Wednesday

Disney Gingerbread House

Before Christmas, we went over to Disney World to spend the day with our granddaughter and her parents. We didn't go to the parks, but did go to the Grand Floridian Hotel to see the real gingerbread house!

This is the 13th year Disney has featured the gingerbread house, the first one was in 1999.
You could smell it as soon as you entered the large hotel!
Here we are with Elisabeth:

Employees are inside the gingerbread house and they sell gingerbread people, gingerbread "shingles," and a lot of other very expensive goodies. The gingerbread cookie was $4.25, about the cheapest item, except for a chocolate chip cookie for $3.00.
I must say, the gingerbread cookie was delicious, just a hint of ginger!
It takes the Grand Floridian cast more than two months and 840 hours of labor to produce, cut and bake the 5,089 "shingles" used to decorate the Gingerbread House.

You are never too old to enjoy seeing a real gingerbread house! Joe and I enjoyed the cookies too!


The beautiful Christmas tree at Grand Floridian Hotel!

You can't tell how huge these ornaments are
The swans are at least two-feet in diameter!


The grand staircase:

Outside Grand Floridian:


Have you ever seen one of the gingerbread houses? I wonder if they change the style from year to year?

Do you like gingerbread? I made some a few weeks ago (with a Betty Crocker mix!) I used to make it when my children were small. I always serve it with warm lemon sauce! Too bad I forgot to take pictures when I made it!

I'm linking to The Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday, click on her name for more!

Happy New Year!
Katherine

17 comments:

Ika Devita Susanti said...

Beautiful!! Wonderful tree! Wow.

Adrienne said...

I love that gingerbread house! I've always wanted to make one but nothing that size!! Sending wishes to you for a wonderful New Year that is filled with blessings beyond imagination.
~Adrienne~

Antiques And Teacups said...

O h my goodness! How fabulous!I love gingerbread houses! We used to do them annually with our kids when they were small...my son still remembers the year he did a gingerbread dog house for his dog! I have a photo somewhere...he was so proud! LOL! How fun to be close enough to visit such a fab place!
Ruth

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Katherine, belated Merry CHristmas wishes to you and all the best for the New Year!

Loved seeing your pictures of the Grand Floridian. I agree, it's so special at Christmas, and I loved seeing your pictures of all the sights.

My computer is finally up and running again, and I have been trying to do some visiting. Wanted to be sure and get by here to see you. I'm so glad I did!

Sending much love your way...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Marlis said...

So delighted you shared this with us.. Love that house.. May all your dreams come true in 2012. Happy New Year! xo marlis

Alison @ The Polohouse said...

Good evening Katherine,

I have never been to Disney at Christmas but I would imagine it is spectacular, as is everything they do!

What a treat to see this house. Oh my word! I love it! That IS a lot of baking. Hopefully no one was trying to nibble on it.

Thanks for sharing this decor at the Grand Floridian, always my most favorite of the Disney properties. Reminds me of the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego. Gorgeous.

xoxoxox
Happy New year!
Alison

P.S. Thanks again for putting my linky party button on your sidebar, Katherine.

parTea lady said...

The Grand Floridian gingerbread house is fantastic. I've never been to Disney World at Christmas. Did you have afternoon tea in the Garden View Lounge? Your photos are lovely.

Kathleen said...

That is amazing! I have always wanted to go back to Fl to stay in the Grand Floridian. My son and his family went last year. We always used to stay in the Polynesian years ago.
I like gingerbread if it isn't too spicy.
Happy 2012, K!

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Wow! It is huge! Seeing it in person has be an incredible feeling. The hotel is amazing! I would have felt like a kid. Thank you darling for coming by and always leaving such kind comments they always lift my spirits. May all your dreams come true in 2012 Happy New Year!
hugs ~lynne~

SmilingSally said...

Ah, my mom used to serve gingerbread cake with warm lemon sauce. Thanks for the memory.

Happy New Year, Katherine.

Chris said...

Hi Katherine, what a beautiful gingerbread house. What do they do with it after Christmas? Thanks so much for sharing your fun time. Happy New Year. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.com/

Debbie said...

You have just given me one more item for the wish list. Now, I really want to go to DW during the Christmas season. That looks awesome!

I love gingerbread. Unfortunately, every attempt to make gingerbread men for me has been an epic failure.

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh I do love gingerbread and make a house every year, nothing like this of course, lol.I just found you from a friends blog and so nice to meet you, beautiful photos and I love your header, Bless all who enter, best wishes from Canada, I'm your newest follower!

Carole Burant said...

Happy New Year to you and yours, dear Katherine! Christmas has finally been put away and I now have more time to concentrate on my blogging. I'm looking forward to some quiet days ahead:-)

Oh my goodness, I don't think I've ever seen such a huge gingerbread house, it's gorgeous!! It boggles the mind all the work involved in making it, let alone the tons of ingredients. I wonder if anyone has tried to snack on the house! lol That is so awesome that workers are actually inside selling gingerbread related items...such a shame, though, that the prices are so high. I love anything with gingerbread and it's one of my "must have" cookies I bake for Christmas every year:-)

Looking forward to another year of your delightful friendship!! xoxo

The Tablescaper said...

Thanks so much for the visit. I've never been to Disney at Christmas, and you've just brought us there.

Happy New Year!

- The Tablescaper

Marilyn Miller said...

Gorgeous tree, but that Gingerbread House is amazing! What a lovely thing to do.

Rettabug said...

How FUN! That is a spectacular display & I could kick myself for never getting over to Disney during the Christmas season to see it. Now it will cost me an arm & a leg to go!

Loved seeing the photo of you & your DH & granddaughter! You look marvelous, darlink!

Wishing you a HEALTHY New Year!
fondly,
Rett