I haven’t been to Walt Disney World during the holidays for two years, so the big Gingerbread Tree at the Contemporary Resort, located on the Grand Canyon Concourse Level adjacent to the monorail station, was new to me. Said to be inspired by the art of Disney Legend Mary Blair, the Gingerbread Tree is placed right in front of one of her impressive murals.

The tree is made of gingerbread shingles and other confections and is 6 feet wide, 17 feet tall.

They say it took the following to construct the tree:

— 1050 pounds of honey
— 800 pounds of flour
— 600 pounds of chocolate
— 600 pounds of powdered sugar
— 180 pounds of apricot glaze
— 140 pints of egg whites
— 35 pounds of spices
— tons of creativity with some Disney Magic and Pixie Dust

The Contemporary Bakery cast members needed more than three months and 1200 hours to produce, cut and bake the 4,939 shingles used to decorate the Gingerbread Tree.

In addition to all the goodies sold there at the Gingerbread Tree, the Contemporary Resort is offering hand-painted holiday ornaments made to order for $10.50.

Here’s a list of what you can purchase after you’ve done drooling at the tree:

Butter cookie $4.00
Chocolate candy cane $4.00
Chocolate Happy Holidays Frame $11.00
Chocolate Monorail $6.00
Contemporary Season’s Greetings Chocolate Frame $12.50
Butter Cookie Holiday Tree $16.00
Linzer Cookie $4.75
Dark Chocolate Lollipop $4.25
White Chocolate Lollipop $4.25
Princess Lollipop $6.00
Gingerbread Man $7.75
Gingerbread Ornament $8.50
Gingerbread Snowflake $4.00
Peppermint Bark $6.00
Hand-painted Ornament $10.50
Gingerbread House $55.00

The shop at the Gingerbread Tree is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The artist who hand-paints and personalizes white chocolate ornaments is on hand 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays through Saturdays.