Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

• Location: Immediately behind Cinderella Castle.
• Date Opened: 10/1/1971
• # of Ride Units: 90 horses
• Ride Capacity: 1 rider per horse, one adult can stand with a horse
• Restraint Method: Seatbelt
• Ticket Rating: A Ticket
• Ride Photo: No

• Open/Close: Opens with the park. This attraction is open during both morning and evening Extra Magic Hours.
• Wait Times: Generally a short wait, no more than 15 minutes on most days.
• Length of Ride: 2 minutes
• FastPass: No
• Single Rider: No
• Queue Description: The queue wraps around the carousel itself and has no particular theming.

• Health Restriction: None
• Ride Access: This attraction is not accessible for anybody with mobility impairments, as it requires you to step up onto the carousel platform and then climb onto a horse. It is not required that you actually get on a horse, you could stand next to it, but this will require standing for several minutes.
• Wheelchair Transfer: It is required that you transfer from a wheelchair or ECV to ride this attraction. The queue can accommodate this equipment however.
• Service Animals: Yes
• Audio: Music plays during the ride, no assistive devices are available.
• Weight and Size Issues: Riders report the horses being able to hold at least 400 pounds. In each row of five horses, the ones on the outside are larger and may be more comfortable. It is also permissible to stand next to a horse rather than ride it, if that would be more comfortable.

• Height Restriction: None
• Child Swap: No
• Other Issues:

• At this location: Prince Charming Regal Carrousel has been in this location since the park opened in 1971.
• The Attraction's History: The carrousel hasn't changed much since it was installed in Fantasyland, it has an extensive history before then. The original carousel was built in 1917 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company for an amusement in Detroit, Michigan. In 1929 the carousel was moved to Olympic Park in Maplewood, New Jersey. When that park closed in 1967, the Walt Disney Company was able to buy it and begin an extensive restoration and retheming project. In addition to the superstructure, each horse was painstakingly reburbished, with 18 completely new horses being built do complement the 72 salvagable horses. In fact, the carousel horses are forever in a cycle of use and repair, which scheduled maintenance involving completely stripping and repainting each horse in addition to any other repairs. The carrousel opened with the park in 1971 as Cinderella's Golden Carrousel. On June 2, 2010, the name was unexpectedly changed to Prince Charming Regal Carrousel and a new backstory was given for the attraction.
• Other Trivia:
  • Each unique: While each horse on the carousel is white, no two of the horses is identical in either carving or accessories.
  • Musical queues: A variety of classic Disney songs may play during any given ride, including: "Be Our Guest," "Chim Chim Cheree," and "When You Wish Upon a Star."
  • In case you missed the movie: 18 hand-painted panels ring the interior of the carousel and tell the story of Cinderella.
  • The manufacturer: Philadelphia Toboggan Company still exists under the name of Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters they they stopped producing carousels in 1930. Records indicate the company made 90 carousels (though a small number are likely refurbishments of existing carousels) and Cinderella's Golden Carousel is number 46. At least 30 PTC carousels are still operating around the United States and Canada.
  • This is the backstory for the attraction released when the name was change in June 2010.

    Following their fairy-tale romance and happily-ever-after wedding, Cinderella and Prince Charming took up residence in Cinderella’s Castle. With peace throughout the kingdom, Prince Charming had time to practice for jousting tournaments. In the countryside near the castle, he built a training device of carved horses, on which he could practice the art of ring-spearing, a tournament event in which a knight rides his horse full speed, lance in hand, toward a small ring hanging from a tree limb, with the object of spearing the ring. This event was known by various names throughout the lands, but generally came to be called “carrousel.”
    
    The carrousel device drew the attention of the villagers, who wanted to take a turn on this amazing spinning contraption. So Prince Charming had a second carrousel constructed closer to the Castle, where everyone could take a spin on this wondrous invention. Instead of a working knight’s training device, however, this new carrousel is more befitting its regal location in the Castle Courtyard – its rustic training horses replaced with ornately decorated prancing steeds adorned with golden helmets and shields, flower garlands, feathers and other festoons. Prince Charming invites one and all to test their horsemanship skills and to enjoy their own happy ending.

MousePlanet Links

• The Tale of Cinderella's Golden Carrousel — Wade Sampson tells the story behind the carrousel. (June 2, 2010)

Offsite Links (we can not vouch for their accuracy or timeliness)

• NCA Census — A census of operating carousels in Canada and the United States by the National Carousel Association.