End of an era — No more Gingerbread House at Grand Floridian

I, too, am thoroughly disappointed by this extremely ill-advised decision.

We got “Chapeked” by a modernized dumbing down of anything Victorian with the GF remodeling anyway. Yes, there is florid carpeting, sort of Victorianish. But, now the GF has white, white, white decor everywhere, which left Queen Victoria’s Room at Victoria & Albert’s looking stupid. The lovely dark wood fireplace with Victoria and Albert’s portraits above is now an eyesore in a “modern Victorian” wedding cake white travesty.

The Perch bar, evoking the birdcage it replaced with people “perched” on barstools, destroyed the parlor-like atmosphere of the GF lobby. Now, you see people with drinks sitting everywhere in the lobby; it’s ALL bar seating now. As if the GF needed another bar with Enchanted Rose on the floor above!

But, I digress (as HisDrewness knows I often do 🥰 ).

The Gingerbread House was iconic for 27 years. Locals and “bubble” guests not staying at the GF made a special visit there to see the Gingerbread House, often every year. Buying gingerbread goodies from the counter at the back of the GBH was part of that tradition. It all was something unique and special that makes Disney magic what it is. Just selling some gingerbread items at the GF is a cheap replacement.

I’m saddened, disappointed and outraged at yet another abandonment of a cherished Disney tradition.

Edit to add: I urge others disappointed by this to email Disney. I just did.

[email protected]

As a local, I'm torn, I am sad about no gingerbread house, but I am more sad, at why we lost it -for a bar?! and not even a great one ( limited drink menu. etc) It had been chaos the last coupleof times we went last holiday season, so I guess thats why

Yes id say the reason to take the display away was that it was getting way too popular and crowded, so much so that it was creating an unpleasant lobby experience for grandflo guests. Good move on Disneys part. Im assuming the other gingerbread displays at other hotels will still remain?

This! That bar is so underwhelming.

And so obviously unnecessary, imo.

As ever, YMMV.

this seems like the Osmond lights we get them for a few years and then it is gone. i agree I am very sad that Disney is not allowing guests to visit other resorts especially at Christmas time. i would have not booked over half my stays at a different resort had I have not known about them.

I don’t think Disney is stopping guests from visiting other resorts. They are stopping non-guests from taking the Disney Springs buses to the resorts.

All guests can still visit any of the Disney resorts by the free transportation offered.

Driving yourself to other resorts requires a dining reservation, but the skyliner, monorail, boats and buses are all available to guests.

Once again, I urge others of you unhappy with the Gingerbread House “retirement” to email Guest Relations. [email protected]

HisDrewness and I got very thoughtful replies from a GRelations CM with some personal remarks about what we each said, not just a click-button form letter in its entirety.

If enough of us tell Disney how sad and disappointed we are by this decision, maybe it’ll be a Frank Sinatra retirement. 😉 Two years after Sinatra’s farewell concert, he was recording new albums and shortly afterward doing tv specials again. Some retirement!

May the GBH return as speedily for many more years.