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Saturday, March 19, 2011

The Candy Cauldron...Still Dipping After All These Years!

The Downtown Disney West Side shopping zone at WDW opened in 1997, and one of its long-time residents has been bustling with business ever since--the Candy Cauldron--a Snow White-themed candy shop made to resemble the Wicked Queen's dungeon.

Features more than 200 tempting sweets, including big chunks of fudge, caramel apples, hand-spun cotton candy, chocolate dipped fruits, truffles, candy-coated pretzels and boxed chocolates.

There's no better place to get your specialty apples than here...





From the parking lot, billboards advertise what awaits on the other side...




Over the years, the Cauldron has looked relatively the same on the inside although some window displays and interior design have been slightly rearranged. I shot the following several images back in 2008. There used to be a free-standing sign out in front...



The far left window once displayed a rectangular "Specialty Apples Made to Order" sign while the far right revealed more of the castle "hewed-rock" wall facade...




And inside you were greeted by impressive incarnations of both the Queen and Old Witch. Atop the central candy rack, Her Evil Highness with a royal backdrop looked down from one side. On the other her more haggard alter-ego stood with a craggy old tree background...




Evil apple-holding hands adorned the sides of the candy rack...



By the following year 2009, the Queen had been removed and the Witch relocated to between the two entry doors (probably to make more room for the heavy customer foot traffic). The rest of the photos below were taken on my most recent visit to WDW earlier this month...




Moving left to right along the outside facade--the 'Specialty Apples' sign is gone from far left window, newer magic mirror framed signage added in other windows...





Step inside the shop...



The Old Witch (as my wife looks on) stands between the two doors with the original background removed. The evil apple-holding hands now perch at her feet to either side...





From right to left counter-clockwise around the inside of the shop--the organ pipe candy dispensers, the Queen's dungeon mural, and the heart box check-out counters...








The "dungeon kitchen" where the apple dipping magic happens...


All images from the Filmic Light collection.


These really are the best tasting candy apples I've ever had. On this most recent trip, my wife and I split one which was first dipped in caramel. Then a second layer of white chocolate was added before a final coating of liquid Heath bar. At our request, the cast member removed the stick and sliced the apple into easy consumable pieces. We then strolled over to the House of Blues and enjoyed some live music on the patio as we ate our treat!


Here's a bonus youtube video of a couple of lucky kids who got a "Magical Moment" inside the Cauldron...

Video posted by Disney4life2005.

* Disney Vacation Planner.

5 comments:

  1. WOW! How the hell did I miss this when I went to Orlando????????

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  2. CC is located on the west of Downtown Disney. Most folks start on the east side at the Marketplace so not everyone makes it that far.

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  3. I've never seen this shop either... Thanks for the fantastic tour! I could almost smell the taffy!

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  4. Hey Brian, it sounds like it's time to start planning your next trip to WDW :)

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  5. Woweeee! I can't believe I missed this shop either! I've only been to Downtown Disney once and that was on an "arrival day", so maybe after the long flight, car rental, and hotel check-in, I was just too tired!

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