Christmas has arrived at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge in the form of decorations, a Christmas tree, and their annual gingerbread display. This year, the Gingeraffe and zebra are joined by a flamingo.
2024 Gingerbread Display
The gingerbread animals are behind ropes in a rocky area of the resort lobby. A sign reads:
A Gingerbread Holiday Tradition That Keeps Growing!
Returning for the holiday season is our 7-foot-tall Gingeraffe. In size, our Ginger compares to one of our young giraffes you can look for on our Savannas.
Joining Ginger is Debra the Zebra. Look for Debra’s friends on the Sunset Savanna.
Making his first appearance is Francisco the Flamingo! You can find Francisco’s flamboyance of greater flamingos at the Uzima Outlook.
Don’t forget to look for the two hidden Gingerbread Mickeys
Francisco the Flamingo is located at the back of the trio — he might be a little shy for his first appearance. Debra the Zebra and Gingeraffe are to the front. The animals are approximately life-size (based on young zebras and giraffes).
Debra is detailed with a fuzzy black and white mane, nostrils, and eyelashes.
Gingeraffe also has thick black eyelashes. Her signature brown spots cover her beige body.
Francisco is mostly pink, with some white around his black beak and on his belly. His neck is curled over his back, with his head facing forward.
The gingerbread animals are created using:
- 34 pounds of honey
- 27 pounds of flour
- 1.5 pounds of gingerbread spices
- One dozen eggs
- 1 pound simply syrup
- 12 pounds of dark modeling chocolate
Christmas Decorations
As for other decorations, they start as soon as you arrive. The columns of the porte-cochère are decorated with green décor featuring bows with African-style prints and plants.
There are some small trees throughout the resort’s lobby. They are decorated with burlap bows, animal-print beads, shiny baubles, and more.
Wreaths, including this one above the entryway, feature similar decorations. All the décor is strung with yellow lights.
This tree is decorated with carved wood animal heads.
A tree in the center of the lobby almost touches the ceiling, reaching up four stories.
It’s also decorated with bows, beads, and animal masks.
Garlands hang ever few feet from the railings overlooking the lobby.
The gift shop, Ziwadi Marketplace, is also decorated. Garlands are wrapped around the columns at the front of the store.
There’s a small brown-gold tree atop a merchandise display.
The final Walt Disney World gingerbread display will be the gingerbread Spaceship Earth at EPCOT opening this Friday for the Festival of the Holidays. Other gingerbread displays are at BoardWalk Inn, Contemporary Resort, Beach Club Resort, and the Grand Floridian.
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