The pastry teams at Disney have been working hard to get ready for one of the staples during the holiday season. The beloved gingerbread displays are coming to life for the most wonderful time of the year.
“Their passion goes into every detail — from the gingerbread shingles to the masterfully crafted chocolate work, and everything in between,” said the Disney Parks blog.
Whether you’re visiting Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or sailing with Disney Cruise Lines, you can expect to be enchanted by the incredible works of gingerbread art.
Here are nine gingerbread displays you can’t miss at Disney parks.
1. Haunted Mansion Gingerbread House
Within the walls of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland Park at the Disneyland Resort, this gingerbread display brings holiday flare to Jack Skellington’s transformation of the classic attraction to the Haunted Mansion Holiday, which is inspired by Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. It takes the pastry team more than 20 days to bring the 300-pound creation to life. It includes three moving elements.
2. The Grand Californian Hotel And Spa
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa once again presents the “Grand” Gingerbread house. Displayed in the lobby is a giant gingerbread replica of the hotel. It stands 7 feet tall and 12 feet wide. It is created from more than 600 pounds of gingerbread, 600 pounds of powdered sugar, 250 pounds of fondant, and 1 pound of pixie dust. Keep your eyes peeled because there are 25 hidden Mickeys!
3. The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
The gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is the most famous house of all. This life-sized storybook gingerbread house is made from an Austrian recipe, featuring clouds of cinnamon billowing from the chimney. The details include all of the holiday classic ingredients: white chocolate, candy canes, edible snowflakes, sugar poinsettias, an 85-pound chocolate Santa, nutcrackers, toy soldiers, and snowmen that have been hand-painted by the Grand Floridian Bakery Team. However, the most impressive part may be the clouds of cinnamon billowing out. Once again, be on the lookout for the 25 hidden Mickeys.
4. The Animal Kingdom Lodge
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, the newest tradition continues with a life-sized gingerbread giraffe and baby zebra. Last year the tradition started with a life-sized baby giraffe. This year, the gingerbread zebra is added to the amazing display in the lobby. You can buy a gingeraffe cookie to enjoy too!
5. Disney’s Beach Club Resort
In the lobby of Disney’s Beach Club Resort, you’ll find a holiday classic: a life-sized carousel that actually spins! Since 1999, this carousel has kept people in awe. Its horses are masterfully made with chocolate, sugar, and fondant. There are hand-painted characters and hand-crafted gingerbread shingles and snowflakes. This year, each horse celebrates a different Disney princess.
6. The BoardWalk Deli
At Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, check out the incredible gingerbread creation of a miniature, edible version of a favorite spot along Crescent Lake: the BoardWalk Deli.
7. The Contemporary Resort
For the 11th year, the bakery team at Disney’s Contemporary Resort has created a masterpiece! The Cinderella Gingerbread Castle is a Mary Blair-inspired castle designed by Walt Disney Imagineers. It will feature a brand-new 50th-anniversary overlay. Keep an eye out for 11 hidden 5-legged goats! There will be limited-edition pins, mugs, and holiday ornaments you can take home to remember the special time of the season, including a 50th Anniversary Gingerbread Castle Brick.
8. EPCOT’s American Adventure Pavilion
The American Adventure pavilion at EPCOT has gingerbread versions of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, The American Adventure building with Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drinks & Barbecue, and a festival kiosk.
9. Disney Cruise Line
The gingerbread displays are also found on the high seas! All five ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet continue their yearly tradition. The pastry teams onboard build a unique display for the ships in the atrium. The brand-new Disney Wish will join in on this legacy for its inaugural holiday season with an 8-foot-tall, eight-layer masterpiece. Each gingerbread house is unique for its ship and the teams compete to see which member of the fleet has the best house.
Throughout the parks, you’ll find plenty of goodies to take home to commemorate the special time of year. With Mickey gingerbread cookies, house-made gingerbread ornaments, gingerbread houses, and even a gingerbread martini served at several of the resorts, there is something for everyone to feel festive.
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