Season’s screamings! It’s never too early to enjoy gingerbread, especially when it’s inspired by "Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas." Available now at Disneyland Park for the Halloween and holiday season, the Haunted Mansion has been festively transformed by Santa Jack, also known as the Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington.

As guests make their way through the mansion, they’ll catch the delightful scent of gingerbread in the air, signaling the return of the much-loved gingerbread display!

This year’s creation is brand new, and we’re excited to give you a peek behind the scenes, including some fascinating details about the story behind the house and its quirky characters. Let’s pull back the curtain!

The Story Behind the Creation

Located in the mansion’s grand ballroom, this year’s gingerbread house has been reimagined by Santa Jack, with a little help from Halloween Town’s mad scientist, Dr. Finkelstein. And he has certainly outdone himself!

Using his expertise in mad science, Dr. Finkelstein has woven some of his experimental creations into the gingerbread house. Along with his trusty assistant, Igor, he has brought his own Gigantic Gingerbread Zombie, Lil’ Franky, to life—or nearly so. The doctor and Igor are still making some adjustments, which involve Lil’ Franky’s head popping off and on—a rather spooky conundrum!

Guests visiting Haunted Mansion Holiday this season should keep an eye out for this spooky spectacle and Dr. Finkelstein’s eerie creations.

Frightfully Fun Facts

Bringing this gingerbread display to life was no small feat. It required the combined efforts of the Disneyland Resort culinary teams, technology teams, Disneyland Live Entertainment, and the Disneyland Bakery to create this mesmerizing piece.

In fact, it took over 150 hours to construct and program the animation and lighting, not to mention the countless hours spent baking the delicious components that make it all come together. Here are some jaw-dropping facts about what goes into making (and baking) this 5-foot-tall, 6-foot-wide display a reality:

- 60 Pounds of Gingerbread
- 50 Pounds of Powdered Sugar
- 10 Pounds of Egg Whites
- 30 Pounds of Rolled Fondant
- 5 Pounds of Crystal Sugar
- 10 Pounds of Chocolate
- Over 240 Hours of Creative Work
- 2 Hidden Mickeys

The dedication and creativity of these teams are truly remarkable. We can’t wait to see what spooky surprises they come up with next!