I seem to have trouble when leaning when my fondant covered cakes are stacked. Please help me figure out what I'm doing/not doing. Here's a cake I did today. It is an 8" and 6" rounds.
Here's what I did:
1. leveled cakes
2. crumb coated
3. light coat of thin icing and used level to make sure the tops were level
4. covered in fondant
5. used wooden dowels for 8" (did I cut them too short?)
6. center dowel after 6" stacked
I use a little spirit level on each tier before stacking, if the cake is uneven then the tiers will lean once stacked. Do this while the fondant is still pliable as you can just squish one side down a bit, or use a wedge of fondant under the base of the cake to even things out. I find levelling cakes a complete pain and just wish a fairy could come and do it for me!
Thank you all for your replies. LuvBakin-there is a distinct possibility that my top tier was leaning a bit to begin with. And Emmacakes - what an honor to receive a reply from you! I will definitely use my level next time on top of the fondant too. JoAnnB - I am also going to check the length of my dowels closer. I had trouble cutting them so I'm going to look at Wal-Mart for something better.
Thank you all so much for your help! I really appreciate it. I am going to try straws on these smaller cakes.
I just returned from meeting the mother and mother-in-law. They loved the cake! Even with a slightly askew top layer. 
The mother told me that she was glad she found out I make cakes. She had looked at Wal-Mart but she really wanted something special. Hopefully, she will be a repeat customer.
Are you cutting all of your dowels the same length as eachother? Dont measure and cut each one separately.
I got a pair of gardening shears (I think that is what they are called) to cut my dowels. Works great!
I too just purchased the individually wrapped straws from the restaurant supply this morning. I am making a stacked 4x6x8x10x12 white butter cake/whipped choc ganache filling covered in buttercream and fondant cutouts. Do you think plastic straws and a center wooden dowel will be sufficient support for this type of cake. TIA!!! 
It looks to me like your cakes are level, but the sides of your cakes are not straight up and down. You can check this by using something with a perfect right angle and standing it on a surface right next to your cake (prior to stacking). Also, make sure all your dowels are the same length. When I have to use wooden dowels, I cut them all the same length using heavy wire cutters. But for small cakes like a 6 inch round, I just use drinking straws.
I personally dont think I would take a chance with straws.
Here's a link to a site where you can purchase bubble tea straws http://www.ipcsupplies.com/product_info.php?products_id=310 I've read several threads where they are recommended over regular drinking straws because they are much stronger. This is the least expensive site I have found. HTH
Thanks for the link tiggy!! What is bubble tea???? In the description it says ideal for bubble tea drink, hmmmmm. I just opened the box I bought from rest. supply store. Brand is Qualite 10 1/4" 500 straws white straws. Seem pretty durable and they are not flexible. Not sure diameter though....
For small cakes I use lolipop sticks. I think that they are stronger than the straws. I am afraid that the straws would bend or somthing. I use wooden dowles for the center regardless of the size cake.
Hope that helps
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