Once the Halloween season passes, Disney trades in its spooky decor for cozier holiday decorations! And that means you can also trade in your mega bag of trick-or-treat candy for another sweet favorite, some gingerbread!

The holidays at Disney World include lots of exclusive seasonal faves for guests to look forward to. One of the traditions we look forward to every year is checking out all of the super elaborate gingerbread displays around Disney World. And as an extra bonus, you don’t even need a park ticket to see most of them! We’re going to explore these detailed architectural confections and let you know where you can find Mickey gingerbread during your visit.

Ready to go on a sweet stroll through each of the gingerbread displays coming to Disney World during the holiday season?

Well then, suit up and let’s get started!

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Gingerbread House

We’re starting off the list with what might just be the most iconic Disney World gingerbread display of all — the life-sized Grand Floridian Resort Gingerbread House!

If smelling alllll that delicious gingerbread is making you hungry, you’re in luck. This giant gingerbread house also serves as a shop that sells holiday treats!

If you’re on the hunt for a classic gingerbread house on a MASSIVE scale, be sure to add Grand Floridian Resort to your must-visit list this holiday season!

And in addition to a class Gingerbread Cookie man, they offer a ton of other gingerbread-inspired treats.

See More Photos And Video of the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House

Disney’s Beach Club Resort Gingerbread Carousel

If you’re looking for a unique gingerbread creation, you NEED to swing by Disney’s Beach Club Resort to see the Gingerbread Carousel this year! Speaking of unique, the design of the carousel changes each year, drawing inspiration from different Disney characters. In 2018, it featured horses themed to Donald Duck and Daisy Duck…

In 2019, we saw a Peter Pan theme. And in 2021, the horses were all inspired by characters from The Little Mermaid! And in 2022, the theme is Disney Princesses!! The carousel also has a treat shop where you can grab your favorite gingerbread snack!

This is another spot to not just smell and admire the gingerbread creations, but you can sample them, too!

Disney’s Contemporary Resort Gingerbread Castle

We’re hopping back on the Monorail loop for our next iconic gingerbread display. This year, the Gingerbread Castle has returned to Disney’s Contemporary Resort to add some holiday cheer to the hotel!

Like at other resorts, this display has included a treat stand nearby, so here’s yet another chance to satisfy those sweet cravings.

Who’s up for a gingerbread display Monorail crawl?? Here are some of the treats at this location:

Check Out Photos of the Gingerbread Castle Display and Read Our Review of The New Treats!

Disney’s BoardWalk Gingerbread Replica

While you’re in the neighborhood checking out the carousel at Beach Club, you may also want to swing by Disney’s BoardWalk Inn to see the return of the BoardWalk Gingerbread Replica! 

This creation features a gingerbread versions of the restaurants and scenery that line the BoardWalk. In 2022, we saw a re-creation of the BoardWalk Deli!

And you can munch on the spiced treat while you admire the bakers handy work!

Click Here to See Photos of the BoardWalk Gingerbread Display!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Gingerbread Giraffe

And yet another must-see holiday display to our list when Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge debuted their new Gingerbread Giraffe!

This sweet little guy makes his home in the lobby of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House for the holidays, and he’s joined by a life-sized gingerbread baby zebra, Debra, as well!

There are also gingeraffe cookies available for purchase. While you’re at Animal Kingdom Lodge, you may want to swing by Sanaa for a meal to spot some LIVE animals out on the savanna while you dine!

PHOTOS: Get a Closer Look at the Gingerbread Giraffe!

Bakeries & Confectioneries Around Disney Word

You don’t have to leave the parks to grab a festive gingerbread treat. Each holiday season, you can expect to find some version of the Mickey Gingerbread cookie at one of the park’s bakeries or confectioneries.

Like Trolley Car Cafe in Hollywood Studios, Main Street Confectionery or Big Top Treats in Magic Kingdom, Connections Cafe in EPCOT, or Zuri’s Sweet Shop in Animal Kingdom.

And don’t forget the OG Disney park, Disneyland, which also has all of its own gingerbread traditions and snacks!

Almost too cute to eat, but also too tasty to pass up!

Mickey Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

If you’re not able to make it to the parks during the holiday season to partake in the gingerbread schmorgase board, don’t abandon hope! With the help of D23, Disney special fan club, we’ve got the recipe so you can make your own Mickey Gingerbread Man cookies at home!

Ingredients

• 2 sticks softened butter
• 2 ½ cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted
• 2 eggs
• 1 ¼ tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. salt
• 3 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 ¼ teaspoons ground coriander
• 2 teaspoons ground star anise
• 1 teaspoon ground fennel
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground clove
• ¼ teaspoon ground mace

Ingredients for decorations optional

• ¼ cup milk
• 1 cup colored sugar granules

Directions

1. Cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until smooth using an electric mixer. Add the eggs and mix until combined.
2. Sift all the remaining dry ingredients in a separate large mixing bowl and mix well. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until a dough forms
3. Remove dough from the bowl and wrap in plastic wrap; place in refrigerator until firm, two to four hours.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease cookie sheets.
5. Remove dough from refrigerator and allow dough to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes, until pliable. Divide dough in half and place on floured work surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out until about 1/8 inch thick. While rolling, flour the work surface and rolling pin as needed.
6. Cut out desired cookie shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer cookies to a greased cookie sheet, placing them 1 inch apart.
7. Lightly brush cookies with milk and sprinkle with sugar granules as desired.
8. Bake until firm and edges begin to darken, 10-14 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for a minute, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Cook’s notes:
You can find star anise in the ethnic aisle in your local grocery store. To get the best flavor from this spice, you will need to grind the whole star anise pod. For the neatest edges, dip your cookie cutters in flour before cutting out each cookie.

And that’s where you can find Mickey Gingerbread Cookies, even when you AREN’T visiting  Disney park! Keep following DFB for more tips and the lowdown on great snacks and where to find them!

9 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays in Disney World WITHOUT A Park Ticket

Which Disney World gingerbread display is your favorite? Share with us in the comments!