Is there a secret password? Please share it!

[Figaro77]

I just have to vent - I did the race this morning to be among the first to get through to Disney Dining at 7 am for our trip starting on 11/29, and although we did pretty well, it was unbelievable to me that some of the restaurants were already completely booked (like Le Cellier). Having never eaten there (despite two previous attempts), I can only assume they are serving something so good it should be illegal , and you have to know the password to get in! The days of spontaneus Disney trips have gone by the wayside, even if "spontaneous" means 179 days in advance! I remember the days of having to choose if you want you Ohana seating at 5:30, 6:00, or 6:15 . . .
So what's the password? "Pixie Dust"? "Hidden Mickey"?

 

[ElizabethB]

I wouldn't worry. It books quickly because you can go there an get steak for one table service credit. There are good steaks elsewhere on property. And, the tables are so close together at Le Cellier that we avoid it.

 

[tiger4me2]

Have you tried for lunch at Le Cellier's? That what I had to do for my DS & DIL. The CM told me the same thing places are getting harder to book for the times you want.

 

[rolltide13]

Honestly, Le Cellier was my least favorite place we have eaten at in all of DW. I found the food a bit overseasoned, and our waitress was not very good. The place was crazy busy and crowded and it seemed like the put the tables very close together to get as many people in as possible.

I thought San Angel Inn was much better, as was Italy (I can't remember the name right now) and Rose and Crown was better.

 

[TDC Nala]

In my opinion Le Cellier is overrated. Its appeal has already been mentioned: with the demise of Concourse, it is now the only one-credit steakhouse at WDW. And Americans love their steak.

Turf Club is one credit and while it isn't technically a steak house, the steak smelled and looked good (although I never order steak personally), but it's way off at SSR and not in a theme park.

Many, many visitors are booking the dining plan, and if they want the popular restaurants they need to be lucky to get in, even at the maximum booking time.

 

[Figaro77]

Thanks - lunch might be the way to go. It seems crazy to me how fast things have changed on the dining scene - I guess because of the new popularity of the Dining Plan. We have the DDE, so don't really keep up with table service credits and such.

 

[mommyaof2]

I thought I would let you know that I had a wonderful steak at the Coral Reef and at Kona Cafe. Maybe try and get a ressie at one of these places if steak is what you are looking for. Really I preferred Kona's steak over LeCellier's if I am being honest. We didn't even book LeCellier for this trip, nobody in my house requested it. It was not bad at all when we went, LeCellier was good, but we ate equally good food at other places. I would not worry too much about it. Have a great trip!

 

[mello]

and I may be wrong, but I bet they're holding back most of the dinner reservations at LeCellier for the CP packages.

 

[mickeynut1]

I would suggest trying Kona Cafe at the Poly if you've never eaten there. We ate there for the first time in September and their prime rib and filet are awesome . We've never eaten at Le Cellier due to the fact that we've never been able to get an ADR so I can't compare the two, but we LOVE Kona....it's now one of our favorite restaurants . When I call to make our ADRs, I may try 2 or 3 nights for availability at Le Cellier, but after that I book other places. I'm sure Le Cellier is good, but it's not that important to us so I won't keep calling back every day for 6 months just to try to get a ressie. If I happen to get lucky one of these days and get an ADR....great; if not, I'll still live . There are plenty of other great places to eat at Disney . But, if Le Cellier is a place you have your heart set on to try, then keep calling back.....people cancel all the time and you may just get lucky and get an ADR .

 

[Jaxpiper]

and I may be wrong, but I bet they're holding back most of the dinner reservations at LeCellier for the CP packages.

You may be on to something here...

 

[TDC Nala]

Or you could book a CP package!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Since you have DDE, instead of DDP, why not go to YSH, AP, CG, or Jiko for a steak that's only a few $ more? Sounds like a good concellation prize to me.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Or you could book a CP package!

This works too!

 

[RosiePosie35]

We ate at Le Cellier last September. It was good and I'm glad we were able to experience it, but I wouldn't be heartbroken if we didn't make it back.

One place the whole family loved was Boatwrights at the Port Orleans Riverside. The filet was fantastic. It is not in the parks, but if you are looking for a good way to spend a TS credit, then this is one place that will probably not be booked. After dinner see Bob Jackson in the piano bar, it will make the trip worth the effort if you are not staying at that resort.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Sorry about your ADR timing problem.
2) It is not an issue of a secret password.
3) It is the secret handshake you don't know!

 

[asmit4]

What is a CP package??

 

[shelly3girls]

and I may be wrong, but I bet they're holding back most of the dinner reservations at LeCellier for the CP packages.

This is exactly what happened to us last year. I could not get a single reservation for our whole trip. I called when they opened the CP packages and had my choice of times and nights.

 

[Jaxpiper]

What is a CP package??

Candlelight Processional Dinner Package: Dinner + "reserved" seating at the CP performance.

 

[shelly3girls]

What is a CP package??

Candlelight Processional

 

[Figaro77]

I thought it might be the CP packages as well, and I'll be keeping an eye out for those. You know, it wasn't the idea of steak that had me sweating, it was the thought that Le Cellier had some "mystique" I hadn't experienced yet I booked us a table at the Rose and Crown, but will probably cancel that and book a CP package when they become available. Between now and then, I'll try to find someone who will show me the secret handshake Thanks for all the feedback!