17 Disneyland Secrets They Don't Know Want You To Know‏

14. Sleeping Beauty's Castle Is Tiny

The Sleeping Beauty castle is the crown jewel in California and Tokyo's Disneyland parks, immediately identifiable from all the marketing materials, movie intros and merchandise that Disney have put out for decades at this point.

In reality it's based on the late-19th century Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany, with some French inspirations - specifically Notre Dame de Paris and the Hospices de Beaune - thrown in for good measure. What it doesn't have in common with these actual castles is, well, the colour scheme, but also the fact that it's not actually the size of a castle.

Oh, it sure looks like one when you walk through those hallowed gates, but the Sleeping Beauty castle is actually kinda diddy. Again, it's an optical illusion. Looking at it from below makes it seem like a huge, towering building, like an actual castle would be. The bricks get smaller as you get further up the building, which makes it look like it's stretching way off into the horizon, as a magical structure should.

Actually that's a lie, too, because the castle isn't made of bricks. It looks to be made of white and grey stone but is in fact a reinforced plaster - no bricks used at all. But, hey, despite the fake brickwork and forced perspective, the drawbridge is actual operational! It's only been used twice, but still. Some of it's real!