Walt Disney World® Resort - Carmel Monthly Magazine

January 2023 It is no secret that I am a frequent flyer at The Cake Bake Shop® by Gwendolyn Rogers in Carmel, Indiana. Since its grand opening at its City Center location, it has become the go-to for special events, meetings and pre-show delights. And soon, for anyone traveling to the magical world of Disney in Florida, The Cake Bake Shop will share its culinary magic in all its splendor along Disney’s BoardWalk at Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida. A Fairy Tale Come True With a grand opening slated for late 2023, the new restaurant and bakery will offer both savory and dessert menus along with an Afternoon Tea service fit for royalty. The Cake Bake Shop President and Owner Gwendolyn Rogers shared some details regarding her newest endeavor that will be her third location — her first to be located out of state. When asked if a goal of Rogers has always been to open a located in Disney World and what special meaning it holds for her, Rogers replied, “Yes, I was fortunate enough to go to Disney World the year it opened in 1971 – I was 6 years old. On my 56th birthday, I attended Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary party. It has been a love for me for 50 years, and I am so excited and grateful for this opportunity Disney has given me.” Aside from The Cake Bake Shop’s renowned delectable and first-class menu offerings, Rogers spoke about the Afternoon Tea service she and her staff will be offering and delighting guests with at the Disney BoardWalk location. “The Cake Bake Shop at Disney’s BoardWalk will have the same offerings my current restaurants offer,” Rogers stated. “We are very proud of our menu, and we will continue the dishes that our current guests love for the Disney guests. We will be highlighting our Afternoon Tea service, which is a fan favorite for our guest experience. Our teas are imported from France, and our scones are made every morning and are served with clotted cream, our homemade jams, honey and mini desserts. We also offer to pair with my Rosé Bubbles® sparkling wine. This is all served on our pink and gold porcelain dinnerware, tea pots and tea cups, which creates the ultimate experience. All guests are encouraged to dress up in Disney attire as they dine under the glittering crystals.” When asked if Rogers and her staff will decorate in themes as they do throughout her central Indiana locations, Rogers enthusiastically replied, “This is what I love most about what I do. I love to create an experience like no other, so Disney and Cake Bake are the perfect match. Yes, I plan on decorating as I do in my other locations.” Building a Brand that’s Becoming a Legacy I asked Rogers if, when she looks back over the last few years, she feels that she has met some major benchmarks with regards to her brand. “Every day is like taking little baby steps,” Rogers shared. “I strive on a daily basis to not only keep the brand excellent but to grow it as well. I have a million ideas in my head, and I try to bring as many of them to life as I can. Each idea takes years to come to fruition, so I never stop striving to make it better.” Rogers credited her team for her brand’s continued success and growth. “Having an incredible team is extremely important,” Rogers emphasized. “I work with over 180 people on my team, and each and every team member is the core of what we do. It is a huge group effort to make every guest happy every day — from our team in the production kitchen that makes each and every dessert by hand and from scratch daily, to my warehouse/shipping team that ships a few hundred cakes nationwide each week, to the leaders in the restaurants that manage their own teams for each and every guest.” Rogers continued, “We have an incredible customer service team who is there to answer and help in any way they can. Customer service is extremely important when growing your brand. It is what makes the guests want to come back time and time again. We work extremely hard to make that happen on a daily basis. I am so proud to work alongside each and every one who is really like part of my family. I also look forward to all the new team we will need to bring on to run the operation in Florida — so many new faces that I get to meet and work with. That is fun and exciting.” I asked Rogers what is still on her to-do list as far as new endeavors go, and she thoughtfully replied, “My to-do list is so long that sometimes I feel like it will never all get done, as every day I am constantly adding to it. The moment I get something off the list, I add two more. I wouldn’t change a thing; every day is different — fun, exciting, exhausting, so much pressure, complicated, new, and with all of that, I am so grateful for this adventure I am on. I hope it turns out as great as I imagine it, and I hope everyone loves it as much as I do.” For updates on the Disney BoardWalk location and for more information on The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers at the Carmel City Center and Broad Ripple Village locations, visit thecakebakeshop.com.

The Cake Bake Shop Sprinkles Its Magic Along Disney’s BoardWalk

The Cake Bake Shop Sprinkles Its Magic Along Disney’s BoardWalk