Wednesday, July 30, 2014

If Cinderella Castle were real, how big would it be?

I've found a billion articles mentioning that the Cinderella Castle in Disney World is about 185 feet (60 meters) tall, and built with forced perspective so it looks bigger. But I simply couldn't find any answers, or even any questions or speculation about: if the castle was real, if humans had to live and work in it, how big would it have to be?
In other words, to what scale is it built? (On average, I guess, given the forced perspective.)
(I'm surprised so few people apparently think about that, it's one of the first things which springs to my mind.)


6 comments:

CalgaryMark said...

About like this?

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=fO-zWfTAMO4KmM&tbnid=NOao4Ht1_OgamM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bavaria.by%2Fcastles-palaces-bavaria-germany&ei=xs7ZU9amJqnYigK4loDYAQ&bvm=bv.72185853,d.cGE&psig=AFQjCNEPl9mLHsVTsr6sUFXlm7-n5Pk2bQ&ust=1406869572875758

Ol' Ben said...

A good first guess CalgaryMark! Walt Disney did use Schloss Neuschwanstein as the jumping-off point for Cinterella's Castle. Its northern stair tower rises to a height of 65 metres (213 ft) and even unfinished, total floor space of all floors amounts to nearly 6,000 square metres (65,000 sq ft). But since Schloss Neuschwanstein was designed as a personal refuge for Ludwig II and not a military strong point or seat of government, I say we must at least triple those numbers.

John D. Linn said...

Neuschwanstein was Ludwig's personal Disneyland... no more a real castle than Cinderella's (although Ludwig was real!).

You say "if people lived and worked there"... indeed they do, as I remember anyway. There is a restaurant and guest rooms in Cinderella's castle, so people DO live and work there.

It seems the forced perspective is pretty subtle. Also of note, the castle is at the end of Main Street, which also has undersized upper floors as a visual trick.

Joe Dick said...

I'm surprised so few people apparently think about that, it's one of the first things which springs to my mind.

I've thought about it but like you I lack the math skills to figure it out. I too was surprised no one's done it. Neuschwanstein gives an idea, but just an idea. It would be cool if someone could figure it out.

P.S. I'm surprised that Disney, with the money they have nowadays, don't rebuild it to full size. I might actually be interested in going to see that.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Full size would be cool. But a mega-super castle, even if not functional, would be a serious expense, even for Disney. And then there's the space.

Joe Dick said...

The space is probably the bigger concern. Disney might spend the money if they could expect a big enough increase in revenue. I bet it wouldn't cost as much as you'd think, as they could use modern building materials - steel frame, concrete - and just use a veneer of stone for a castle like look.

They're not likely to do it, sadly. I might be interested in going to see that.