I want to make a 3D Dora cake for my daughter's birthday. Has anyone out there done one before? Anyone have any advice?

I've never made a Dora before, but I made a monkey tutorial that might help you with the construction of it. (I know, Dora and monkeys are different, but look at the pic and maybe it will make sense.) http://www.cakedalaska.com/Caked_Alaska/Monkey_see.html
Adding Dora's backpack would be good, too, to help give stability to the cake, since Dora obviously isn't as chubby as my monkey was.

Maybe someone out there who's done Dora before can chime in and help you more.

Deanna

I would use the 3d teddy bear pan and just do some trimming to fit. And I would also add the backpack that would add servings and stablize the cake...
The reaso the teddy bear pan would work... dora has big feet and all you would have to do is trim the top of the head and a bit if the face... the rest can be shaped with icing or fondant... GOOD LUCK... Cant wait to see the pic...

Hi and Congrats on your 1st post, mmt72.

TooMuchCake and mabryant0212 have provided great technical assistance on Dora...

Here's generalized cake baking and decorating info:
(Everything you ever wanted to know to bake, make and decorate your 1st tiered/stacked/layer cake.)

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopic-edit-605188.html

Above has Wilton help links for cake baking... Also info on how to smooth b/c frosting or apply fondant. Contains popular CC recipes for cake and b/c and fondant.

Also, don't be such a stranger!

Look forward to seeing pics of your daughter's cake.