food IS a theme park
We love exploring all the Walt Disney World resorts that set up lively Christmas and Gingerbread displays during the holiday season. A favorite every year is in the lobby of the BoardWalk Inn.
BoardWalk Inn Gingerbread Display
On this visit, we had our sights set on one thing: HOLIDAY TREATS!
Sleigh bells ring, are yah listenin’?
Saratoga Springs Resort — A Disney Vacation Club Resort
We’ve had so much fun spotting all of the different gingerbread displays tucked around Disney World. What’ve we found so far? A whole gingerbread lineup including supersized displays like the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House, the Beach Club Gingerbread Carousel, the Contemporary Gingerbread Castle, and the new Wilderness Lodge Gingerbread Cabin. Well today, we spotted a smaller display at Saratoga Springs that is still super impressive!
It may be Halloween, but we saw a sure sign of Christmas today! The Contemporary Resort’s Gingerbread Castle in Disney World is going up!
Hello from the Contemporary
We can see the Castle, is in its “new” home for the second year in a row by the windows on the fourth floor. There it is — peeking out from between the Contemporary shops on the Grand Canyon Concourse!
We all love decking the halls for the holidays (okay, maybe not all of us… but many of us!). But taking all the decorations down? Admittedly, it’s nowhere near as fun. But none of us are alone. The decorations have to come down at Disney World, too. And every year, one of the first things to come down is the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House.
2017 Grand Floridian Gingerbread House
Yep, while many of the Christmas trees and wreaths stick around for a few days into the New Year, the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House’s last day of operation is January 1st. So what happens when the Gingerbread House is taken down?
One of my favorite parts of this time of year is seeing all of the Gingerbread House Displays at the Disney World Resort Hotels! Better yet, I love spying all of the new festive sweets available at the displays. And this year, The Boardwalk Inn is hosting not only an updated display, but a few new treats as well… .
For the past few years, the BoardWalk Inn has returned to celebrating its turn-of-the-century Atlantic seashore theme with its gingerbread display.
Ginger’s Bread and Cookie Shoppe
For 2015, the simultaneous display and shop (a la the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House) has been reimagined as Ginger’s Bread and Cookie Shoppe. [Read more…]
Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Season’s Greetings!
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, and if you’re bound for Walt Disney World, it’s even better.
That’s because there is no more festive spot on earth to celebrate all of the heartwarming fun of the the season.
And we don’t want you to miss out on any of the top attractions. So let’s take a look our list of the 25 Must-do Disney Holiday Events — and Eats! — to celebrate this season at Walt Disney World! [Read more…]
Once again, visions of gingerbread houses will become reality at select Walt Disney World resort hotels!
Gingerbread Mickey Cookie
The holiday season is underway as Mickey and his elves (and some talented chefs!) get busy filling the resorts and parks with seasonal decor, merchandise, and treats. Plan to stop by the resorts to see the displays, purchase a pin, and/or meet one of the fabulous chefs!
And how cool is it that the Contemporary’s NEW gingerbread display showcases characters from Disney’s popular film, “Frozen” in the artistic style of Disney Legend Mary Blair! We reported on all the details last week. Check out all the details (including festive treats!!) on the Frozen Gingerbread Display here.
Frozen Gingerbread Display
The impressive gingerbread house churns out baked goods made from a classic Austrian recipe. Holiday treats for sale include cookies, shingles,ornaments, and houses — all made from gingerbread. Other freshly made items include Stollen Bread, chocolate peppermint bark, and truffles. Gingerbread decorating tips are given in free demonstrations! Opening date: November 23, 2014.
Life-size!
After 400 hours of baking, the chefs spent 160 hours decorating the house. This unique 80 square feet of retail space is 16 feet high by 17 feet wide and constructed with 1,000 board feet of trim, 60 sheets of plywood, 40 window panes, 100 square feet of display, and 10,000 pieces of gingerbread used.
Looking Down on the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House
The immense amount of gingerbread was made with 700 lbs. of chocolate, 1,050 lbs. honey, 600 lbs. powdered sugar, 35 lbs. spices, 800 lbs. flour, 140 pints egg whites. and 180 lbs. apricot glaze. Wow!
Inside the gorgeous lobby of the BoardWalk Inn, the Sweet Treats gingerbread display conjures visions of a Jersey Shore concession stand. We love the whimsical decor!
Gingerbread Shingle from Disney’s BoardWalk
Once again, a life-size carousel will be the centerpiece of the Beach Club’s lobby. Look for the seven Hidden Mickeys! Take home treats including small gingerbread kits will be available for purchase at the Beach Club Marketplace. Watch for inspiring demonstrations by pastry chefs. Opening date: November 25, 2014.
Carousel Horse at Disney’s Beach Club
Think your holiday baking list is long? It took [Read more…]
This must be Contemporary Resort week at DFB, ’cause we’re back at the chic-meets-retro hotel again today! The holiday season is upon us at Walt Disney World! And, as you may know from an earlier post, one of the ways the season makes its presence known throughout Disney World is through some amazing gingerbread creations!
Contemporary Resort Gingerbread Tree
At Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the fabulous smell of spiced gingerbread wafts from this 17-foot tall, 6-foot wide Gingerbread Tree.
Gingerbread Tree Ingredient List
The good news is that you can enjoy more than just the fragrance… the Contemporary Resort’s gingerbread display offers plenty of festive snacks available for purchase as well.
Snacks available for purchase
It seems to me these treats change at least a bit every year, and part of the fun is seeing what’s new. This year’s selection didn’t disappoint!
Let’s start with the most fun (and unique) addition to the line-up. This year’s assortment of snacks includes a Five Legged Goat Krispy Treat!
Five Legged Goat Krispy Treat
Perhaps you are unfamiliar with our five-legged friend… if so, don’t worry. You haven’t spent your life missing out on a yuletide tale of yore featuring a five legged goat ;). No, this fellow is [Read more…]
Once again, visions of gingerbread houses will become reality at select Walt Disney World resort hotels!
The holiday season is underway as Mickey and his elves (and some talented chefs!) get busy filling the resorts and parks with seasonal decor, merchandise, and treats. Plan to stop by the resorts to see the displays, purchase a pin, and/or meet one of the fabulous chefs!
Life-size!
To commemorate the inspiring gingerbread houses, NEW limited edition pins will be released. Starting November 14, 2013, gingerbread house pins will go on sale at the Contemporary, Beach Club, and Grand Floridian resorts. Disney’s BoardWalk pin will debut on November 29th.
Grand Floridian Gingerbread House
So which came first? The gingerbread or the pin? Well, Jeanne Lewis (Disney pins merchandiser) explained how the Disney pastry chefs studied the pins in order to select characters to incorporate into their designs!
The Grand Floridian’s pin celebrates the 15th anniversary of their unique gingerbread house. Meet executive chef Erich Herbitschek on November 16 from 1-2PM near the Grand Floridian gingerbread house.
Grand Floridian 2013 Gingerbread House Pin
And how cool is it that the Contemporary’s pin showcases the five-legged goat from Disney Legend Mary Blair’s mural. Five-legged goat, you ask?! You’ll want to look for it on your next visit to the Grand Canyon Concourse at this Disney resort! On November 15, meet pastry chef Jeff Barnes at Disney’s Contemporary Resort from 5-7 PM.
Contemporary Resort Gingerbread Tree
Contemporary and Beach Club 2013 Gingerbread House Pins
Stop by the Beach Club on November 18 to meet pastry chef Deran Lanpher from 1-2:30PM and to see the creative gingerbread displays.
Beach Club Carousel from Above
Disney’s BoardWalk is unveiling a new [Read more…]
Gluhwein in Epcot's Germany
We’re in Walt Disney World this weekend eating lots of good stuff and capturing tons of great photos to share with you as you plan your upcoming Disney trips, including a new caramel apple margarita, an ice cream cookie sandwich filled with pumpkin ice cream, and even a caramel-fudge-cookie sundae that only costs one Disney Dining Plan snack credit!
Speaking of upcoming trips, here’s a bit of Disney food news to keep you in the loop!
Want more news? Stop by our Disney Food News Pin Board, where Disney Food News is updated on a regular basis!
And don’t forget to follow along on our 2011 Holiday Dining page!
Our popular Disney Food Blog Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, DFB Mini-Guide to Magic Kingdom Snacks, and new DFB Dining Adventures e-Books have been very popular, and now there’s a way for you to give them as gifts to your friends and family!
Using our new Disney Food Blog e-Book Gift Certificates, you can instantly give all of this great dining info and advice to your favorite Disney fan, and it’s EASY! Get all of the details — and great holiday discounts — at http://dfbguide.com/giftcertificates!
Don’t let your friends and family go to Disney World unprepared. Get a DFB Gift Certificate for your favorite Disney fan today!
WDW For Grown-Ups
takes a look at Adult-Friendly Character Meals! Great idea!!
WESH.com names Top 5 Holiday Food Picks at Walt Disney World — written by yours truly!
Goofy at Cape May Cafe -- an Adult-Friendly character meal!
Daveland Blog reminisces about a long-lost Disneyland coffee shop.
DisMarks has another great Disney Blog Carnival this week with lots of fun Disney food articles!
Stuff from the Park travels back in time to take a look at a 1970s menu from the American Egg House at Disneyland.
MiceChat.com reviews dining with diabetes aboard the Disney Dream.
BabyCakes NYC Blog shares the news that Downtown Disney’s Babycakes Bakery will now fulfill vegan and gluten-free cake orders for Disney World resort guests!
Main St. Gazette checks out the scene at Epcot’s Sommerfest! Happy Birthday, Ryan!!
Disney Weddings Blog highlights a new trend — mashed potato bars!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
