While the weather outside is currently hot and humid, it won’t be long before the summer days fade, Halloween flies past like a witch on a broomstick, and we enter the festive season. In fact, there are only 22 Saturdays before Christmas, which means there are only 15 weeks until Walt Disney World begins its most magical time of the year and starts its holiday celebrations.
So, while it’s too early to start roasting chestnuts on the open fire, it’s NEVER too early to start talking about my favorite holiday snack – gingerbread, and all the ways it’s featured at WDW.
Cookies and Beverages:
During the festive season gingerbread cookies can be found in multiple bakeries, booths, and restaurants. From ones that are Mickey-shaped with the ears dipped in chocolate, to gluten-free options and more, there tends to always be a gingerbread snack close by.
For guests attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, one of the cookie stations will have a gingerbread cookie.
In EPCOT, as part of the Festival of the Holidays, some booths offer gingerbread cookies, milkshakes, and last year, the American Adventure even had a gingerbread funnel cake.
Your sweet tooth cravings are sure to be satisfied with the array of gingerbread-themed snacks that can be found in the parks, resorts, and Disney Springs.
Scents:
In 2024, one of the featured scents in the Festive Fragrances area of Epcot was Ginger Cookie Crunch, and it smelled scrumptious!
With gingerbread being synonymous with the holidays, I’m hopeful that this sweet aroma will return to fill the air in 2025.
Pins and Merch:
From gingerbread style pins to plush versions of our favorite characters with their own plush gingerbread treat, gingerbread-themed merchandise can be found throughout WDW during the holiday season.
Adorable Dancing Gingerbread Characters:
If you’re looking to snap a photo with life-size gingerbread characters or see them dancing in a parade, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party should be on your not-to-be-missed list.
Having the chance to pose for a photo with them makes for an adorable picture that you can use for a holiday card or frame and display as part of your holiday decorations.
Speaking of decorations, let’s jump to my absolute favorite gingerbread experiences at WDW during the holidays, and those are the gingerbread displays!
Be it a House, Carousel, or Castle – These Sweets Make Decadent Displays:
For years, guests have hopped from one resort to the next to see gingerbread displays constructed by phenomenally talented Cast Members. Arguably, the most famous one is the life-size gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian.
In 2024, it celebrated its 25th anniversary, and while it continues to draw large crowds, a change is happening for this year. The iconic Grand Floridian Gingerbread House will not be part of the 2025 holiday season.
The ongoing lobby refurbishment at Disney’s Grand Floridian is expected to extend into late November, which overlaps with when the house would be constructed and on display for guests. As a result, the house will not be occurring this year. But I DO believe that we’ll see other gingerbread displays at the resort. Disney has not confirmed, but my guess is that we’ll see smaller versions of houses throughout the resort, similar to the Grand Floridian’s Easter Egg display.
While I look forward to the return of the life-size gingerbread house in 2026, there’s still plenty of gorgeous gingerbread displays to see at other resorts such as the gingerbread carousel at Disney’s Beach Club Resort and the gingerbread boardwalk at Disney’s Boardwalk.
The carousel takes up the main section of Beach Club’s lobby and is a spectacular sight to see with the horses rotating!
So, there you have it. While we’re still technically months away from mistletoe, we’ve already gotten a jump on our festive planning by unwrapping all of the sweet spots to find gingerbread treats. Be it a cookie or a carousel, there’ll be plenty of sugar, spice, and everything nice to look forward to this festive season.
~Kelly