Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Gingerbread House Receives Final Dusting of “Snow”; Opens November 21, 2014

Hi everyone!

Our newest article (11/21) is about Disney’s Grand Floridian Gingerbread House Grand Opening with Alice!

This is the 16th year of Disney’s Grand Floridian Gingerbread House, and we were lucky to catch the final dusting again today (for at least the 4th year in a row, and as early as 2008). The final dusting is like a christening, as “snow” in the form of powdered sugar is sifted onto the house. Executive Pastry Chef Erich Herbitschek always does the honors. This has become a holiday tradition for us, without ever knowing exactly when it will happen ahead of time. This is our 8th year covering holiday displays around Walt Disney World resorts, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Gingerbread House is always the most popular one we post.

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While the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House is nearly finished, it will not open until November 21st, 2014. Last year, I believe the Victorian display was open until around New Years Eve, I will get the end date soon. The hours will be 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m, and delicious gingerbread will be sold here as it always is. The gingerbread is Herbitschek’s recipe from Europe, and it is a firmer one. Each resort that offers gingerbread has a unique recipe! This gingerbread goes very well with the chocolate backing on the shingles that will be for sale. Samples were being give out today in the lobby, and usually are during gingerbread demonstrations during the season.

A sign is up letting guests know when the Gingerbread House will open. It does not yet have information on the ingredients this year. It takes months to get the gingerbread ready!

Executive Pastry Chef Erich Herbitschek is being lifted up to sift powdered sugar onto the house. First, a mixture of sugar and water are sprayed on the house – that way, the powder sticks.

Executive Pastry Chef Erich gets ready to dust the house. It takes about a half hour to finish.

Smoke comes out of the chimney. The smell in the lobby now is incredible.

The powdered sugar really gives a snow-covered look to the house.

Executive Pastry Chef Erich has a spray bottle to wet down the gingerbread before adding the powdered sugar.

“Santa” is watching too! We did meet him, he had quite the audience as well.

It is quite the undertaking to end up with a beautiful, snow-covered house.

Here is a view from below.

Most of the display is finished, including the artwork on the windows. We’ll look at those further down the article.

Here is a video overview of the final dusting.

Executive Pastry Chef Erich Herbitschek.

We hopped in for a photo.

Each year, the window artwork is different. I expected one “Frozen” window theme, and that is what there is. It is always exciting for me to see what characters are part of the display!

Rapunzel and Flynn Rider are ready for the season!

Mickey and Minnie lead reindeer on a sleigh in this artwork.

Alice and the Mad Hatter.

The Fab 5 of Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy and Donald.

Anna and Elsa were not so close to get, I didn’t have my zoom. But you can see in the cropped photo below that Olaf is there too.

Anna, Elsa and Olaf.

What I hadn’t realized until last year is that chocolate figures could be stored for yearly use. This Santa is in this location each year.

This side window is usually decorated by the time Disney’s Grand Floridian Gingerbread House opens.

Santa and a snowman.

Rudolph.

Decorations add flair to the house, including the popular Mickey wreath pieces and hidden Mickeys.

Gingerbread samples were being handed out – I highly recommend stopping by Disney’s Grand Floridian to purchase some treats when the Gingerbread House opens! The pastry team always does a great job on the house and the goodies sold here.

Will you be heading to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort this holiday season?

Tomorrow we will be sharing the new “Frozen” Gingerbread Display at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.