Le Cellier: Cancel your unused ADRs, please!

[TJA]

This is our favorite restaurant and I know how difficult it is to get a dinner ADR here. We had a 4:50 PM ADR in June and arrived timely for our table and were seated immediately. During our meal, there were at least 9 empty tables the entire time (we left around 6:30). We were so shocked that we asked the hostess when we left why there were so many open tables and she replied that they have numerous no-shows every night. I felt so sorry for the people that were turned away.

 

[kaytieeldr]

As far as the cc hold....I think it should be charged only if you don't show up. When you're at WDW you don't always know that the ADR you booked isn't going to work until the day of. A 24 hr. cancellation policy would not be good for me.

But while charging no-shows would penalize the no-show, it would NOT free up a table for some other Guest wanting to plan ahead and make a reservation at that restaurant. As for an X-hour cancellation policy not being good, or convenient, or working, for a given Guest - in all honesty, if Disney chose to institute the deposit-and-cancellation policy, I really can't see them customizing it to each individual Guest.

Both times, I was put in an extremely long cue to hold. After holding for 10 minutes or so each time, I simply gave up. Disney needs to make cancelling easier.

You were IN a park? Disney makes it really easy for you to cancel a reservation:
- Go to Guest Services in any park
- Stop at ANY restaurant podium
- Pick up any pay phone and dial either 55 or 88 (the number will be on the phone), free.
- Stop at Lobby Concierge in your resort

 

[princessesrule4]

I also agree with a credit card hold at Le Cellier !

 

[YetanotherMouseFan]

I wonder why Disney doesn't have this programmed into their system? It should be a fairly simple fix. If they're using any kind of basic scheduling software, they should be able to set up parameters that no single person can have 2 reservations within a time frame, say 90 minutes. Of course, this wouldn't fix persons with different names/same party from reserving multiples, but it'd be a start.

Can you tell I've been having trouble getting ADR's for my November trip since July?

 

[vascubaguy]

I talked to a CM today as I was changing my ADR at CA Grill. She said that they were aware that double-bookings where a huge problem and that they are researching them now and will automatically cancel them as they find them (and she said sometimes they don't cancel the one that you wanted)... now I don't know if I completely believe that it is automatic, but I do hope they do something.

Basically, there is no responsibility on the guest. I think Disney should start having CC guarantees on all the more popular restaurants. Charge them $10 per person for no-shows ($20 for the signature places)... it wouldn't be a punishment for those who follow-thru with their ADRs or make the effort to notify if they aren't going to make it, but it would definitely make sure that people who do double-book would be more conscious of making sure they cancel or be faced with paying the costs associated with the "convenience" of double-booking.

I think Disney should also only do a certain percentage of ADRs so that they can accommodate some walk-ups.

Ok, now all that said, I just booked my ADRs last week for a trip coming up in just over a month. Now the only reason I couldn't book earlier was that I didn't know how many people were going. Well I was able to get all of the places I wanted except for Le Cellier (and I knew it was a long shot at this point). However, I got an ADR at Coral Reef, CA Grill, Boma, and Raglan Road. Some of them aren't for the times I would prefer, but they are good enough. We'll definitely be eating and enjoying the fine dining that Disney has to offer.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think that the overbooking of some Epcot restaurants is Disney's fault. They have over extended reservations since Teppan Edo is taking longer to complete. Disney has been adding reservations to the already booked restaurants.

I won't disagree - but how would you propose Disney handle this situation? It's not the Guests' faults that the renovation is taking two or so months longer than originally planned. How would you deal with all the Guests whose reservations can't be honored because the restaurant didn't open on time?

 

[Booknut]

I think ALL restaurant reservations should be a credit card hold, it will stop people who aren't 100% sure where they are going to eat from making reservations they are only half inclined to take and if they do decide to take them they will be much quicker on the mark in cancelling them if money is involved.

I also think this might cut back on the number of reservations and allow more people to just walk up to the restaurant or concierge that day and make a booking.

I can't see of any other way around this problem of double booking or people just not bothering to cancel.

 

[LMO429]

I think ALL restaurant reservations should be a credit card hold, it will stop people who aren't 100% sure where they are going to eat from making reservations they are only half inclined to take and if they do decide to take them they will be much quicker on the mark in cancelling them if money is involved.

I also think this might cut back on the number of reservations and allow more people to just walk up to the restaurant or concierge that day and make a booking.

I agree with you that Having a CC to hold your reservation would def deter people from not showing up for their adrs and make it more accessible to walk ups... But when people are making adrs 6 mths before their trip they have no idea what may actually arise the day of their adr. In a perfect world when a person books their adrs they say i will be at "X" restaurant at such and such a time. The actual day rolls around and maybe they ate a big lunch, are exhausted or a million other reasons why they cant make what they thought they could 6 mths ago I dont think it would be fair to be charged for if at least they are considerate and they call up to cancel it. Disney just keeps raising the price and charging guests for everything!!!! I hope holding reservations dont get added to the list!

 

[melomouse]

I hear your frustration, OP. I have a problem with the discourtesy guest to guest in not cancelling ADR's, too. A recent thread here on this very topic got me so furious that I dared not even participate!

While we have been lucky enough to get into LeCellier last minute in our last two trips - and I actually got in for DS' birthday in January - I want to say that Le Cellier, while good, is overrated if you go by reviews here. DS' penchant for maple creme brulee and pretzel bread is very well and good, but there are other fine steaks to be found on property at restaurants that are NOT impossible to reserve.

Yes, Disney could change the system. No / short notice penalties for the CC ADR's are getting higher. I have a feeling that when the current system is finally changed, it will be an enormous one - and everyone will find something new to rattle their cage about!!!

 

[beachblanket]

By the way, why is the lunch menu on LeCellier different than the dinner menu? I literally can't find one dish on the lunch menu that I'd like to order! (on the dinner menu they have the filet mignon with risotto that makes me so sad I won't be able to have )

Oh, please...

....The Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup (which DISers go on and on and on and on about) is on both the lunch and dinner menu. As is the Beef and Barley Soup, Mixed Field Greens salad and Shrimp Cocktail. In fact, with the exception of the Mussels, the appetizer selection at lunch and dinner is exactly the same.

There's also a lot of overlap between the entrees. Yes, there are more steaks at dinner, but you can get filet mignon (with cream cheese mashed potatoes, if risotto is that important, you're eating at the wrong country - walk over to Italy).

Unlike dinner at lunch you have a very nice selection of entree salads as well as sandwiches.

Bottom line: lunch at Le Cellier is a better value than dinner.

 

[Disney Ron]

After a frustrating experience this week at Le Cellier, I'm starting this thread to vent a little about people who are booking multiple ADRs at this restaurant for the same day/week and not canceling their unused ADRs.

This past week we tried to secure an ADR there upon arrival at our resort, hoping to take a cancelled slot in any were available. Alas, no such luck. We were also told to show up when the restaurant opened for lunch, or when the menu changed from lunch to dinner in the late afternoon to see if they could accommodate a walk-up. Again, no luck on both counts. We were not even allowed to wait to see if any no-shows happened, as the hosts told us it was impossible because they were overbooked every day of the week!

I have spoken with a manager at Le Cellier, and with a resort concierge, about this experience, and both expressed their frustration at the fact that they are turning people away from the restaurant almost every day because the ADR system shows a fully-booked restaurant, yet they still wind up with a decent number of empty tables. Both the manager and the concierge blamed the multiple bookings and the guest's failure to cancel unused ADRs as the biggest frustration they face because of the number of disappointed guests they have to let down.

While it's understandable that people really want to be sure they don't miss out on their opportunity to dine at Le Cellier, the multiple ADRs bookings and or/failure to cancel unused ADRs are preventing other guests from sharing in the opportunity to enjoy this restaurant. In my way of thinking, it's common courtesy to cancel an ADR if you know you won't use it and you have the ability to do so. I understand that emergencies happen and sometimes people can't actually make the call to cancel their ADR, but in most cases, people can take the time to free up the slot for another guest.

Now, before anyone starts a "lack of planning on your part does not constitute an 'emergency' on my part" reply to this post, I will take full responsibility for not securing an ADR prior to our trip. I consider what happened last week to be a "lesson learned" experience, and now that I know better, I will make ONE Le Cellier ADR for any of my planned WDW visit dates, and will plan that day around my ADR. I just hope others who have multiple bookings at Le Cellier who only intend to eat there once during their stay will take the time to cancel their unused bookings so that others can enjoy it, too.

In fact, here is what I found in the "Advanced Dining Reservations Tips" on the DIS Dining page:



Thanks for letting me vent...

http://http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1555105

Steve I hear you. Read this thread above that I started on 8/20. I complained about people not cancelling ADR's and was told everything from life happens, what if we were stuck on a ride, to what if we are having too much fun and forget about our ADR, as if these were valid reasons for not cancelling.

Please read through the thread I posted, it's interesting.

BTW, read my intial post that starts the thread. I said how while walkups were being turned away, during our dinner at Le Cellier there were 6-8 tables opened the entire time. You'll read some responses in my thread where I was told the kitchen or waitstaff were probably short staffed therefore the open tables. Your intial post here proves that theory wrong!!!

 

[Forevryoung]

I'm going to play devil's advocate for a min. While I agree with you regarding canceling ADRs, there is another side:

You have to call the ACTUAL restaurant to let them know you aren't coming if it's just a short time before your ADR. You can't just call disney dining (people all over the country) or do it through central reservations- the message doesn't get to the restaurant.

A situation I'm going to encounter- I really want to eat at Beaches and Cream. DBF really wants to eat at Cape May. I made an ADR for Cape May but we are going to try to get into Beaches and Cream first. If we aren't going to have to wait long for a table, we will stay, otherwise we'll go to our Cape May ADR and call Cape May to let them know we aren't coming. Is my plan unfair? Am I "taking" someone else's spot at Cape May by being unsure?

And by placing a CC on my reservation, would I lose money calling Cape May 30min prior to my ADR? How far in advance would a cancellation call be needed to not be charged? Actually I think that if a CC was required for ADRs, I wouldn't make any and eat offsite or CS. And if Disney has 6-9 open tables during typical meal hours, they need a new statistician. They aren't booking enough ADRs for that restaurant to account for cancellations!

PS You went during Free Dining- I consider dining to be atypical of what you find during the rest of the year

 

[melomouse]

The situation I'm going to encounter- I really want to eat at Beaches and Cream. DBF really wants to eat at Cape May. I made an ADR for Cape May but we are going to try to get into Beaches and Cream first. If we aren't going to have to wait long for a table, we will stay, otherwise we'll go to our Cape May ADR and call Cape May to let them know we aren't coming. Is my plan unfair?
Am I "taking" someone else's spot at Cape May by being unsure?

ummmm.. yes!

 

[Disney Ron]

I'm going to play devil's advocate for a min. While I agree with you regarding canceling ADRs, there is another side:

You have to call the ACTUAL restaurant to let them know you aren't coming if it's just a short time before your ADR. You can't just call disney dining (people all over the country) or do it through central reservations- the message doesn't get to the restaurant.

A situation I'm going to encounter- I really want to eat at Beaches and Cream. DBF really wants to eat at Cape May. I made an ADR for Cape May but we are going to try to get into Beaches and Cream first. If we aren't going to have to wait long for a table, we will stay, otherwise we'll go to our Cape May ADR and call Cape May to let them know we aren't coming. Is my plan unfair? Am I "taking" someone else's spot at Cape May by being unsure?

And by placing a CC on my reservation, would I lose money calling Cape May 30min prior to my ADR? How far in advance would a cancellation call be needed to not be charged? Actually I think that if a CC was required for ADRs, I wouldn't make any and eat offsite or CS. And if Disney has 6-9 open tables during typical meal hours, they need a new statistician. They aren't booking enough ADRs for that restaurant to account for cancellations!

PS You went during Free Dining- I consider dining to be atypical of what you find during the rest of the year

Yes you are taking someone's spot at Cape May if you don't cancel.

BTW, when we saw 6-8 tables empty during our dinner at Le Cellier it was during this past March when there wasn't Free Dining. I know your post was for the OP, but I just thought I'd let you know it doesn't just happen during Free Dining.

We are going to Beaches & Cream on 9/19 and did NOT make an ADR for anywhere else. We'll just wait however long to be seated.

 

[my3disneygirls]

A situation I'm going to encounter- I really want to eat at Beaches and Cream. DBF really wants to eat at Cape May. I made an ADR for Cape May but we are going to try to get into Beaches and Cream first. If we aren't going to have to wait long for a table, we will stay, otherwise we'll go to our Cape May ADR and call Cape May to let them know we aren't coming. Is my plan unfair? Am I "taking" someone else's spot at Cape May by being unsure?

Actually I think that if a CC was required for ADRs, I wouldn't make any and eat offsite or CS.

Yes, you are taking someone's spot at Cape May. Perhaps someone who's first choice would be to go to Cape May and can't because you want to have a chance get your first choice and are using the Cape May ressie as a fall back.

Actually, I was thinking that asking for a CC for an ADR may be unfair, but now that I know that it will deter people that abuse the ADR system from making TS ADR's I will rethink my position.

 

[Dafnaf]

--

 

[penjen]

I won't disagree - but how would you propose Disney handle this situation? It's not the Guests' faults that the renovation is taking two or so months longer than originally planned. How would you deal with all the Guests whose reservations can't be honored because the restaurant didn't open on time?

I'm just stating a fact.
If someone cancels from Lecellier (as an example) is anyone even sure that the ressie becomes available since they are overbooked.

 

[beachblanket]

I disagree, I think dinner is a much better value. Especially when you're on the DDP...

When you take into account service, that may be arguable even with the DDP. In our experience, waits to be seated at lunch are shorter than at dinner and service is definitely prompter. So if one isn't on the dining plan, lunch is clearly a better value (no, the filet portion then is not smaller!!!)

 

[vascubaguy]

I'm going to play devil's advocate for a min. While I agree with you regarding canceling ADRs, there is another side:

You have to call the ACTUAL restaurant to let them know you aren't coming if it's just a short time before your ADR. You can't just call disney dining (people all over the country) or do it through central reservations- the message doesn't get to the restaurant.

A situation I'm going to encounter- I really want to eat at Beaches and Cream. DBF really wants to eat at Cape May. I made an ADR for Cape May but we are going to try to get into Beaches and Cream first. If we aren't going to have to wait long for a table, we will stay, otherwise we'll go to our Cape May ADR and call Cape May to let them know we aren't coming. Is my plan unfair? Am I "taking" someone else's spot at Cape May by being unsure?

And by placing a CC on my reservation, would I lose money calling Cape May 30min prior to my ADR? How far in advance would a cancellation call be needed to not be charged? Actually I think that if a CC was required for ADRs, I wouldn't make any and eat offsite or CS. And if Disney has 6-9 open tables during typical meal hours, they need a new statistician. They aren't booking enough ADRs for that restaurant to account for cancellations!

PS You went during Free Dining- I consider dining to be atypical of what you find during the rest of the year

This is a similar situation to "using" the system to have options. It would be the same as if you booked an ADR at Cape May and another at Le Cellier because you won't know for sure if you'll be craving seafood or steak. Either way, it could prevent someone from getting a table because you have indicated that you are going to be there (not that you might be there).

This is why I like the idea of using CC guarantees but limiting the number of guarantee slots they take so that they can also accommodate walk-ups. That would allow those uncertain folks who don't want to truly commit to go checkout the wait time at one place and still have the option to go over to another location and be able to get in (even if they have to wait some).

 

[dodukes]

What I dont understand is the people who claim that what if they ate a big lunch or what if this or what if that. When i make my ts, i plan on eating them. Meaning we have a dinner at lets say 7:40, well im gonna make well sure that i dont eat lunch at 4pm that day, or stuff myself not to be stuffed for dinner. I mean some things are common sense. Being stuck on a ride and being late is one thing but not going just because or the becasue you are full, i dont thin you should be makig ts's if you cant eat properly before. Seriously, if you make a ts, you know what youre going for so its not like its a surprise when you get there and "oh no, its too much food or im too full". I dont by that. I have done a couple of 2 ts for around the same time, i think i have done it twice but i cancel them at least a month ahead (or in the case i have transferred to two disers). Ive done it twice for my own reasons. Is it right, probably not, but they were cancelld, they werent made as a backup for the day off, which is what i dont understand people doing. If you make a ts, stick with it, i cant understand many reasons for why people need a backup, plan properly and you wont need a backup. And yes a cc charge will kinda be annoying but it may cut down on some but honestly if i had to temporarily double book for whatever the reason, i will just do the cc charge 2x and then cancel.