Disney Imagineers designed a 25-Foot wide Mary Blair-inspired 100th Celebration-themed Gingerbread Castle

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2023 Gingerbread Display at Disney's Contemporary Resort

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Posted: Friday November 17, 2023 6:45am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney's Contemporary Resort gingerbread display is back for its 12th year at Walt Disney World.

2023 Gingerbread Display at Disney's Contemporary Resort

Found on the fourth floor of the resort from November 10 through January 6, 2024, this year's Mary Blair-inspired 100th Celebration-themed Castle Display was designed by Walt Disney Imagineers.

2023 Gingerbread Display at Disney's Contemporary Resort

It stands over 17 feet tall and is 25 feet wide, taking 12 days to assemble by 40 cast members led by pastry chef Jeff Barnes.

2023 Gingerbread Display at Disney's Contemporary Resort

The display comprises 612 pounds of sugar, 1012 pounds of flour, 512 eggs, 439 jars of honey, 112 pounds of gingerbread spice, over 4000 castle gingerbread bricks, and 12 sprinklings of magical pixie dust.

If you look closely, there are even 12 hidden Mickey's and one hidden 5-legged goat.

Disney's Contemporary Resort Gingerbread Display Menu

2023 Gingerbread Display at Disney's Contemporary Resort

For those wanting a sweet treat, the following will also be available for purchase:

Gingerbread Castle Brick
Paint Your Own Cookie Box
Hot Chocolate Caramel Fudge
Chocolate Peppermint Cookie
Pistachio Linzer Cookie
5-Legged Goat Cookie
Gluten/Wheat Friendly Gingerbread Cookie
Gingerbread Latte Cupcake
Christmas Tree Butter Cookie
Frozen Hot Chocolate (Also available with Peppermint Schnapps)
Frozen Apple Cider (Also available with Fireball Cinnamon Whisky floater)

More photos of the 2023 Gingerbread display and treats at Disney's Contemporary Resort.

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BrianMar 30, 2024

I would also like to see snowcapped turrets and a little garland worked in. But I'll certainly take the OG Dreamlights back. It's really so stunning in person.

yensidtlaw1969Mar 30, 2024

Oh I agree that projections are insufficient. I just think the Dreamlights weren't quite all that, even at their best. I would also be plenty thrilled with a winter overlay that's closer in line with what Disneyland does. Of course their castle is much smaller and easier to decorate in this way, but the snow-capped roofs make such a tremendous positive difference in both the daytime and nighttime look (their icicles could use some work though, they don't look so hot during the day)

wdwmagicMar 30, 2024

They did get pretty quick at the install in later years, and it was a true wow moment for guests when lit. Projections don't come close.

MisterPenguinMar 29, 2024

Everything's an LED!! Everything's an LED!!

bmr1591Mar 29, 2024

Putting a ton of LEDs in the walls of the castle would make perfect dreamlights, not be an eyesore during the day, and let them be used for other shows.

aladdin2007Mar 29, 2024

Just me but I would rather them restore the castle back to its original colors instead of covering it in lights.....granted the lights are seasonal...but just saying in terms of money being spent...........I guess though it will be eons before we ever see it happen. :rolleyes:

mattpetoMar 29, 2024

They need to do something to bolster their Christmas offerings. And Halloween. Really surprised Villains didn’t make it back, they went with Enchantment for an AH draw instead.

yensidtlaw1969Mar 29, 2024

This may be an unpopular opinion, but the Dreamlights never quite earned their keep for me. They take forever to install, muck up the face of the castle during the day, and look kind of cool at night but not as sophisticated as I think they should. I wish they'd just find a way to run Fiber Optics all over the castle, take a season to install them properly, and then keep them permanently to be used mainly just at Christmas Time. Maybe an occasional punctuating moment of magic in a Fireworks show or the Kiss Goodnight. Something that you wouldn't know was there unless you really looked for it, but could still make the castle sparkle on command.

CntrlFlPeteMar 29, 2024

I assume they would just projection map the castle these days. about six weeks of people complaining that a crane ruined their once in a lifetime trip ;)