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One magical piece of a Disney attraction has been missing for far too long. Have you noticed this missing piece of magic?
A Classic Attraction
What could be more charming than a castle view ride on a carousel? Prince Charming Regal Carrousel is a classic attraction at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Guests can climb aboard one of 90 wood-carved ornate horses—or one intricately carved chariot and enjoy a ride to gorgeous music.
Bedecked in golden helmets, decorative shields, and flowing flower garlands and feathers, each beautiful horse is unique. While they are all beautiful, one stands out above the rest. In fact, the horse is so special that Guests often rush to try to find it first.
Cinderella’s Horse
Although some argue that it is untrue, according to Disney lore, Cinderella has her own special horse. This is the horse that many Guests are searching for when they rush onto Prince Charming Regal Carrousel. You or your child may have ridden her yourself.
She is recognizable because she is the only horse on the carousel to wear a golden ribbon wound around her tail. She also sports purple roses in her mane.
A Vanishing Act
However, if you have been to the Magic Kingdom recently, you may have had a difficult time spotting the horse. Cinderella’s horse vanished several months ago, and Guests are beginning to wonder when she will ever return!
I (Katie) was in the parks recently and asked the Cast Member at the Carrousel where Cinderella’s horse was. He reported that she is currently paying a “visit to the stables.” He said that so far, there is no word on if or when she will return.
Perhaps she is getting a refurbishment. We do know that the horses do need restoration work periodically, and the work for each is done on a rotating basis. Fiberglass stand-ends often take the place of the original horses while they receive some TLC.
Rumors and Speculation
However, Disney has provided no official reasoning for why the popular horse is missing. There is also no official timeline for the return of the horse, which has many worrying that her replacement, a horse bedecked in a bow and arrows and quiver, could be a permanent resident.
As is typically the case when there are no official answers, speculation is floating around the interwebs. One rumor is that perhaps too many guests were clamoring to ride this special horse and causing safety issues such as pushing and shoving. With the bad Guest behavior that has been evident lately, perhaps removing the horse is a precaution.
The more likely scenario is that she is simply being restored and that the restoration process takes time. This has all happened before (and it will all happen again). Several years ago, the Cinderella horse vanished, and a similar rumor that she was gone for good circulated the web. Nevertheless, she eventually did return to her rightful place on Prince Charming Regal Carrousel.
So, the hope is that history will repeat itself, and Cinderella’s horse can once again give Guests a little extra Pixie Dust during their visit to the Magic Kingdom We will let you know if more information comes to light. But, the likelihood is that one day she will just quietly reappear.
Have you or your child ever enjoyed a ride on Cinderella’s horse at the Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments. And, feel free to pass this story along, especially if you know someone with a trip planned to The Magic Kingdom who was planning to try to secure a ride on the special horse.
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