Fri, September 6, 2019
First Look: 2019 Haunted Mansion Holiday 50th Anniversary Gingerbread House at Disneyland Park
by
Michael Ramirez, Editorial Content Director, Disneyland Resort
As we celebrate
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort this year, our 999 happy haunts are screaming with glee. Want to know what they’re “dying” to see? Since the Haunted Mansion is celebrating its 50th anniversary, this year’s
Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house in the Grand Hall is themed to resemble the deviously delicious attraction beginning Sept. 6, 2019 and through the holiday season!
It’s no surprise that this monstrous dessert took 13 spooky days to bring to life. There are six talented culinary cast members from the Disneyland Resort Central Bakery team that have been working on this year’s creation, three of which have been part of this mesmerizing tradition since 2001. Now, at the 19th season of creating this delectable dessert, the creativity from these clever individuals keeps becoming more and more innovative every year!
We caught up with Tim Wollweber, associate art director for Disney Parks, who designed this year’s house. He explained that this was a challenge on a whole different level. “We tried to keep it as faithful to the Haunted Mansion itself so guests could immediately get that it’s the mansion, and know that it’s a heartfelt ‘dead-ication’ to it,” said Wollweber.
When it comes to the details of the structure, Wollweber said they designed all sorts of familiar intricate details that are a part of the attraction. “We have lantern bits in there, doors where they generally would be found, green iron work in there…we’ve never really done that before.”
Jokingly, Wollweber jokingly wonders if the gingerbread ghosts were once “alive,” but once eaten, came back to life to haunt this gingerbread house.
His favorite part about the experience? “More than any of the other designs we’ve done, this one is a great labor of love that pays tribute to what’s been around for half a century. This is our congratulations for haunting a place for 50 years and we are happy that people still love it.”
Standing at nearly 10-feet tall, the Haunted Mansion replica itself steals the hearts of all who lay eyes to it with its intricate details and some familiar faces. There are 15 spirited Haunted Mansion residents made of gingerbread cookies ranging from 24 to 30 inches tall. Can you imagine all of the ingredients it takes to create this centerpiece?
Here are this year’s concocted ingredients that make up this ghostly home:
- Over 30 pounds of gingerbread
- 120 pounds of frosting and icing
- 75 pounds of powdered sugar
- 140 pounds of fondant
- …and more!
You can experience this freakishly fun gingerbread house and more during Halloween Time (and through the holidays) at the Disneyland Resort! For more information on Halloween Time and the 50th anniversary of the Haunted Mansion, check out these stories on the Disney Parks Blog below. Happy Haunting!
