Capturing Disney in Pictures: 9th Day of Christmas at the Contemporary’s Gingerbread Tree

Every photo has a story.

Lou Mongello reports in his Walt Disney Trivia Book that the Contemporary Resort was originally referred to the “Tempo Bay Resort Hotel.”  He cites early picture
postcards of the Contemporary with a written description listing the name as
the Tempo Bay Resort Hotel.  Mongello says the word “Tempo” was chosen because the hotel was designed to be a backdrop for the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland.  Of course the resort opened as the Contemporary Resort, the name most seasoned Walt Disney World visitors are familiar with.

Now is the time to visit the Contemporary’s 4^th floor Grand Canyon Concourse
for a glimpse of the holiday decorations.  The Contemporary Gingerbread Tree,
located by the elevators and the Fantasia Gift Shop, is created in the simple
artistic style made famous by Disney Imagineer Mary Blair, the artist
responsible for the iconic 90-foot mural at the Contemporary Resort.  If these
figures look familiar, it’s because Blair is also the artist behind the “It’s a
Small World” attraction at the Magic Kingdom.

Picture this…1050 pounds of honey, 800 pounds of flour, 600 pounds of chocolate, 600 pounds of apricot glaze, and 35 pounds of spices are used to create the tree.  Cast Members spent 1200 hours and three months to make, cut, and bake over 4,900 shingles.  The tree is 6 feet wide and 17 feet tall. There is a small gift shop, open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, where you can purchase butter cookies, ornaments, lollipops, peppermint bark, and gingerbread cookies in assorted shapes and holiday colors.

If you need break from the Magic Kingdom holiday crowds, the Contemporary Resort is just a 10-15 minute walk from the MK entrance gates. You’ll have a great view of Space Mountain and Disney’s Bay Lake Towers on the walk over. The Contemporary Resort is the only Disney Resort building a monorail travels through. So you could enjoy the walk over and hop a Disney monorail for the trip back. Take a gingerbread snack with you, and enjoy the scenery.

Thanks for stopping by for a photographical Disney ride!

Do you have any fabulous Disney vacation pictures you’d like to share? Drop by and share your photos on facebook at Mouze Kateerz.  Take a virtual Disney vacation twice a day in photographs. Visit my blog at mouzekateerz.com, or shoot me an email of your favorite Disney location at mouzekateerz@chipandco.com.

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