If you’ve never visited a Disney theme park, you may not know how Disney World and Disneyland compare. Though they have a lot in common, there are also some big differences.

For example, you may know that the castles featured prominently within Disney’s parks are different from each other. But how different are they? And what about them is the same?

Let’s look at the Disneyland castle versus the Disney World castle, what to expect when visiting and the unique features each offers.

The main difference between Disneyland vs. Disney World castles

In 1955, Disneyland opened in California, and Sleeping Beauty Castle was unveiled. The castle is at the entrance to Fantasyland, and guests can walk through its iconic gates to the many attractions within the land.

Cinderella Castle, meanwhile, is on the opposite side of the country in Florida, within Walt Disney World.

Disney World consists of four distinct theme parks, one of which is the Magic Kingdom. This eastern equivalent of Disneyland features the much larger Cinderella Castle and was opened in 1971.

Aside from size, location and age, there are a few other key differences between Disney World’s castle versus Disneyland’s castle — namely, which activities are available within each castle’s walls.

Sleeping Beauty Castle vs. Cinderella Castle

Sleeping Beauty Castle

(Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort)

The Disney castle in California draws its inspiration from Bavaria’s Neuschwanstein Castle, which savvy parkgoers will recognize from the Soarin’ Around the World attraction.

Though Disneyland — and the 77-foot castle — opened in 1955, the interior of the castle wasn’t accessible until two years later.

Nowadays, there are two areas to explore within Sleeping Beauty Castle. The first is the main walkway, which acts as a transit corridor between sections of the park.

The second is the castle walkthrough, within which you can explore the story of Sleeping Beauty via a series of dioramas.

For those interested in visiting, be aware that the walkway is narrow and winding and includes stairs. An accessible option via a virtual screen is also available.

Cinderella Castle

(Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World)

The 189-foot Cinderella Castle dominates your view when you walk into the Magic Kingdom. As a centerpiece of the park, Cinderella Castle includes a lot more action for Disney guests than its California counterpart.

Like Disneyland's castle, Disney World’s castle includes a walkthrough that’ll take you from the main entry into Fantasyland. However, Florida’s version does not include walkthrough attractions.

Instead, guests wanting to visit the inside of Cinderella Castle have several options from which to choose.

The first of these is difficult but attainable, while the second is not available to the general public — but some lucky folks have managed to find their way inside. Finally, a third option is great for those visiting with young children.

Cinderella’s Royal Table

For the regular guest, Cinderella’s Royal Table is your best bet for access inside Cinderella Castle. This fine-dining restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and it includes visits from a rotating variety of Disney princesses.

Cinderella’s Royal Table isn’t cheap; expect to pay more than $60 per adult no matter when you’re dining.

Note also that Cinderella’s Royal Table is very popular. Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance; for the best success in scoring one, you’ll want to set your alarm for when the booking window opens.