Once upon a time, in a city with a famous mouse and theme parks as far as the eye could see, there sat a resting place for princesses. Its name was … The Castle Hotel.

As part of Autograph Collection Hotels from Marriott, The Castle Hotel in Orlando is newly redesigned with special details that cause one to believe they may have entered a real-life, grown-up fairy tale.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
If I wanted to ask myself who’s the fairest of them all, I could’ve done so a dozen times before my morning cup of tea. Multitudes of mirrors in a variety of shapes and sizes adorn the hallways of the hotel in clusters. Even the mirror in my bathroom looked straight off the set of a favorite Disney movie. At one point, I wondered if an evil witch might be lurking on the other side, offering me a secret potion for a hangover cure in exchange for my soul.

Nightfall Afoot
Woodland creatures can easily keep the princess safe inside her room, thanks to the lovely evening nightstand, resembling the head of a deer. I’d prefer to think of it as a fawn, but my family of hunters and neighbors in Kansas would make fun of me for missing the obvious antlers, which held the table top in place, along with the evening lamp. Simply adorable!

Watch Where You Walk, My Little Pretty
I stopped to take three different photos of the lovely carpet in the hallways. A slate-blue background with a contrasting ivory design showcased tree limbs with leaves, flowers and birds nestled within. To see the pattern over and over again down the hallway to my room was mesmerizing and was the extra-special kind of touch only a true fairy-tale lover would appreciate.

The Castle Is Secure
The guardrails to the pool, the chandeliers and arched hallways, even the outdoor exterior of the building all oozed “castle” without being kitschy. Overall, the hotel remained elevated and whimsical rather than childish and immature. Even the breakfast nook and bar appeared to welcome the day with an attendant throwing back heavy curtains to display floor-to-ceiling windows draped in sunshine and a green courtyard to the exterior.

Although my stay at The Castle Hotel was short and sweet, I shall never forget the lovely feeling of playfulness inside. The next time I visit, I hope my room comes with a kind fairy godmother, willing to finish my laundry and perhaps lead me toward glass slippers filled with chocolates and spa treatments forever more.

— Carrie Cox, account executive