Dream Lights Gingerbread Castle Revealed at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Brit Tuttle

Person decorating a large gingerbread castle display with Christmas trees in front of a backdrop featuring a starry night sky.

Dream Lights Gingerbread Castle Revealed at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

The gingerbread castle inspired by the defunct Cinderella Castle Dream Lights has been unveiled at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, though construction of the massive confection continues.

Gingerbread Castle at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

A large blue curtain in a spacious lobby, covering a structure, with a world map on a stand nearby.

Earlier this week, the display was hidden behind royal blue curtains.

A large gingerbread castle display with snowy trees and a starry night backdrop, surrounded by potted greenery and a blue rope barrier.

Now, guests can see the castle display, albeit partially obscured by potted plants and shrubbery. The display is not officially open just yet.

Person decorating a large gingerbread castle display with Christmas trees in front of a backdrop featuring a starry night sky.

A bakery Cast Member was actively working on the display when we were walking by.

A large gingerbread castle with detailed brickwork and decorative elements is displayed. A person is partially visible on the right.

The gingerbread castle and its base are constructed with gingerbread “bricks.” The strands of “Dream Lights” can be seen wrapped around the shorter turret on the left in this photo.

Person decorating a large gingerbread castle display with snowy trees and a starry backdrop indoors.

Other strands of lights are wrapped around the blue tops of the other castle turrets. Gold icing creates filigree details and outlines for the full castle shape.

A gingerbread display booth with a winter theme, decorated with blue and white trees and a star, located indoors.

To the left of the display is a counter, which will eventually offer various food and beverage items for purchase. Merchandise for this display will include limited edition pins, a cookie jar, and a holiday ornament.

Sign describing Disney's Contemporary Resort Gingerbread Display, inspired by Cinderella's Castle. It includes fun facts like the number of gingerbread bricks and amount of pixie dust used.

This year’s display takes inspiration from the now-defunct Cinderella Castle Dream Lights, and marks the 13th year of the display at the resort. It was designed by Walt Disney Imagineering and decorated by the Contemporary Resort Bakery Team.

The display is comprised of:

  • 1,013 pounds of flour
  • 113 pounds of gingerbread spice
  • 25 pounds of chocolate
  • 70 pounds of modeling chocolate
  • 60 pounds of fondant
  • 613 pounds of sugar
  • 43 pounds of royal icing
  • 440 jars of honey
  • 513 eggs
  • 13 gallons of milk

It took 30 days to assemble the display, which stands 17 feet and six inches tall and 25 feet and four inches wide. There are 13 hidden Mickeys to find, as well as one hidden 5-Legged Goat. Once complete, over 4,000 gingerbread bricks will be part of the display, which is being decorated by 40 Cast Members.

Other gingerbread displays for 2024 include Spaceship Earth at EPCOT, the gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the BoardWalk Deli at the BoardWalk Deli, the Gingeraffe and Zebra at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, and a carousel at Disney’s Beach Club Resort.

What do you think of this year’s gingerbread display at the Contemporary? Are you excited to see the confection eventually complete? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

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