Even a princess' castle needs its beauty rest from time to time.
Construction walls have gone up around Sleeping Beauty Castle as a major refurbishment of Disneyland's iconic centerpiece begins ahead of the grand opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in June. The extensive castle makeover will last until spring with no reopening date set, according to Disney officials.
The work includes a $300,000 reroof of the 70-foot-tall castle that will replace the fiber-reinforced plastic on the turrets. Gray construction walls and green mesh fencing surround the front of the castle, obscuring the moat and drawbridge from view. An ornate gate with black iron hardware flanked by torch-like sconces greets visitors at the Anaheim theme park's central hub.
Blue fences block the center and east archways at the rear of the castle. A decorative scrim will cover scaffolding once it is erected around portions of the castle.
The months-long construction project will certainly spoil any photos visitors hoped to take in front of the castle. Social media criticism has been swift and harsh.
"Disneyland put up a huge barricade around Sleeping Beauty Castle for refurb and honestly if they aren't done by my trip I'm gonna lose it," wrote Twitter user @Jordan_Marie15 of Florida, who posted a photo of the gate obscuring the castle. "Like seriously look at this, it's freaking terrible."
Signs in front of the castle direct visitors to access Fantasyland via the Big Thunder trail or the parade route along Matterhorn mountain. Visitors can still access Snow White Grotto and the wishing well during the renovation.
The castle will retain its color scheme of cool gray walls, warm pink towers and bright blue roofs. The neo-romantic architecture was inspired by Bavarian Neuschwanstein and French Chateau de Chenonceau castles, according to Disney.
"Sleeping Beauty Castle is the heart of Disneyland Park and is simply being refreshed," said Walt Disney Imagineering art director Kim Irvine via email. "It will remain the same beloved icon it is today when the refurbishment is complete."
The work will force the closure of the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough attraction starting Jan. 17.