Big Delays at Le Cellier--CP Gets Blame

[Jestocost]

Just a quick note on a weird situation at Le Cellier this past Saturday night. We had a 7:40 p.m. ADR and when we checked in at 7:25 p.m. they warned us that they were running about one hour behind on seating ADRs!

No one was entirely certain what was going on, but the operating theory among the CMs we talked to was that a large number of people made early ADRs in advance of the 8:00 p.m. Candelight Processional and then just camped out at their tables until they had to leave for that event. One party of six reportedly stayed at their table for 3.5 hours without ordering anything after their initial meal (on the DDP).

We didn't wind up waiting for that long, thank goodness, but the groups just ahead of us were nearly one hour late in getting seated.

 

[Belle5]

That would be nothing new just for this year! In 1999, we dined at Le Cellier during the CP (using the package deal for our party of seven) and waited two hours to be seated. This was during early December.

 

[wildernesslodgefan]

I was not too impressed with our experience there

 

[vicki_c]

I have heard of MANY 1+ hour waits at Le Cellier, so I wouldn't say that's out of the ordinary.

 

[TruBlu]

Ugh... we're eating there twice in a couple of weeks. I hope we don't have long waits both times.

 

[E&BMom]

I have heard of MANY 1+ hour waits at Le Cellier, so I wouldn't say that's out of the ordinary.

The CMs there seemed to think it was very much out of the ordinary.

 

[sjs314]

Just a quick note on a weird situation at Le Cellier this past Saturday night. We had a 7:40 p.m. ADR and when we checked in at 7:25 p.m. they warned us that they were running about one hour behind on seating ADRs!

No one was entirely certain what was going on, but the operating theory among the CMs we talked to was that a large number of people made early ADRs in advance of the 8:00 p.m. Candelight Processional and then just camped out at their tables until they had to leave for that event. One party of six reportedly stayed at their table for 3.5 hours without ordering anything after their initial meal (on the DDP).

We didn't wind up waiting for that long, thank goodness, but the groups just ahead of us were nearly one hour late in getting seated.

Seems like a poor management issue to me to allow patrons who are obviously finished to remain at tables when others are waiting to be seating especially when they need to be at CP for a scheduled time. What ever happened to the server bringing the bill and saying have a good evening?

I feel sorry for anyone with an ADR closer to the time for their CP seating and have to rush through their meal to make it to CP in time.

 

[redzinner]

Seems like a poor management issue to me to allow patrons who are obviously finished to remain at tables when others are waiting to be seating especially when they need to be at CP for a scheduled time. What ever happened to the server bringing the bill and saying have a good evening?

I feel sorry for anyone with an ADR closer to the time for their CP seating and have to rush through their meal to make it to CP in time.

Not poor management because I don't believe a Disney manager would ever ask the 'guests' to leave in that kind of situation. The server probably did hand them the bill but that doesn't mean they have to leave.
Sounds like very rude, selfish patrons. Poor server couldn't even turn over the table to get more tips because inconsiderate people were only thinking of themselves.

 

[DCDisney]

We've eaten there 5 or 6 times during value season and we eat early and have a party of 4 so all ideal conditions to be seated and served in a timely fashion. We have always waited 30-45 mins past our ADR time and we always check in the 15 mins early that they ask. The service is also slow there and our meals tend to last at least 90 mins once we are at the table for 2 courses. This trip we decided we were done with Le C as the food has just not been good enough to justify the time spent on the meal for the past few visits--mostly the meat has been lower quality. This trip we went to Yachtman's Steakhouse instead and it was definitely twice as good as Le C and well worth the 2 credits.

 

[Merryweather27]

I have heard of MANY 1+ hour waits at Le Cellier, so I wouldn't say that's out of the ordinary.

ITA. We waited 45 minutes past our ADR just on a random evening in June.

 

[Belle5]

The CMs there seemed to think it was very much out of the ordinary.

Sounds like they have taken acting lessons!

 

[vicki_c]

Sounds like they have taken acting lessons!

That's exactly what I was thinking!

Snow job, because it's not abnormal to wait long @ Le Cellier.

 

[goofy4prez]

I don't think long waits are out of the ordinary at this place. The longest wait I have ever had at any WDW restaurant was at Le'Cellier, which was 45 minutes past our ADR. There was no holiday, no peak season, nor any special activity. This took place the last week of January during a week day in 2009.

I'll never wait that long again for average beef plopped on a bed of Minute Rice (they call it risotto), and drenched in Campbells mushroom soup and half a container of Morton's salt.

 

[bbak30]

Ew, don't tell me this! We have an 8:30 ADR and I'm already worried about how the kids are going to do that late. Ugh, maybe I should cancel??

 

[AquaDame]

That would be nothing new just for this year! In 1999, we dined at Le Cellier during the CP (using the package deal for our party of seven) and waited two hours to be seated. This was during early December.

Two hours?? How on earth did you even make it to the CP?

 

[cymbaldiva]

Not poor management because I don't believe a Disney manager would ever ask the 'guests' to leave in that kind of situation. The server probably did hand them the bill but that doesn't mean they have to leave.
Sounds like very rude, selfish patrons. Poor server couldn't even turn over the table to get more tips because inconsiderate people were only thinking of themselves.

I couldn't call it poor management, but I do feel that it would have been up to the manager to politely move the guests along if they were very obviously finished. Don't get me wrong - I wouldn't want that job, but there are other guests to think about as well; ones that will mostly likely have to have some sort of compensation offered to them because of the extreme delay. That's one of the managers jobs - to handle the occasional less than pleasant situation.

You're right though - those sort of guests are quite rude. The server lost out on tips, the establishment lost out on dinner revenue and the guests waiting lost out on park time. I'm sorry for everyone that lost out because of a few selfish people's actions.

 

[Colleen27]

I don't think long waits are out of the ordinary at this place. The longest wait I have ever had at any WDW restaurant was at Le'Cellier, which was 45 minutes past our ADR. There was no holiday, no peak season, nor any special activity. This took place the last week of January during a week day in 2009.

That's been our experience too (oddly enough, also on a weekday in Jan). They were running so far behind they didn't even have a pager to give us at our ADR time and suggested we come back and check in 45min later. I let the hostess know we wouldn't be back and we went over to ESPN Club instead, and I haven't even tried for a Le Cellier ADR since. That's twice we checked in a few minutes early for an ADR to be told it would be a long wait, and I'm just not interested in repeating the experience. We've never actually stuck around long enough to eat there.

Maybe if the signature menu looks good and the insanity about the place dies down a bit with it taking two credits, I'll give it another shot on our 2012 trip.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

I'll never wait that long again for average beef plopped on a bed of Minute Rice (they call it risotto), and drenched in Campbells mushroom soup and half a container of Morton's salt.

I think you have just persuaded me to go with my original plan of substituting the risotto for mash potato!!!

 

[TisBit]

Not poor management because I don't believe a Disney manager would ever ask the 'guests' to leave in that kind of situation. The server probably did hand them the bill but that doesn't mean they have to leave.
Sounds like very rude, selfish patrons. Poor server couldn't even turn over the table to get more tips because inconsiderate people were only thinking of themselves.

Not just Disney, I have never been at any restaurant that would tolerate a server or manager asking a guest to leave. Yes, they will bring you the bill and then possibly completely ignore you and clear your table, including your drinks (unless you object).....but only a very poorly managed restaurant would ever tell guests to leave.

 

[Micca]

However good you think LC is, it is NOT worth the hoops you jump through for reservations and then wait over an hour. Doesn't every city/town/village in North America have a good steak restaurant? If it's the thrill of the hunt for an ADR that brings you here, fine. Otherwise...