PHOTO UPDATE: Cinderella Castle Paint Work Advances, Moat Drained

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Repainting work on Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World‘s Magic Kingdom is continuing as crews make way for an updated color palette. During our visit on February 11, 2026, we observed some progress on several sections of the castle, along with the surrounding moat now drained as part of the project. Here’s a look at the latest developments.

Moat Now Emptied

In our previous photo update on February 2, 2026, we highlighted that pumps and barriers had been installed in the moat in preparation for draining. Since then, much of the water has been removed, with dams separating remaining water-filled sections from those that have been cleared. Emptying the moat allows crews to get closer to the castle and reach areas that are otherwise difficult to access for repainting. With the moat now emptied, we expect further progress to be made.

Here’s a view of the moat along the Tomorrowland side.

And here’s how the moat appears near Liberty Square.

Now that the moat has been drained, you can spot objects guests dropped into it.

Additional Portions of Cinderella Castle Repainted

Disney announced in August 2025 that Cinderella Castle would undergo a refresh featuring a color palette inspired by its original, classic appearance. The updated scheme includes shades of gray, cream, and blue accented with subtle gold details, replacing the rose-gold design. Below is a look at concept art for the repainting project.

In our February 2, 2026, photo update, repainting was limited to a small portion of the pink facade at the back of the castle, where gray had begun replacing the pink, pictured below.

The work has since expanded, with fresh paint now reaching additional portions of the castle. Gray paint is being applied over some of the gold trim, while other areas of pink are being repainted as well. Plus, you can spot a different shade of blue on some of the roof tiles.