Josephine S.
Google
Gideon’s Bakehouse at Disney Springs is a perfect example of marketing outweighing the actual product. The vibes, the aesthetic, the merch, and the whole elusive “you have to wait to get in” experience are executed flawlessly. It builds so much excitement that by the time you’ve waited over an hour to pay $6+ for a cookie, you expect something truly special. Unfortunately, the cookies just don’t live up to the hype.
I can’t quite put my finger on it, but they didn’t really eat like cookies. I usually love a doughy, chewy cookie, but these were more like dense cake pops or blondies than actual cookies. I tried the coffee cake cookie, banana bread cookie, and the original chocolate chip, and they were all the same—huge, heavy, and doughy in a way that felt more cake-like than cookie. You’d get more flavor eating a fistful of chocolate chips.
Another letdown was the merchandise. Part of the appeal is the branding, but you can barely see any of it. The T-shirts, stickers, and other merch were just piled near the register, making it hard to browse or even notice what was available.
The cold brew “the classic way” was also disappointing—it tasted mostly like overly sweet oat milk rather than coffee.
The one bright spot was the staff; everyone working there was genuinely kind and friendly.
Overall, I wouldn’t go back, and I definitely wouldn’t recommend anyone wait in that long line. The experience and marketing are top-tier, but the cookies themselves are mediocre and simply not worth the wait.