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

[Mickey4me!]

For anyone interested in ordering a cake from AKL, I thought I would post a pic of the Zebra cake we had delivered (finally!) to our villa in Kidani yesterday. I first called AKL private dining on Friday the 12th for delivery on Sunday the 21st. First person I spoke to suggest I call the front desk and I might get a comp cake I thought that was odd but called anyway and was told to call private dining to order a cake. I was a little trusted so I waited until the next Tues and called private dining again. I some to a nice CM who was a little hard to understand but told her I wanted the zebra cake and to have it personalized. She took my order and confirmed our reservation # and delivery on Sunday the 21st at 4PM.

Arrived yesterday 4PM came and went. Since I wanted to surprise my daughter, I didn't call to check on the cake until she and her friend left to go to DTD around 4:20. Spoke with Will who was very apologetic and said someone had just left to deliver the cake. Waited until 5:30 and when no one showed up I called again. I was very nice and spoke with Donna who asked if I was the salmon lady. I told her "no,I was calling about a cake". We laughed and she apologized and ask to place me on hold so she could check. Four min later I finally hung up and called back. Got Donna again who said she must of not had me on hold and had been trying to call me back but I must have been on the phone (umm, yes I was on HOLD). She said someone would be there in 10 min.. Twenty min later there was a knock on the door and it had finally arrived. When signing the bill I noticed they had already put a 20% tip of $8.19 on there. Here's the really frustrating part - about 6PM DH answered the phone and it was private dining asking if we would be in the room for the next 30 min because they wanted to send us something for the trouble. Nice, right?? Well we didn't leave the room the rest of the night and no one ever showed. Maybe they meant to call the "salmon lady"?? My conclusion is that they have MAJOR issues going on in Private Dining. Below is a photo of the cake. Nothing really special but it was good! I have ordered cakes before from BWV and private dining for a fireworks cruise. Both were much nicer and about the same price but that was over 9 yrs ago. I doubt I will do it again. My daughter's friend makes cakes as a hobby and had made her a much nicer zebra cake the week before. She was still thrilled with the surprise though. Tonight we're dining at BOG and. Have ordered a mini 2 tier with Princess Minnie ears. I will post photo once I get it. Am much more confident in the one for tonight because of the email communication I had.

 

[lurkyloo]

Thanks for posting the details of your experience! I have to say, I also had communication issues with AKL private dining, last month. The pastry chef took all my details and then left on vacation without telling anybody else in Private Dining about the cake I was expecting while she was gone! We did eventually end up getting a tasty, decent-looking cake, but it was pretty nervewracking...

 

[dizneegirl71]

I'm hoping someone can help me out. I would like to order a mini cake for delivery to CRT next month. I called the cake hotline and had an email sent to me with the order info. A mini cake is not an option on the order form. Where or who can I order this cake from? I would like it to possibly have that color changing castle on it? I ordered a mini cake last year for the CP but can't find the number that I used. Thanks!

 

[Mickey4me!]

I'm hoping someone can help me out. I would like to order a mini cake for delivery to CRT next month. I called the cake hotline and had an email sent to me with the order info. A mini cake is not an option on the order form. Where or who can I order this cake from? I would like it to possibly have that color changing castle on it? I ordered a mini cake last year for the CP but can't find the number that I used. Thanks!

I just ordered one last week that was delivered tonight to BOG. When they emailed me the order form I just responded back and said I wanted the 2 tier mini cake with Princess Minnie ears. She replied back with photos and asked me to respond with color, wording, reservation #. Just reply to the email you got and ask for the mini cake options.

 

[dizneegirl71]

Thank you so much!

 

[RobynPrincess]

I'm starting to worry about ordering our cake at AKL :-/ I have the email for the chef however I was told she is on vacation until this week (I got it last week). I hope it all goes smoothly but I'm preparing myself for it not to.

 

[Yonich2501]

I'm a little worried too, about AKL. I called a week ago also and was told she was going to be out on vaca. They told me to email her...and they gave me the wrong address!! I re-sent the email, but haven't heard anything yet. They said yesterday was her first day back in the office.

And prior to that, when I initially called, they ended up calling me back 2 times saying they were so sorry they never returned my call, even though we had just gotten off the phone an hr or two before.

There def seems to be a disconnect in communication. I just hope everything goes as intended, and the cake makes it to us! Haha

 

[Mickey4me!]

Here's a pic of the Princess Minnie mini 2 tier cake they delivered to BOG last night. They also had a card signed by Belle and the Beast. Sorry for the poor quality phone photo.

[/IMG]

 

[AliceandAriel]

Lurkyloo, do you know what is the latest date I can call in to order a custom 2-tier mini cake?

I definitely made a few mistakes all around with finances this year, and there's no way I can order my custom cake until like, 72+ hours before my trip. I'm worried that might not be enough time, though.

 

[Gondingl]

After much debate I'm going to order 2 mini-cakes for birthday celebrations when we dine at the California Grill! Being on the DDP I'm mildly afraid there will be too much dessert but still want to do something special so MINI CAKES!

Being at the Contemporary what cake flavors are available for mini-cakes? (I'm confused by the "not all standard cake flavors may be available" line on the very first post ).

And after reading through some of this, it is my understanding that Winnie the Pooh themed cakes are out - is this still true? Any way around this? Winnie is DSis' (the birthday gal's) favorite character…

Also are non-Disney themed cakes allowed? i.e. a Pearl Jam themed cake?

Thanks for all your help!

 

[5Hfan]

Where did you order this cake from?

Back and forth via email with pictures via the magic kingdom cakes email.

 

[lurkyloo]

Lurkyloo, do you know what is the latest date I can call in to order a custom 2-tier mini cake?

I definitely made a few mistakes all around with finances this year, and there's no way I can order my custom cake until like, 72+ hours before my trip. I'm worried that might not be enough time, though.

Some places say 72 hours and some say 48 hours, but either way you should be OK. Also, you don't have to pay for it til you actually get it.

Being at the Contemporary what cake flavors are available for mini-cakes? (I'm confused by the "not all standard cake flavors may be available" line on the very first post ).

What that means is that some of the standard flavors include real-fruit fillings, which are not available in mini-cakes. They also can't do carrot cake that small. But they may be able to do a fruit mousse filling. You just have to see what they say.

 

[leebee]

I waited until today to call AKL as I'd heard their pastry chef, Amanda, was on vacation. I talked to a lovely lady in private dining, who took my requests (including checking with the bakers to see what is possible) and was going to take all the info over the phone. However, I brought up the possibility of emailing someone to show them photos of what I'd like on the cake, and it was only then that she offered up an email contact. She gave me the address and I emailed Amanda, telling her what I'd like to have and asking for the total cost, including a price breakdown for anything "special" on this cake (custom filling, for example). I hope to hear from her soon, and will post the info when I have it.

The woman in private dining was really, really nice and I kind-of felt bad not ordering through them, but I'd really rather be in touch with the folks making the cake!

 

[Yonich2501]

I waited until today to call AKL as I'd heard their pastry chef, Amanda, was on vacation. I talked to a lovely lady in private dining, who took my requests (including checking with the bakers to see what is possible) and was going to take all the info over the phone. However, I brought up the possibility of emailing someone to show them photos of what I'd like on the cake, and it was only then that she offered up an email contact. She gave me the address and I emailed Amanda, telling her what I'd like to have and asking for the total cost, including a price breakdown for anything "special" on this cake (custom filling, for example). I hope to hear from her soon, and will post the info when I have it.

The woman in private dining was really, really nice and I kind-of felt bad not ordering through them, but I'd really rather be in touch with the folks making the cake!

Good luck...I've been waiting for a week for her to get back to me. I'm sort of frustrated...

 

[wilkeliza]

Good luck...I've been waiting for a week for her to get back to me. I'm sort of frustrated...

PP mentioned she is on vacation. I believe the pastry Chiefs taking emails is a curiously not the requirement as talking to the pastry chief wasn't even offered when I called in June.

 

[leebee]

I waited until today to call AKL as I'd heard their pastry chef, Amanda, was on vacation. I talked to a lovely lady in private dining, who took my requests (including checking with the bakers to see what is possible) and was going to take all the info over the phone. However, I brought up the possibility of emailing someone to show them photos of what I'd like on the cake, and it was only then that she offered up an email contact. She gave me the address and I emailed Amanda, telling her what I'd like to have and asking for the total cost, including a price breakdown for anything "special" on this cake (custom filling, for example). I hope to hear from her soon, and will post the info when I have it.

The woman in private dining was really, really nice and I kind-of felt bad not ordering through them, but I'd really rather be in touch with the folks making the cake!

Good luck...I've been waiting for a week for her to get back to me. I'm sort of frustrated...

SO… Amanda got back to me immediately. I asked for a 6" red velvet cake with white mousse/fresh raspberry filling and vanilla buttercream frosting, with mickey heads piped on, a flower on top, and inscribed. Amanda says this can be done but it has to be a 10" cake, for $65 and $15 for decorations. That's WAY too much cake for the three of us, and more money than I wanted to spend. I have emailed back and asked what needs to be changed to make this a 6" cake. (I guess I thought if lurkyloo could get a 6" red velvet with custom filling, I could too!) We'll see… I'll keep you posted.

 

[leebee]

Ordering Process

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

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!

Just out of curiosity, lurkyloo, how long ago did you order this cake?

 

[Dislover1991]

SO… Amanda got back to me immediately. I asked for a 6" red velvet cake with white mousse/fresh raspberry filling and vanilla buttercream frosting, with mickey heads piped on, a flower on top, and inscribed. Amanda says this can be done but it has to be a 10" cake, for $65 and $15 for decorations. That's WAY too much cake for the three of us, and more money than I wanted to spend. I have emailed back and asked what needs to be changed to make this a 6" cake. (I guess I thought if lurkyloo could get a 6" red velvet with custom filling, I could too!) We'll see… I'll keep you posted.

Yes please keeps an ousted! I want a cake similar to that, minus the custom filling. But there's just 3 of us as well and while we can eat our weight in cake, we would also like to enjoy the other Disney desserts as well so a 6" is much more feasible.

 

[Yonich2501]

I just re-emailed...again.

I really hope this works out!!!

 

[leebee]

I just re-emailed...again.

I really hope this works out!!!

Good- because that's just what I suggested in the PM I just sent you!!

I have been told by the AKL folks that the "powers that be" are cracking down on them doing cake orders for "whatever". I changed my cake order and we are negotiating a bit on the price of decorations (to make up for my disappointment, I guess). I offered to just change my order, but they want to make sure I am happy, so I'll take a little Pixie Dust wherever I can get it! I am satisfied- I nice cake for DD's birthday is the final goal, after all!