From the moment it was announced, The Cake Bake Shop has been one of the most talked about restaurants on Disney property. Part of this is for the reasons you would expect: the food, service, and decor. But an awful lot of it has focused on one particular element: the pricing.
Yes, The Cake Bake Shop is expensive, arguably even by Disney standards. I’m certainly not about to argue in favor of $22 for a slice of cake (especially when Gideon’s cake is right there and a mere nine smackaroos). And yet in nosing around its menu, I made an exciting discovery. Is The Cake Bake Shop a hidden – and surprisingly affordable – pre-runDisney race gem?
WHAT IS THE CAKE BAKE SHOP?
The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers is located in the old ESPN Wide World of Sports Bar space on Disney’s Boardwalk. The location consists of two spaces. First there is the main table service restaurant, which offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and an afternoon tea service. Next door you’ll find the gift shop and bakery, where you can grab Cake Bake Shop merch and an assortment of to-go desserts.
The decor and style of both has an understated elegance with a distinct feminine edge. Everything is very floral and pastel, with lots of pink and gold touches, crystal chandeliers, and whimsical animal animatronics. Half of what we ordered came adorned in edible glitter. I might go so far as describe the ambience as Edwardian; if Mary Poppins walked in my first thought would be “Ah, yes, that makes sense.”
I also want to mention the service, which was very much in keeping with the vibe. Servers in floated about in pink uniforms, and we found them all to be not just knowledgeable but proactive. A different server – not even ours – noticed us attempting to take a full-table selfie and stopped to take several photos for us.
We saw plenty of families with children, naturally. This is Disney after all. Nonetheless, I would think twice before I brought a kid who needs a lot of space to be loud and run around. Nothing inherently wrong with high spirits! Still, there is a time and a place, and that sort of behavior is going to stand out in the muted atmosphere.
WHAT MAKES THE CAKE BAKE SHOP SO GOOD FOR A PRE-RACE MEAL?
We ate at The Cake Bake Shop the night before the 2026 WDW Half Marathon. The obvious go-to pre-race restaurant category for runDisney athletes is Italian. Duh. You carb up with pasta; everyone knows that. The Cake Bake Shop is not an Italian restaurant. Dig a little deeper into the menu, however, and you’ll find it: angel hair pomodoro. The price as of this writing? Twenty-five bucks.
I don’t usually note cost in my Disney restaurant reviews because pricing is so changeable, especially over time. I’m going to make an exception in this case in order to make my greater point. I agree that in general, The Cake Bake Shop is expensive. Possibly too expensive… in general. For table service pasta across property, though, $25 ain’t bad.
Right now, spaghetti with meatballs at Enzo’s Hideaway will cost you $29.50. The same at Tony’s Town Square is currently $29. At Maria and Enzo’s, you’re looking at $29.50 again. The plant-based bolognese at Trattoria al Forno is $29. Meanwhile, over at Topolino’s Terrace, the chicken sugo rigatoni will run you a solid $42, although admittedly you’re getting fresh pasta in that instance and it is DELICIOUS.
That last point does make for a solid segue into the next section, because of course pricing is not the only aspect of value. The next question is,
BUT HOW DID IT TASTE?
As you might have guessed, I ordered the angel hair pomodoro, described by the menu as “Ripe tomatoes, basil, garlic, drizzle of olive oil. Served with toasted half French baguette and a side of Parmesan cheese.”
Okay, looking back at my photos, it looks like I did not receive my side of bread and the parmesan cheese arrived already applied. Minor ding against The Cake Bake Shop there, although I’m sure if I had said something I would’ve gotten my bread. Given the mound of pasta I already had, though, it didn’t occur to me to search for extras.
I’m a big fan of angel hair pasta generally, and this was appropriate delicate without being mushy. The red sauce was cooked with a bit of red pepper (the server warned me in advance), and I enjoyed the subtle spice. I ate about two-thirds of it and took the rest to go, wholly satisfied.
Bonus: I was able to order a small pot of peppermint tea alongside my entree. Herbal, low-caf tea is a great way to hydrate for a race!
SO IT THE CAKE BAKE SHOP WORTH IT?
The Cake Bake Shop is definitely among the higher-priced offerings on Disney property, and if that itself puts you off, just skip it. I found my meal to be tasty and enjoyed the girly vibes, but if it’s not for you it’s not for you. Don’t worry about it.
I myself came away with a positive impression of the restaurant as a whole. My $25 pasta dish was enjoyable, the atmosphere was in keeping with my tastes, the pot of tea option appealed to me as an extra, and the location was convenient to my hotel. If any of that resonates with you, I would encourage you to give the pasta a try for your next runDisney race weekend. It might not be technically Italian, but I’ll wager you’ll get more glitter than ever before!
Don’t forget, you can follow FRoA on Threads @fairestrunofall and on Instagram @fairestrunofall. If you have any questions or thoughts, leave a comment or email fairestrunofall@gmail.com. See ya real soon!