What happened to the cupcakes?

[helenb]

We go to WDW roughly every 2 years. Every time we go, there are new cupcakes and we love to try them, as well as return to old favorites. We were supposed to go in June 2020, but since the parks weren't open, we delayed that trip until mid-January.

Unfortunately, the cupcakes were extremely disappointing this trip. Our favorite Butterfinger cupcake (formerly from Starring Rolls, now at Rosie's) is now half the size, and the icing has a weird flavor instead of being vanilla. The Oreo cupcake at Boardwalk Bakery (that looked great) had a fake whipped cream icing instead of buttercream. And the 'standard' cupcakes we saw had such tiny dollops of icing... it's not right when you can see the top of the cake!

Sad to say, the best cupcakes we saw on our trip were at Seussland in IOA at Universal. What happened to Disney cupcakes? I'm fondly remembering the 'Show me the cupcakes' thread...

 

[Best Aunt]

This makes me very sad. I loved the cupcakes pre-covid.

 

[firedust]

Oh no!!!! The cupcakes are my favorite thing!!!! Hubby and I talked the teenager (she acts tough, but she's gonna be all about it) into going with us in December and part of the selling point was telling her about the cupcakes!

 

[helenb]

I'm wondering if cupcakes just aren't trendy anymore? We last went to WDW 2.5 years ago (iin June 2018) so I was wondering if I missed a dessert trend....

 

[Dug720]

I'm wondering if cupcakes just aren't trendy anymore? We last went to WDW 2.5 years ago (iin June 2018) so I was wondering if I missed a dessert trend....

I think they are not as popular as they used to be. Most cupcake places I'm aware of have gone out of business. Sprinkles is hanging in there - probably because they kept their expansion relatively minor. But I think people figured out in most cases they were paying for glops of icing with a tiny bit of cake. Cheaper just to go get a container of icing at that rate.

 

[skuttle]

In 2016 I remember trying a bunch of different cupcakes during our stay at the contemporary. Contempo cafe had a bunch of flavors. Now it seems they go for looks more than taste. And i agree that the cupcake trend is fading.

 

[Wild4Walt]

I think a lot of it is the sign of the times - less people in the parks, less being made and possibly less supplies. I know I've seen a few vlogs with cupcakes recently and the only one that looked different was the double cupcake for the holidays that had less frosting because it was a cupcake within a cupcake.

We've always enjoyed them so hopefully it's not completely a thing of the past.

 

[jillt2ph]

I have 2 favorites, and at least one of them was still available in December - the monorail cupcake at Contempo Cafe. Sorry, I can't figure out why the iPhone pics are always sideways... My other favorite is the milk and cookies one from SSR.

I don't like all the crazy fillings they are using these days, and those crispy pearl things on top that just taste stale I like a plain yellow cupcake with a fancy design made out of buttercream icing on top. I miss the old Belle one!

 

[Naomeri]

I had a great cupcake from Pop Century in October.

 

[CalSea12]

We had an amazing Poison Apple cupcake at Pincohhios in October. Rose and Crown has amazing sparkle cupcakes for birthdays, WCC also have huge yummy cupcakes for birthdays, oh and the Scar one at AK. There was also a Monster cupcake at the Contempo Cafe.

Needless to say we had a ton of cupcakes in October. They were all really good!

 

[NOLA_Tink]

The Milk & Cookies cupcake at Artist's Palette (SSR) is delicious! It's filled with cookie dough and topped with a cookie. I highly recommend it!
ETA: The peanut butter pie tart at Contempo Cafe is not a cupcake, but it is DELICIOUS!

 

[DisneyMommy77]

I have always thought they looked prettier than they taste. A few good ones here and there.
Gideon’s cake is my new favorite!

 

[OfCourseTheresAlwaysMyWay]

I tried a few cupcakes before the shutdown in March. I feel like they’ve been going downhill for a while. They just never taste like anything. I don’t care if it makes for a nice photo. I want it to taste good.

Cupcakes as a food trend have been over for years now. Both Laduree and Dominique Ansel (macarons and Cronuts, respectively) have closed here in LA as well. The extreme milkshake thing was just a flash in the pan. These pastry trends are too expensive and too sweet and just not of interest to most people.

Of course the other problem is that if these pastries are less popular, they’ll sit out for longer and then be less fresh for the people who do buy them.

 

[Best Aunt]

I don't like all the crazy fillings they are using these days, and those crispy pearl things on top that just taste stale

totally agree! I always scrape off the crispy pearl things and throw them out.

 

[Krystal659]

We were there in December and only had a few. For us, we did eat less overall. Maybe it had something to do with having to mobile order (which we love for meals). We are more grab and go for snacks.

 

[aboveH20]

In 2016 I remember trying a bunch of different cupcakes during our stay at the contemporary. Contempo cafe had a bunch of flavors. Now it seems they go for looks more than taste. And i agree that the cupcake trend is fading.

I have always thought they looked prettier than they taste. A few good ones here and there.
Gideon’s cake is my new favorite!

Sadly agree about looks being better than licks.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

So everyone is saying cupcakes trend is done with, so what dessert is Disney focusing on? What is the next dessert trend?

 

[DLgal]

So everyone is saying cupcakes trend is done with, so what dessert is Disney focusing on? What is the next dessert trend?

I am going to predict loaded brownies. Basically, the same thing they are doing to donuts now, but with brownies. Seems to be the trend to take a basic dessert and just cover it with a bunch of extra stuff like candies, cookies, pretzels, nuts, etc. Brownies are starting to become popular again.

 

[firedust]

I would 100% be down for loaded brownies.

 

[DLgal]

I would 100% be down for loaded brownies.

Me too.

Cupcakes? Meh

Donuts? Meh

Monstrously large cookies? Meh

Brownies? YES PLEASE AND THANK YOU