One of the most cherished holiday traditions at Walt Disney World is the annual tour of the resort hotels to see the magnificent gingerbread displays. These elaborate, edible creations are crafted by Disney’s talented pastry teams and draw thousands of visitors each year. For many, a trip to see these fragrant, larger-than-life displays has become as much a part of the holiday experience as visiting the theme parks. For the 2025 season, Disney has announced the lineup of resorts that will host these festive works of art, which will be on display through January 1, 2026.
2025 Gingerbread Display Locations
Guests looking to embark on a self-guided gingerbread tour can find these impressive displays at five select Walt Disney World resort hotels this year. Each location typically features a unique theme and design, making it worthwhile to visit more than one. The official locations for the 2025 holiday season are:
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, which traditionally hosts one of the most famous life-sized gingerbread houses, will not have a display this year due to the ongoing, extensive refurbishment of its main lobby. The display is expected to return in a future holiday season once the construction is complete.
What to Expect at Each Location
While the specific themes for 2025 have not all been officially announced, we can look at past displays to get an idea of what each resort’s pastry team might create.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
In recent years, the Contemporary Resort has featured a grand gingerbread castle. Last year, the display was a beautiful recreation of Cinderella Castle, complete with the beloved “Dream Lights” effect, all rendered in gingerbread and icing. It often incorporates design elements inspired by the artist Mary Blair, whose iconic mural is a centerpiece of the resort. This location is easily accessible via the monorail or a short walk from Magic Kingdom.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
The display at Disney’s Beach Club Resort is consistently a fan favorite: a life-sized, spinning carousel made almost entirely of edible ingredients. Each year, the carousel features a different theme. In 2024, the theme was “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” with horses and characters from the classic holiday special. The level of detail on this kinetic sculpture is always impressive, making it a must-see stop on the gingerbread trail.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
For the past few years, the lobby of Jambo House at Animal Kingdom Lodge has been home to a life-sized baby giraffe and zebra, affectionately named Ginger-affe and Debra. Last year, a new friend, Francisco the Flamingo, joined the gingerbread savanna. These displays wonderfully capture the spirit of the resort and offer fantastic photo opportunities.
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
The BoardWalk Inn’s gingerbread creation is typically a detailed, smaller-scale model of a location you might find along the real-life boardwalk. In previous years, this has included a gingerbread version of the BoardWalk Deli, complete with miniature treats in the bakery windows. This display is conveniently located for guests visiting EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
The gingerbread display at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is making a welcome return for the 2025 season after a multi-year hiatus. In 2019, the resort debuted a cozy gingerbread cabin that perfectly matched the rustic, national park theme of the lodge. Hopes are high that a similar design will make its return, bringing the warm, comforting scent of gingerbread back to the resort’s grand lobby.
Planning Your Gingerbread Tour
Visiting the Walt Disney World gingerbread displays is a festive and free activity that adds a special touch to any holiday trip. You do not need to be a guest at a particular resort to visit its lobby and see the display. Using Disney’s complimentary transportation, such as the monorail, buses, or Skyliner, is the easiest way to “resort hop” and see these culinary masterpieces. As the holiday season approaches, be sure to keep an eye out for the official debut of each display, as construction often begins in early to mid-November.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
