Once the Halloween season passes, Disney trades in its spooky decor for cozier holiday decorations! And that means you can also trade in your mega bag of trick-or-treat candy for another sweet favorite, some gingerbread!

The holidays at Disney World include lots of exclusive seasonal faves for guests to look forward to. One of the traditions we look forward to every year is checking out all of the super elaborate gingerbread displays around Disney World. And as an extra bonus, you don’t even need a park ticket to see most of them! We’re going to explore these detailed architectural confections and let you know where you can find Mickey gingerbread during your visit.

Ready to go on a sweet stroll through each of the gingerbread displays coming to Disney World during the holiday season?

Well then, suit up and let’s get started!

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Gingerbread House

We’re starting off the list with what might just be the most iconic Disney World gingerbread display of all — the life-sized Grand Floridian Resort Gingerbread House!

If smelling alllll that delicious gingerbread is making you hungry, you’re in luck. This giant gingerbread house also serves as a shop that sells holiday treats!

If you’re on the hunt for a classic gingerbread house on a MASSIVE scale, be sure to add Grand Floridian Resort to your must-visit list this holiday season!

And in addition to a class Gingerbread Cookie man, they offer a ton of other gingerbread-inspired treats.

See More Photos And Video of the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House

Disney’s Beach Club Resort Gingerbread Carousel

If you’re looking for a unique gingerbread creation, you NEED to swing by Disney’s Beach Club Resort to see the Gingerbread Carousel this year! Speaking of unique, the design of the carousel changes each year, drawing inspiration from different Disney characters. In 2018, it featured horses themed to Donald Duck and Daisy Duck…

In 2019, we saw a Peter Pan theme. And in 2021, the horses were all inspired by characters from The Little Mermaid! And in 2022, the theme is Disney Princesses!! The carousel also has a treat shop where you can grab your favorite gingerbread snack!

This is another spot to not just smell and admire the gingerbread creations, but you can sample them, too!

Disney’s Contemporary Resort Gingerbread Castle

We’re hopping back on the Monorail loop for our next iconic gingerbread display. This year, the Gingerbread Castle has returned to Disney’s Contemporary Resort to add some holiday cheer to the hotel!

Like at other resorts, this display has included a treat stand nearby, so here’s yet another chance to satisfy those sweet cravings.

Who’s up for a gingerbread display Monorail crawl?? Here are some of the treats at this location:

Check Out Photos of the Gingerbread Castle Display and Read Our Review of The New Treats!

Disney’s BoardWalk Gingerbread Replica

While you’re in the neighborhood checking out the carousel at Beach Club, you may also want to swing by Disney’s BoardWalk Inn to see the return of the BoardWalk Gingerbread Replica! 

This creation features a gingerbread versions of the restaurants and scenery that line the BoardWalk. In 2022, we saw a re-creation of the BoardWalk Deli!

And you can munch on the spiced treat while you admire the bakers handy work!

Click Here to See Photos of the BoardWalk Gingerbread Display!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Gingerbread Giraffe

And yet another must-see holiday display to our list when Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge debuted their new Gingerbread Giraffe!

This sweet little guy makes his home in the lobby of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House for the holidays, and he’s joined by a life-sized gingerbread baby zebra, Debra, as well!

There are also gingeraffe cookies available for purchase. While you’re at Animal Kingdom Lodge, you may want to swing by Sanaa for a meal to spot some LIVE animals out on the savanna while you dine!

PHOTOS: Get a Closer Look at the Gingerbread Giraffe!

Bakeries & Confectioneries Around Disney Word

You don’t have to leave the parks to grab a festive gingerbread treat. Each holiday season, you can expect to find some version of the Mickey Gingerbread cookie at one of the park’s bakeries or confectioneries.

Like Trolley Car Cafe in Hollywood Studios, Main Street Confectionery or Big Top Treats in Magic Kingdom, Connections Cafe in EPCOT, or Zuri’s Sweet Shop in Animal Kingdom.

And don’t forget the OG Disney park, Disneyland, which also has all of its own gingerbread traditions and snacks!

Almost too cute to eat, but also too tasty to pass up!

Mickey Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

If you’re not able to make it to the parks during the holiday season to partake in the gingerbread schmorgase board, don’t abandon hope! With the help of D23, Disney special fan club, we’ve got the recipe so you can make your own Mickey Gingerbread Man cookies at home!

Ingredients

• 2 sticks softened butter
• 2 ½ cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted
• 2 eggs
• 1 ¼ tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. salt
• 3 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 ¼ teaspoons ground coriander
• 2 teaspoons ground star anise
• 1 teaspoon ground fennel
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground clove
• ¼ teaspoon ground mace

Ingredients for decorations optional

• ¼ cup milk
• 1 cup colored sugar granules

Directions

1. Cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until smooth using an electric mixer. Add the eggs and mix until combined.
2. Sift all the remaining dry ingredients in a separate large mixing bowl and mix well. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until a dough forms
3. Remove dough from the bowl and wrap in plastic wrap; place in refrigerator until firm, two to four hours.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease cookie sheets.
5. Remove dough from refrigerator and allow dough to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes, until pliable. Divide dough in half and place on floured work surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out until about 1/8 inch thick. While rolling, flour the work surface and rolling pin as needed.
6. Cut out desired cookie shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer cookies to a greased cookie sheet, placing them 1 inch apart.
7. Lightly brush cookies with milk and sprinkle with sugar granules as desired.
8. Bake until firm and edges begin to darken, 10-14 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for a minute, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Cook’s notes:
You can find star anise in the ethnic aisle in your local grocery store. To get the best flavor from this spice, you will need to grind the whole star anise pod. For the neatest edges, dip your cookie cutters in flour before cutting out each cookie.

And that’s where you can find Mickey Gingerbread Cookies, even when you AREN’T visiting  Disney park! Keep following DFB for more tips and the lowdown on great snacks and where to find them!

9 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays in Disney World WITHOUT A Park Ticket

Which Disney World gingerbread display is your favorite? Share with us in the comments!

The post Where To Find Mickey Mouse Gingerbread Man Cookies in Disney World (and the Recipe!) first appeared on the disney food blog.

Welcome to the video you’ve been wanting for a while now — the ULTIMATE GUIDE to Disney’s Deluxe Resorts (AKA the most EXPENSIVE hotels in Disney World).

Luxurious spa treatments, fine dining, private fireworks shows, and water parks in your backyard – it’s pretty nice, but is it worth the massive price tag?

Check out our video below: Ultimate Guide To Deluxe Resorts At Disney World

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And stay tuned for all of the latest Disney news!

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Have you stayed at a Deluxe Resort in Disney World? What did you think of it? Let us know in the comments below. 

The post DFB Video: The Ultimate Guide to Deluxe Resorts at Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.

The hotels at Disneyland are getting some major changes right now!

The Paradise Pier Hotel is being re-themed to become the Pixar Place Hotel, and over at the Disneyland Hotel, a brand-new Disney Vacation Club tower is being built! We got a first look at the new DVC villas, which are themed to Disney films like The Princess and the Frog, The Jungle Book, and Fantasia. If you want to reserve your spot at one of these new villas, you’ll need to know WHEN reservations open!

The Villas at Disneyland Hotel will open in September 2023, and DVC Members will get the first chance to book the new rooms. For DVC Members, reservations open on March 15th. They can book by calling Member Services at (800) 800-9800.

The next group that gets to make early reservations is Disneyland Resort Magic Key holders. If you have a Magic Key pass, you can book on March 16th by calling (714) 956-6425.

Finally, bookings will open to the public on March 17th. You can make your reservation online at Disneyland.com/VillasDisneylandHotel or by calling (714) 956-6425.

Disney notes that villas are limited in availability. Although the tower will have 12 stories of DVC villas, we can see these rooms filling up fast!

The tower will have duo studios, deluxe studios, and 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom villas. Each room is themed to a Disney film, with themes including The Jungle Book, The Princess and the Frog, Sleeping Beauty, Fantasia, and Bambi.

We’ll continue watching for more updates from Disney, so stay tuned for all the latest news.

Check out a FIRST LOOK at these villas here!

Are you planning to stay in one of these villas? Let us know in the comments.

The post Reservations Open SOON for the NEWEST Disney Hotel Rooms first appeared on the disney food blog.

Things are CHANGING at Disneyland!

Pacific Wharf is becoming San Fransokyo Square, the Paradise Pier Hotel is being rethemed, and a new DVC tower is being built at the Disneyland Hotel. We’ve been keeping an eye on construction, and now Disney has shared a first look at the new villas!

The Villas at Disneyland Hotel are currently under construction, and it will be the fourth tower at the hotel, “just steps from the Downtown Disney District.” Disney recently shared that The Villas would be opening in September this year — and we also got a first look at some of the rooms!

The tower will be 12 stories tall, and the spaces will “immerse you in discovering the creative storytelling process, bringing some of your favorite Disney stories to life like never before in a variety of themed accommodations.” What sort of themes? There will be a “duo studio” inspired by The Jungle Book…

…deluxe studios will sleep up to four and be themed after Sleeping Beauty and The Princess and the Frog…

…while one- and two-bedroom villas that sleep up to five or nine guests are themed to Fantasia and The Princess and the Frog. The villas include a washer and dryer, living area, and full-sized kitchen with all the cookware you need.

But, the Grand Villa is the fanciest of them all. This multi-level unit sleeps up to 12 guests, with a full-size kitchen, large dining area, and double-sided fireplace that connects the living area to a HUGE private outdoor balcony. The first floor is home to the primary suite inspired by Bambi.

The second floor features two bedrooms inspired by Frozen and Moana.

Reservations for the new DVC villas open up on March 15th for DVC Members and March 16th for Magic Key Holders. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news and more!

Learn About Disneyland’s Other Hotel Retheme Here

Will you be booking a stay at the new villas? Let us know in the comments!

The post FIRST LOOK at NEW DVC Villas Coming to the Disneyland Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog.

Disney World isn’t the only Disney resort getting a ton of changes and upgrades.

Disneyland is also seeing a LOT of new things happening, including a re-imagined ToonTown in Disneyland Park, new restaurants at Downtown Disney, and new villas at The Disneyland Hotel, known as The Villas at Disneyland Hotel. Now, we’ve now got a NEW update about that property — it will be opening SOON.

The new Disney Vacation Club tower at Disneyland Hotel will have 12 stories with 350 villas. There will also be a new pool, outdoor bar, interactive play area, fitness hall, and community hall. The rooms will have themes based on Disney movies, like The Jungle Book.

However, here’s the most important thing: The Villas at Disneyland Hotel are set to open in September 2023.

So we’re betting you’re ready to book one of these rooms, right? Well, reservations for The Villas at Disneyland Hotel will be available on March 15th for DVC members, who can book by contacting Member Services at (800) 800-9800. Disneyland Resort Magic Key holders will be able to make reservations on March 16th by calling (714) 956-6425.

Bookings will open to the public on March 17th, and you can reserve your spot by calling (714) 956-6425. So mark your calendars if you’re wanting to book one of these brand-new rooms!

Have you checked out the latest Disney-themed t-shirts in our store? Click here – you’ll want to pick some up before your next Disney trip!

A CHANGE Has Been Revealed for Disneyland’s Newest Ride

 

Will you be booking one of these new villas? Let us know in the comments!

The post OPENING TIMELINE Announced for NEW Rooms at the Disneyland Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog.

A meet-and-greet for Mirabel from “Encanto” will reportedly open later this year at Magic Kingdom.

WDWMagic said sources familiar with the project told them Mirabel would replace Merida in the Fairytale Garden across from Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe. The location would then likely be re-decorated with “Encanto” theming.

Disney has not officially announced the meet-and-greet but it would possibly open this fall.

Mirabel made her Walt Disney World debut as part of the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade in Magic Kingdom last year. She has been making recent test appearances in EPCOT.

Mirabel has made various meet-and-greet appearances at Disneyland Resort since November 2021.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post RUMOR: Mirabel to Replace Merida Meet-and-Greet at Magic Kingdom appeared first on WDW News Today.

We saw construction work all across Splash Mountain during our recent Magic Kingdom trip as the log flume attraction is turned into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

At the bottom of the ride’s drop, crew members have been working beneath the Frontierland bridge within the trough.

This area is also where we’ve seen holes cut into the rock façade.

Two crew members were standing on the track when we passed by.

They were next to the rockwork covered with a tarp where holes have been cut into it.

Scaffolding is within the tunnels and across the flume to act as a walkway for crew members.

While we were watching, they lifted the tarp to take a look at the holey rockwork. The holes were likely cut to give access to the attraction’s mechanical system.

We also saw crew members near the top of Splash Mountain.

They were pulling some of the fake grass down from the façade.

Scaffolding and blue scrim surround some of the ride’s more dangerous edges to keep crew members safe while working.

These crew members were in harnesses attached to the mountain.

On the ground, gardeners were working near the entrance to the attraction.

The garden work is likely just standard horticulture rather than related to the refurbishment.

Some Splash Mountain signage remains at the attraction entrance and in the queue.

We saw crew members sweeping up the queue sidewalks.

Birdhouses were removed from the queue and from a tree on the ride.

These doors were closed, but we could hear some loud construction work happening out of view.

Read our complete history of Splash Mountain and join us for “the last splash.”

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post PHOTOS: Crews Removing Grass From Splash Mountain Cliffs for Retheme as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom appeared first on WDW News Today.