Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Once upon a time in 1955, Walt Disney decided that Disneyland needed a centerpiece, so naturally, he went with a castle—because nothing screams "happiest place on Earth" like medieval fortifications. Sleeping Beauty's Castle, as it's known, was designed to be 77 feet tall, which in theme park terms means “we’ll just mess with your sense of scale.” Thanks to Disney magic (and a bit of forced perspective), it looks like it's towering over Main Street even though it’s shorter than most water slides.






Rumor has it that the drawbridge actually works, but it’s only been lowered twice: once on opening day and once for a major refurbishment—because, apparently, using it for dramatic escapes from ogres just isn’t part of the daily itinerary.



Over the years, the castle has been home to many things, including Mickey Mouse, Christmas lights, fireworks, and countless marriage proposals. No one’s ever actually slept there (except maybe Tinker Bell on her break), but it remains an iconic photo op for tourists and the occasional duck who sneaks into the moat.






Okay, that's enough of the castle.  Now the long story: 

Strolling Through Star Wars Land

As the families strolled deeper into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the immersive world of Batuu surrounded them. Every nook and cranny seemed to echo with details from the Star Wars universe, and the group couldn’t help but marvel at how real it all felt.

"I feel like we’re walking through a Star Wars movie," Steve said, eyes wide as he took in the sights. "It’s like we just stepped into Tatooine, minus the twin suns."

"Look at that speeder!" Trevor pointed excitedly. "I think it’s the same one from The Phantom Menace!"

"Man, I wish I could hop on that and race through the galaxy," Zac added wistfully.

"I’m just trying to figure out how to smuggle this cool stuff back home," Jeff joked, eyeing the crates and artifacts scattered around.

The kids were especially excited, pointing out every droid and ship they recognized from the movies. As they walked, they came across a few familiar characters…

Chewbacca’s High-Five Dilemma

Suddenly, towering over the crowd, they spotted Chewbacca, the beloved Wookiee, making his rounds and posing for pictures. His massive frame was hard to miss, and Gage immediately ran up to him.

"Chewie!" Gage shouted, waving excitedly. "Can I get a high-five?"

Chewbacca let out his signature growl and raised his huge furry paw for the requested high-five, but Gage’s hand barely made a dent.

"It’s like hitting a carpet!" Gage laughed, shaking out his hand. "A really soft, angry carpet!"

Brandon tried his luck next. "Let me see if I can do better!"

He went for a high-five but misjudged his timing, and Chewbacca ended up giving him an accidental whack on the shoulder instead.

"Whoa! That’s one strong Wookiee!" Brandon said, rubbing his arm. "I think I just leveled up in toughness!"

"That’s what you get for challenging a co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon," Scot teased.









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