A growing number of former employees are suing the Cake Bake Shop at Walt Disney World, alleging the upscale BoardWalk bakery violated Florida’s wage laws.
At least 11 former employees have filed complaints against the shop over wage issues, including paying below minimum wage and charging employees for uniform cleaning, as reported by WDW News Today, which covers Disney parks.
As of June 3, the state minimum wage is currently $14 an hour, or $10.98 for employees who earn tips. The minimum wage in Florida will go up another dollar on Sept. 30, 2026. Then it will be $15 an hour for non-tipped employees and $11.98 for tipped employees.
Where is The Cake Bake Shop at Walt Disney World?
The Cake Bake Shop Restaurant by Gwendolyn Rogers is located at Disney’s BoardWalk, which is a promenade featuring shops, restaurants and nightly entertainment.
It’s near Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, the BoardWalk Inn, Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel and the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel and within walking distance to the Epcot and Hollywood Studios theme parks.
The shop opened in October 2024. Rogers started the bakery chain in 2014 in Indiana.
What is the Cake Bake Shop lawsuit?
A former server at the Disney World location, Alexandria Pope, filed a complaint on April 30 seeking about $4,804 plus interest and an attorney’s fee to cover $2,402 in allegedly unpaid wages and another $2,402 in damages.
The restaurant did not pay Pope, who worked there from July 2024 to January 2025, the state minimum wage, according to the small claims complaint filed in Orange County, Florida. The minimum wage for tipped employees in Florida is $10.98 per hour, and $14 for other employees.
Pope, an hourly employee, relied on tips, but she did “excessive amounts of … side work every shift, often for hours at a time” where she wasn’t being paid any tips, the report said.
Pope said that side work consisted of chores normally done by a janitor or the kitchen staff at a restaurant, including stocking drinks, washing and putting away dishes, wiping menus, putting up chairs, mopping, sweeping, taking down and charging LED table lamps, polishing silverware and changing tablecloths.“Plaintiff was required to work for substantial periods of time before Plaintiff’s tip-producing shift began. Plaintiff was additionally required to work for substantial periods of time after Plaintiff’s shift concluded. Plaintiff had sustained periods of time during shifts where only side work tasks were being performed.”Pope also said the restaurant took money out of her check for “uniform cleaning” and “required footwear,” the complaint said.
WDWNT previously reported that 10 other former employees filed complaints in small claims court, Orange County Civil Court or federal court in 2025 and 2026 with similar claims about not being paid for performing menial tasks.
What has Gwendolyn Rogers said about lawsuits?
Rogers denied the allegations and said the employees were treated fairly.
“As the founder and president of a woman-owned small business, I have poured my heart and soul into making The Cake Bake Shop a business where team members are respected, treated fairly, and given the opportunity to succeed,“ she said in a statement to the IndyStar, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK.
“I firmly reject the false allegations being made regarding our Orlando location, which are both inaccurate and unfair. They do not reflect the culture we have worked diligently to foster over the years. I am extremely proud of maintaining a quality workplace for our valued employees since we opened our doors for business twelve years ago.”
What’s on the menu at The Cake Bake Shop at Disney World? How much is a slice of cake at Cake Bake Shop?
The 252-seat restaurant serves massive slices of cake, as well as sandwiches, soups, salads, pastas, roasted salmon, steak and a full breakfast offering.
According to its menu on Disney’s website, all single slices of cake start at $22. Some of the cake flavors include red velvet, carrot, lemon blueberry, and Neapolitan.
Do I need a ticket to go to Disney’s BoardWalk?
No, Disney’s BoardWalk does not require a ticket. Guests can access the BoardWalk via:
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Workers at bakery on Disney World property file complaints over wages
Reporting by Samantha Neely and Cheryl V. Jackson, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Samantha Neely and Cheryl V. Jackson, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
