Disney’s Grand Floridian Gingerbread House Now Open for 2021 Season (Photos)
Hi everyone!
Disney’s Grand Floridian Gingerbread House is now open for the 2021 season! Since 1999, this has been a guest favorite holiday display. This year, the life-sized gingerbread house is themed to Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. We did share a preview of it last week but now the house is open from 9:30am – 9:00pm daily through January 1st, 2022! Here is a look at Disney’s Grand Floridian Gingerbread House on opening day.
The gingerbread house is located in the lobby, near the Garden View Tea Room. It is impossible to miss. Chef Kristine Farmer has continued this holiday tradition since Chef Erich Herbitschek retired in 2018. She has put her own personal touches on the house and holiday treats, as well as other treats and desserts you’ll find at the resort (and the Grand Floridian Easter Egg display). She started with Disney in 1988!
The theme this year is The World’s Most Magical Celebration and the house has a lot of gold, blues and EARidescent flourishes. Instead of red poinsettias, the plants are even blue.
A “50” hangs over where guests will purchase treats. The cash registers were not working yesterday so sales were outside of the house.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Gingerbread House was not displayed in 2020 but has otherwise been in the lobby each season since 1999.
A sign talks about what needs to be done for the gingerbread house to be created. I think the baking starts around July, it’s a lengthy process.
We had our first look at the menu last week on the digital display. There are a lot of returning favorites including the Gingerbread Shingle with Dark Chocolate (my favorite item) and the Peppermint Bark. New this year are 50th Anniversary items and the Gingerbread Spiced Caramel Corn.
The ingredients include 1050 pounds of honey, 140 pints of egg whites, 600 pounds of powdered sugar, 700 pounds of chocolate, 800 pounds of flour, 35 pounds of spices and lots of creativity, Disney Magic and Pixie Dust!
The windows always include various characters and this year Pooh, Piglet and Tigger are part of the design. Most of the character designs include some blue (Pooh is wearing a blue hat and scarf here). EARidescent garland is above the character art.
Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen are in this window.
Prince Naveen as a frog wears a blue Santa hat.
Mickey and Minnie are wearing their blue winter outfits.
Anna is with Olaf.
Mickey as Santa sits in a blue sleigh with Pluto as a reindeer.
Bambi is the last design.
The decorative candy canes this year are gold.
The chocolate Santa wears a blue suit.
Near him are gingerbread hearts in the design of the house and a village below him.
Gingerbread ornaments hang from the house. These are for sale and celebrate Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary.
There are hidden Mickeys in the house.
A decorative soldier includes some blue flourishes in his hat.
There are Nutcrackers, Santas, deer and more on the house.
A snowman can be seen.
The village is part of the house each year.
A case showcases some of the treats for sale. The Signature Stollen is also a favorite of mine and I buy that as gifts each year – it freezes well. The Gingerbread Shingle with Dark Chocolate is up front. We usually buy a couple of those each year too.
This is a closer look at a gingerbread ornament.
The treats come in a wide range of items and prices.
The Signature Stollen is in a holiday box with GF on it for Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
Chocolate pops say “Happy Holidays”.
The second floor gives a different view.
There is a 50th Anniversary welcome mat.
Some details that are harder to see from ground level can be seen from above.
If you are at Walt Disney World between now and January 1st, 2022, be sure to make your way to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort to see this annual display.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Gingerbread House is one of my favorite yearly holiday traditions!
Not all the gingerbread displays will be up this year around Walt Disney World in 2021. Disney’s Beach Club Gingerbread Carousel is themed to “The Little Mermaid” in 2021 and has been out since November 1st.