Yay for Disney Dining!

[MissVesper]

So, just got off the phone with various members of the Disney Dining team. I spoke with the main dining reservation line (407-WDW-DINE), then to the Grand Floridian's dietary needs desk, and then to the bakery in the Grand Floridian. You see, I was trying to order a surprise birthday cake for my husband, and my sister who is joining us for the trip just developed a gluten allergy. Everyone was informative, helpful, and just plain nice. The end result of all this is my husband gets an 8" chocolate cake with chocolate icing and Robin Hood (his favorite Disney hero) on top, and my sister gets a seperate gluten free cake all to herself (vanilla, chocolate icing, for those keeping count of such things)!

I promise to take pictures and let you all know how this comes out after our trip in February, but right now I am just so pleased with how helpful CMs were in figuring out the best way to handle this. Hope your Disney Dining experiences go as well as ours did.

 

[scanne]

Hi! I have a few questions.

How are they doing the Robin Hood and were other characters available? Are you staying at the GF or are you eating at one of the restaurants there?

We'll be going to WDW this summer and my kids' birthdays are a month apart - we're going in between the two - and I'd love to have a 'special' cake made for them.

Thanks in advance - and it's so nice to hear of stories like this!

 

[DebIreland]

Hi MissVesper That's great!!! So glad to hear they were accommodating and nice. Disney CMs are the best!

I'd love more info too! We'll be in WDW for DS's 10th birthday and I was thinking of the Boardwalk Bakery - does anyone know if they make birthday cakes to order and if they're very expensive? I didn't even think of the Grand Floridian, that's an idea too. Hmmmmm. DS would be totally thrilled to get a special Disney cake!

I hope your DH has a wonderful birthday.

 

[tweedlewtwinsmama]

Every time that I have called to make/change ADRs, I have been lucky to get great CMs. They have been helpfull with telling how to get to the restaurants and with helping me answer questions about a picky eater son.

 

[sweetpeakaris]

How much was the 8"?

 

[Alice Sr.]

You see, I was trying to order a surprise birthday cake for my husband, and my sister who is joining us for the trip just developed a gluten allergy.

MissVesper I just wanted to let you know about this article on Deb's site
http://www.allearsnet.com/din/guestceliac.htm "A Gluten Free Vacation at Disney World". Since this is new to your sister I thought it might help. Hope you all have a great time.

Regarding the questions about ordering B-day cakes; if you do a search there was a very helpful thread with pictures, prices and phone numbers for pre-ordering. I ordered one when we went in November for my 2 DD's and I was very pleased with it. I think it was $25, but I don't remember what size it was.

 

[MissVesper]

Alright, hopfully I can answer the questions y'all are posing. Let me know if I'm talking crazy talk, and I'll try and provide a better explaination.

How are they doing the Robin Hood and were other characters available? Are you staying at the GF or are you eating at one of the restaurants there?

I made a reservation at the Grand Floridian Cafe specifically so I could order a cake through the Grand Floridian bakery (due to the desire for a specific design and the need to accomidate the gluten issue) . Normally, a cake with a Minnie or Mickey design (your choice) can be ordered for $12.50 and is sent to whatever restaurant you have the ADR at. Ask when you make your dinning ADR and the cast member can direct you. The first cake in this post http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=10347074&postcount=208
shows the 'normal' birthday cake.

I asked specifically for a Robin Hood design, and the chef on the line looked through a catalog of clip art they had to work with. You would need to check with the CM at the bakery about a specific character you want, and they'll let you know if they have something. Please note that special Disney characters do not come cheap -- it will be $30.00 for the Robin Hood design on the cake, plus the cost of the cake. I was offered a Cinderella's Castle made of chocolate for the cake, but was told that would run $100.00 plus cake cost (and be far more about me than about my husband!).

A general thread on cakes, with photos and lots of helpful info, is here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=845308&


hmm... Cinderella Castle cake here (it's lovely):
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=9956968&postcount=171

How much was the 8"?

The total cost with custom decorations and the cake will be $50.00, though the regular disney birthday cakes are cheaper as I understand it.

I'd love more info too! We'll be in WDW for DS's 10th birthday and I was thinking of the Boardwalk Bakery - does anyone know if they make birthday cakes to order and if they're very expensive?

There are some great photos of Boardwalk Cakes (including Mickey-shaped ones!) in the thread I mentioned above. Might be worth checking into? I can't get the boardwalk bakery pic to load now, but this was along the same lines:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=8988193&postcount=29


AliceSr., thanks so much for the article! I read it ages ago, and forgot about it. I sent it along to my sister, and really, really appreciate your mentioning it here. Thanks.