Big Delays at Le Cellier--CP Gets Blame

[scot@dvcstore]

I had the same problem last time I visited Boma. Checked in 15 minutes early and got seated about 60 minutes past our rese time. Although the delay was somewhat frustrating, the overall experience was still very good, like always.

 

[NurseJes]

I'm starting to rethink this...We have 8:50 reservations at LC, if they're running an hour behind that's almost 10! Not only that, but in that case how does the bus situation work after sitting down at nearly 10, then it takes an hour to an hour and a half to eat...that's 11:30-midnight by the time we get to the bus stops. I'm really concerned now, also hearing that the food isn't that great. I am a steak junkie, and would be really disappointed if a bad hunk of dead cow was served covered in salt, etc as the pp mentioned.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Sorry to hear that.

We didn’t eat there, but did 4 TS meals and every time I got a bill at a TS restaurant, the server laid it down and said "No rush". Every time they said that without fail. I figured it was part of a script, but 3.5 hours????? That is way past the extreme. Two more parties could sit and eat during that time and I doubt they left a large enough tip to account for that.

Longest we sat was 20 minutes after we finished eating and that was because we hadn't seen all the characters.

 

[Micca]

I'm starting to rethink this...We have 8:50 reservations at LC, if they're running an hour behind that's almost 10! Not only that, but in that case how does the bus situation work after sitting down at nearly 10, then it takes an hour to an hour and a half to eat...that's 11:30-midnight by the time we get to the bus stops. I'm really concerned now, also hearing that the food isn't that great. I am a steak junkie, and would be really disappointed if a bad hunk of dead cow was served covered in salt, etc as the pp mentioned.

It's not that the steak will be "bad", it will be good. But if you're a real steak junkie, chances are you've had better steak with fewer hoops to jump through to get seated. I also suspect that by the end of the evening they start getting caught up and you wouldn't be stuck waiting an hour.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

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.

From your post, you really enjoyed your last meal there.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

I hope it is not a problem.. We have a 6:15pm (not CP Package) ADR on a weekday but was hoping to leave the park by 8pm to get up early the next morning.

Honestly, if they tell me it's an hour or more wait... I'll go eat somewhere else... I know it's pretty easy to get a last minute ADR or walk up at Marrakesh and we like the food and entertainment there.

 

[Lauralooneyfordisney]

Well I may be the minority but we haven't had an issue there. We have eaten 2 times in May at around 6:00 and have never waited longer than 15 min. We actually like the food there too. Mac & Cheese is fabulous as is the cheese soup and filet mignon.

 

[goofy4prez]

It's not that the steak will be "bad", it will be good. But if you're a real steak junkie, chances are you've had better steak with fewer hoops to jump through to get seated. I also suspect that by the end of the evening they start getting caught up and you wouldn't be stuck waiting an hour.

I think that is well stated. I agree, it was not bad, but it was WAY WAY WAY over-rated and equally over-hyped. I have a feeling the euphoria with this place will die down once it's a Signature.

From your post, you really enjoyed your last meal there.

I didn't even mention (I am now, LOL) how we were seated right in the main aisle right next to the restroom doors (nothing like eating and hearing a concert of flushing) and located between the silverware station as well as the credit card station. Nor did I mention when I asked the manager (politely) if we could be moved to another location, only to hear her tell us, "there are no other tables". Even upon telling her we would wait again. Her response was, "there are no other tables, you could sit here, or you can eat somewhere else". Trust me this is no exaggeration.

So yes, I guess you could say, we really enjoyed our first, last, and only meal there.

 

[OhioDisneyDad]

Well I may be the minority but we haven't had an issue there. We have eaten 2 times in May at around 6:00 and have never waited longer than 15 min. We actually like the food there too. Mac & Cheese is fabulous as is the cheese soup and filet mignon.

Add me to the minority. We've eaten there multiple times (September/October during F&W, Xmas week and in January) and never had to wait more than 15 minutes if that. It may be because we tend to eat a little early (around 5:30pm) or so. The food's always been good and we've always had a great, friendly server. Go figure.

 

[fla4fun]

Well I may be the minority but we haven't had an issue there. We have eaten 2 times in May at around 6:00 and have never waited longer than 15 min. We actually like the food there too. Mac & Cheese is fabulous as is the cheese soup and filet mignon.

I have never had a problem either, but I typically visit for lunch instead of dinner, and I don't think people tend to linger as much over their lunch.

I also agree that the mac and cheese is very good. I often order that and the Chipotle Chicken Sausage and Polenta app to have for my meal instead of a regular entree. I managed to score a last minute lunch ADR for my trip next week and I'm really looking forward to it.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

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 totally agree....rude and selfish folks using the system and not interested or caring about poeple waiting for the table.

They know Disney is not fast to ask any group to leave after their dinner was finished, so they play the system, to just stay there!

AKK

 

[budbeerlady]

Add me to the minority. We've eaten there multiple times (September/October during F&W, Xmas week and in January) and never had to wait more than 15 minutes if that. It may be because we tend to eat a little early (around 5:30pm) or so. The food's always been good and we've always had a great, friendly server. Go figure.

We have not had an issue either but we do late lunches or early dinners at Le Cellier. I figure 35-40 from check in until we get our food so a 5:15 or 5:30 ADR doesn't run us that early there.

 

[Eponine1]

I hope it is not a problem.. We have a 6:15pm (not CP Package) ADR on a weekday but was hoping to leave the park by 8pm to get up early the next morning.

Honestly, if they tell me it's an hour or more wait... I'll go eat somewhere else... I know it's pretty easy to get a last minute ADR or walk up at Marrakesh and we like the food and entertainment there.

I had a ressie on 11/18/10 for 6:15 pm (2 adults). I was told they were running on wait between 15 and 25 minutes. No problem. I waited for 55 minutes before we got seat.

I'm not even trying to LC next year.

 

[larryz]

So Disney practically forces you to eat 2.5 to 3 hours prior to the CP you're signed up to see. Case in point, we've got a 4:10 "dinner" reservation to see the 6:45 show.

Now, is the large built-in delay meant to cover the possibility of a seating delay, or does it actually contribute to diners overstaying their welcome at the restaurants?

Enquiring minds and all that...

 

[courtneylauren]

We've been multiple times in July and never waited more than 20 minutes to be seated.

 

[Up4travel]

I didn't even mention (I am now, LOL) how we were seated right in the main aisle right next to the restroom doors (nothing like eating and hearing a concert of flushing) and located between the silverware station as well as the credit card station. Nor did I mention when I asked the manager (politely) if we could be moved to another location, only to hear her tell us, "there are no other tables". Even upon telling her we would wait again. Her response was, "there are no other tables, you could sit here, or you can eat somewhere else". Trust me this is no exaggeration.

So yes, I guess you could say, we really enjoyed our first, last, and only meal there.

So, it is ok that they can be RUDE and UNACCOMMODATING to you, but they can't ask someone who has been sitting 3.5 hours at a table hogging it? Something isn't right with this picture.

I'm unhappy reading about the long delays to be seated at LC. It is unacceptable. 15 minutes is the longest I'll wait. AND, I will be asking for my CP tickets if they tell me the wait is an hour, whether I eat there or not.

 

[vicki_c]

So Disney practically forces you to eat 2.5 to 3 hours prior to the CP you're signed up to see. Case in point, we've got a 4:10 "dinner" reservation to see the 6:45 show.

Now, is the large built-in delay meant to cover the possibility of a seating delay, or does it actually contribute to diners overstaying their welcome at the restaurants?

Enquiring minds and all that...

It's not really that unrealistic - we had to get in line 45 minutes prior to our show time when we did CP (8 PM show with 5:30 dinner at Tutto in 2008). Add that in to the time it might take you to eat, if you have to wait for your table, etc. and we didn't really have any extra time. We were going to shop in Japan before the show and ended up skipping that because the package line was already back into Japan so we just got in line.

 

[providence]

We must travel under a cloud of pixie dust because we have always been seated promptly for our reservations.

 

[DisneyLover83]

Well I may be the minority but we haven't had an issue there. We have eaten 2 times in May at around 6:00 and have never waited longer than 15 min. We actually like the food there too. Mac & Cheese is fabulous as is the cheese soup and filet mignon.

We also happen to go in May a lot and never waited longer than 10 to 15 minutes at Le Cellier, maybe it is because we are a party of 2?

 

[RMulieri]

WOw thats awful...But nothing new I am afraid..We were consistently seated late at all our WS restaurant adrs last December and indeed it was due to the Candlelight processional pkgs coupled with Free DIning