Each year, the elaborate gingerbread creations get bigger and better at Walt Disney World theme parks and resorts. From a 3-foot-tall replica of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall in Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom Park to the life-sized gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, it takes a multitude of dedicated pastry chefs to build each design.
Be sure not to miss the video at Disney Parks Blog. It showcases this year’s new creation at Disney’s BoardWalk, a sweet replica of a Jersey Shore Boardwalk concession stand. By the numbers, it’s 674 gingerbread shingles, 420 marshmallows for marquee lights and 90 pounds of saltwater taffy for the wreaths.
The handiwork starts with a concept and scale drawing, then it takes some serious teamwork to construct the gingerbread designs on stage in front of guests. Most of the displays have delicious sweets for sale, and activities like gingerbread decorating. Here’s where you’ll find other fab holiday treats through January 2, 2014:
A 17-foot gingerbread holiday tree in the Grand Canyon Concourse of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, made with 136 pounds of honey, 211 pounds of flour, 101 eggs and 151 pounds of chocolate!
A life-size, spinning carousel in the lobby of Disney’s Beach Club Resort has ponies made of chocolate fondant and hand-painted chocolate Disney characters – made with 50 pounds of dark chocolate, 100 pounds of confectioners’ sugar and 10 quarts of simple syrup. The lobby at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort features a holiday village with a miniature train surrounded with a sugar rock mountains.
At Epcot, the promenade at The American Adventure is home to Mrs. Claus’ Bake Shop with freshly baked gingerbread, sugar and chocolate cookies, peppermint bark, hot cocoa and ciders.
Also at Epcot, The Land Pavilion showcases gingerbread creations representing icons from Disney parks and resorts around the world.