Made Entirely Out of Chocolate
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121900)
Gainesville, Florida
January 4, 2025 7:00pm CST
During my annual Christmas/New Year's vacation to Disney World in Florida, I took a day to stroll around and visit several of the three dozen resort hotels on the property. I focused on the resorts in the immediate area of Epcot, which included The Yacht & Beach Club, the Boardwalk Inn, and the Swan and Dolphin Hotel.
It was during a stroll around the lobby of the Swan Hotel that I came across this beautiful Christmas display made entirely out of chocolate! I was amazed at how much time, effort and chocolate went into making this life-size scene, but one thing that blew my mind was how many calories there were in the entire display (if someone could actually eat all that chocolate). Over 4 million calories!!! Can you imagine the sugar rush you would be on if you tried to eat all that?
The other thing that I found interesting was that sunlight shining through the lobby windows was engulfing one of the chocolate presents, yet it didn't seem to have any issues with melting or holding its shape. I know chocolate is stable at room temperature, but I would have thought for sure that the warm sunlight would have at least made the chocolate ooze a little bit. But it held its shape and texture very well.
Have you ever seen life-size displays made up entirely of food products? Multiple resorts at Disney World have creative displays made of food that are displayed during the holidays. The most famous is probably the life-size gingerbread house located in the lobby of the Grand Floridian Hotel near Magic Kingdom.
14 people like this
15 responses
@shaggin (72608)
• United States
5 Jan
I have only ever seen statues carved from butter. This chocolate screen you shared is absolutely incredible. Someone is so talented who created this. Maybe a team of people instead of just one person. That’s a good point about the presents not melting in the sun I would have been shocked by that as well.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121900)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan
I think it was a team of Disney culinary experts. The sign says it took 480 man-hours of labor to construct. That's a lot of labor. I wonder if they helped themselves to some chocolate as they were making the display? I would have definitely snacked on some if I was on the team! lol
1 person likes this
@shaggin (72608)
• United States
5 Jan
@moffittjc I’d bet if they snacked on it they’d be so sick of even the smell after 480 man-hours
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121900)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan
@shaggin Even if they didn't snack on it while they were creating it, they were probably sick of the smell of chocolate by the time they were done.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69625)
• United States
5 Jan
I’m impressed that there aren’t any teeth marks on anything. Must have a 24-hour guard around it. 
That’s amazing!
That’s amazing!2 people like this
@moffittjc (121900)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan
I was thinking about that myself. I can't believe someone hasn't tried to bite or break off a piece to see if it is really chocolate. I didn't see any security around so either they have video cameras watching the area, or they are very trusting of the resort guests. My conclusion is that since the Swan is a super fancy hotel, the clientele that stays there is not the type of people that are going to go looking for trouble.
But I'm not going to lie, I was tempted to try a bite!
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (51678)
• Canada
5 Jan
@moffittjc I am going to start a list of recommendations from you.
That sounds like alot of fun.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121900)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan
@Juliaacv The only bad part is that you will be spending such a short amount of time at Magic Kingdom that it will be hard to do everything they have to offer. But I will do my best to help you get the most out of your trip.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121900)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan
I’m sure they would have noticed if I took a bite!
Hey, when you to Disney for Christmas, make sure you jump on the resort monorail and stop at the Grand Floridian to see their life-size gingerbread house! And make sure to buy some goodies from the gingerbread house!
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (120474)
• United States
5 Jan
That is impressive but I have to confess that I don't like the idea of sculptures being made out of food. It just seems like a colossal waste to me. I felt that way even back in the day when there was some baking competition on Food Network hosted by Keegan Gerhard. Like sure it is impressive and takes skill to do it but what is the point?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121900)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan
@NJChicaa I thought so too. For as elaborate Disney gets with things, they are really good about minimizing waste.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121900)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan
So I was thinking the same thing, and I mentioned it to a cast member. It turns out that it doesn’t go to waste. They make sure to use real and all natural ingredients, because after the holidays they put all those sweets out in their nurseries and groves for the bees. They have tons of bees for the purposes of pollinating all their plants, and in the winter the leftover food displays become their food source to sustain them through the winter. So it’s cool that they recycle/re-use those food displays.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (63119)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
5 Jan
I have seen video of the Christmas stuff they do at DW and we want to try to go in the next few years.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121900)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan
Disney does not skimp or cut corners when it comes to Christmas. They go all-out in just about everything they do for the holiday. My favorite will probably always be the life-size gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian hotel.
@thislittlepennyearns (63119)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
5 Jan
@moffittjc I want to do the drink around the world, or drink and food fest or whatever it is....i cant remember right now
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121900)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan
@thislittlepennyearns Drinking around the world has become a major thing at Epcot. It's crazy how packed the World Showcase is now with all the drunks. And I've noticed that Eating Around the World is also becoming a thing now too, especially with all the festivals they have now at Epcot.
My son and I drank around the world this past Thursday. The girls tagged along and sipped on a few drinks, but for the most part it was just my son and I doing the heavy drinking.
@GardenGerty (161274)
• United States
5 Jan
There are things you can add to chocolate to keep it from melting, and I am sure that with that much work they would be sure to do so. It is lovely, but the thought of the chocolate is making me hungry.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121900)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan
I guess you are right. I’m sure they took everything into consideration when planning for this display. I wonder if it is edible at all?
@snowy22315 (182982)
• United States
5 Jan
That is so cool. Years ago I saw the Beatles carved out of butter
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121900)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan
That actually sounds really cool. I've never seen anything carved out of butter. Probably because I live in Florida where it is always hot or humid or warm. I'm sure a giant block of butter wouldn't last too long in Florida.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (109081)
• Marion, Ohio
5 Jan
That would be time consuming to make. It's very well made.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121900)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan
Those Disney culinary artists never disappoint. Their creations are always magnificent. I wonder how much planning goes into their work?
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (81258)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Jan
That looks amazing and so much chocolate, I wonder if after Chrismas they gave out pieces to guests,
@1creekgirl (41920)
• United States
5 Jan
That was fascinating! I'd love to eat one of the gifts.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121900)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan
A couple of those gifts were close enough to the barrier fence that I could have reached over and grabbed one to take a bite out of. I was actually thinking the same thing as you, that I'd love eating one of those gifts!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121900)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan
I love seeing the ice carvings! It's a rarity in hot and humid Florida where I live.
This Christmas scene was the second chocolate display I have seen. The other one was a chocolate carousel at another Disney resort.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (183255)
• United States
5 Jan
That's amazing. I'd like to take a bite! Have a good day.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121900)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jan
I’m craving chocolate right now as I go through all these notifications!
