A magical new look is coming to Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort.
During the company's Destination D23 fan event at the Florida resort on Aug. 31, Imagineers held a panel entitled "Beyond the Spires: An Insider Look at Disney Castles." During the discussion, park leaders revisited the various overlays and color schemes Cinderella Castle has been decorated with over the years.
But officials also made an announcement regarding the iconic Disney World landmark: a new color palette is coming.
"The updated paint will feature grays, creams, blues and touches of gold aiming to enhance the castle's architecture," a representative wrote on the Disney Parks Blogs.
According to the post, the changes are "inspired by the classic and original look of the castle."
A timeline for the changes has not yet been revealed.
Cinderella Castle currently features pale gray walls at its base with a light pink higher up on the structure. The various roofs are blue and the topmost turret is gold.
Disney says the castle uses a "timeless color combination" of blues and golds to reflect the Florida sunshine. The landmark is designed to be "picture-perfect" no matter the season or perspective.
To ensure the longevity of the castle's look, the paint used undergoes accelerated UV and weather testing to simulate years of sun exposure. For hard-to-reach areas, like the roofs, the company uses durable, long-lasting and high-performance paint used for cars.
The park also uses sheen material to make the castle "feel more lifelike." Stones are finished with sheen to appear more natural and rooftops and gold accents are covered with a higher gloss. Gold is also used around the spires to catch the sunlight.
Across the globe, there are six Disney castles that serve as the "heart" of their parks, according to Disney. While Imagineers use traditional castles as inspiration, the parks require durability to stand the test of time. That's why Disney castles use concrete, steel, cement, plaster and fiberglass -- not stone -- for their construction.
At the end of the "Beyond the Spires" discussion, Imagineers announced the next episode of the YouTube docuseries We Call it Imagineering. The episode entitled "Building Castles" will debut on Sept. 8
But the Cinderella Castle change wasn't the only Disney park news announced at Destination D23.
Following the debut of a Walt Disney animatronic figure at Disneyland in California, Imagineers announced another one is coming to Florida. During the "Creating the Happiest Place on Earth" panel, new concept art featuring a familiar face was revealed for "Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress" attraction.
"We are grateful to The Walt Disney Company and Walt Disney Imagineering for their continued collaboration and ongoing partnership with The Walt Disney Family Museum," Kirsten Komoroske, executive director of the Walt Disney Family Museum, said in a Disney Parks Blog post. "The introduction of a new Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt Disney in 'Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress' marks an exciting milestone in our shared mission to celebrate the story of the man behind the magic and inspire new generations with his innovations and vision for the future."
To find all of the Disney Parks announcements made at Destination D23, visit the Disney Parks Blog.