By Nicole Nalty
There’s no place like home for the holidays…but a visit to the Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resorts is a close second! If you’re heading on a Disney vacation this holiday season, it will be hard to miss all of the delightful décor––but make sure you keep an eye out for these sweet houses. Here are a few of our favorites:
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
This house takes inspiration from the hotel’s namesake––the truly grand gingerbread house stands at 16 feet high and uses 1,050 pounds of honey and 800 pounds of flour. Not to mention the 400 hours it takes just to bake the gingerbread! Stop by any day (excluding Sundays) to see gingerbread house decorating demonstrations in the lobby.
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Speaking of grand, over in California you’ll find another grand home––modeled after Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa itself––inside the lobby. At seven feet tall and 12 feet wide, look for details like the Grand Californian Hotel’s iconic stained-glass sliding doors on this “Grand” Gingerbread House.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Hop off the monorail in the Grand Canyon Concourse and make your way over to this Frozen-inspired gingerbread holiday castle. Disney fans will notice the design style as an homage to Disney Legend Mary Blair, whose mural towers high above this seasonal sweet. There are 16 hidden Olafs in this castle––can you find them all?
Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland Park
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention this happy haunt…Celebrating its 15th year, this year’s Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house celebrates Sally’s arrival. The house, made by stitching together different gingerbread houses and treats to create one frightful delight, contains 200 pounds of gingerbread, 200 pounds of powdered sugar, and 1/3 pound of glitter.
Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts
Our final entry technically isn’t a house, but it’s so impressive we just had to include it! The beach may not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Christmas, but this almost unbelievable gingerbread creation may change your mind. Made with 36 pounds of honey, 96 pounds of floor, 100 pounds of icing, this Holiday Carousel is so realistic––and it actually spins! Hidden character hunters should be on the lookout for 17 hidden Mickeys.