I generally don't buy cupcakes when I go out because I make so many myself. While on vacation at Disneyland I had to try one because, of course, they're from Disneyland, the happiest place on earth! I bit into my lemon cupcake with lemon buttercream and then just stared at it in disbelief of how bad it was! I'm still lacking a lot of confidence in my baking despite the great feedback I get, but this was so disappointing! I had to share because it reminded me to have more confidence and let the product speak for itself, no matter what name is on the label!

Bummer, you would think Disney would have their recipe down!

Yea, that's disappointing. My boss is going to go to Carlos' Bakery in New Jersey ( Cake Boss ) in about a month and she's bringing me back some of his treats from the bakery. I'm so excited. I hope I won't be disappointed. I'm confidant I won't be...I think he's amazing!

I have thought the same thing about their treats. I think they fall prey to the mass production monster!!!!

I used to LOVE Publix cupcakes and icing. After I started experimenting and making my own icing I couldn't stand the taste of Publix icing.

Yeah, we were in NYC a few years ago and all we ever heard about was how wonderful the Magnolia Bakery's cupcakes were...well, let me tell you..wonderful was NOT the word we had for them..bland, tasteless and DRY were the more applicable words. UGH. All we could say was "THIS place is famous for cupcakes!"...and they had people lined up around the block?? NYC needs a better source! LOL!

If you ever get a chance to go to Disney World in Orlando, you must go to Starring Rolls Cafe in Hollywood Studios park.

They sell a couple of cupcakes in there that are to die for. One is the Butterfinger cupcake, not cute at all, but OMG delicious! The other is a chocolate wrapped one, not sure what it is called, but it has sheets of thin chocolate covering the frosting, yum! Just yum!

They may very well be mass-produced, but they do it very well with these particular treats.

P.S. Can you tell I'm a Disney freak?

I don't think ANY of the food at Disneyland/World (including Epcot) is tasty--or worth the price. Pizza, burgers and other run-of-the-mill stuff is awful. We don't even eat at the better restaurants because it's just not worth it. All atmosphere, nothing else. When our kids were small (almost 20 years ago), we bought the Disney equivalent of Happy Meals--3 PB&J lunches for almost $30. It was NOT the happiest place on earth. And the sandwiches weren't even good! You can't do much about it--you're captive on their property. Aaaah. Memories.

As far as being cute, really it just had sprinkles and a plastic Mickey ring on the top. The swirls on top were nicely done though. As far as what made it bad? I had to think about it cuz I like trying others' creations. The cupcake was very dry and the frosting just had the slightest lemon flavor to it. It wasn't too sugary despite being buttercream but just had a very oddly undesirable flavor. Oh well, I guess I have to agree it was probably not made with the love that we give to our creations!

By the way, I would love to know how your treats from Carlos' bakery are. They all look so yummy and he does them with such ease!

By the way, I would love to know how your treats from Carlos' bakery are. They all look so yummy and he does them with such ease![/quote]

Me too! And that guy makes cake decorating look like brushing your teeth....like a no brainer!!! Genius!!!

I have had them and they arent good at all. I go to the Park all the time as a passholder, but they are only ok looking and taste well..certainly not good enough for the price.

I used to work at Disneyland, and their baked good are delicious when feshly baked. I think some people might hype themselves up too much about Disneyland. Not everything is going to be perfect.

This little jerseygirl can tell you...Carlo's bakery is everything you will hope it to be...including the bread!

I've frequented long before Buddy became the cakeboss. I don't remember the outside looking like it does now so I wonder if they moved locations...its been at least 15 years, maybe more. It was always easier for me to take the train into NY from Hoboken than it was to find a parking space in NYC!!

If you get there. try a Sfigatelle (not sure of the spelling but I know how to say it and eat them! Some places call lobster claws!) If you are a coffee drinker...Carlo's used to sell Taralle. They are a hard bread-like circles with fennel seeds. I know they make different varities but they are rock hard, meant for dunking and NOT sweet but they are addictive. When I go up now, I usually stop at a Bakery in Newark where I can buy 20 lbs at a time and he ships them home to Georgia for me. Otherwise, they would never make the ride back!!

I'm drooling here at just the thought!!! Easter time is the best time in an Italian Bakery...so many traditional foods that you don't see any other time of year.

Sfogliatelle is the name of the pastry you mentioned. It looks like a big layered seashell.

Thats it... Its a light pastry shell & filled with a light Italian cream!

I have lived in southern Cali all my life ( except for a few years in Florida and N.C) and been to Disneyland more times than I care to admit . Almost all of there food reminds me of school cafeteria food! Bland, dry and tasteless , not to mention extremely over priced.

Yep, pretty much. I've been quite a few times myself, having had a best friend move to southern california and my dh's family is in Anaheim not to mention i'm a Disney fanatic and I think I've had maybe two meals there that were more than just "passable" with the worst being the character buffet breakfast and the best being the prime rib at eh blue bayou . You can't just blame the "buffet" factor either because I've had the Sunday buffet brunch on the Queen Mary in Long Beach before to and it was amazing, fabulous and worth every penny.

Old Walt wouldn't have put up with that! Then again he was all about the Mouse, not the money.

Disneyland is a work of love. We didn't go into Disneyland just with the idea of making money.
~Walt Disney

I think that philosophy died with Walt..... Its all about profit margins now.

I just got back from Disneyland last week and I agree that the food is awful and overpriced!! Thank goodness Downtown Disney is right outside the park. We had some good meals at House of Blues and ESPN Zone (a lot cheaper too!)

I work for Disney. The food is not all bad!! I love their Clam Chowder in New Orleans next to the Pirates of Carribean. The bakery on Main Street has the most wonderful white chocolate raspberry cookies. They are to die for!!! The Blue Bayou restaraunt has great food as well!! Disney is overpriced like any other amusement park. No shocker there!!

I can't speak for Disneyland yet, BUT... I've tasted some pretty fabulous things at Disney World. And I've tasted a few mediocre (or at least forgettable) things at Disney World, too. Sometimes it's hit-or-miss, especially the fast food places.

I agree that the food is pricey (like everything else there). But the atmosphere is usually nice (often outstanding), the servers I had were always friendly, and I found that most places serve very generous amounts of food.

jerseygirl,
You're right about Carlo's Bakery looking different.
On a re-run of Cake Boss that aired this past weekend, Buddy said his father moved the store because they outgrew the space. (I think it was around 1989.) And now it looks like they'll be moving again because Buddy said they're outgrowing the space again.