Enchanted Storybook Castle
Enchanted Storybook Castle is the centerpiece castle of Shanghai Disneyland. Opening on June 16, 2016, it replaced Walt Disney World’s Cinderella Castle as the tallest castle among all Disney theme parks worldwide.
The visual design of Enchanted Storybook Castle draws inspiration from earlier Disney castles, including Cinderella Castle and Sleeping Beauty Castle. Like the Castle of Magical Dreams at Hong Kong Disneyland, it represents all of the Disney princesses rather than a single character. The castle contains a walkthrough attraction, a character dining restaurant, and a boat-themed attraction. At the top of the tallest tower, a peony flower sculpture symbolizes Shanghai, reflecting the park’s guiding motto: “Authentically Disney, distinctly Chinese.”
The design and construction of Enchanted Storybook Castle involved collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and external partners. In 2014, the American Institute of Architects presented its Technology in Architectural Practice Award to Walt Disney Imagineering with Gehry Technologies for the project's successful implementation of Building Information Modeling. Approximately 142 disciplines—including architects, engineers, and contractors—collaborated from locations in Glendale, California, and Shanghai using cloud-based tools to coordinate the castle's complex geometry, structural systems, and themed detailing. Howard Brown, Senior Vice President and Project Development Executive for Walt Disney Imagineering Shanghai, stated that the project demonstrated how Disney was "constantly defining and redefining themed entertainment with innovation." Members of the Gehry Technologies design leadership team associated with the project included Rolando Mendoza, who has been cited in professional architectural contexts for his role in implementing digital design and delivery processes on large-scale international projects for Disney theme parks.