Disney’s Imagineering team has been hard at work refurbishing the Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through Diorama located in Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. Their work is now finished just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Diorama is scheduled to re-open tomorrow (Wednesday) at 5pm, just in time to kick off the Thanksgiving holiday.

The vibrant new version of the classic walk-through attraction features colorful scenes of Aurora, her gallant prince, the evil Maleficent and other characters from the beloved fairy tale film.

This revived “show” differs from the window-display dioramas which could be seen in the castle during the 1980s and ’90s. It is inspirated from the unique style of the original Disneyland castle walk-through attraction of 1957 and is co-designed by animation art director and color stylist Eyvind Earle, who was credited with giving the motion picture “Sleeping Beauty” its distinctive and colorful look of storybook illustrations in medieval style.

Enhanced with new scenes and special-effects magic, the new version of this attraction utilizes technology that was not available in the 1950s to tell the story of Sleeping Beauty, including the magic of good fairies Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, and the more sinister spells of the evil Maleficent.

For the first time, guests who are unable to climb stairs or navigate the passageways of the Castle will be able to experience the walkthrough “virtually” in a special room on the ground floor of the Castle.

Following are some publicity photos of what you might find once inside the castle. Click each image to enlarge and enjoy!

Photos courtesy of LaughingPlace.com.

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Last month I reported that Disney Imagineering was working to restore the Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through that was originally created in 1953 within the walls of Sleeping beauty Castle in Disneyland but sadly closed in October of 2007. A post at Re-Imagineering today announces that it will re-open in time for Christmas.

Guests will experience a “reawakened” version of its classic walk through presentation kissed with vibrant scenes of Aurora, her charming prince, the evil Maleficent and other characters from the beloved fairy tale film.

“It is fitting that we are announcing the return of a classic on the 53rd anniversary of Disneyland,” said Tony Baxter, Senior Vice President of Creative Development for Walt Disney Imagineering, who unveiled a model of the castle on July 17, the birthday of Disneyland park.

The new walk-thru experiences will return to the unique style of the original 1957 show and motion picture, however enhanced with new scenes and special effects magic. The re-Imagineered attraction will employ technology not available in the 1950s to represent scenes from the story of Sleeping Beauty, including the magic of good fairies Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, and the more sinister spells of the evil Maleficent.

Additionally, for the first time, guests who are unable to climb stairs or navigate the passageways of the Castle will be able to experience the walk-through “virtually” in a special room on the ground floor of the Castle.

Here is a preview of the dioramas you might see when the attraction is re-opened during the Christmas holiday.

As one who has never experience this piece of Disney magic, I am very much looking forward to it. Looks like I might need to schedule a trip back to the happiest place on Earth this Christmas holiday.

Related: Book your dream Disney vacation at Expedia.com!

I’ve been to the “happiest place on Earth” a total of eight times in my life, starting in 1977 and the last trip taking place in 2006. In that time frame, I’ve pretty much experienced every attraction the park has to offer with the exception of two – Club 33 and the Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through Diorama. While chances are pretty slim I’ll ever get to visit Club 33, not only due to the exorbitant fees to join this exclusive club but the alleged ten plus year waiting period, it looks hopeful that I will get to experience the walk-through in Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at Disneyland.

Mouseplanet reports that last week, a construction wall appeared around the long-locked exit to the diorama inside Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. Imagineers and construction workers have been spotted entering and exiting the space, which was closed nearly seven years ago due to post-9/11 terrorist fears. While the on-site Imagineers remained tight-lipped, some construction workers revealed that they are working to restore the Sleeping Beauty Walkthrough.

The challenge that lies ahead is affordably restoring what was basically left to rot for the better part of a decade. The damage evidently is more than neglect. Entertainment Show Services reportedly has abused the castle’s interior and demolished entire sections of the walkthrough so that elements for the “Remember” fireworks show could be installed.

No completion date has been announced, but considering the amount of work that needs to be done, MousePlanet says not to expect anything till the latter part of the year.

History of Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through

According to the 1987 book Disneyland: Inside Story by Randy Bright, the castle was never intended to host a show. However, “empty spaces were an anathema to Walt Disney.” He challenged his Imagineers to use the limited space. After an unexpected encounter with the cats and fleas living in there, the Imagineers designed a walk-through attraction which opened April 29, 1957.

It was then redesigned in 1977, mostly to replace the original diorama that reflected the style of artist Eyvind Earle, the brilliant Production Designer of Walt Disney’s 1959 feature Sleeping Beauty. The new dioramas had more movement and depth and were highly detailed. However, some complained that they looked like Main Street Emporium display windows and lacked the artistry of Eyvind Earle.

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, guest attendance and revenue at the Disney parks plummeted. The company cut theme park and resort operating costs wherever they could. So on October 7, 2001, the Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through was closed initially for “refurbishment” but over-time was dropped off the refurbishment list. The attraction’s sign eventually disappeared from its portal. And while Disneyland’s guest count and revenue recovered, the doors to Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through remained closed to guests, at least until now.

Yesterland, a site devoted to Disney attractions of the past has an excellent article on the history of this attraction along with 1977 era pictures of the actual dioramas and inside the castle. I’m now looking forward to visiting the real thing. It will very likely be one of those attractions that is mostly overlooked by many that visit the park but will attract Disney fans such as myself, fans that truly appreciate every minor detail of a theme park that is like no other.

Related: Book your dream Disney vacation at Expedia.com!