Credit: DisneyWalt Disney World Resort has issued an unexpected statement after axing a beloved holiday tradition.
Every holiday season, Walt Disney World transforms with festive overlays, towering trees, special treats, and limited-time entertainment. Guests can attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom or Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, while EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays celebrates seasonal traditions from across the globe.
But not every holiday tradition has survived the test of time.
Over the years, Disney has retired beloved holiday offerings such as the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights and Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella Castle Dream Lights, while seasonal entertainment has continued to evolve with newer events, updated offerings, and fresh takes on classic celebrations.
Last year, Disney also axed the Grand Floridian gingerbread display – and it sounds like the move might be permanent.
Disney Shares More Info After Axing Grand Floridian Gingerbread Display
The life-sized gingerbread house inside Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has served as a holiday staple since 1999. Built by Disney’s pastry team using real gingerbread, icing, and chocolate, it also served snacks and festive treats, making it as much a holiday destination as a display.
But now Disney has confirmed that the display is gone for good and issued a statement explaining why.
“This holiday season at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Guests can enjoy elegant seasonal décor and festive offerings, along with new miniature gingerbread displays featured throughout the Resort,” Disney wrote on the official Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa webpage. “To help keep the lobby flowing smoothly for Resort Guests, the traditional large gingerbread house will not be offered this year.”
Instead, Disney will display several miniature gingerbread displays throughout the resort.
Fans aren’t exactly happy with the news, sharing theories about the real reasons behind the gingerbread house’s exit.
“For years it hasn’t been a problem, but now it is?” wrote one user. “I am thinking someone got a new job and needs to cut costs.”
Another said, “How was this not a problem in years past? Give us the Gingerbread house.”
“This flat out sucks,” complained one X user.
However, some admit that Disney has a point when it comes to the lobby’s space constraints.
“I’m in the lobby right now and can get it,” one X user wrote. “Lobby bar makes it hard to [put] tree in center.”
The move comes as Disney makes other changes that fans have theorized are at least partially motivated by cost-cutting.
As of Sunday, guests can no longer use the bus or boat transportation from Disney Springs unless they’re staying at a Disney resort or have a reservation for a restaurant or amenity at one of the hotels within the next two hours.
What do you think of Disney’s decision to axe the Grand Floridian gingerbread house?
