Updated: November 18, 2024
It’s the battle of the cookies! If you visit Disney Springs located at the Walt Disney World Resort, then you definitely need to take time to try both of these cookie locations.
Gideon’s Bakehouse opened on January 16, 2021 in The Landing area of Disney Springs, while The Cookie Bar at Summer House on the Lake opened on December 14, 2024 in the West End of Disney Springs.
Each location serves a variety of cookies that are massive and delicious. But, which one is better?
Let’s get to the Gideon’s Bakehouse vs. Summer House on the Lake showdown.
In this article
Gideon’s Bakehouse Cookies
Gideon’s Bakehouse is known for its massive cookies that approximately weigh about a half-pound each. You read that correctly. They are worth every bite.
Price
Cookies at Gideon’s cost $6 each. When you think about it, $6 for a half-pound cookie isn’t that bad.
It’s rare that you are going eat one of these cookies in an entire sitting (at least I don’t or can’t). They are very filling.
Variety
There are a variety of cookie flavors at Gideon’s. Some are staples that you can always find on the menu, whereas others are seasonal or monthly flavors.
These include:
- Original Chocolate Chip
- Peanut Butter Crunch
- Pistachio Toffee Chocolate Chip
- Cookies & Cream
- Triple Chocolate Chip
- Coffee Cake Cookie (exclusive daily limited edition Disney Springs flavor; available every morning until they sell out)
- Dark Coffee Cake Cookie (evening limited edition flavor; available at sunset until they sell out)
- Monthly Limited Edition Flavor (monthly cookie flavor; usually a limit of 2 per person)
Gideon’s also sells cake slices and cold brews. I have yet to try the cake, but I can attest that the Peanut Butter Cold Brew is divine (it’s also vegan and gluten free).
If that isn’t enough, there is Hot Cookie Hour at Gideon’s. You can get the Original Chocolate Chip Cookie served straight from the oven with chocolate or vanilla ice cream for $10!
This happens every day between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. and between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Cookie Limit
Keep in mind there is a cookie limit when you order at Gideon’s.
There is a strict limit of 7 cookies per paying customer. The limit used to be 6 cookies, but Gideon’s has changed it to 7.
The Line
Gideon’s is known for its line. Prepare yourself, because more often than not, you will have to wait.
While Gideon’s opens at 10 a.m. each day, the line usually begins around 9 a.m., the same time the parking garage opens.
If the line gets too long, a Virtual Queue will be utilized. You have to join the Virtual Queue in person. This means, you can go do other things around Disney Springs while you wait to receive a text that it’s your turn to buy some cookies.
When you do get that text, you’ll check in at the end of the return line, where you might have to wait about 15 minutes or so before you can actually enter to buy cookies.
Gideon’s says that the Virtual Queue is less likely to happen or might be shorter on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Mondays might see a regular Virtual Queue of about 2 hours or so. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays will be busy with waits that can get up to 5 hours.
Sometimes the virtual wait list will hit capacity, meaning the queue will close in order to handle everyone else already in line.
Basically, the earlier you arrive, the shorter your wait will be. And if you want a limited-edition menu item, I suggest going as early and as soon as possible, because they will sell out on a busy day.
Summer House on the Lake Cookies
Summer House on the Lake cookies can be found at The Cookie Bar, which is attached to the restaurant. This is a Quick Service location that anyone can walk up to and purchase cookies.
Price
Summer House on the Lake cookies range in price from $4.95 to $5.45. What you pay depends on what kind of cookie you get.
I think the price is decent, especially since the cookies here are huge.
If you’re dining at the restaurant, you can order cookies right at your table. And — you can even have your cookies warmed up and served with vanilla ice cream!
Variety
You can find a lot of different cookie flavors at Summer House on the Lake. Look at them all!
These flavors include:
- Chocolate Chip – $4.95
- Walnut Chocolate Chip – $5.45
- Sea Salt Chocolate Chip -$4.95
- Krispy Chocolate Chip – $5.45
- Lemon- $4.95
- Birthday Cake – $4.95
- M&M- $4.95
- Oatmeal Scotchie – $4.95
- Apple Oatmeal – $4.95
- Peanut Butter – $4.95
- Ginger Snap – $4.95
- Double Chocolate Cloud – $4.95
- Fudge Bomb- $5.45
- Vegan and Gluten-Free Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookie – $4.95
- Snickerdoodle – $4.95
- Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip – $4.95
- Pink Lady – $4.95
- Brown Butter Rice Krispy Treat – $4.95
- Cookies and Cream Rice Krispy Treat – $4.95
- Brownie – $4.95
- Blondie – $4.95
Currently, all of these are available year-round and daily. I did ask my server if they would eventually have any limited-edition cookies and they weren’t sure, but did note that the Creamsicle one could be considered more seasonal.
You can also find coffees, cocktails, and zero-proof beverages at The Cookie Bar.
Cookie Limit
Unlike Gideon’s, The Cookie Bar at Summer House on the Lake does not have a limit. You can buy as many as you’d like!
The Line
From my experience on January 16, 2024, the line at The Cookie Bar is very manageable. There actually wasn’t a line, but I also arrived when the restaurant opened.
I haven’t heard of anyone having to wait a long time for the cookies here.
Currently, a virtual queue has not been utilized and it’s unclear if one would be put to use in the future if the line were to reach an hours-long wait time.
At the time of publication, Summer House on the Lake is relatively new. So, as more people start to visit, The Cookie Bar could become more popular. If so, it could reach wait times like Gideon’s. We will all just have to wait and see.
Which is better?
Now that I’ve tried cookies at both Gideon’s Bakehouse and Summer House on the Lake, which cookies are better?
Gideon’s Bakehouse
- Pros: Cookies are superb, nice variety, good size, special monthly flavors, reasonable price, travel well, other delicious menu items
- Cons: Cookie limit, the line and wait times can be extremely long (basically have to rope drop), no vegan option
The Cookie Bar at Summer House on the Lake
- Pros: Fantastic flavor, solid size, no cookie limit, great price for what you get, line is manageable, one vegan option
- Cons: No rotating cookies or monthly flavors (but this may change in the future), don’t travel well (fragile and soft, which aren’t bad things, but they can break apart if you have to travel on an airplane home)
This is tough, because they are both unique in their own way. It just depends on what kind of cookie you want — one that is a half-pound or one that is larger dimensionally. They both taste amazing and aren’t badly priced.
I’ve tried a lot of cookies from Gideon’s and they’ve all been good. I really love the Peanut Butter Crunch, Coffee Cake Cookie, and Pistachio Toffee Chocolate Chip.
Also, if you’re vegan, Gideon’s doesn’t have any vegan cookies — but Summer House on the Lake does! While no longer on the menu, I once tried the Vegan Snickerdoodle that was excellent.
As of November 2024, Summer House on the Lake has a vegan and gluten-free Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookie. that I’ve yet to try (hopefully soon).
Out of the cookies I’ve tried at Summer House on the Lake (Lemon, Oatmeal Scotchie, and Vegan Snickerdoodle), they were all excellent. So far, the Oatmeal Scotchie is my favorite. It’s good — like really, really good. I definitely need to try more from The Cookie Bar!
Really, I think they are both fantastic cookie options. Due to Gideon’s typcially having a long line (sometimes you have to rope drop if you don’t want to wait), Summer House on the Lake is a great alternative with cookies that are worth your time and money.
Do you prefer cookies at Gideon’s Bakehouse or Summer House on the Lake?
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