If you want an extravagant way to celebrate Christmas at Disney, visit The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers. This spot is located on the iconic Disney’s BoardWalk. It has quickly become a fan favorite for its world-famous desserts and “pink princess” aesthetic. As a top holiday dining destination, it offers some of the best Christmas treats in Disney World.
Exclusive Dinner with Santa
For the 2025 season, the shop introduced an exclusive Dinner with Santa event. Join Melissa, your Disney Bestie, as we break down this three-course prix-fixe dinner. We’ll cover everything from meeting Santa to making pixie dust wishes. This review also serves as your complete Disney World Christmas dining guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is The Cake Bake Shop located?
It is located on Disney’s BoardWalk, occupying the space formerly known as the ESPN Club. You can park at the Boardwalk Resort (with a reservation) or walk from EPCOT’s International Gateway.
Can I just get a slice of cake?
Yes! If the $200 dinner isn’t for you, the bakery counter is open for walk-ins where you can purchase slices of cake, cookies, and other treats to enjoy while walking the boardwalk.
What should I wear?
While there is no formal dress code, most guests wear their “Sparkly Best” for photos with Santa. Holiday sweaters, glittery dresses, and smart-casual attire are perfect.
Booking the Experience: Dates, Times, and Pricing
This isn’t your average dining reservation. Because this is a high-end, exclusive event, the booking process is a bit more specialized.
2025 Event Dates
The dinner was held on select evenings in December:
- December 2, 9, 16, and 18
- Time: All seating begins at 6:00 PM
How to Book
You can’t just snag this on the My Disney Experience app. Guests must go directly to The Cake Bake Shop website and fill out a form to be placed on a waitlist. Once a spot opens, a concierge service calls to finalize the reservation. Unlike standard Disney World Christmas dinner reservations, The Cake Bake Shop Disney BoardWalk reservations for this event are handled via a dedicated waitlist on the bakery’s site.
Note: This is a prepaid experience. You will pay for the dinner at the time of booking, and a staff member will call you a few days later to take your entree selections.
Pricing
If you’re comparing cake bake shop santa dinner price details, here’s what to expect:
- Adults: $200 per person
- Children (12 and younger): $135 per person
While the price point is on the higher end (similar to a signature dining experience like Victoria & Albert’s), it is an all-inclusive package that covers your meal, beverages, professional photos, and gifts.
The Three-Course Prefix Holiday Menu
The meal is designed to be a slow, relaxing experience with a personalized touch. When you arrive, your menu is even printed with your name on it—part of the charming Cake Bake Shop holiday menu 2025 presentation.
Course 1: Hors d’Oeuvres (The Charcuterie Board)
While the online menu initially suggested beet and goat cheese starters, the actual experience featured a massive, beautifully presented Charcuterie Board.
- Highlights: A variety of hard and soft cheeses (including a standout goat cheese), premium meats, olives, grapes, and a legendary jalapeño pepper jelly that guests can’t stop raving about.
Course 2: The Entrees
Guests choose their entree ahead of time. The 2025 selections included:
- Beef Bourguignon: Braised beef that “melts in your mouth,” served with carrots, pearl onions, applewood smoked bacon, Yukon Gold whipped potatoes, and asparagus.
- Roasted Chicken: Half a chicken marinated with rosemary, thyme, sage, and garlic, served with a chardonnay sun-dried tomato and spinach Tuscan cream sauce.
- Truffled Mushroom Ragu: A rich, vegetarian-friendly option for pasta lovers.
Course 3: The Famous Cakes
You can’t visit The Cake Bake Shop without having cake!
- Raspberry Champagne Cake: Vanilla cake with French champagne simple syrup and raspberry filling—also known as The Cake Bake Shop Raspberry Champagne Cake, a signature light and fruity choice.
- Gwendolyn’s Famous Earl’s Court Chocolate Cake: A world-famous French chocolate cake with Belgian chocolate ganache. It is incredibly rich but not overly sweet.
Meeting Santa: A Private Experience
The highlight of the night is the private meeting with Santa Claus. Unlike the long lines you might find in the parks, this experience is intimate and unhurried—it’s the quintessential meeting Santa at Disney BoardWalk experience.
- Personalized Conversation: Santa takes the time to ask about your favorite holiday memories.
- Professional Photos: Disney PhotoPass photographers are on hand to take high-quality images.
- Instant Access: Photos are linked to your Disney account and the app immediately, so you can share them on social media before you even finish your dessert!
Exclusive Gifts and Holiday Magic
The $200 price tag includes several “take-home” magical moments:
- A Gift from Santa: A “Make-It-Yourself” cookie kit featuring a large cookie, icing, and sprinkles.
- Letters to Santa: A beautiful stationery set with a letter and pencils. Once filled out, the letter is “hand-delivered” to the North Pole by Bubbles the Bear, the shop’s new holiday mascot.
- The Pixie Dust Wish: At the end of the night, your server invites you to make a “Pixie Glitter Wish” (sometimes called the Cake Bake Shop Glitter Wish). You hold a handful of edible glitter, make a wish for your next Disney vacation or a new puppy, and blow the glitter into the air.
Warning: You will be covered in glitter by the end of the night! It’s in the air, on the tables, and even at the bottom of the glasses.
The Atmosphere and Entertainment
The Cake Bake Shop already dazzles with stunning decor, but during the holidays, it transforms into a winter wonderland of crystals, white lights, and moving carousels.
- Castlewood Carolers: Live performers sing holiday classics throughout the evening (the Castlewood Carolers Cake Bake Shop tradition adds cozy charm).
- Merchandise Cart: A high-end shopping cart visits your table, offering ornaments, jewelry, and the famous $6,000 Swarovski Crystal Denim Jacket.
- Unrushed Service: Because there is no “table turnover” for this event, you can stay for 2.5 to 3 hours, soaking in the atmosphere and chatting with the staff.
Is it Worth It?
For $200, this is a “splurge” event. However, for those who value:
- Exclusivity: A quiet, private dining room with personalized service.
- Convenience: No waiting in lines for Santa or photos.
- Quality: High-end food and world-class desserts.
It is an unforgettable way to start a new family tradition. Whether you are celebrating a birthday or just want to feel like a “Disney Princess” for a night, the Dinner with Santa at The Cake Bake Shop delivers pure holiday magic.
- The Cake Bake Shop offers a “Dinner with Santa” experience.
- Hollywood & Vine provides “Minnie’s Holiday Dine”.
- The price for The Cake Bake Shop is $200 for adults, while Hollywood & Vine is about $63 for adults.
- At The Cake Bake Shop, guests can enjoy a private meeting with Santa and receive professional photos.
- Hollywood & Vine features character interaction with Santa Goofy.
- The atmosphere at The Cake Bake Shop is elegant, glittery, and high-end.
- Hollywood & Vine has a family-friendly and high-energy vibe.
- Guests at The Cake Bake Shop receive gifts such as a cookie kit, letters, and pixie dust.
- Hollywood & Vine does not offer any gifts to guests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is The Cake Bake Shop located? It is located on Disney’s BoardWalk, occupying the space formerly known as the ESPN Club. You can park at the Boardwalk Resort (with a reservation) or walk from EPCOT’s International Gateway.
Can I just get a slice of cake? Yes! If the $200 dinner isn’t for you, the bakery counter is open for walk-ins where you can purchase slices of cake, cookies, and other treats to enjoy while walking the boardwalk.
What should I wear? While there is no formal dress code, most guests wear their “Sparkly Best” for photos with Santa. Holiday sweaters, glittery dresses, and smart-casual attire are perfect.
