Any recommendations to get in Le Cellier without reservations?

[LoraJ]

Are you on the dining plan? Since this is your anniversary, personally I would celebrate that somewhere a bit nicer. Nacoossee's is one of my favorites and I found the atmosphere and food to be much better than Le Cellier. I've heard good things about Yachtsman Steakhouse, we are trying that out this year. The best meal we have had while at WDW was at Shula's. It's pricey, but was worth every penny.

 

[MinnieTexan]

Are you on the dining plan? Since this is your anniversary, personally I would celebrate that somewhere a bit nicer. Nacoossee's is one of my favorites and I found the atmosphere and food to be much better than Le Cellier. I've heard good things about Yachtsman Steakhouse, we are trying that out this year. The best meal we have had while at WDW was at Shula's. It's pricey, but was worth every penny.

I've never been to Yachtsman, but hope to when I return to WDW with DH this fall. I agree that Narcoosee's is a very nice choice for an anniversary celebration. We celebrated ours there last year, and enjoyed the food (DH ordered steak - very nicely prepared), service & atmosphere. If planned carefully & ADR is available, it's wonderful to be finishing your meal as the MK fireworks start, if seated near a window. They dim the lights and the sound is piped in to the restaurant - quite romantic.

 

[PirateFrank]

We got in as a walk up, during our Jan 2008 trip. My wife politely asked if there was any room...and the hostess said "I'm supposed to tell you that we're booked several months out, but we've had an unussual amount of cancellations today....and we might be able to slide you in around 6 or 6:30" Given that it was 5pm, we happily strolled around Canada and England till about quarter of 6 and we were seated by 6pm.

So having said that, there's always the possibility that you can get in by walking up. What's the worst they can say? No? And don't take the "we're booked for months solid as a reason to not ask the day after and the day after that and the day after that...etc....

They have no idea whether they will get no-showed and cancelled on the day before...so really, keep walking up until you get some love. They might even recognize you after a few days and seat you just to stop you from hounding them for additional days.....

Just don't be a jerk about it. Be very polite...



Also, keep checking, whether it's calling or doing online. We got into Le Cellier on our Oct 2008 on a cancelation roughly 25 days out....

 

[MinnieTexan]

Everytime people start talking about LeCellier, I think of this and it makes me laugh!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlfc8zZF7Wc

Ha!!

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Le Cellier has very few tables for parties of 2. I'd keep trying to get a ressie - and as the others have said, check the cancellations thread also.

 

[aubriee]

Keep checking via the online system and also check the cancelation thread for Dec. Back in June when I made my Sept/Oct ADRs at 90 days out I was able to get Le Cellier for both dinner and lunch, but the lunch ADR was not on the day I wanted. I kept checking daily online for a day earlier in the week. Finally about a week ago I found the day I wanted, so canceled my existing Le Cellier lunch ADR for Oct 2nd. I then posted on the cancelation thread that I had canceled it. Hopefully some lucky DISer was able to get it.

 

[fla4fun]

To the OP - I wouldn't say it's improbable for people to cancel. Although people who are going probably wouldn't, there are always some people who have to cancel their entire trips for one reason or another. That's why it's always a good idea to check around the 45 day mark (when people with packages would be cancelling) and around the 6 day mark (when people with room only reservations would be cancelling) to see if anything opens up. I think the new online system is great in a situation like this. I used to hate to call in, go through all the recordings, the hold time, etc., only to spend five minutes with a CM to be told nothing was available. This way, you can just pop online every so often, or even several times a day if you want, and see if you can get in. I especially like the fact that they let you look over several days at once. That's how I got my early December Le Cellier lunch ADR.

However, for an anniversary, I would take Yachtsman Steakhouse over Le Cellier any time. Yes, it is more expensive, but it shows in both the atmosphere and the quality of food. I had the best steak I've ever eaten at Yachtsman. While the steaks are OK at Le Cellier, I certainly wouldn't categorize them as close to the best I've ever eaten.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm a DVC member so I don't get free dining, but I believe you have to pay full price for your room and also get park tickets with the package to get free dining. Someone else will be able to tell you about it probably.

Yep..that's the way it's booked. YOu have to pay full price for the room, then get at least a one day park ticket, for everyone in the group. It does seem like a great deal, but it's truly a better deal at the values than at the deluxes.

I actually think that it is highly likely that you will get something if you are persistent. Just keep trying the online system as often as you can. Also, try for lunch as well as dinner. Some of the most popular dinner entrees are on the lunch menu.

Highly likely? Nope. Could it happen? Sure. I have tried to book LeCellier on my last three trips...ones during the free dining periods. I didn't go for free dining, I had already booked my DVC stay before Disney announced free dining. But I have to tell you....LeCellier had no openings for any of my dates. The times I have been able to secure ADRs there, tons of walkups were turned away. While I'm sure that a CM may sometimes try to spread some pixiedust, it's nothing I would come close to counting on.
Better to try for a different restaurant. I have had great steak at Coral Reef. I had an incredible steak at Flying Fish last month. It is more expensive but it was wonderful.
I would try for someplace different. Sure, keep checking on LeCellier but have something firmed up as a backup.

 

[MouseMomx2]

Highly likely? Nope. Could it happen? Sure.

I disagree. I do think that, with persistence, it is highly likely that the OP will get something for Le Cellier. Will it be the exact time/date he wants? Probably not. Will they have to go for lunch instead of dinner? Maybe. But with persistence and an open mind I think that they will get something.

In 40+ WDW trips I have never been shut out of any dining experiences I wanted, even though some were booked up when I initially tried to reserve them. Sometimes I've had to become obsessive about checking, but something always opened up eventually.

 

[keywestbride]

I know you said early Dec, but looking at your ticker, if my math is right, are you actually arriving at the end of Nov? I have a LC ressie posted in the Nov trade thread for 11/30.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) For an anniversary, I would pick somewhere more romantic.
2) And, more quiet.
3) I would pick Bistro de Paris.
4) Next to V&A, it is probably the best in WDW.
. . . nice atmosphere
. . . great food
. . . fantastic wine cellar
. . . stellar service
. . . few, if any, kids
. . . adults who typically know how to act in finer eateries

 

[aggielawyer]

We got in as a walk up, during our Jan 2008 trip. My wife politely asked if there was any room...and the hostess said "I'm supposed to tell you that we're booked several months out, but we've had an unussual amount of cancellations today....and we might be able to slide you in around 6 or 6:30" Given that it was 5pm, we happily strolled around Canada and England till about quarter of 6 and we were seated by 6pm.

I got in with my parents this way last December. It was our last day, we walked up about 11:30. I said, with a smile, something like "I know it's next to impossible, but is there any chance y'all have an opening for 3?" She laughed and said she'd check, then came back and said they could get us in in about 30 minutes. It ended up being an hour, but we were happy to wait. Everyone else that we saw ask was turned away.

And now I'm going to vent a little (this is not directed at the OP, just something that's been irritating me)...getting into Le Cellier won't make or break your vacation. Yes, it was a nice meal. Along with the several other nice places that we ate on the same trip. If you get in, great. If not, great. Get over it. You are not going to die because you didn't eat at Le Cellier, or CP, or whatever.

/vent off

 

[A_NY_Outlaw]

I got in with my parents this way last December. It was our last day, we walked up about 11:30. I said, with a smile, something like "I know it's next to impossible, but is there any chance y'all have an opening for 3?" She laughed and said she'd check, then came back and said they could get us in in about 30 minutes. It ended up being an hour, but we were happy to wait. Everyone else that we saw ask was turned away.

And now I'm going to vent a little (this is not directed at the OP, just something that's been irritating me)...getting into Le Cellier won't make or break your vacation. Yes, it was a nice meal. Along with the several other nice places that we ate on the same trip. If you get in, great. If not, great. Get over it. You are not going to die because you didn't eat at Le Cellier, or CP, or whatever.

/vent off

Well, yes I said that it was important to get in. Keep in mind some people, like myself, are very very picky eaters. I have only a handful of restaurants I like when we go on our WDW trips. These are the restaurants we target on every trip. I know what I like, and I'm not going to waste a TS meal at someplace I don't. That just wouldn't make any sense. So with only about a dozen places that I like the food or what they offer, I would say that yes, it really does make or break a vacation. Imagine a week long vacation (3 TS meals per day with the DDP) that's 18 or less sit down restaurants. To add more complexity- we made a late trip reservation for a decmber trip just last week (delay due to our financial concerns). So out of the 12 or so places I enjoy, most are solidly booked.

Anyways, notwithstanding that comment that somewhat irked me, my original reason was trying to get into the restaurant to celebrate our anniversary with what I'd describe as a very enjoyable dinner.

I was only looking for recommendations and ideas of what people have tried- that's all.

 

[Crystal_27]

I think that you're chances are pretty slim, but maybe if you get there right before opening, they'll be able to work you in. What about trying the same tactic for a late lunch? Good luck!!!

 

[aggielawyer]

NY Outlaw: I apologize if I offended you, that wasn't my intent--my comments really weren't directed at you. I understanding being picky and wanting to get into certain places. What's been bothering me lately are posts where people are talking about cancelling their trips because they can't the ADRs they want.

 

[mhsjax]

Are you on the dining plan? Since this is your anniversary, personally I would celebrate that somewhere a bit nicer. Nacoossee's is one of my favorites and I found the atmosphere and food to be much better than Le Cellier. I've heard good things about Yachtsman Steakhouse, we are trying that out this year. The best meal we have had while at WDW was at Shula's. It's pricey, but was worth every penny.

I agree with trying somewhere else. I recommend Yachtsman, very good when we were there a year ago. Narcoosee's you can have, the atmosphere was great but the food is terrible.

 

[LoraJ]

If you have 3TS per day, why not skip a breakfast and make a reservation at Yachstman for your anniversary dinner? You need a backup plan. Check out their menu. Everyone here is just trying to help you find a decent alternative so that you can have a wonderful anniversary.

 

[goofy4tink]

I disagree. I do think that, with persistence, it is highly likely that the OP will get something for Le Cellier. Will it be the exact time/date he wants? Probably not. Will they have to go for lunch instead of dinner? Maybe. But with persistence and an open mind I think that they will get something.

In 40+ WDW trips I have never been shut out of any dining experiences I wanted, even though some were booked up when I initially tried to reserve them. Sometimes I've had to become obsessive about checking, but something always opened up eventually.

I've eaten at LeCellier about 8 times now...and those were all at about the time, on the date I wanted. But, I haven't been able to book LeCellier in the past 4 trips. And most of that is due to free dining or some other promotion being in effect. I'm not saying it's impossible to get in but it is going to be close to impossible. I tried to get LeCellier for sometime within my stay...Nov 29-Dec 11. Nothing was available..not lunch, not dinner. I'm thrilled you haven't had any eating disappointments. The vast majority of us have though. My past several trips I have had to go with my second choice in restaurants. Was it the ruination of my stay? Nope. I don't go to WDW for the 'fine dining.' Well, I kind of am doing that in Dec...doing a lot of 2TS spots but that isn't the norm.

 

[waltskids]

1) For an anniversary, I would pick somewhere more romantic.
2) And, more quiet.
3) I would pick Bistro de Paris.
4) Next to V&A, it is probably the best in WDW.
. . . nice atmosphere
. . . great food
. . . fantastic wine cellar
. . . stellar service
. . . few, if any, kids
. . . adults who typically know how to act in finer eateries

Well said! This is where DH and I are planning to eat our 'romantic adults only dinner' in December (Kids will be with a sitter). Now I just hope we can get an ADR!

 

[Kallista]

Not going to happen.

We were there on Saturday. They were turning away everyone without a reservation.