Heather Sievers is the Disney Food Blog’s Dining in Disneyland columnist. See more of her columns here!

There are two awesome holiday experiences in Disneyland Resort that are not to be missed this year. Nope, I’m not talking about the homemade candy canes or the yule log (though both of those are definitely not-to-be-missed!), I’m talking about visiting Santa’s Cabin at Big Thunder Ranch in Disneyland and visiting the gingerbread house at Storytellers Cafe in Disney’s Grand Californian Resort!

Santa’s Cabin at Big Thunder Ranch

Every year my family visits Santa at his Disneyland home away from the North Pole.  His lovely cabin in Big Thunder Ranch is the perfect escape from the harsh winter back home. He even brings along Mrs. Claus and his reindeer too!

Santa is one lucky guy, because Mrs. Claus has been busy in the cabin’s kitchen.  All of these yummy goodies are waiting for him when he’s done listening to Christmas wishes.

That dough looks good enough to eat!! Check out a close up!

While we waited in line to see Santa, I loved listening to all of the little ones asking if the treats in the Claus kitchen were real.  The magic of Disney strikes again! Oh and when you get to the end of the line, this is who you get to visit…

Have you visited Santa at his cabin in Big Thunder Ranch?  Did you run into Mrs. Claus while you were there?

The Gingerbread House at Storytellers Cafe

Now that we’ve shared a cabin full of goodies with you, it’s time to check out a house MADE of goodies!

Located in the “lobby” of the Storytellers Cafe at the Grand Californian Hotel is the only giant gingerbread house (other than the one in the Haunted Mansion ballroom) at the Disneyland Resort.  I know, I know, there are gingerbread houses aplenty at the Disney World Resort Hotels, and they are amazing; but I’m still proud of our cute gingerbread house here in Anaheim!

The house sits on a large round table to the left as you pass through the restaurant’s lobby, and it smells delicious!

The house features gingerbread wafer siding with red & green nonpareil covered gum drops.  Cute green rice krispie treat wreaths hang from the front door and roof while matching trees and bushes can be seen in the front yard.

The colorful decorations on the “greenery” appear to be chocolate-covered colored sunflower seeds and sprinkles of rainbow nonpareils.

The candy rock pathway leading to the door is lined with mini candy canes, and the windows are adorned with sugar poinsettia flowers.

I love the idea of gummy bear “Christmas lights,” and this is the first time I’ve ever seen a black licorice roof on a gingerbread house.  The peak of the roof is decorated with Spree Candies and the chimney is lined with Airheads Xtreme Sour Belts.

Another fun feature of the Storytellers Gingerbread House? Its inside is lit and the windows are colored in purple, yellow & orange.  The light glows softly inside giving it a stained glass window effect.

The gingerbread house will remain at Storytellers Cafe through the holiday season at the Disneyland Resort.  My family actually stumbled across it on accident when we decided to make a spontaneous trip over for dinner last week.  Such a fun surprise!

Have you paid a visit to the Gingerbread House at Storytellers Cafe? What’s your favorite feature of the house? (Mine are the gummy bear Christmas lights!)