Cake Question

[JenandJosh2009]

Hi girls! It's been a while since I've been on...been busy with school and planning!...but I need your expertise on this one

We've been looking at Disney's cakes and prices to get ready for our planning session in May, and I cannot believe how much they charge for their cakes. My question is, has anyone asked about or had a fake tier in their cake? This would be a great way to still get a 3-tier cake but cut the cost a little bit. TIA!!!

 

[twenty3curls]

Hi girls! It's been a while since I've been on...been busy with school and planning!...but I need your expertise on this one

We've been looking at Disney's cakes and prices to get ready for our planning session in May, and I cannot believe how much they charge for their cakes. My question is, has anyone asked about or had a fake tier in their cake? This would be a great way to still get a 3-tier cake but cut the cost a little bit. TIA!!!

Very curious about this, too! We really love the look of the 3-tier Mad Hatter, but only have 22 people coming to our post-Escape dinner....3-tiers might be a little overkill!! BUT...design-wise, I don't want to sacrifice a tier.

 

[Tabetha]

The cake isn't the expensive part - it's the decoration of the cake. You'd be paying essentially the same price for a fake tier.

 

[lurkyloo]

Yep!

I'm sure DISer "InTheKnow" will be along shortly to corroborate...

 

[PrincessBride07]

I asked about a fake layer during my planning session. My planner told me that they do not do fake layers. You have to order an extra layer of cake if that is what you want.

 

[CharacterFan]

You could look into doing a small cake, and having them serve sheet cake to your guests, that might cut the costs a little bit at least. Since Disney brings out the cake already sliced on plates, I don't think it would look taky or anything like that.

 

[PixyDusted]

As a cake decorator, I personally wouldn't charge the same because I'd be saving money by not having cake and filling inside. However, that being said, I agree with what Tabetha said; the cake isn't the expensive part. You're paying for their "expertise" in decorating. That's why artist get paid big bucks (well, some of them )and why they charge upwards of $12 per slice.

 

[arubio0801]

I asked out having a fake layer as well and I was told it's the same price no matter if it's fake or cake! So I decided to do cake cause whats the point of having fake cake and paying the same price.

 

[JenandJosh2009]

Thanks for all of your input! I now have a decision to make whether I want to just shell out the money for what I really want (which DF is going to fight me on) or go with something else.

I found this website that I thought was funny, but it may be an option if I decide to just do an all fake cake and then just get sheet cake from the bakery.

http://www.cakerental.com/choose_ready.html

Thanks again!!

 

[Swmhc]

Yep. Same here. I found a cake we LOVED and asked about a fake tier as it needed all of them to look right. I was told they don't do the fake tiers. That being said, once it was priced out by the bakery, I couldn't get DH to agree to pay that much for only 13 people for cake. I loved the cake we went with, but part of me really wishes we would have gone with the first choice.......oh well...... maybe for the VR...........

 

[JenandJosh2009]

Ok, I have a follow up question: Does anyone know if we are allowed to go to an outside bakery to get our cake?

I just can't believe they want to charge me $2,000 for a wedding cake when I can go outside and get one for $500-$600. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[lurkyloo]

I can!

Sorry to be flippant about it - unfortunately, you are not allowed to use an outside vendor for your cake.

What's the name of the cake you want - is it in Disney's list of cakes or did you show them a picture and have them tell you it'd be $2,000 to re-create it?

The reason I ask is, that the only cakes on their standard list that cost $2,000 or more are the ones that feed, like, 145-175 people. And if you're having that many people, it would make sense to get a three-tier "show" cake and then order sheet cakes to make up the difference.

 

[lurkyloo]

Also, the Grand Floridian Bakery may be able to work with you to incorporate the elements you like from the $2,000 cake on a simpler cake that costs less!

 

[JenandJosh2009]

I was looking at the Bridge to Happiness or the Castle Cakes. I am expecting around 100 guests. Ok, tell me if I'm figuring this out wrong. Let's say I choose the Bridge to Happiness. If I choose the small one, the price list says that it's $14 per person and the guest count minimum is 65. So that brings me to $910. Then add on the $100 for the castle cake topper, so I'm at $1010! Plus I need to buy additional sheet cake then for the rest of the guests. In my opinion that seems outrageous.

(We were thinking of doing the larger Bridge to Happiness first, which would be $14 per person with a guest count minimum of 145. Add $200 for the castle cake topper and the total for that is $2,230, which is where I got the above $2,000 from)

Sorry to ramble, but this kind of upsets me b/c I can't imagine having a wedding w/out a cake but these prices seem way too high.

Anyway, thank you for your help and input!!

 

[JenandJosh2009]

Also, the Grand Floridian Bakery may be able to work with you to incorporate the elements you like from the $2,000 cake on a simpler cake that costs less!

This may be a good idea, and I will definitely look into it. Thanks!!

 

[lurkyloo]

OK, let's see.... a 1/4 sheet cake serves 25 and costs $55. If you add that to the 65-person cake and the small topper, you're looking at $1065 plus tax and service charge to feed 90 people (which I think you could get away with, since not everyone eats cake and there's *always* some leftover!). For reference, a 1/2 sheet cake serves 50 and costs $80, but I really don't think you'll need that much cake.

I agree that $100-$200 is outrageous for the white-chocolate topper - could you find a similiar porcelain castle topper on your own and bring it?

In the end, you may decide to have the bakery create something cheaper that feels like the cakes you like but, say, has buttercream frosting instead of fondant or has fewer tiers.

 

[JenandJosh2009]

The way you break it down makes me feel somewhat better! I'll wait to see what the bakery says when we go for our planning session. Hopefully they'll be able to work w/ us. Thank you SO MUCH for your help!!!

 

[IntheKnow]

t

 

[lurkyloo]

Price out a cake in NYC or LA, and you'll see what I mean. The one big name in NYC, the lady with the big glasses, won't even turn her ovens on for less than $5000.00.

This cracked me up!

Would that be Sylvia Weinstock?

http://www.sylviaweinstock.com/index_fl4.html

 

[Janell]

My two cents, if you can find a cake toper you like. I go that route. We had the choc castle toper, painted to look like a sand castle(underwater theme) The cake topper made it back to our room, but with flying back to LAX, I wasn't sure it would make it. I would have cried if secerty would have told me to toss it. Anyhow, so we ate our cake topper. It was good, but would have been nice to have a keep sake. So thats why I would say if you can pick out a cake topper, thats not the choc. one then you might want to go that route.