Walt Disney World Announces When Magic Kingdom Is Repainting Cinderella Castle

Change is coming to Walt Disney World sooner than fans may realize.

During Disney’s Destination D23 fan event earlier this year, the company announced that a new color palette is coming to Cinderella Castlethe iconic centerpiece of the Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando, Fla.

Now, PEOPLE can confirm that the update will kick off right in the new year, in January 2026. The process will begin with the moat around the Castle being drained.

Once that is completed, high reaches and lifts will be put in place, but by noon each day, they will be lowered and moved out of sight from the Castle and Main Street U.S.A., allowing visitors to snap their perfect vacation photos. Because of this, Disney is encouraging theme park guests to return to Main Street U.S.A. in the afternoon, rather than the morning.

Starting Jan. 28 specifically, there will be a modified Let The Magic Begin welcome show, while Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire and Happily Ever After will continue to be available with minor adjustments. Cinderella Castle is then expected to debut with refreshed colors sometime later in the year.

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Cinderella Castle, inspired by Disney’s 1950 animated film, has been an iconic part of Walt Disney World’s history since the Magic Kingdom first opened in October 1971.

In 2020, Disney changed the castle’s signature color scheme to feature a more rose pink color, as well as darker blue roofs and gold trim accents, in honor of the 70th anniversary of the release of Cinderella.

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Cinderella Castle is also a centerpiece of Tokyo Disneyland at the Tokyo Disney Resort.

Other castles featured at Disney theme parks across the globe include Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland in California, Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant at Disneyland Paris, Castle of Magical Dreams at Hong Kong Disneyland and the Enchanted Storybook Castle at Shanghai Disneyland.

During the Destination D23 fan event in August, Disney Imagineers teased the update coming to the Cinderella Castle during a panel entitled “Beyond the Spires: An Insider Look at Disney Castles.”

In a Disney Parks Blogs post, a representative for the company said, “The updated paint will feature grays, creams, blues and touches of gold aiming to enhance the castle’s architecture.”

They added that the changes are “inspired by the classic and original look of the castle.”

The Disney representative also said that Cinderella Castle uses a “timeless color combination” of blues and golds to reflect the Florida sunshine, and that the landmark is designed to be “picture-perfect” no matter the season or perspective.

They added that the paint used for Cinderella Castle undergoes accelerated UV and weather testing to simulate years of sun exposure, to ensure the longevity of the castle’s look.