Why do I generally really feel like Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber with the place my thoughts goes on the subject of Walt Disney World? This time, it’s as a result of Modern Resort’s gingerbread show is of the Cinderella Fort Dream Lights. So that you’re telling me there’s an opportunity they return to Magic Kingdom for 2025?! In equity, his character’s title is Lloyd Christmas and that can’t be a coincidence…proper?!
Talking of coincidences, the final time I used this meme was for an additional daring Magic Kingdom prediction–that TRON Lightcycle Run would have normal public mushy openings. That was a daring guess on the time, as no Walt Disney World attraction had completed mushy openings for years. However in studying the tea leaves, I felt there have been indicators they may occur. And guess what? They did. So both my luck goes to expire right here or that’s one other signal that I may very well be proper. Interpret that as you’ll.
I’m getting forward of myself, although. Let’s begin with the really-for-real excellent news, which is that the Modern Resort gingerbread show is now up! To get every thing able to go nicely earlier than Thanksgiving, the lodge’s group received a jump-start on the Cinderella Fort-themed gingerbread, which seems fairly a bit completely different from the previous couple of years.
In case you’ve by no means seen the varied ‘edible creations’ and different shows throughout the vacation season at Walt Disney World, we might strongly encourage you to find time for them. Our Self-Guided Yuletide Tour of Walt Disney World is a good place to begin, and affords a enjoyable Christmas expertise in your day exterior the parks. It’s additionally nice for getting a style of the upper finish resorts for those who’re staying at one of many Worth or Reasonable Resorts.
That itinerary is a well-liked (and beneficial) factor to do within the morning earlier than attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Celebration so that you don’t waste a park day of your regular tickets. We’ve heard from tons of readers over time who did precisely that and had unbelievable experiences.
Now that the Disney Jollywood Nights Christmas Celebration is at Hollywood Studios, you possibly can cut up the plan into two days, doing the monorail loop previous to MVMCP and the Crescent Lake resorts previous to DJN. In fact, that assumes you attend each events, which might be budgetary overkill for many company.
Earlier than we dig into the Cinderella Fort Dream Lights gingerbread show at Disney’s Modern Resort and attempt to dissect its higher which means, let’s check out final 12 months’s show (above).
This was a particular search for Disney100, that includes Minnie and Mickey Mouse plus the little “100” medallions. It’s truly not all that dissimilar from the prior two years, which featured kind of the identical show–however for Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary. Previous to that, it was nonetheless principally this, however with characters from Cinderella.
There was a Frozen Mary Blair fashion gingerbread show that predates the present Cinderella one. I don’t recall the precise 12 months that debuted, nevertheless it was most likely 2014. Earlier than that, it was a Pinocchio gingerbread show over a decade in the past. I’ve no clue what got here earlier than Pinocchio. That was principally pre-internet, the arrival of which was principally the daybreak of recorded (WDW) civilization.
Level being, the Cinderella Fort Dream Lights gingerbread show is essentially the most substantial change to the show in over 5 years. It’s nonetheless Cinderella Fort, because it has been since Frozen, however the fashion is dramatically completely different (no extra Mary Blair) as is the background. Even the fort not the identical template, as had been the case for over a decade!
For Christmas 2024, the Cinderella Fort Dream Lights gingerbread show will be discovered in the back of the Grand Canyon Concourse by the enormous home windows that face, fittingly sufficient, Cinderella Fort and Magic Kingdom. This show incorporates a gingerbread Cinderella Fort, plus evergreen timber, night time sky, wishing star, and full moon.
What makes it a scaled again model of the Cinderella Fort Dream Lights is the precise lights overlaying the turrets. These are illuminated day and night time, which seems fairly good in opposition to the brand new backdrop. Despite the fact that I like every time Walt Disney World pays tribute to Mary Blair’s iconic artwork fashion–particularly on the Modern–the earlier model of this show had grow to be a bit performed out. It was materially the identical for over a decade, so it’s good to see one thing contemporary.
This Cinderella Fort Dream Lights gingerbread show comprises 13 Hidden Mickeys, 1-Hidden 5-Legged Goat, 613 kilos of sugar snow, 440 jars of honey, 1013 kilos of flour, 113 kilos of gingerbread spice, 513 eggs, 25 kilos of chocolate, 43 kilos of royal icing, 60 kilos of fondant, 70 kilos of modeling chocolate, 13 gallons of milk, and over 4,000 gingerbread bricks.
Cinderella Fort tops out at 17 toes, 6 inches excessive with a width of 25 toes and 4 inches. The show took the culinary group over 30 days to assemble.
Our Commentary
Turning to our commentary and wild hypothesis, there are a number of prospects on the subject of what the Cinderella Fort Dream Lights gingerbread show means for the way forward for the precise lights on the actual Magic Kingdom fort:
- Nothing in any respect
- It’s a check to gauge fan curiosity
- It’s a tease of what’s to come back for Christmas 2025
Let’s begin with the probably chance: nothing in any respect. On this situation, the genesis of the Cinderella Fort Dream Lights gingerbread show is just the culinary group remembering the actual model, eager to pay tribute, and nobody stopping them.
This isn’t far-fetched–we’ve seen edible Easter Egg preparations at Grand Floridian that “by accident” use characters from mental properties Disney doesn’t personal (or have the rights to make use of!). That’s additionally how Walt Disney World very briefly ended up with a Bluey scavenger hunt.
It’s additionally potential that it wasn’t a lot “nobody stopped them” as different arms of Walt Disney World management actively authorized it. Additionally not far-fetched given all the retro merchandise that seems within the parks that includes extinct sights. The distinction there, I believe, is that these are normally long-lost sights followers notice haven’t any probability of ever coming again.
The lack of the Dream Lights continues to be pretty contemporary and followers retain hope that they’ll return. I’d suppose WDW administration is perhaps weary of making false hope or reminding company of what they’d taken from them not too way back!
This brings us to the second and third choices. Personally, I’m skeptical that this may very well be a check to gauge fan curiosity. It’s unlikely there might be survey groups standing leaping out from behind the show making an attempt to establish whether or not seeing this show, however IRL, would meaningfully transfer the needle on intent to revisit metrics.
Then once more, I’m additionally skeptical Walt Disney World would purposefully tease the Cinderella Fort Dream Lights by way of a gingerbread show. That’s only a bizarre means of doing issues, telling company immediately what they’ll expertise tomorrow. Then once more, attraction artwork is commonly on building partitions, so possibly?
If I’m being utterly trustworthy, my intestine is that there’s a 99% chance that this implies nothing in any respect. I’m however posting about it right here as a result of I’ll take each conceivable alternative to “increase consciousness” in regards to the Cinderella Fort Dream Lights (sorry not sorry). It’s because I’ve not given up on their return.
In contrast to the Lights of Winter or Osborne Lights, that are lifeless and buried, I nonetheless consider there’s a kernel of hope for the Dream Lights. (Technically, the Dream Lights are additionally lifeless–within the sense that new strands would must be fabricated, however they’ve the know-how!)
Two years in the past, there have been credible rumors that the Cinderella Fort Dream Lights would return. It was my understanding on the time that the choice was made as a result of they weren’t “wanted” however that Walt Disney World would hold them as a card to play, or a lever to tug, after they have been to assist increase attendance.
Assuming that’s true, and as a lot as I hate to confess it, the reasoning is sound. Pent-up demand was nonetheless working sizzling and Disney didn’t want to supply followers an incentive to go to. The projections have been adequate.
Christmas 2025 goes to be a really completely different story. It’ll are available a 12 months when Walt Disney World doesn’t have a single new trip opening and when Common Orlando is opening a brand-new theme park. Clearly, the Cinderella Fort Dream Lights can’t supply 1:1 competitors with Epic Universe, however they’re one thing that may however increase bookings and attendance for Walt Disney World.
In case you discover this far-fetched, look no additional than the announcement about Disney Starlight Night time Parade at Magic Kingdom or the long-delayed return of Paint the Night time at Disneyland Resort. Neither of these items are taking place out of company benevolence on Disney’s half. They’re levers being pulled as a result of revenge journey has exhausted itself, and Disney doesn’t have many different playing cards to play. Effectively, the Cinderella Fort Dream Lights are one other such card–and I stay optimistic, maybe foolishly so, that administration will notice this and eventually deliver them again.
With that in thoughts, one factor we all the time suggest doing is respectfully expressing your disappointment and explaining how the corporate’s selections and practices will influence your holidays and future enterprise with Walt Disney World by emailing [email protected].
For complete ideas for planning your Christmas-time journey to Walt Disney World, take a look at our Final Information to Christmas at Walt Disney World. For Walt Disney World journey planning ideas and complete recommendation, be sure to learn our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information and associated articles.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What’s your idea on the Cinderella Fort Dream Lights being featured within the Modern Resort’s Christmas 2024 gingerbread show? Nonetheless holding out hope that the precise in-park show will return, or suppose it’s a misplaced trigger? What do you consider Disney’s Modern Resort at Christmas? Do you just like the Cinderella Fort gingerbread show, or do you favor the Frozen model? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
