How Disney Springs’ Candy Cauldron Creates Halloween Treats and Family Memories
With Halloween just hours away, guests visiting Walt Disney World are running out of time to indulge in the resort’s spooky season festivities.
Over the past several months, we have watched as The Most Magical Place on Earth has come to life with spooktacular surprises, as happy haunts and terrifyingly tasty treats have materialized across the resort.
Fall has arrived at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, bringing plenty of festive fun for guests to enjoy. From Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival to eerie-sistible merchandise, delicious seasonal bites, and boo-tiful décor, there’s no shortage of autumn magic to discover at the Most Magical Place on Earth.
While much of Disney World’s Halloween festivities center on Magic Kingdom, there is plenty of frightening fun taking place elsewhere.
Candy Cauldron and Candy Apples
For example, since Candy Cauldron opened in 1997, it has delighted guests with its beloved candy apples.
Photo: Disney
Caramel and candy apples have been a culinary staple of Walt Disney World since the early 1970s. Over the past five and a half decades, Disney has transformed candy apples into an art form.
In the mid-2000s, Disney introduced the iconic Evil Queen Apple, designed to resemble the poison apple from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Photo: Disney
The tasty treat is comprised of an apple covered in a glossy red candy shell, with a signature drip.
Photo: Disney
Needless to say, they are delicious!
Introducing Joanne
If you want to celebrate Halloween with a candy apple, there is no better place to go than Candy Cauldron.
Photo: Disney
There, you can watch the spooktacular treats come to life, created by the shop’s dedicated staff.
Among those who bring Halloween magic to life every year is Joanne, who has been working at Walt Disney World for over 30 years.
Photo: Disney
Having worked at Candy Cauldron for much of her career, Joanne began her career at the front counter. Soon, however, she became fascinated by the culinary magic taking place in the kitchen.
A Family Affair
Over the years, Joanne has become a master candy apple maker. She has also trained and mentored Cast Members who came after her.
Photo: Disney
Among those she has taught is her son Pedro.
“She’s the reason I started here and this location was the beginning of my Disney journey,” Pedro said. “She was a great teacher, and definitely somebody who made sure I got that trade done right, because she’s very particular with making sure that everything that our guests buy is done to perfection.”
Photo: Disney
Eventually, Pedro would take the lessons learned from his mother to begin a Disney career that would see him take on numerous leadership roles across Walt Disney World.
“I will say some of my best interactions with guests have been in that kitchen. Anywhere from seeing a little kid ‘ooh’ and ‘ah’ while you’re making candy apples, to adults watching the entire process and saying they want the one you’re making,” Pedro explained.
Photo: MickeyBlog
