Cake Bake Shop at the BoardWalk is now open

[gottalovepluto]

Yak & Yeti is a part of a chain owned by the Landry's group and is advertised as such. They have gift cards available at major retailers and a loyalty program that promotes it as privately owned. I think a better example would be all of the non Disney owned restaurants in Epcot.

What? They tend to have a good amount of MDE availability. The comment was discussing how Cake Bake doesn’t have good MDE availability

 

[gottalovepluto]

I wanted to go to Cake Bake for dinner tonight but of course the Disney app showed no availabilities. We were at MK so I didn't want to make the phone call. I wish they would hurry up and fix the MDE issue. Not everyone is familiar with other booking apps.

Wait- did we confirm there is actually an MDE issue and this isn’t CBS’s choice?

 

[gottalovepluto]

... We went for a late lunch and were sat 30 minutes late. I understand that can happen, but the cast members weren't even a little apologetic and when we were eventually sat there were multiple empty tables...

Repeated reports of empty tables with people waiting means restaurant management is cheapening out on hiring enough servers/chefs. Like, this is getting kinda crazy just in our tiny corner of the internet. They should be operating competently at full capacity by this point.

 

[Cfabar1]

This^
To further clarify for those who don't use OpenTable and those who have just never come across the situation where a credit card is required to make an OpenTable reservation, most restaurants on OpenTable do not require a credit card. It is up to the individual restaurant whether or not to require a credit card and how much of a cancellation fee to impose. The restaurant can also opt in or out of this option at any time. This is why there are so many posters here with differing experiences since CBS opened.

Yes, thank you...

Most OT restaurants do not require a credit card deposit, but many do.... and some do only for special times (think Mothers Day brunches, etc.)

 

[Cfabar1]

Repeated reports of empty tables with people waiting means restaurant management is cheapening out on hiring enough servers/chefs. Like, this is getting kinda crazy just in our tiny corner of the internet. They should be operating competently at full capacity by this point.

We found our servers friendly but they disappeared for long stretches... and we ran into odd pacing of parts of our meals... that may have been why... Not enough staff!

 

[Madteaparty001]

What? They tend to have a good amount of MDE availability. The comment was discussing how Cake Bake doesn’t have good MDE availability

I thought your comment was saying Yak & Yeti has no trouble being full even though they also utilize both MDE and OpenTable. My original comment was saying that I thought it was a poor business decision by CBS to limit their MDE bookings in favor of OpenTable so early in their tenure. So it sounds like we agree, limiting MDE bookings makes no sense at this time.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I thought your comment was saying Yak & Yeti has no trouble being full even though they also utilize both MDE and OpenTable. My original comment was saying that I thought it was a poor business decision by CBS to limit their MDE bookings in favor of OpenTable so early in their tenure. So it sounds like we agree, limiting MDE bookings makes no sense at this time.

I disagree with your assessment because they are not within a park and thus need to make business decisions that include both Disney guests and the nearby community.

OT has a very large outreach at least in urban areas.

 

[BK2014]

Let’s talk more about the pink parking slip …
Where you told to display it in the front window ?
What happens if you didn’t leave after the 3 hour limit ?

and how soon prior to your reservation re you authorized?

I have long wondered this at all the disney resorts that do this... how much of it is serious, and how much of it is theatre....

DW and I don't remember if the guy specifically told us to put it on our dash, but it was at least implied. However, the guard did not specifically tell us we only had 3-hours, nor did he warn of any consequences for staying too long.

The weird thing about the pink slip is that it is pre-printed. They do not write on it what time you arrived, but rather it just has a "Meal Period" pre-typed. Ours said "breakfast" even though we had an 11:15am lunch reservation. We arrived at 10:45am.

We didn't actually put the slip on our dash because we were concerned that the fact that it said "breakfast" for the meal period would lead whoever might be checking it to believe we had over-stayed our welcome since our 3-hours didn't expire until 1:45pm. The slip did have the 3-hour limit printed on it. I also do not know how the differentiate cars that are parked for ADRs from those of guests, absent the slip.

Even though we did not display the slip, we did leave before our 3-hours had expired, so I do not know what consequences there might have been. They had us park in the parking lot on the left side of the main drive, and there seemed to be plenty of parking on that side.

 

[BK2014]

Repeated reports of empty tables with people waiting means restaurant management is cheapening out on hiring enough servers/chefs.

I am not sure one can conclude that the restaurant is lacking staff because they are cheap. There are currently postings for servers, line cooks, hosts, food runners, and bussers on Indeed. So they are hiring. The Orlando area has a lot of restaurants and a finite pool of possible employees. I would also imagine that a place like the Cake Bake Shop would tend to be pickier in who they hire. But at least for servers, I would also imagine that given the menu prices the tips are pretty good, depending on how they are pooled or split.

 

[BK2014]

Here is my review of the actual Cake Bake Restaurant experience. We had a 11:15am lunch reservation yesterday (12/14). We arrived a couple minutes early, checked in, and waited outside for about 10 minutes until our table was ready. DW and I were seated in the main dining room at a 4-top.

DW was very impressed by the decor and ambiance of the restaurant. I also thought it was nice, but not to the same level of excitement as DW. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable. I ordered the Po' Boy and coke. DW had one of the quiches and a specialty coffee drink. For dessert, we ordered a slice of the raspberry champagne cake to eat in the restaurant, and a slice of carrot cake to-go.

We both really enjoyed our entrees. I was surprised the Po' Boy was as large as it was. It probably could have been a little shorter in length, if only to compact more shrimp in to each bite. The fries were well seasoned. DW enjoyed both her quiche and her coffee drink. It was my first time eating a Po' Boy so I don't have anything to compare it to.

The raspberry champagne cake did not wow us. It was nice and light, but we both felt the frosting could have used a little more flavor. It wasn't bad by any means, but expectations run high when prices are that high and the name of the restaurant includes the word "Cake". Our server did present it with "fairy dust" that my wife blew all over the cake, so the presentation was fun.

The carrot cake, which we ate later that evening, was very good. Plenty moist, good frosting, but most importantly, no raisins. Still not sure it was as good as the price would suggest, but I have eaten a lot of carrot cake (it was my dad's favorite) and I would say this one is up there. Both slices were more than large enough to share.

After tip, we paid $152. As expensive as this was, it is cheaper than the $150 plus tip we paid the prior weekend to eat at Tutto Italia for the Candlelight Processional Dining Package - for which the menu price of our food and drink exceeded the $150 package price. At both we got drinks, entrees, and dessert. So at the end of the day, I don't know that the Cake Bake Shop is any more outrageously priced than other WDW table service restaurants. But that is coming from a local who has grown accustom to paying WDW prices for dining. The joy it brought to DW to experience it certainly made it worth while - though DW told me that I could not remark to our server "Well, I guess I'm the po' boy now" when I paid.

I am sure we will be back, likely with relatives who will want to try it, though it will not be on our regular rotation. There are other menu items I would like to try, and desserts other than cake that looked good.

 

[Minnie1222]

Wait- did we confirm there is actually an MDE issue and this isn’t CBS’s choice?

I really hope this isn't CBS's choice because it happened again today. I checked MDE first thing in the morning and there were no availabilities for the day. We stopped by anyway et voilà they had an opening.

 

[lowlight]

My wife’s review of CBS was basically good, but not great. They were seated at the inside room, and from the photos it’s a much nicer experience than the outer part. She’s glad she went, but will probably not be back unless it’s a special occasion. Chicken salad croissant was good, French onion soup was about the same as you’d find at a chain steakhouse, cake was good, but not great, and definitely not big enough to feed 3. Likely not even 2 people who left room for dessert. My opinion of the cake leftovers was “eh”. The raspberry bar she got me was very good though. I still think the prices of some items are just too high and they are going to struggle long term, but I hope I’m wrong and I’m rooting for them.

 

[Madteaparty001]

I disagree with your assessment because they are not within a park and thus need to make business decisions that include both Disney guests and the nearby community.

OT has a very large outreach at least in urban areas.

I've already stated my multiple reasons as to why I think they should favor MDE reservations at this time, I've never said they should not utilize other sources. Agree to disagree.

 

[MinnieMSue]

We went to the bakery Friday night after dining at flying fish. We had to wait briefly in line to be let in but it moved quickly. We got the chocolate peppermint cake. We paid with a Disney gift card and it is separate from their Toast cash register system. You have to sign a slip and can fill in a tip if desired. We didn’t desire because they pulled the boxed cake out and handed it us. As for the cake - we both actually loved it and were surprised how much we enjoyed it. We were not hungry at that point but ate about half of the cake because it was so good. A dense chocolate cake and the peppermint frosting between layers was delicious. We actually had no regrets paying so much for it at all. Would buy again. We would also probably like the restaurant but not this trip.

 

[Minnie1222]

Repeated reports of empty tables with people waiting means restaurant management is cheapening out on hiring enough servers/chefs. Like, this is getting kinda crazy just in our tiny corner of the internet. They should be operating competently at full capacity by this point.

I agree! The windows to the perimeter room were wide open yesterday and we could see empty tables, yet we had to wait for 20-25 minutes before being seated. This was after MDE showing no availabilities and we did a walk-up.

 

[Minnie1222]

The bakery is lovely. I was able to take some pictures once the crowd cleared.







This bear actually moved the head and arm.

This little guy came home with me.

 

[BK2014]

I've already stated my multiple reasons as to why I think they should favor MDE reservations at this time, I've never said they should not utilize other sources. Agree to disagree.

I wonder if the CBS favors Open Table over MDE due to the more favorable (to the restaurant) cancellation policy on Open Table. OT's 24 hour cancellation policy ensures that those reservations are not being made solely to secure someone parking at the Boardwalk before they cancel their reservation. And I don't see having walk-up availability as a negative thing for the restaurants or the guests. The fact that there are wait times to be seated indicates that the CBS is operating at whatever their current capacity is. I am not sure I would assume that it is solely a lack of staffing. It may simply be that they want to makes sure they figure everything out before running at 100%,

 

[Madteaparty001]

The fact that there are wait times to be seated indicates that the CBS is operating at whatever their current capacity is. I am not sure I would assume that it is solely a lack of staffing.

Capacity at a restaurant is determined by available seating and staff. It has been mentioned numerous times that there is a lot of empty tables. That leaves only staff in the equation. Restaurants are notorious for being difficult in terms of turning a profit so not filling those seats seems like poor business planning. It's like opening a hotel and only renting out 25% of the rooms.

I live near a midsize city that sees a lot of tourism and there are new restaurants opening and closing all of the time. I've never seen one take so long to find their footing, the first year is crucial in whether it can make the long haul.

 

[BK2014]

I live near a midsize city that sees a lot of tourism and there are new restaurants opening and closing all of the time. I've never seen one take so long to find their footing, the first year is crucial in whether it can make the long haul.

I agree the first year is crucial. The CBS has been open less than two months. Still plenty of time to find their footing, assuming that you are correct and they are struggling. I don't know that I would compare restaurants opening and closing in a midsize city to the CBS which is on Disney property, and already has proven their concept to be successful in another market. Already having once successful restaurant may give the CBS access to financial resources that other new restaurants may not have. But having never opened a restaurant myself or having any direct knowledge of the CBS's plans, I don't presume to know what their planning or strategy is, or whether it is good or bad.

 

[PetePanMan]

Went to bakery after dinner on boardwalk. The champagne raspberry cake was good (icing was excellent) but at $23 we just kind of felt ripped off.