Gideon’s Bakehouse at Disney Springs: A Must-Try Cookie Experience
- Practically Perfect Pixie Dust
- 7 hours ago
- 7 min read
✨ Why Gideon’s Is Worth the Hype
If you’ve spent any time on Disney foodie TikTok or Instagram, you’ve probably seen the buzz about Gideon’s Bakehouse. It’s one of those spots people either absolutely rave about—or claim it is totally overhyped. (Spoiler: we’re firmly on Team Cookie.)
Tucked between Morimoto Asia and Wine Bar George at Disney Springs, it’s not just a bakery—it’s a full-on experience. Gideon’s is known for its over-the-top, half-pound cookies, indulgent cold brews, and one-of-a-kind gothic atmosphere. It’s part dessert shop, part haunted library, and entirely unforgettable.
🏙️ Visiting Disney Springs? Check out our complete guide to Disney Springs for the best places to eat, shop, and explore before or after your Gideon’s visit.
📖 The Story Behind the Bakehouse
The entire concept for Gideon’s started with a real-life discovery: an 1898 cookbook filled with doodles and notes from a young aspiring baker named Gideon. The founder, Steve Lewis, imagined what would happen if Gideon grew up and opened a bakery of his own—and the result is the dark, whimsical world we see today.
Gideon’s Bakehouse first opened in 2016 at Orlando’s East End Market, built on a shoestring budget with just one employee. Within weeks, it was being praised by The New York Times, People, and more. The second location—at Disney Springs—opened in 2020, carefully designed to preserve the bakery’s dark, artistic soul.
🧁 Founder Steve Lewis never set out to open a bakery. Cookies were his creative outlet growing up, and Gideon’s became a way to blend food, storytelling, and emotion into one unforgettable experience.
Everything from the brand’s logo to the packaging to the names of the cookies is steeped in this imagined mythology, giving the bakehouse a rich, literary backstory that makes it feel like something out of a Tim Burton fairytale.
🕯️ Step Inside the Gothic Bakehouse
Entering Gideon’s feels like stepping into a hidden corner of the Haunted Mansion or a Victorian apothecary. The dim lighting, flickering chandeliers, crooked bookshelves, and spooky portraits all add to the immersive atmosphere.
The darkly whimsical artwork throughout Gideon’s was created by Michael “Terribly Odd” Reyes, whose style channels Edward Gorey, vintage horror, and turn-of-the-century portraiture. Every detail—from crooked chandeliers to spooky portraits—was curated to feel like a haunted library inside an old apothecary.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: The Disney Springs location is a compact 1,257 square feet, but it feels like you’ve stepped into an entire world—one built on secrets, shadows, and sugar.
Each cookie even has its own spooky character mascot (like Barnabas Mephistophelittle, the brooding figurehead of the Original Chocolate Chip). The theming here isn’t just aesthetic—it’s storytelling baked right in.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Take your time when you're inside. There are so many tiny details hiding in plain sight, from cursed tomes to eerie eyes following you from the walls.
🍪 Fun Facts & Behind-the-Scenes Magic
Size & Texture: Each cookie weighs nearly half a pound and strikes a perfect balance between a crispy outer edge and a gooey, cookie-dough-like center.
Baking Process: Every cookie is made from scratch daily and takes over 24 hours from start to finish. The dough rests overnight to deepen flavor and create that signature chew.
Backstory Bonus: The shop’s storytelling extends to their merch, cookie bags, and seasonal offerings—each with its own lore and artwork.
Want to pair a cookie run with some resort fun? See our list of Walt Disney World Resort Hotel Extras for movies under the stars, s’mores, and more magic—no park ticket needed.
⭐ Fan-Favorite Cookies & Cold Brews
Want to know what to order? Here are the cookies fans (and food bloggers) can’t stop raving about:
🍫 Original Chocolate Chip The classic that started it all. Soft, dense, and loaded with premium chocolate chips.
🟢 Pistachio Toffee Chocolate Chip A cult favorite for its salty-sweet combo of roasted pistachios and crunchy toffee.
☕ Coffee Cake Cookie (mornings only) A vanilla base topped with cinnamon streusel. Like brunch in cookie form.
🍫🍫 Triple Chocolate Chip Rich, intense, and perfect for chocoholics.
🥜 Peanut Butter Crunch Packed with peanut butter and topped with crushed peanuts for extra crunch.
🍪 Cookies & Cream A soft vanilla dough stuffed with chocolate cookie chunks. Dessert-on-dessert perfection.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: You can also grab a bag of Gideon’s Bites — chocolate-dipped mini chunks, perfect for sampling or sharing.
Pair Your Cookie with Cold Brew Magic
Let’s be honest—half-pound cookies deserve a bold drink to match, and Gideon’s Bakehouse absolutely delivers on that front with their incredible cold brews. Whether you’re a sweet sipper or a cold brew connoisseur, there’s something worth trying here:
Popular Cold Brew Flavors at Gideon’s Bakehouse:
🥜 Original Peanut Butter Cold Brew Made with oat milk, dark roasted peanut blend, and maple syrup—this one’s a fan favorite and my personal top pick. I didn’t expect to love it… but it’s absolutely worth the hype.
🍪 Cookie Butter Butterscotch Cold Brew Sweet, spiced, and inspired by their Cookie Butter Butterscotch Cookie. If you're into warm spices and dessert-forward drinks, this is for you.
🥛 Classic White Cold Brew A smooth, nitro-infused brew that’s not too sweet—perfect if you want a more traditional cold brew experience.
🌰 Almond Cookie Cold Brew A newer favorite with vanilla, almond, and biscoff cookie notes—like sipping dessert in a cup.
🍞 French Toast Cold Brew Yep, it tastes like breakfast in the best way possible. Rich, spiced, and comforting.
🍂 Pumpkin Chai Cold Brew (served year-round!)Fall lovers, rejoice—this cozy favorite combines pumpkin and chai spice into one dreamy sip.
🍬 Ginger Snap Cold Brew A spicy-sweet combo of ginger and cookie butter—especially popular around the holidays.
🍫 Cookies & Cream Cold Brew Creamy, chocolatey, and ideal for Oreo fans.
Don’t skip the Peanut Butter Nitro Cold Brew—it’s a cult favorite that pairs perfectly with any of Gideon’s cookies. And if you’re in the mood for cake, their daily slice selections (like Red Velvet or Cookie Buttercream) are massive and beautifully crafted.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip:These drinks are sweet—and if you’re not a major sweet tooth, try asking for half sweet. That Peanut Butter Cold Brew at 50% sweetness? Chef’s kiss.
All Gideon’s cold brews are vegan and made with oat milk. Flavors rotate, so always check their Instagram or the in-store board for seasonal specials!
☕ Love a good cold brew? Don’t miss our Best Coffee at Walt Disney World guide for all our favorite caffeinated picks—including what to try at Gideon’s.
🍰 Did You Know?
Gideon’s Bakehouse isn’t just about cookies—they also serve giant, sky-high cake slices that rotate daily. These rich, layered treats come in flavors like Red Velvet, Cookie Buttercream, and seasonal surprises like Pumpkin Churro or Andes Mint.
They’re absolutely Instagram-worthy, and enormous—easily sharable (though no judgment if you don’t 😄). That said, they get mixed reviews. While the presentation is top-tier, some guests find the flavor and texture don’t quite live up to the hype.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: If you’re a die-hard cake lover, it’s worth trying at least once—but we recommend prioritizing cookies if it’s your first visit.
🎁 Gideon’s also offers unique collectibles like trading card-style menus, pins, candles, and even a binder to store your cookie lore. Every item deepens the story—so it’s not just dessert, it’s an experience.
📋 Planning Your Visit: Tips to Know Before You Go
Arrive Early: The bakery opens at 10 AM, but standby lines can start forming as early as 9 AM when the Disney Springs parking garages open.
Virtual Queue: If the line gets long, Gideon’s uses an in-person virtual queue. You’ll give your name and phone number to a Cast Member near the bridge by Morimoto Asia, then receive a text when it’s your turn to return. Wait times can range from 15 minutes to 5 hours, depending on the day.
⏳ Want step-by-step help navigating the wait? Here’s our dedicated Virtual Queue guide with exact timing tips, queue cutoff details, and real wait time advice.
Queue Cut-Off Time: The virtual queue usually closes between 6–8 PM to ensure everyone is served before the store closes.
Cookie Limits: Each guest can buy up to 7 cookies per transaction (sometimes 8 during seasonal promotions).
No Preorders: Mobile ordering and preorders are not available at the Disney Springs location.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Visit right at opening on a weekday to avoid the virtual queue altogether—or aim for late evening if you don’t mind a short wait. We love pairing a cozy evening Christmas Tree Stroll with a Gideon’s stop for cookies and cold brew!
🎄 Want to learn more about the magic of December at Disney? Check out our full Walt Disney World Holiday Guide for festive tips, treats, and event details.
💭 Final Thoughts
“Gideon’s was never supposed to be a bakery—it was born from my own personal escape. It’s part food, part story, part art gallery.” – Steve Lewis, founder
Lewis built the brand to be intimate, creative, and a little eerie on purpose. He’s turned cookie-making into storytelling—creating a space where sweet and spooky collide in the most magical way. Gideon’s Bakehouse is more than just a place to grab a cookie—it’s a story you can taste. Between the immersive theming, the mysterious lore, and the cookies that live up to the hype, it’s no wonder this bakery has become a Disney Springs icon.
Whether you're a chocolate chip purist or on a mission to try every limited-edition flavor, Gideon’s is absolutely worth a visit.
🧘 Planning a no-park day? Disney Springs is just one great option—see even more ideas in our Beyond the Parks Disney World Guide.
✨ Pixie Dust Hugs,
Bren, Lyn, and Kim
P.S. Planning your own magical getaway?
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