If you have never heard of Gideon’s Bakehouse, it’s a unique experience. Gideon’s is best known for their large made from scratch cookies, but just going there is an experience. They opened earlier this year in January and have been packed every since. Read more below about the unique experience at Gideon’s Bakehouse at Disney Springs.
Originally we weren’t planning to go to Gideon’s, but were able to get in after having dinner at Disney Springs. If you want to read how we got here, check out our other post: New at Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs.
The Virtual Queue
You may be familiar with virtual queues at Disney. Some of the new and popular rides have them. The concept at Gideon’s Bakehouse is similar. But unlike those rides, you have to check in for the virtual queue in person at Gideon’s. Previously, we had been to Gideon’s and were told the virtual queue time was more than 3 hours. What that means is if you put your name in the queue now, they will contact you in 3 hours to come back and get in line. But it must be good if it’s the only store with a virtual queue at Disney World.
We were walking by Gideon’s to go to dinner at a restaurant near there at Disney Springs. Based on our last experience with the virtual queue, we figured we would just ask how long. This time they say 2.5 hours, so we decide to put our name in. We figure by the time we have dinner, they might call us. It’s a pretty simple process unlike the virtual queues you do for the rides through the Disney app. There’s a person at the end of the line with a tablet. You just tell the person with the tablet your name, phone number and number in your party. They will then text you when it’s your time to enter the queue. We get the text back not long after dinner in less than 2 hours.
*Note – last time we walked past Gideon’s, they no longer had a virtual queue, but still had a long line.
The Line for Gideon’s Bakehouse
Once you get called for the virtual queue, you can check in to get in the line. Once in the line, you have to wait until it’s your turn to go in. Basically, when someone comes out, they let someone else in. While we wait in line, someone walks by and asks if we have any questions. From looking online, they have specials often. We ask about the specials, and she gives us a small card with their October menu. It lists all of their cookie selections included their exclusives and limited editions. It also lists cake slices and nitro cold brews on tap.
We were looking at the menu on the Disney app, but the card menu they gave us in line was more helpful. We look it over and decide to stick with their famous cookies. Also, while in line, we notice a window display with books and other things. It’s interesting and makes us wonder what’s inside. After waiting in line for over 20 minutes, we finally get to the doors hoping to see.
The large doors are adorned with orange windows, however you can’t look through to see inside. Not sure if they are orange for Halloween or always like that. We wait at the steps until it’s our turn to go in. We put on our masks and they open the door for us, and we are finally inside.
Inside Gideon’s Bakehouse
Once inside, there are lines that curve their way past the displays to the registers. The room we are in is fairly small and is not what we expected. Instead of a bakery, it looks like a weird library. There are framed drawings of strange beings that look more monster than person. There are also book cases adorning the walls behind the counters. Some of which look warped like something our of a Harry Potter movie. This is definitely not what we expected, though it’s really neat.
As we go through the line, we finally get up to the display cases with the cookies and cake slices. And just past it we get up to the registers. Colored steam is coming from the counter resembling an eerie colored fire. Even though it looks like magic fire, you can touch it while talking to the cashier.
The cashier asks what we want. There is a menu on the wall past the registers, but she is great at answering any questions. We decide to get 2 of their cookies. First is one of their everyday cookies, the Pistachio Toffee. The other is a limited edition flavor, Bride of Frankenstein. They also have Gideon’s Bites at the register. They are a collection of chunks of different cookies dipped in chocolate. We grab a bag thinking this could be a good way to try different cookies. They bag it all up and we take them back to our resort.
The Cookies at Gideon’s Bakehouse
When we get back we try the cookies they claim take over 24 hours to create. The Pistachio Toffee is based off their popular chocolate-chip cookie. There is a lot of chocolate chips inside and on top with some pistachios. Some toffee is also mixed in but not as pronounced. Overall, this is a very good cookie and can understand why people like them. Not only are these cookies almost a half-pound, but they are very chocolatey.
For some reason though, Becky is not a very big chocolate person. So, we get the Bride of Frankenstein cookie thinking it would be less chocolatey. Instead of chocolate chips, it has white chocolate, golden Oreos and M&Ms. Unfortunately the top of the cookie has so many M&Ms, it took away from the rest of the cookie. It wasn’t bad, just not what we hoped for. The Gideon’s Bites were good, though dipped in chocolate as well. Paul took one for the team and ate most of the cookies.
Summary
Overall, it was truly a unique experience at Gideon’s Bakehouse. The virtual queue to get in the long line to the large doors adds to its mystery. Once inside, the framed drawings, warped bookcases and eerie fire made it an immersive experience unlike any other. We only picked a few cookies and would like to try some others in the future. This place is great for chocolate lovers. If you are not one, however, try to get here early for their Coffee Cake Cookie which sells out early. For more information about Gideon’s, check out their website at: Gideon’s Bakehouse at Disney Springs.