November 9, 2012

"On the stroke of twelve, the spell will be broken." - Fairy Godmother

Back in 2009 I received an opportunity of a lifetime: a chance to explore the Castle Suite inside Cinderella Castle. The detail of this extremely exclusive suite (just think, if only one family can stay there per night, it'd take nearly three years for 1,000 families to get the honor of staying there) is unbelievable especially due to the fact that the majority of people will never see it. While there are several things we could talk about (the glass slipper, the portrait, and even the toilet), today we will be looking at an item some guests that aren't staying in the suite may catch a quick glimpse of.

Just after entering the Suite's entrance (which is found in the walkway that's within the castle) guests are greeted by a large tapestry, a desk, and a clock. Today we'll be taking a look at the clock:

Now I could go on and on about the architecture of the clock, but if I did that I would be lying since I have no idea where it was made, what influence its meant for, etc. What we will talk about is the significance of the time: 11:59, a minute before the clock strikes midnight. While the reference to the film is very obvious, there's a deeper meaning for the guests staying here. As the Fairy Godmother states, the spell will be broken at midnight, but while guests are staying here, their dream is coming true (much like Cinderella's wish to go to the ball).

So the clock isn't just simply referencing the film, but giving a simple reminder to guests that their visit here is short, but at the same time, while they are staying in the Cinderella Castle Suite time stops and the dream won't truly end until the following morning. It's one of the more bittersweet fun finds we've taken a look at. It's the truest reminder that dreams really do come true, even if those dreams will just last us a short while. Until next time, keep dreaming...