The Sword in the Stone Ceremony

Merlin the wizard seeks the true heir to the throne, the one who can pull the sword from the stone!

Premiered 1992

Location Castle Courtyard, Fantasyland

Duration 10-15 minutes

Performances Up to 6 daily

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In Brief
The Ceremony
History

Tips & Advice

Where to watch?

If you arrive right on time, you won't have a problem finding a spot to stand. Crowds usually only gather once the ceremony has begun.

A slightly elevated view can be had from the balcony just outside the Castle's rear archways, whilst the balcony of its Gallery above provides a great panorama of the entire courtyard.

How to be chosen?

Merlin can choose anyone from the crowd - male or female, young or old! It's all about the legend, and who has the most courage!

The guest who pulls the sword from its stone will, however, always be a child - with the added humour of strong adults unable to pull the sword just moments earlier!

The Boutique

Please note: Merlin l'Enchanteur is also the name of the glassblowing boutique in the left of the Castle, next to La Tanière du Dragon. The show is occasionally referred to as the 'Sword in the Stone Ceremony'.

Photos Magiques Gallery

The legend is completed, a new King is crowned!

A legend is sung, of when England was young, and knights were brave and bold. The good king had died, and no one could decide who was rightful heir to the throne.

It seemed that the land would be torn by war, or saved by a miracle alone. And that miracle appeared in London town: The Sword in the Stone. Below the hilt, in letters of gold:

"Whoso pulleth out this sword from this stone and anvil
is rightwise king, born of England."

Though many tried for the sword with all their strength, none could move the sword. Until today...

The Ceremony

Merlin the wizard arrives in the Castle Courtyard, climbs atop the famous stone and proclaims its legend for all to hear. Today is the day a new King is crowned - could it be you? Come nearer, look lively, he's about to choose the first trusty squire!

Through gallant attempts and feable pulls, gentlemen and lady folk from across the lands give their best attempt at breaking the legend and pulling the sword from the stone. Until, just when almost all hope has been lost - a young and courageous child steps into the square and without an exasperated gasp nor a bead of sweat completes the story in a single attempt.

The sword rises from its stone, the young boy is swiftly crowned before the gleeful crowd and the greatest fantasy becomes the memory of a lifetime!

The End.

History

Merlin l'Enchanteur (also known as The Sword in the Stone Ceremony) is based upon the original ceremony at Disneyland in California, which premiered in 1983, inspired by the 1963 Walt Disney animated film.

Disneyland Park in Paris was only the second Disney park to present a regular Sword in the Stone ceremony, with a brand new legendary Sword positioned by Imagineers in its own raised Castle Courtyard behind Le Château de le Belle au Bois Dormant, release mechanism already in place, ready for the 1992 opening of the park.

The ceremony arrived at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in 1994, and was one of the most promoted features of Hong Kong Disneyland's Fantasyland during the park's 2005 opening.

Despite continuing to entertain guests and become a popular memory of a day in Disneyland Park, the ceremony suffered as a result of the resort's general downturn in entertainment and upkeep spending in the early 2000s, becoming less and less frequently performed before its ultimate cancellation in 2001. The show made a celebrated comeback over the busy New Year's Eve season of 2006/07, then during the St David's Welsh Festival of March 2007. Following these successful and popular performances, Merlin now returns to the Castle Courtyard on a regular basis throughout the high season days of Summer.