Friday, May 30, 2025
HomeParks and ResortsMagic Kingdom Castle Lights Cinderella & Frozen

Magic Kingdom Castle Lights Cinderella & Frozen

A Tale of Two Queens Lighting the Castle

Sams Disney Diary #65 - From 2007 until 2013 Cinderella with the help of the Fairy Godmother turned on the Castle Christmas Lights.
From 2007 until 2013 Cinderella with the help of the Fairy Godmother turned on the Castle Christmas Lights.

The holiday season at Walt Disney World is pure magic—and nothing says holiday spirit like the Cinderella Castle Dream Lights at Magic Kingdom. Since 2007, over 200,000 glittering LED lights have transformed the castle each night into an icy holiday masterpiece. But in 2014, a new queen took the stage.

From 2007 to 2013, Cinderella’s Holiday Wish was the featured stage show. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto helped Cinderella figure out how to decorate the castle for the holidays. With help from her Fairy Godmother, Cinderella wished for a glittering transformation—and just like that, the castle came to life in sparkling lights, mirroring her iconic glass slipper.

Sams Disney Diary #65 - in 2014 a "Frozen Holiday Wish" Replace the Cinderella Holiday Wish
in 2014 a “Frozen Holiday Wish” Replace the Cinderella Holiday Wish

Enter Elsa: A Frozen Holiday Wish

In 2014, the show received a chilly update. Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf took center stage for A Frozen Holiday Wish. Elsa used her powers to transform the castle into a shimmering ice palace. The show incorporated projection mapping from “Celebrate the Magic” and introduced a talking Olaf by 2015. With Main Street snow machines and the expanded hub, the immersive snow effect even reached beyond the castle stage.

Sams Disney Diary #65 - Elsa in the process of freezing the castle - notice the "snow" added during the 2015 hub re construction - now it snows in the hub and main street.
Elsa in the process of freezing the castle – notice the “snow” added during the 2015 hub re construction – now it snows in the hub and main street.

The castle lighting ceremony happens nightly at 6:15 p.m., perfect timing for day guests and partygoers arriving for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. A second lighting ceremony was added in 2014 at 8:00 p.m. to accommodate larger crowds. As always, check your Times Guide for the most up-to-date showtimes.

Watch Both and Decide!

I couldn’t choose between them—so I didn’t! This episode of SamsDisneyDiary features both Cinderella’s Holiday Wish and A Frozen Holiday Wish. Compare the two, and decide for yourself: do you prefer the classic fairy tale or the modern Frozen twist?

Thanks for watching and reading SamsDisneyDiary, but sure to subscribe to the YouTube Channel for all of the videos!!

If you love Fireworks as much as we do, check these posts out:  Disneyland Believe in Holiday Magic. Epcot Forever. Star Wars Galatic Spectacular. Happily Ever After. Disneyland Forever. Jingle Bell Jingle Bam. News Years Eve at Hollywood studios. Holiday Wishes. Star Wars Weekend Feel the force.  World of Color.  60th Anniversary. World of Color Season of Light. Illuminations. HarmonioUS. DVC Moonlight Blast.  and don’t miss once upon a time projection show

 

What do you think? Leave a comment below

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

13,789FansLike
5,480FollowersFollow
57,042SubscribersSubscribe
LEGO Brand Retail

Free Disney Coloring Pages

Most Popular

All