The 2024 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays featured a new addition to the park: CommuniCore Hall. Making its debut during the festival, the space housed a striking 8-foot-tall gingerbread replica of Spaceship Earth. While not overly elaborate, CommuniCore Hall provided an ideal setting for this festive and creative centerpiece.
A Culinary Masterpiece in CommuniCore Hall
The gingerbread Spaceship Earth was a labor of love from the EPCOT Pastry Team in collaboration with Walt Disney Imagineering. Its intricate design featured nearly 1,000 handcrafted gingerbread triangles, perfectly mirroring the iconic geodesic structure of Spaceship Earth.
Here are some numbers behind its construction:
- 240 pounds of honey dough
- 100 eggs
- 100 ounces of lebkuchen spice
- 55 pounds of dark chocolate
- 100 pounds of royal icing
Hidden within this edible masterpiece were 11 hidden Mickeys, each representing one of the World Showcase countries. Guests enjoyed spotting these details as they admired the craftsmanship.
A Light Show
The gingerbread Spaceship Earth also featured a synchronized light show, a three-minute performance every 15 minutes throughout the day. The lights, paired with festive music, added a dynamic element to the display.
CommuniCore Hall’s First Festival Use
The 2024 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays marked CommuniCore Hall’s first use during the holiday celebration. While the space served its purpose as an open area for festive activations, its debut for the Festival of the Holidays felt a bit underwhelming. The gingerbread Spaceship Earth was undoubtedly impressive, but even 8 feet tall, it struggled to fill the hall, leaving the overall experience somewhat sparse.
That said, CommuniCore Hall’s versatility offers incredible potential for future festivals. With added decor, interactive elements, or complementary displays, this space could transform into a truly immersive location. Looking ahead, it’s exciting to imagine how CommuniCore Hall can evolve to bring even more memorable experiences to EPCOT’s holiday celebrations.
For now, we look forward to the Epcot’s Festival of the Arts Starting January 17th, and the Disney On Broadway 30th Anniversary Display
