchandise seems to support this, the claim has never been confirmed by Disney.
References
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/attractions/prince-charming-regal-carrousel/
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/05/carrousel-name-change-at-walt-disney-world/
