Dimensions of Cinderella's Castle

[Br0ckford]

. . . Some of y'all read too much into things.

No kidding, Its an internet discussion forum. Of course we do.

 

[King Panda 77]

So if the moat is drained, is the castle then 195 feet tall

 

[LittleBuford]

So if the moat is drained, is the castle then 195 feet tall

I'm not sure if this is a joke, but as I understand it, the castle is 189 feet tall from the bottom of the moat. However, we are seeing only 183 of those feet, because the lower 6 feet are submerged in water. When the moat is drained, all 189 feet become visible.

 

[King Panda 77]

I'm not sure if this is a joke, but as I understand it, the castle is 189 feet tall from the bottom of the moat. However, we are seeing only 183 of those feet, because the lower 6 feet are submerged in water. When the moat is drained, all 189 feet become visible.

Forgot the

 

[JoeCamel]

I'm not sure if this is a joke, but as I understand it, the castle is 189 feet tall from the bottom of the moat. However, we are seeing only 183 of those feet, because the lower 6 feet are submerged in water. When the moat is drained, all 189 feet become visible.

Well technically, you only really see the top 165 ft front and back. Librrty side you get a taller view but that is pretty much the only place - technically

 

[LittleBuford]

Well technically, you only really see the top 165 ft front and back. Librrty side you get a taller view but that is pretty much the only place - technically

Unless I've misunderstood what you're saying, I believe you can see the full height (minus whatever is underwater) from both sides:

 

[JenniferS]

Thank you! Its been 13 long years I've been wondering where it was measured from..

Everyone knows you measure from the base.

 

[King Panda 77]

Everyone knows you measure from the base.

 

[JoeCamel]

Everyone knows you measure from the base.

The eternal question is just where is the base

 

[Br0ckford]

Everyone knows you measure from the base.

 

[LittleBuford]

On Google Books, you can search by date, so I tried to see whether there were any sources from the '70s or '80s about the castle's height. Interestingly, the figure given back then (including in Disney's own publications) was 180 feet.

Google Books search

Indeed, this continues to be the number given until the mid-2000s, when sources switch to 190 feet. The explanation about FAA height restrictions that I'm sure we've all heard also doesn't seem to get a mention before the 2000s.

All very interesting!

 

[Raxel7851]

I believe the Castle cannot be any taller because they would be required to put the flashing red aircraft warning lites on it. That would not be cool.

 

[Goofyernmost]

The fact that two posters subsequently called the information wrong suggests that Martin’s comment about the moat got lost in the details. Leaving aside the circumstances of the poster’s correction, the information itself is interesting. We now have an extra tidbit to offer when someone tells us the castle is 189 feet tall.

Wouldn't the height of any object be measured from actual Sea Level and not from ground level or certainly not from "pond, mote or puddle" level which might be any level different than ground or sea level? My guess is that the castle would have been measured, in this case, by the relative level of the surrounding ground. To complicate it even further MK was built some 14 feet about the original ground level, so it might be measured from the floor level of the utilidors, mighten it?

 

[LittleBuford]

Wouldn't the height of any object be measured from actual Sea Level and not from ground level or certainly not from "pond, mote or puddle" level which might be any level different than ground or sea level? My guess is that the castle would have been measured, in this case, by the relative level of the surrounding ground. To complicate it even further MK was built some 14 feet about the original ground level, so it might be measured from the floor level of the utilidors, mighten it?

Buildings aren’t measured from sea level. If they were, the castle’s height would be considerably more, since Orlando’s elevation already exceeds 80 feet.

 

[JoeCamel]

Wouldn't the height of any object be measured from actual Sea Level and not from ground level or certainly not from "pond, mote or puddle" level which might be any level different than ground or sea level? My guess is that the castle would have been measured, in this case, by the relative level of the surrounding ground. To complicate it even further MK was built some 14 feet about the original ground level, so it might be measured from the floor level of the utilidors, mighten it?

No Denver does not have 5000 foot tall buildings

 

[lazyboy97o]

Buildings are measured based on the prevailing ground level. If you adjust the ground level, then you’re going to adjust where that measurement starts. The Epic Universe site has been filled and graded, they’re measuring those buildings from the new ground level, not some old survey of what the ground was years ago. Cinderella Castle at Tokyo Disneyland wouldn’t be measured based on the seabed of Tokyo Bay before the resort site was filled in and built.


From Section 202 of the Florida Building Code, Building (same as the model definitions in the International Building Code):

HEIGHT, BUILDING. The vertical distance from grade plane to the average height of the highest roof surface.

GRADE PLANE. A reference plane representing the average of finished ground level adjoining the building at exterior walls. Where the finished ground level slopes away from the exterior walls, the reference plane shall be established by the lowest points within the area between the building and the lot line or, where the lot line is more than 6 feet (1829 mm) from the building, between the building and a point 6 feet (1829 mm) from the building.


There are similar definitions in Section 202 of the EPCOT Building Code:

HEIGHT OF BUILDING. Vertical distance from the grade (q.v.) to the highest point of the coping of a flat roof or to the deck line of a mansard roof or to the average height of the highest gable of a pitch or hip roof.

GRADE (GROUND LEVEL). Average of the finished ground level at the center of all walls of a building. Where walls are parallel to and within 5 feet of a sidewalk, the ground level shall be measured at the sidewalk.

 

[LittleBuford]

Buildings are measured based on the prevailing ground level. If you adjust the ground level, then you’re going to adjust where that measurement starts. The Epic Universe site has been filled and graded, they’re measuring those buildings from the new ground level, not some old survey of what the ground was years ago. Cinderella Castle at Tokyo Disneyland wouldn’t be measured based on the seabed of Tokyo Bay before the resort site was filled in and built.


From Section 202 of the Florida Building Code, Building (same as the model definitions in the International Building Code):

HEIGHT, BUILDING. The vertical distance from grade plane to the average height of the highest roof surface.

GRADE PLANE. A reference plane representing the average of finished ground level adjoining the building at exterior walls. Where the finished ground level slopes away from the exterior walls, the reference plane shall be established by the lowest points within the area between the building and the lot line or, where the lot line is more than 6 feet (1829 mm) from the building, between the building and a point 6 feet (1829 mm) from the building.


There are similar definitions in Section 202 of the EPCOT Building Code:

HEIGHT OF BUILDING. Vertical distance from the grade (q.v.) to the highest point of the coping of a flat roof or to the deck line of a mansard roof or to the average height of the highest gable of a pitch or hip roof.

GRADE (GROUND LEVEL). Average of the finished ground level at the center of all walls of a building. Where walls are parallel to and within 5 feet of a sidewalk, the ground level shall be measured at the sidewalk.

Thanks for this.

Do you have any further details about Cinderella Castle's measurements?

 

[Goofyernmost]

Buildings aren’t measured from sea level. If they were, the castle’s height would be considerably more, since Orlando’s elevation already exceeds 80 feet.

Yes, I know that and I know that building height is from the ground up. However, in the grander scheme of things all elevation is based on sea level. One thing that it isn't measured against is random man made bodies of water regardless of it's depth. So the mote has nothing at all to do with it. I apparently didn't explain myself sufficiently. I apologize for that.

 

[LittleBuford]

One thing that it isn't measured against is random man made bodies of water regardless of it's depth. So the mote has nothing at all to do with it.

Multiple sources are saying the height of the castle is 189 feet as measured from the bottom of the moat. Perhaps they’re all wrong, but that’s the information that’s out there. It would be great if someone who knows for certain can weigh in.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Multiple sources are saying the height of the castle is 189 feet as measured from the bottom of the moat. Perhaps they’re all wrong, but that’s the information that’s out there. It would be great if someone who knows for certain can weigh in.

There would be many higher levels if all one had to do is dig a hole and automatically make their building taller. Most skyscrapers have three or more floors below ground level. Are those underground feet included in the building height? For the purpose of aviation the height should be in direct connection to the ground level. Does anyone know about this?