Your Gingerbread Guide to the Disney Theme Parks

Each Yuletide Season, a highlight for theme park guests is the stunning gingerbread displays you’ll find at both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World!  In the lead in to the holidays, Disney’s pastries teams spend countless hours creating these breathtaking culinary works of art.  

If you’ve been following along with us here at MickeyBlog, you may have seen our first look at some of the displays cropping up at Walt Disney World.  Each year we’re struck by the passion that goes into ever detail!  Gingerbread shingles are individually placed and the chocolate work meticulously crafted.  Best of all, this year marks the return of the display at Disney’s Contemporary Resort a BRAND NEW Jambo House Lobby Display at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge as well as displays at both Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa on the West Coast and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Disney World! 

Let’s take a closer look at some of these festive beauties along with other gingerbread goodies you’ll want to be on the lookout. 

Disneyland Park 

Haunted Mansion Gingerbread House – Disneyland Park

Within the walls of the Haunted Mansion guests will be treated to a beloved look at a gingerbread that adds holiday flare to the Nightmare Before Christmas seasonal overlay – Haunted Mansion Holiday. The pastry team at Disneyland takes over 200 days to bring this 300 pound creation to life.  This year’s creation features three moving elements that are sure to dazzle.  Be sure to head over to New Orleans Square and hop onto Haunted Mansion for some spooktacular festive fun. 

Disney Californian Hotel & Spa

Beginning on November 14th, Disney’s Grand Californian will once again be home to the “Grand” Gingerbread House.  This giant gingerbread replica of the hotel is a highlight for Disney-goers.  It stands a mighty 7 feet tall and 12 feet wide and was made with 600 pounds of gingerbread, 600 pounds of powdered sugar, 250 pounds of fondant, 1 pound of pixie dust and features 25 Hidden Mickeys! 

On site, at the Grand Californian lobby, guests will find the GHC Holiday Cart where you can pick up your Limited-Edition Snow Globe Pin as well as a variety of delectable goodies including: 

• Mickey Gingerbread
• Poinsettia Cookie
• Snowman Cookie 
• Christmas Cookie 
• Hanukkah Cookie 
• Holiday Cookie Box
• NEW Assorted Macarons 
• NEW Kwanzaa Sweet Potato Loaf 
• NEW New Year’s Cookie 
• Rice Krispie 
• Hot Chocolate 
• Hot Apple Cider (Available with Bailey’s Irish Cream, Captain Morgan, Grand Marnier, or Rumchata)
• Waffle Shot (Available with milk, low-fat milk, chocolate milk, or eggnog) 
• Waffle Shot (Available with Bailey’s Irish Cream, Captain Morgan, Grand Marnier, Rumchata, Amaretto, Butterscotch Schnapps, Rumple Minze, Crown Royal Apple, Skrewball Whiskey, Fireball Whiskey, Louis the 13^th) 

Disneyland Park & Disney California Adventure 

If you’ll be heading to the Disneyland theme parks this holiday season then be on the lookout for Gingerbread-themed novelties.  This includes the Gingerbread Mickey Ear Hat Bowl along with the Gingerbread Bottle Topper. 

Walt Disney World

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa 

Beginning on November 9th, guests can view clouds of cinnamon billowing out of the chimney of the life-sized storybook gingerbread house.  This years gingerbread house is adorned with white chocolate, candy canes, edible snowflakes, sugar poinsettias and 25 hidden Mickey’s!   

Also be on the lookout for the 85 lb chocolate Santa as well as nutcrackers, toy soldiers and snowmen that have been hand-painted by the Grand Floridian Bakery team. 

Special Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Gingerbread Treats 

The 50th Anniversary celebration at Walt Disney World continues this holiday season with displays that feature EARidescent details.  This includes limited edition pins, mugs, holiday ornaments and treats.  Some of the goodies which can be purchased from the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House includes: 

• Freshly baked, homemade items, such as Gingerbread Mickeys and Shingles, Stollen Bread, Brownie Christmas Tree, and Chocolate Peppermint Bark 
• House-made Gingerbread Ornaments and Gingerbread Houses  
• New items like the Gingerbread Latte Whoopie Pie and Hot Cocoa Bombs 
• Assorted Gingerbread Cookie Bags, Marshmallow Pops, and Caramel Pecan Fudge Bar 
• Gluten-friendly, plant-based, and no sugar added treats 
• Grand Floridian Combo Box featuring assorted fan favorite treats, including the Chocolate Mickey Ornament, exclusive to the Combo Box 

Gingerbread Giraffe and Zebra Displays – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

On November 23, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge will be home to a NEW wild display.  Be on the lookout for a life-sized Baby Gingerbread Giraffe and Baby Zebra.  This year continues the new tradition that started last year with a life-sized baby giraffe and will now include a new gingerbread guest!  you’ll find both animals grazing in the lobby.  

While at Animal Kingdom Lodge, be sure to pick up the Gingeraffe Cookie! 

Disney’s Beach Club Resort 

Head over to the lobby at Disney’s Beach Club Resort where a holiday classic has returned.  Since 1999, the resort has been home to a life-sized gingerbread carousel that actually spins!  Each year, the carousel and its horses are masterfully created with chocolate, sugar, fondant, hand-painted characters and hand-crafted gingerbread shingles and shingles.  

This year’s display is made even more special in that each of the horses celebrates a different Disney Princess.  Pop over to Beach Club and see if you can guess which one each represents. 

In addition, at the pop-up shop you can grab limited edition pins, mugs, holiday ornaments and more including: 

• Signature Stollen Bread
• Candied Pecans (Plant-based)
• Trio of Fudge
• Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Snowman
• Crispy Rice Treat
• NEW Chocolate Mickey Cookie 
• Peppermint Bark
• Gingerbread Shingle
• Chocolate Gingerbread Cookie (Gluten-Friendly)
• Gingerbread Cookie (Gluten-Friendly) 

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn 

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn is sure to impress this holiday season with a new display arriving on November 17th.  This gingerbread creation features a miniature, edible version of the Disney’s Boardwalk including Trattoria al Forno, Flying Fish and more! 

The following treats will also be available: 

• Mickey and Minnie Sugar Cookies
• NEW BoardWalk Mickey Sugar Cookie 
• NEW Giant Gingerbread Mickey Cookie 
• Gluten-Friendly & Plant-based Gingerbread Mickey Cookie
• NEW Artisan Peppermint Marshmallows 
• NEW Carnival Bark 
• Gingerbread Frost Cocktail 

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

This is the 11th year that the bakery team at Disney’s Contemporary Resort has created a masterpiece.  This year’s stunning gingerbread creation will be available to view beginning on November 11th.  The 50th Anniversary Themed Castle Display is a Mary Blair-inspired design with a BRAND NEW 50th Anniversary overlay. 

This year’s display is home to 11 hidden 5-legged goats.  See if you can find them all.  Also be on the lookout for limited-edition pins, mugs and holiday ornaments. Treats include:  

• NEW 50th Anniversary Gingerbread Castle Brick 
• Family Tradition Cookie Box featuring a Coconut Macaroon from Chef Jeff’s family, a Sugar Cookie from Chef Kelly’s family, a Butterball from Chef Amber’s family, and a Kitchen Sink Cookie representing all the Cast in the Bakery coming together to bring this display back! (New) 
• Chocolate Peppermint Cookie
• Linzer Cookie
• NEW Gluten-friendly 5-Legged Goat Sugar Cookie 
• NEW Dark Chocolate Peppermint Holiday Bar 
• NEW Hot Cocoa Bombs 
• Frozen drinks with optional alcohol floaters:
  • Frozen Coquito with a rum floater
  • Frozen Hot Chocolate with peppermint schnapps
  • Frozen Apple Cider with a fireball floater

Gingerbread Martini

Several spots across Walt Disney World Resort will feature this new cocktail made with Absolut Elyx Vodka, Rumchata Cream Liqueur and gingerbread spice featuring a rim of gingerbread (that was freshly baked at the resort bakery.)  This libation is the perfect blend of sugar and spice.  Get yours at the following locations: 

• Grand Floridian Café- Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Cítricos- Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Enchanted Rose- Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Boma: Flavors of Africa- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort 
• Sanaa- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort 
• Chef Mickey’s- Disney’s Contemporary Resort 
• Outer Rim- Disney’s Contemporary Resort 
• Cape May Café- Disney’s Contemporary Resort 

Also look for more details regarding exclusive gingerbread merchandise coming your way this holiday season.  This includes pin signings with pastry chefs. Dates and times will vary by resort. 

EPCOT

The American Adventure Pavilion at EPCOT will once again be home to a stunning Capitol gingerbread display beginning on November 25th.  Also in the display are replicas of the Lincoln Memorial and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.  

Photo: Disney

Disney Wish

The theme parks and resorts aren’t the only places to find amazing gingerbread creations. All five ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet will continue the yearly tradition of having the talented  pastry teams onboard build a unique gingerbread display for the atrium.  This includes the brand-new Disney Wish which will unveil and 8 foot tall 8-layer masterpiece. 

Each gingerbread house on the Disney Cruise Line ships will feature a unique gingerbread design.  

Readers are encouraged to keep following along with MickeyBlog for further Walt Disney World news and updates. We’ll be coming to you LIVE! from the theme parks each and every week. 

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