I ordered my cake just now after weeks of research on the cake threads and internet.
45 dollars for a 10 inch Pink birthday cake that says Happy Birthday Julia.
Chocolate cake with chocolate cream stuff.
For pick up at Boardwalk Bakery.
We will be adding our own cake topper, a miniature Ariel snow globe.
What I would like to say about this is that the same cake was about to cost me 75 bucks.
---First I called the cake hotline. I said I had to get a PINK cake because that is what my little daughter has dreamed up in her imagination. She will be turning 3 years old. This is her first time to WDW. The cake is a big deal to us, a symbol of her birthday and the trip and our family saying farewell to the baby years. It can't be the standard white cake. It has to be Pink!
The cake hotline told me any customization requires a 10 inch cake. The cake is 45 dollars and any customization, such as different frosting or decorations or personalization, would be 30 dollars additional, bringing the cake to 75. I said I'd think about it and call back.
Then I called the Boardwalk Bakery directly, by calling the Boardwalk Hotel and asking to be transfered to the Bakery. I spoke with somebody who said that all cakes should be ordered through the cake hotline, unless you want a mad hatter cake or special cake, for which you speak to the pastry chefs. She gave me his number and said call at 7:30 on Sunday. I got an answering machine but left a nice message.
Chef Keith called me back. I explained the occasion and my need for a PINK cake. I said, "maybe with some swirls or writing but not a ton of specialty decorations." I didn't want those cut outs at all but I didn't want to put down their merchandise. I explained I would bring a small snow globe for the middle of the cake. I said I wasn't sure what cake I could afford but that I heard good things about the Boardwalk Bakery cakes.
Chef Keith said he could do a pink cake for 45 dollars.
I was thrilled with that answer and figure whatever else the cake is besides pink, that would be a bonus. I felt better knowing I had spoken with somebody who makes cakes, even if he doesn't end up making this cake himself. It's just nicer to talk to the bakery instead of the cake hotline, which seems to be like a secretary service, not a baker.
Chef Keith said he would have to let "private dining" call me back to complete the order.
They called minutes later and said "So you want a basic vanilla cake and he is just going to tint the frosting pink for you..."
Part of me wanted to say No no this is a special cake for my daughter with beautiful swirly pink frosting and writing and ...." But I didn't. I just said "Yep!" Because she is just taking the order. She isn't making the cake.
I have hope that the cake will be fine. I certainly didn't need a 10 inch cake for my family but I knew from all the posts on the cake thread that I had to stick to my priorities here and let the chips fall where they may.
I didn't want to insist on the most fancy cake possible, with a high price, still not knowing for sure what it would look like or taste like.
I certainly hope the cake hotline system evolves. I guess the bottom line is that cakes are either standard or special, but not very often standard AND special.
From reading so, so many posts on the cake thread and looking over the gallery so many times that I recognize the cakes, I can see that to get what you want, you have to chat with the bakery, not just the cake hotline.
Now... I wait... and cross my fingers that the cake is cute.
I will post a photo after our trip.
Thanks for the info!
