Official Cake Chatter Thread

[LilGMom]

We'll be at WDW next year for our DS 7th birthday. Our tentative restaurants are below. Where would I most likely get a fun cake? We've had the cardboard podium cakes before & I'd like to order something this time.

Ohana
Chef Mickey
Boma
Crystal Palace

Or should I just bite the bullet & head to the GF for a meal with a really cool cake?

Thanks!
Michelle

Since Boma is at AKL I don't think I'd get a cake there. Based on this thread CM and GF seem to be putting out the best looking and tasting cakes. Next time I'll just be buying one from the Boardwalk bakery (or Publix).

 

[staceyzink]

Does anyone know what cake you can order at Marrakesh?

Thanks,
Stacey

 

[MrsPotts]

I am planning on getting my 20 yr old son a birthday cake while at Disney in January. Right now I have reservations for the character breakfast at Ohana's our first day there but now after reading comments about the quality of cakes from there I am concerned. So now I have some questions. Can I order a cake at GF and have it delivered for breakfast at Ohana's. The GF bakery seems to have a really really good reputation. Or should I just change from Ohana's to the Cape May breakfast and order from there? I think either breakfast will be fun for the "boys" and make for great photo ops but I do want a good cake. I thought about Chef Mickey's for breakfast but we've already done that and I really wanted to try something new this time around. Ohhhh so many decisions!

Thanks in advance

 

[princessmom29]

We'll be at WDW next year for our DS 7th birthday. Our tentative restaurants are below. Where would I most likely get a fun cake? We've had the cardboard podium cakes before & I'd like to order something this time.

Ohana
Chef Mickey
Boma
Crystal Palace

Or should I just bite the bullet & head to the GF for a meal with a really cool cake?

Thanks!
Michelle

Our cake experience at CM was awesome. I think that if you can get in touch with Brian at the contemporary you will have a good chance of getting a really nice cake. He seems by what I have seemn on the dis to be the most consistently good.

 

[HeatherBelle614]

We got back Monday from our WDW (and other theme parks) vacation. I ordered a cake from CM and had a great experience with Brian pre-trip discussing decor ideas. I can literally say I fell in love with our cake when it was brought to our table during our dinner! I was so impressed with his work and will post pictures soon!

But, I do have a big complaint and plan on writing the individual (in HR) whose name I was given from the manager at CM.

I asked our waitress how to make sure that the tip for the cake went to Brian since the cost of the cake was added in on the meal receipt, and she wasn't sure. So, she went and got the manager for me. I was informed by the manager that the tips for the cakes go to the server because Brian is a non-tip CM - meaning, he can't accept tips.

I was upset, to say the least. I'm not sure why the tip on my expensive cake didn't go to the rightful person that put so much time and effort in to making it.

(Maybe this has been brought up before, or no one ever questioned it yet, or maybe it's just me, but I think the pastry chef deserves the tip I put towards the cake, not the server who just carried it to our table.)

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

We got back Monday from our WDW (and other theme parks) vacation. I ordered a cake from CM and had a great experience with Brian pre-trip discussing decor ideas. I can literally say I fell in love with our cake when it was brought to our table during our dinner! I was so impressed with his work and will post pictures soon!

But, I do have a big complaint and plan on writing the individual (in HR) whose name I was given from the manager at CM.

I asked our waitress how to make sure that the tip for the cake went to Brian since the cost of the cake was added in on the meal receipt, and she wasn't sure. So, she went and got the manager for me. I was informed by the manager that the tips for the cakes go to the server because Brian is a non-tip CM - meaning, he can't accept tips.

I was upset, to say the least. I'm not sure why the tip on my expensive cake didn't go to the rightful person that put so much time and effort in to making it.

(Maybe this has been brought up before, or no one ever questioned it yet, or maybe it's just me, but I think the pastry chef deserves the tip I put towards the cake, not the server who just carried it to our table.)

I agree, it's just wrong. Brian deserved our tip, but instead our cake price was added to the bill and we ended up with a 62$ tip towards a server that did NOT deserve that much tip. I really didn't want to make a scene or complain on my dd's bday though, so I let it go.

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Yeah, I definitely didn't cause a scene. I excused myself (along with my DH) to go to the restroom and talked to the manager up near the check-in desk. (The cake was a surprise for everyone else in my party.) Our server did a great job, but she didn't make the cake. If you'd like the information I was given, let me know and I'll PM it to you. (The manager handed the card over without any problem, although I don't think she quite understood why I was aggravated that Brian wouldn't be receiving the tip.)

 

[Cupcake2008]

Yeah, I definitely didn't cause a scene. I excused myself (along with my DH) to go to the restroom and talked to the manager up near the check-in desk. (The cake was a surprise for everyone else in my party.) Our server did a great job, but she didn't make the cake. If you'd like the information I was given, let me know and I'll PM it to you. (The manager handed the card over without any problem, although I don't think she quite understood why I was aggravated that Brian wouldn't be receiving the tip.)

Glad to hear you loved your cake and can't wait to see the pictures. I agree that it doesn't seem fair that the server makes an extra $12 (or whatever) because they carried the cake, but how about focusing on sending a card of appreciation to Brian (and/or his supervisor) thanking him for his awesome work? Many companies have policies where employees with salaried jobs are not supposed to accept monetary tips of gifts no matter how wonderful a service they provide. It's also at your discretion to determine the appropriate tip for your server. I'm looking forward to seeing your cake.

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Glad to hear you loved your cake and can't wait to see the pictures. I agree that it doesn't seem fair that the server makes an extra $12 (or whatever) because they carried the cake, but how about focusing on sending a card of appreciation to Brian (and/or his supervisor) thanking him for his awesome work? Many companies have policies where employees with salaried jobs are not supposed to accept monetary tips of gifts no matter how wonderful a service they provide. It's also at your discretion to determine the appropriate tip for your server. I'm looking forward to seeing your cake.

I should have clarified - the reason I'm emailing is that I don't think the tip should include the cake cost if that's how they want it to be figured out. We had a custom cake (well, my mom had one made) for my birthday at a very pricey restaurant here. But, they rang the cake up on a separate check so that it wouldn't automatically add on to the tip for the server. I'm definitely planning on praising Brian for the reason you stated, too.

I'm hoping to start uploading pictures tonight.

 

[Cupcake2008]

I should have clarified - the reason I'm emailing is that I don't think the tip should include the cake cost if that's how they want it to be figured out. We had a custom cake (well, my mom had one made) for my birthday at a very pricey restaurant here. But, they rang the cake up on a separate check so that it wouldn't automatically add on to the tip for the server. I'm definitely planning on praising Brian for the reason you stated, too.

I'm hoping to start uploading pictures tonight.

I'm still a little confused. Did they refuse to put the cake on a separate check? Even if it was on the same check, you still weren't able to adjust your tip to be a percentage of the dinner amount only? The whole tipping system in restaurants leads us to these very gray areas, and people definitely have strong opinions on the subject.

I actually purchased an anniversary cake for my parents, and had them put the cake on a separate check so that I could pay for it separately as a gift. My parents would also have probably freaked out if I ever told them how much I spent on that cake. Although it did cross my mind that it wasn't really fair that the server got an additional 20% of my cake price for doing nothing but setting it on the table, I still added the tip to the separate check. I still felt obligated to tip her for the cake, but that's just my personal feeling. As a former server, I've thought a lot about tipping and it's inequities. I made a lot of extra money when checks were padded with expensive drinks that the bartender made that I had nothing to do with. When the chef made someone an expensive impressive awesome meal they would thank him, but I benefited from the tip far more than when a customer ordered water and got a dried out chicken breast. However, I did my job exactly the same way in each instance.

I don' t mean to make this a tipping debate. It's so good to hear that you loved your cake and that Brian impresses yet again. Still can't wait to see your pictures.

 

[georgiasmom]

It seems like some of you have spoken directly to the pastry chefs when placing your orders. Can you tell me how you did that? My daughter has a dairy allergy and I want to order a cake for our Jan trip. We will be celebrating her 7th birthday. When I have called the boardwalk bakery in the past they have only given me one option and would not work with my on the decorating b/c of the allergy.

Thanks

A

 

[momof2OH]

Who can you contact when having an issue with a cake you received? The cake was from CM.

 

[Tink561]

Our cake at California Grill was on a separate check and included the standard tip for private dining. Our server got tipped on our meal. Is that not how yours worked? Typically chefs don't get tipped. They are hourly or salary employees.

 

[Tink901]

It seems like some of you have spoken directly to the pastry chefs when placing your orders. Can you tell me how you did that? My daughter has a dairy allergy and I want to order a cake for our Jan trip. We will be celebrating her 7th birthday. When I have called the boardwalk bakery in the past they have only given me one option and would not work with my on the decorating b/c of the allergy.

Thanks

A

I would call the Boardwalk and ask to speak to have a Chef call or speak to just explain that your need to discuss a cake but there is a dairy allergy shouldn't be a problem. Have a great trip!

 

[29apr00]

I just ordered a Dairy free cake from Poly......it's a standard premade cake delieverd from one of their suppliers. It was FROZEN solid when we recieved it and did not have any of the decorations on it that i requested.

last year we had a diary free cake from GF. It was one of the disney made cakes, but my choices for icing and fillig were extremely limited due to the dairy allergy.

Have you contracted the WDW special diet dept? That's how i found out about the cake at Poly. They should be able to tell you if Boardwalk can MAKE you the cake or if it will be one of the premade frozen ones. definately stay away from that kind!

 

[Fortune1211]

I'm just now getting around to posting these pictures of our cake from 11/29 at CM. I felt very confident when ordering the cake that it was going to be amazing! I had asked for a winter/Christmas themed vanilla cake with chocolate buttercream frosting. It was going to be $65 and then when the woman I spoke with said that Brian could do a white chocolate Cinderella and Prince Charming on top for another $35. I was expecting a hollow white chocolate figurine similar to the one we've seen of the castle or slipper on here, not so

I had it delivered to CM because it was our first official night and had read great things about Brians designs. When we checked in I mentioned the cake and they said it was ready and gorgeous! I mentioned again that it was a surprise for my husband. Said something to the hostess that sat us and again mentioned my husband had no idea. When the waitress came over, as she was picking up our ticket she said directly to my husband, "Who gets the cake?" Luckily it's so loud in there and when he looked at me I said to him, she said cards not cake. OMG I was so upset I had planned this for so long and was so excited about it and in one second it had been dashed. We got through the meal without him mentioning anything else and we got to the end of the meal and I was waiting and waiting and finally said something to her and she said she was waiting until Celebration time! I told her that was ok if she could just bring it out because we were done. 10 minutes later while my husband was up at the dessert bar she brings it out So when he came back there it was! He of course acted as surprised as he could but I was really bummed that the surprise surprise was ruined.

Ok onto the cake! It really wasn't very good tasting And it was vanilla buttercream filling instead of chocolate. And it wasn't the topper I was expecting. I'm also pretty sure that it had been frozen as well. We didn't finish it. I don't know that I'd do it again, especially for $100. Here's the pics!

 

[29apr00]

I'm sorry you did not get what you wanted....no way would i expect THAT topper for $35!! I think that cake is jsut way too overdecorated!

 

[Canyon girl]

I am finally getting around to posting my picture from CR room delivery on 12/3. I had tried to order a cake from GF for 1900 Park Fare, but when questioning Pat about the problems that were being reported, she told me not to order. (Just a catch up for those who hadn't read my previous posts.) Anyway, I ordered a cake to be delivered to my room at the CR and was assured that it would be done by the cakemanbri. I was quoted $66 for the cake. I haven't seen the bill yet because my DH signed for the delivery. The flavor was good, not spectacular, but good. I was told that the Cinderella was edible chocolate, but after licking my finger after getting the coloring on it, I decided that the "taste" was not edible.

I got what I requested, but would I do it again, probably not.

 

[sulley0221]

Ok so I was hoping to get a custom cake made for the night we are eating at Kona cafe. I talked to the Poly private dining and they said that they cant do fondant just butter creme or whipped cream with an edible image which really isn't what I want. So what are my options?? Can I order from GF? HELP!

 

[boldlyreal]

I have found the cake I want for our trip at an outside the world bakery. If I bring it to our dinner can they hold it in the kitchen and then bring it tableside after dinner? I am willing to pay a service fee within reason.