It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
After months of intense labor by the culinary teams at Walt Disney World Resort, dazzling displays will come to life right before our eyes!
Several displays have returned year after year for more than 20 years, like the Gingerbread House found at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Others are making their very first appearance, like the Lighthouse coming to Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.
It’s easy to see why visiting these works of art have become a holiday tradition for both guests and Cast Members alike. No matter how many times you have visited, you can easily come back again and again and see hidden details, and maybe even some hidden Mickeys.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the gingerbread fun coming this holiday season.
Starting with Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and its life-sized Gingerbread House, back for its 24th year from November 8 through January 1, 2024. The house is filled with sweet delights and decorations. In addition to the 10,000 pieces of gingerbread, you’ll find white chocolate candy canes, edible snowflakes, and sugar poinsettias. Make sure to check out the 85 lb. Chocolate Santa, nutcrackers, toy soldiers, and snowmen, all hand-painted by the Grand Floridian Bakery team led by Pastry Chef de Cuisine Kristine Farmer. More than 500 hours were spent baking the gingerbread and 480 hours were spent decorating. We think you will find the efforts well worth it.
Grand Floridian Gingerbread House Menu
If you’re looking to take a taste of gingerbread and the holidays home with you, you’re in luck because this display has quite the lineup of treats available for purchase that will dazzle your taste buds, including:
- Freshly baked, homemade items, such as Gingerbread Mickeys and Shingles, Stollen Bread, Brownie Christmas Tree, and Gingersnap Cookies
- House-made Gingerbread Ornaments and Gingerbread Houses
- Assorted Gingerbread Cookie Bags, Marshmallow Pops, and Milk Chocolate Pecan Fudge
- Grand Floridian Combo Box featuring assorted fan favorite treats, including the cookies n’ cream Christmas Tree, exclusive to this box
- Plant-based, no sugar added, and gluten-friendly options
New This Year At Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Moving to Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, new this year will be the Lighthouse. This brand-new creation was created by Pastry Chef de Cuisine Michael Craig, who used the actual blueprints from the real lighthouse located along Crescent Lake, outside the resort.
Right next door at Disney’s Beach Club Resort you’ll find the guest-favorite classic Holiday Carousel gingerbread display. The carousel has been adorning the resort for 22 years and many guests will be surprised to learn that it actually moves! This year, the gingerbread offering is inspired by Ducktales, with the horses themed after Donald Duck and his famous nephews Huey, Duey, and Louis. 434 pounds of honey, 25 pounds of spices, 200 pounds of icing, and a whole lot of creativity and talent from the culinary team join forces to create the delectable display.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort Gingerbread Display Menu
Some of the holiday treats available at this location include:
- Signature Stollen Bread
- Lighthouse Fudge
- Mickey Snowman Pop
- Crispy Rice Treat
- Peppermint Bark
- Gingerbread Shingle
- Hot Chocolate Flight
- Hot Chocolate
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Continuing our stroll around Crescent Lake lands us at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. This impressive display will run from November 17 through December 27 and will feature a miniature version of some of the favorite spots along the BoardWalk, including the BoardWalk Deli, which is home to the BoardWalk Inn Bakery team led by Pastry Chef Alex Vacher.
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Gingerbread Display Menu
Before leaving, be sure to check out some of the treats made by the team, like:
- Mickey and Minnie Sugar Cookies
- Mickey Caramel Corn Cookie
- Christmas Tree Pop
- Peppermint Bark
- Gingerbread Shingles
- Gluten/ Wheat-Friendly and Plant-based Gingerbread Shingles
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Now let’s take a walk on the wild side and visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. In the Jambo House lobby from Nov. 22 through Dec. 31, you will find a life-size Baby Gingerbread Giraffe and Baby Zebra. The giraffe stands nearly 7 feet tall, and along with the zebra is made with a combination of gingerbread, sugar dough, and modeling chocolate.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
The next stop on the journey finds us at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The popular gingerbread display is returning for its 12th year led by Pastry Chef Jeff Barnes. The display is located on the 4th floor of the resort from Nov. 10 through Jan. 6, 2024. This year’s Mary Blair-inspired 100th Celebration-themed Castle Display was designed by Walt Disney Imagineers for this momentous occasion for The Walt Disney Company. It stands more than 17 feet tall with 612 pounds of sugar, 1012 pounds of flour, 112 pounds of gingerbread spice, over 4000 castle gingerbread bricks, and 12 sprinklings of magical pixie dust!
Disney’s Contemporary Resort Gingerbread Display Menu
For those wanting a sweet treat, the following will also be available for purchase:
- Gingerbread Castle Brick
- Paint Your Own Cookie Box
- Hot Chocolate Caramel Fudge
- Chocolate Peppermint Cookie
- Pistachio Linzer Cookie
- 5-Legged Goat Cookie
- Gluten/Wheat Friendly Gingerbread Cookie
- Gingerbread Latte Cupcake
- Christmas Tree Butter Cookie
- Frozen Hot Chocolate (Also available with Peppermint Schnapps)
- Frozen Apple Cider (Also available with Fireball Cinnamon Whisky floater)
The American Adventure in EPCOT
Our final destination at Walt Disney World Resort concludes at The American Adventure in EPCOT. This impressive display is available from Nov. 24 through Dec. 30 and features some classic monuments in America and EPCOT alike, with gingerbread versions of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, The American Adventure building with Regal Eagle Smokehouse.
The talented culinary teams have put together a spectacular and tasty lineup for us this year. Be sure to plan a visit this holiday season and see some amazing gingerbread displays!
Do you have a favorite holiday gingerbread display?