Can you smell the sweet aromas of the Disney World gingerbread houses coming from this page?
Well maybe I am pushing the imagination button just a bit, but I’m super excited to share with you something really cool that Disney does for the holidays.
Each Christmas season, the Disney Parks and resorts displays the most over-the-top gingerbread houses for everyone to enjoy each year.
Many of the beautiful displays can be seen for free and yes, I did just say free!
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Is Disney Doing the Gingerbread House this Year?
Absolutely! Although there was a break in having the gingerbread houses across the parks and resorts due to 2020, Disney is bringing a few back in some of the most popular locations.
We’ll go into detail on where you can find all the gingerbread house displays later in this guide and how long they will be up this year.
History of the Gingerbread House
Over the years, legends have stated that gingerbread was first introduced to Europe around the 11th century from crusaders returning from the Middle East.
However, the tradition of baking and creating elaborate gingerbread houses wouldn’t become popular in Europe until the 13th century.
After the release of Brother’s Grimm, the art of gingerbread making was event more popularized in countries such as Germany with Nuremberg, Germany, becoming known as the “Gingerbread Capital of the World” in the 1600s.
Even within the baker’s community, there were a group carved out who only focused on gingerbread making in the 17th century of Europe and were the only ones allowed to bake this delicious treat unless it was Easter or Christmas.
During those two holidays, anyone could make gingerbread.
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Disney World Gingerbread Houses Over the Years
Throughout the years, Walt Disney World has brought the magic of gingerbread making to its parks and resorts.
During the holiday season, the Disney Chefs create their own Yuletide tradition for you to enjoy with one-of-a-kind gingerbread displays that can only be seen at Disney properties.
Take for instance the Grand Floridian life-size gingerbread house that has been bringing in Disney guests from all around the world since 1999.
People who only want to see how this incredible display is created.
Wilderness Lodge Resort Gingerbread House
A couple of years ago, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort got their own gingerbread house inspired by the majestic bears of the great northwest.
Although there’s no word on if Disney will bring back a gingerbread display for Wilderness Lodge, you will still have plenty of options to explore this year!
Where are the Gingerbread Houses at Disney?
Now that we have a little bit of history, you may be wondering: Which Disney hotels have gingerbread houses this?
We are missing a few of our favorite locations, but let’s go through which Disney hotels and theme parks will actually have gingerbread houses this year.
1. Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Gingerbread House
You’ll definitely want to stop by the Grand Floridian to see the signature sweet display now in its 20th year at Walt Disney World.
According to Disney, the classic Austrian recipe inspired the ornaments, cookies and the house that stands 14 feet tall in the lobby of this resort.
By far, this is one of the most stunning resorts to visit during Christmas at Walt Disney World.
According to Disney, this year’s gingerbread house is a life-size storybook gingerbread house with “cinnamon clouds” puffing from the chimney.
It is also beautifully decorated with white chocolate candy canes, edible snowflakes, and sugar poinsettias.
Fun Facts About the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House:
- 10-foot-wide
- 15-foot-long
- 14-foot-tall
- Covered with more than 10,000 pieces of gingerbread
- Has 25 hidden Mickeys
- 85-pound chocolate Santa
- Nutcrackers, toy soldiers, and snowmen that have all been hand-painted by the Grand Floridian Bakery team
The Gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian also acts as a sweet kiosk called The Bake Shop where you can buy your own holiday treats such as:
- S’mores
- Cookies
- Peppermint bark
- Your own Disney World gingerbread house kit and so much more!
You can also participate in gingerbread house decorating demonstrations each day here from December 1st until the 25th (suspended in 2021…final details for 2022 pending).
Grand Floridian Gingerbread House Menu
- Gingerbread Mickeys and Shingles
- Stollen Bread
- Brownie Christmas Tree
- Chocolate Peppermint Bark
- House-made Gingerbread Ornaments and Gingerbread Houses
- Gingerbread Latte Whoopie Pie (NEW)
- Hot Cocoa Bombs (NEW)
- Assorted Gingerbread Cookie Bags
- Marshmallow Pops
- Caramel Pecan Fudge Bar
- Gluten-friendly, plant-based, and no sugar added treats
- Grand Floridian Combo Box
Hipster Power Tip: If you only want the gingerbread house shingle and the line is too long at the shop, you can visit the Grand Floridian store adjacent to the house to pick up your own shingle with a less wait time.
How long does the gingerbread house stay up at the Grand Floridian?
This Grand Floridian display is usually up from early November to early January. The 2022 date starts on November 9th and will run through the holiday season.
You can view it anytime during that time period, but if you want any of the sweet treats, you’ll have to visit the shop inside the house from 9:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. each day.
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What happens to the Disney Gingerbread House?
Each year, Cast Members remove all the gingerbread from the house to the Disney Tree Farm to rinse the sugar off.
After it has been thoroughly rinsed, the sugar that comes off is left to feed the bees who’ll go on to pollinate the local flowers and produce honey for us as well.
2. Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Are you ready to check out a Disney-inspired gingerbread carousel that spins?!?
The Little Mermaid-themed majestic horses are all decorated and hand-painted with chocolate, sugar and fondant in this scrumptious classic carousel.
You will get to see all of the famous characters from this Disney movie all made from gingerbread inside Disney’s Beach Club Resort.
Disney Gingerbread Carousel Ingredients:
- 100 pounds of honey
- 300 pounds of breadflour
- 100 pounds of eggs
- 10 pounds of spices
- 100 pounds of icing
- 10 pounds of simple syrup
- 10 quarts of egg whites
- 100 pounds of confectioner’s sugar
- 50 pound of dark chocolate
- 200 gum paste flowers
- 50 pounds of modeling chocolate
This holiday carousel has been around at Disney’s Beach Club Resort since 1999 and it still spins with all decorations completely edible!
While you’re there be sure to find all 20 Hidden Mickeys.
Gingerbread House Menu at Disney Beach Club Resort
- Signature Stollen Bread
- Candied Pecans (Plant-based)
- Trio of Fudge
- Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Snowman
- Crispy Rice Treat
- Chocolate Mickey Cookie (New)
- Peppermint Bark
- Gingerbread Shingle
- Chocolate Gingerbread Cookie (Gluten-Friendly)
- Gingerbread Cookie (Gluten-Friendly)
How long does the gingerbread house stay up at Disney’s Beach Club?
This Beach Club Resort display will be up from early November 2022 to early January 2022 (final details pending).
Since you’ll be visiting the Beach Club Resort, don’t forget to stop by the Yacht Club lobby area and check out the charming little holiday village display that also features a miniature train.
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3. EPCOT’s Gingerbread House in The American Adventure Rotunda
Here you’ll get to see the recreated the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and The American Adventure building in miniature gingerbread versions.
You’ll also be able to see The American Adventure building with Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue and a Festival Kiosk as a display.
How long does the gingerbread house stay up at Epcot?
The American-inspired display at EPCOT will be up from November 25th to December 30th 2022.
4. Disney’s Contemporary Resort Gingerbread House
Disney’s Contemporary Resort gingerbread display is back!
The Contemporary Resort had been home to some fun gingerbread houses in the past such as the Frozen-inspired one from a few years ago.
There were also years where there was an 18-ft Cinderella Castle with an “it’s a small world” backdrop.
It was made from more than 5,000 gingerbread shingles, 47 pounds of rolled fondant, 38 pounds of modeling chocolate and so much more!
Contemporary Resort Gingerbread Menu
- 50th Anniversary Gingerbread Castle Brick (New)
- 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
- Gluten-friendly 5-Legged Goat Sugar Cookie (New)
- Dark Chocolate Peppermint Holiday Bar (New)
- Hot Cocoa Bombs (New)
- 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
What’s NEW this year for Disney Contemporary Resort?
This year the Cinderella Gingerbread Castle is a Mary Blair-inspired castle designed by Walt Disney Imagineers and has 11 hidden 5-legged goats!
How long does the gingerbread house stay up at the Contemporary Resort?
Since this is the 11th year, the gingerbread team debuted this years’ display on November 11, 2022 at 11 a.m. It will be available to view throughout the holiday season.
5. Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Resort Gingerbread House
The BoardWalk Inn Resort was another one of my favorite Walt Disney World Resort hotels to visit during the holidays.
Not only was their gingerbread display stunning, the whole resort takes on a life of its own for the holidays.
In previous years, the gingerbread display brought the Disney boardwalk right inside the lobby with a miniature presentation of this family location on property. There were also 25 Hidden Mickeys too!
So, be sure to walk around the board walk area to see more holiday decorations outside. It’s just so magical.
Plus, you can watch the Epcot fireworks show from the boardwalk for free!
Disney Boardwalk Inn Gingerbread Menu:
- Mickey and Minnie Sugar Cookies
- BoardWalk Mickey Sugar Cookie (New)
- Giant Gingerbread Mickey Cookie (New)
- Gluten-Friendly & Plant-based Gingerbread Mickey Cookie
- Artisan Peppermint Marshmallows (New)
- Carnival Bark (New)
- Gingerbread Frost Cocktail
How long does the gingerbread house stay up at the Disney’s Boardwalk Inn?
You’ll be able to enjoy this display from November 17, 2022 through the holiday season!
6. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
From November 26th of 2022, you’ll be able to check out an adorable gingerbread display in the African-inspired resort.
This year, Disney will display life-sized Baby Gingerbread Giraffe and Baby Zebra for you to gush over in the Jumbo House Lobby.
You’ll also have an opportunity to purchase a Gingeraffe Cookie on December 6th!
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Gingerbread Inspired Treats throughout Walt Disney World Resort
This year, you can spice up your holiday season with the Gingerbread Martini.
Disney has combined Absolut Elyx Vodka, Rumchata Cream Liqueur, and gingerbread spice featuring a rim of gingerbread (freshly baked of course) for your pleasure!
You can find this Disney holiday Gingerbread drink at the:
- Grand Floridian Café (Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa)
- Cítricos (Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa)
- Enchanted Rose (Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa)
- Boma: Flavors of Africa (Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge)
- Sanaa (Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge)
- Chef Mickey’s (Disney’s Contemporary Resort)
- Outer Rim (Disney’s Contemporary Resort)
- Dinner at Cape May Café (Disney’s Beach Club Resort)
Hipster Power Tip: Be sure to use #DisneyEats when sharing your photos on social media!
National Gingerbread House Day (December 12th)
Just in case you want to make your holiday touring at Disney special, you should think about doing the Disney World gingerbread house excursion on the national holiday.
Yep, there’s a National Gingerbread House Day that occurs each year on December 12th.
Once you’ve done your enchanted adventure through the seasonal displays across the Disney resort, be sure to go home or back to your hotel room and finish the day off by creating your own gingerbread house.
Disney Gingerbread House Gift Ideas
Did all this talk about gingerbread houses get your mouthwatering yet? If not, here are some cool merchandise ideas that you can look at to jumpstart your festive collection.
So, don’t forget to grab a few Disney Gingerbread inspired Christmas gifts below.
Disney World Gingerbread Ears from Amazon
Definitely treat yourself this holiday season with a pair of Disney Christmas Ears inspired by this sweet Christmas treat!
Disney Gingerbread House Kit
Just in case you can’t make it out to the Disney resorts this year in hopes of grabbing a piece of the gingerbread displays, why not make your own at home.
If you’re a novice like me, then you’ll want to start out with a beginner’s gingerbread house kit that you can get from Amazon.
Disney Mickey and Minnie Mouse Gingerbread Holiday
This is a cute holiday gift to treat yourself with or to give to someone special to you for the holidays who love bother gingerbread-themed items and Disney.
In case this Disney Pin is no longer available, check the shopDisney website for the Disney Gingerbread Houses Mystery Pin Blind Pack that is absolutely INCREDIBLE!
Get all of your Disney gingerbread house inspired merchandise here on shopDisney!
My Final Thoughts on the Disney World Gingerbread Houses
As you can see, there’s so much to at Walt Disney World for the Christmas season. Enjoying the beautiful gingerbread houses is just one feature of all the holiday happenings that occur each year.
Remember that you can do this tour for free is you know how to do it the right way!
You can read how with this article, Perfect Disney Resort Christmas Decorations Tour.
Have you ever seen any of the Disney gingerbread houses? If so, let us know in the comments section below.
If you enjoyed this article, then you’ll love these:
- Holidays Around the World at Epcot: FULL GUIDE
- 10 EASY Tips for Doing Christmas at Disney World
- How to Celebrate Christmas at Universal Orlando Resort
- Christmas Town at Busch Gardens: COMPLETE GUID
- SeaWorld Christmas Celebration: A HOLIDAY MUST-DO EVENT!
- Epcot Candlelight Processional: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Read the Disney Vacation Planning Guide for your next dream trip!
Until next time, Happy Holidays Hipsters!
NikkyJ
(Original Article Date: December 17, 2014/Updated November 14, 2022)