Official Disney Cake Chatter - Part IV! (2012-2016)

[Yonich2501]

Maybe it was on a different forum.


Hey...you are in disney...just go for it!

 

[lurkyloo]

Will this be delivered by private dining a the Contemporary.. I am guessing another 20% on top of the cake fee is that correct ? Can we pick up the cake ?

If you have it delivered to a restaurant reservation there is no delivery fee. If you have it delivered to your room you pay all the usual Private Dining fees: $3 delivery charge, 18% service charge and 6.5% sales tax. If you don't have a meal scheduled, you could see if they'd deliver to a restaurant anyway and let you pick it up at the podium.

 

[Sandy321]

Ordering Process
The process went smoothly at first—Private Dining put me in touch with the pastry chef, and she was super-responsive via email. We sent several messages back and forth and got everything nailed down pretty easily, although I was told I had to get a 6-inch because they don't have the "equipment" to do minicakes. She approved the design and gave me a price, then told me to call in my order to Private Dining, which I did.

However, a few days later I got a strange call from Private Dining asking me if I still wanted to place an order for a cake. This kinda panicked me, so I called them back and was told they had to do some research and would get back to me. They never did. I called again after the weekend and learned from Private Dining that the pastry chef I'd been working with had left on a 2-week vacation without giving them any info about my cake, and that all my correspondence with her was tied up in her private email account, so they didn't even have the photos I'd sent.



I re-sent all the info and went over everything again. Private Dining called me the day before and said they were making the cake right then and wanted to confirm the details of the exterior color (which I did, and they still messed up, but it wasn't a huge deal). This is how it turned out...

Location: Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jiko)

Size: 6-inch cake

Flavors: Red velvet cake with cream cheese mousse filling, not the cream cheese buttercream frosting I'd requested.

Price: Quoted $65 ($35 for 6-inch cake + $30 for fondant decorations), charged $23

Inspiration Photos:
I found this cake online and asked to have a modified version as a 6-inch. I found a separate cake to get inspiration for the hippo on top...



How It Turned Out:
The cake looked a lot better than I was expecting, considering it seemed to have been hastily assembled by assistants while the pastry chef was out. They didn't use a contrasting color for the leaves like in the original photo, and the pond was a little rough around the edges (literally!), but the hippo was adorable and really well-made. It was a surprise for my husband, and he thought it looked great!

(Sorry these photos aren't better—new camera!)

The only thing I was really disappointed about was the use of cream cheese mousse filling instead of cream cheese buttercream frosting, which I had made a big deal about twice: once when I placed the order, and again when they confirmed it. I think they just assumed I meant "filling" instead of "frosting" because it's what they use in most of their cakes, but I really really dislike Disney's cream cheese mousse filling, which is way too cheesecake-y for my taste.

For some reason, when we got the bill for dinner, the cake was listed at only $23, maybe because they felt bad about losing the order or because it had been created by assistants instead of the pastry chef...?

At any rate, I would still order a fancy cake at AKL again now that they seem to have progressed beyond the supermarket level of cake-making—I guess I just need to be even MORE specific in the future!

wow

wow wow!!

Thank you for not only taking the time to answer everyone's question - but to post your entire experience! It really is helpful information -

 

[Ilovemyprincesses]

We are going in November. Me, my mother and 2 girls -9&11. I have been trying to book the dessert party but I haven't had any luck. I thought maybe I could order a cake. We aren't celebrating anything, I just want to surprise them. I have been reading the cake threads for days but I think I am just more confused.

I was going to order a mini cake but that seems too small. I would like to keep it under $50 and I am going to have it delivered to BOG since we have dinner there on a party night and have to leave the park after dinner. I was thinking of a beauty and the beast theme? If they could have mrs Potts and chip that would be great and no fondant. Any advice?

 

[leebee]

Lurkyloo- Very cute hippo cake that you had at Jiko! How did you get them to do a 6" with red velvet cake and cream cheese filling? I don't see either of these listed as an option (back on the first page) for Animal Kingdom Lodge cakes. Did you ask if this specific combination was possible, or maybe was the option there because it was a "fancy" (fondant) cake? If I want something more interesting for cake/filling, should I ask what they offer or should I ask if "XYZ" combination is possible? Are there better cake flavor/filling options if I order an 8" cake instead of 6"? There are only 3 of us so really only want a 6" cake, but would do an 8" if the flavors were more intriguing (although I think I want yellow cake with white chocolate mousse or vanilla custard w/fresh raspberry filling and vanilla buttercream frosting). No fondant- just pink and green Mickey heads and "Happy 21st Birthday Sarah!" either on the cake or on the plate.

We want our daughter's 21st birthday cake delivered to Jiko. Just to clarify the ordering process- I call the Cake Hotline, they put me in touch with AKL private dining, who will put me in touch with the pastry chef? Or do I just call the phone number for AKL listed on post #2 in this thread?

Thanks for all your work with the Cake Chatter Thread! I know it probably seems silly after all the cakes you've ordered, but to a newbie, it's a bit daunting- the options, the process, not wanting to end up with a $1000 cake!! Your insight is really helpful- and your cakes are gorgeous! (and your wedding pictures… let's just say DD has new thoughts about where to get married!)

 

[DVC Jen]

Ouch!!! That seems so high! I'm all for getting an expensive cake (I have 2 lined up for our trip), but it seems like a basic design for so much.
Maybe they will throw some extra surprises on for you and make it worth it. Or maybe the actual receipt will be less than what was quoted. I think I've seem ppl say that on here.

Seems about right to me. I know it seems high - but it is Disney and everything is higher there.

 

[DVC Jen]

It has taken me a while to post this.. ordered this cake to surprise my three grads this past June. It is a 10 inch white cake with white butter cream and fondant.

My DH was celebrating finishing his PhD. Our oldest DD had just graduated with her Bachelors and our youngest her Associates and transferring to get her Bachelors.

I asked for a scroll for my husband, a dance/pointe shoe for our youngest who is a fine arts/dance major and teacher stuff for our oldest who has a degree in special education.

Chef Brian at the Contemporary did the cake and had it delivered to Whispering Canyon Cafe. This is the third cake I have ordered from him and this was probably the tastiest as well. In the past I ordered the white chocolate mousse. To me mousse is light and airy - what we got was more of a Bavarian cream type filling - so I just went with butter cream which is my DH's favorite.

You can't see it very well in the photo but behind the chalk board is a graduation cap.

 

[Shooby doo]

Well phoned the cake hotline yesterday to order a 2 tier mini cake for our anniversary, have to say everything went really smoothly but a little surprised at the lack of questions ? I got: Type of cake, colour, flavour, filling & any messages....... Is this normal ? I did state/ask that any decorations be in blue but didn't get any questions about what I would like, is it down to each individual pastry chef ? Staying at SSR so it will be BWB that make it.

SD

 

[rimomma66]

So I am going to try and call today to order. I want to get a Jedi Mickey cake for my son's birthday. My choices are GF for our 1900 PF dinner OR Contemporary for our Crystal Palace dinner.
From what I've read it seems I'm more likely to get it through the Contemporary, right?
DO I call Cont. Private Dining direct or do I have to call MK cakes first and then get directed to Cont?
Thanks!!!!

 

[lurkyloo]

Thank you for not only taking the time to answer everyone's question - but to post your entire experience! It really is helpful information -

I'm so glad! I do tend to go on at length....

I was going to order a mini cake but that seems too small. I would like to keep it under $50 and I am going to have it delivered to BOG since we have dinner there on a party night and have to leave the park after dinner. I was thinking of a beauty and the beast theme? If they could have mrs Potts and chip that would be great and no fondant. Any advice?

A mini cake would work for 4 if you're OK with everybody only getting one or two bites. To keep a 6-inch to about $50 you'll need to do a basic cake with a screen print. You can contact the Contemporary to see if they have an image of Chip and Mrs. Potts they can use.

Lurkyloo- Very cute hippo cake that you had at Jiko! How did you get them to do a 6" with red velvet cake and cream cheese filling? I don't see either of these listed as an option (back on the first page) for Animal Kingdom Lodge cakes.

They were the ones who suggested a 6-inch when I asked for a mini cake! I thought I had updated this on the first page, but I'll go do that. As for the flavors, I just told them that's what I wanted and they didn't say no.

If I want something more interesting for cake/filling, should I ask what they offer or should I ask if "XYZ" combination is possible? Are there better cake flavor/filling options if I order an 8" cake instead of 6"?

Cake size shouldn't matter—only the mini cakes have restrictions on cake flavors and fillings. I'd just tell them which combo you want and see what they say.

Just to clarify the ordering process- I call the Cake Hotline, they put me in touch with AKL private dining, who will put me in touch with the pastry chef? Or do I just call the phone number for AKL listed on post #2 in this thread?

The number in post #2 is direct, so it saves you having to punch a bazillion numbers into the voicemail system of the Cake Hotline.

but to a newbie, it's a bit daunting- the options, the process, not wanting to end up with a $1000 cake!! Your insight is really helpful- and your cakes are gorgeous! (and your wedding pictures… let's just say DD has new thoughts about where to get married!)

Hey, thanks! I totally know how daunting it is. Part of me wishes Disney would just streamline everything so that there were standard options available on a website with photos, but then I worry they'd eliminate the ability to get an amazing, unique custom cake. So until then, I'm just trying to put as much info out there as possible!

It has taken me a while to post this.. ordered this cake to surprise my three grads this past June. It is a 10 inch white cake with white butter cream and fondant.

Great cake! Thanks for posting!

Well phoned the cake hotline yesterday to order a 2 tier mini cake for our anniversary, have to say everything went really smoothly but a little surprised at the lack of questions ? I got: Type of cake, colour, flavour, filling & any messages....... Is this normal ? I did state/ask that any decorations be in blue but didn't get any questions about what I would like, is it down to each individual pastry chef ?

Yes. Unless you are very specific with them, the pastry chef will decide what it looks like.

So I am going to try and call today to order. I want to get a Jedi Mickey cake for my son's birthday. My choices are GF for our 1900 PF dinner OR Contemporary for our Crystal Palace dinner.
From what I've read it seems I'm more likely to get it through the Contemporary, right?
DO I call Cont. Private Dining direct or do I have to call MK cakes first and then get directed to Cont?
Thanks!!!!

Just to confirm, you're not referring to the white chocolate Jedi Mickey figure, right? Because that was a custom creation by a pastry chef at the Yacht & Beach Club and apparently he no longer works there.

The Contemporary has been easier to work with historically. They like you to call the MK cake hotline first, though, if you're dining in the MK. There's an email address, which might be easier and allow you to send photos.

 

[rimomma66]

Just to confirm, you're not referring to the white chocolate Jedi Mickey figure, right? Because that was a custom creation by a pastry chef at the Yacht & Beach Club and apparently he no longer works there.

The Contemporary has been easier to work with historically. They like you to call the MK cake hotline first, though, if you're dining in the MK. There's an email address, which might be easier and allow you to send photos.

Ack! Yes that was what I was looking for, but since that won't be available, I'm guessing they might be able to do something else?? Should I call or email first? Is the email addy in this thread somewhere?
THank you SOOOOO much!!!!

 

[Dislover1991]

Is there a fee for Contemporary delivering to a MK restaurant?

 

[lurkyloo]

Ack! Yes that was what I was looking for, but since that won't be available, I'm guessing they might be able to do something else?? Should I call or email first? Is the email addy in this thread somewhere?
THank you SOOOOO much!!!!

You can email. That and the phone number are in Post #2.

Is there a fee for Contemporary delivering to a MK restaurant?

No.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

They will write it on the plate. They can either do flowers or a white chocolate disc with an image. I've only ever seen Mickey on the disc.

If you place a custom order, they will make the cake just for you. Supposedly they never freeze their cakes. It could be that the waiter who told me he had to "thaw" our podium cake meant he was taking it out of the fridge.

Thank you. I don't know why I find it so hard to decide what to do with the cakes, I am really overthinking this.

 

[TexasFamily]

What's the latest you can order a cake?

Oops forgot to add what is the ideal size for 4 to enjoy just at dinner, not wanting any leftover?

 

[wilkeliza]

Oops forgot to add what is the ideal size for 4 to enjoy just at dinner, not wanting any leftover?

6 inch is fine. Pretty sure I ordered a 6 inch and all 6 of use had more than enough.

 

[donnamk123]

What's the latest you can order a cake?

Usually 72 hours, depending on how elaborate you want it and how busy they are I would allow more time than that.

 

[nfggirl5454]

It has taken me a while to post this.. ordered this cake to surprise my three grads this past June. It is a 10 inch white cake with white butter cream and fondant.

I really like the cake base, with the Mickey heads and the color of fondant! The decorations on top are nice too, Chef Brian does such great work. How much did this cake cost, if you wouldn't mind sharing?

 

[disney*mom*82]

We have breakfast ADR's at CRT for Christmas morning. My 6 year old (will be 7 in Oct) has said many times that she wants to celebrate her birthday in the castle. So, after seeing this thread I was going to order her a chocolate slipper. Well, then I got thinking, our other daughter turns 15 just a few weeks before going...maybe I should do something for her too?? And then today it hit me...this will on Christmas morning! Maybe I should consider something special for the family? The only two children that would care are our youngest two (5 year old boy and 7 year old girl).

So, any thoughts? Should I consider just 7 year old bday? Both girls b day? Family? Do something somewhere else for 15 year old bday? I want to keep the budget low, really liked the slipper for DD7.

Thanks for ideas.

 

[UGAFan0829]

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