Le Cellier...I did a bad thing

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I was shocked when I was able to get a lunch reservation at Le Cellier for 1 person.

Granted I called 5 times before I got it, but still I get to eat at Le Cellier on my solo trip.

 

[RMAMom]

I have been trying for weeks to get into this restraint. Our trip is 19 days away, while on the phone with Disney Dinning the rep told me that there was no availability for a party of 2 but there was availability for a larger party. The conversation continued about table sizes etc. I had other things to discuss so I moved on.
Now that I am reading this thread I wonder if she was prompting me to ask for a larger table. So I just called back and said I was looking for a table for 3 or 4 for lunch or dinner on March 2nd,5th or 7th she said diner was booked but there was availability on all of those dates for lunch! I have been trying to get these ressies forever for a party of 2 with no success. Do I feel bad about this. No because apparently there is several tables and times available and we are 19 days from this trip!

My point to the OP is that not only do I think you didn't do a bad thing, I thank you for helping me to get a ressie that DH and I were really hoping to get. This is our third trip in two years and it will be our first time eating here!

 

[eagillinois]

We can't get one and there are 5 of us. I read somewhere here that asking for 6 is better!

I was able to get a reservation for 5 with no problem, then I read that asking for 6 is better!!!

 

[snykymom]

I can understand the situation for tables of 2 as there are usually limited numbers of those tables in most restaurants and I can see them wanting to fill a table for 4 with 3-4 people instead of just 2 to make more money. However I find it hard to believe that a party of 5 is getting turned away from a reservation that is being held only for a party of 6. Something just doesn't seem right about that.

We are a party of 5 for our upcoming trip in May and I just made our ADRs today. I got every reservation I was looking for at the times I was looking for with no problem.

Actually, there are such things as 5-tops; many restaurants have them. So if the system is trying to match party size to table size, a 5 may not get a reservation for 6. But there are many more 6 tops than 5s, so asking for 6 may be better.

I also booked 4 rather than 2 at LeCellier; this was when you could make your ADRs 180 days out, and we weren't sure if another couple would join us. They didn't, but I didn't change the reservation. We had to wait a bit longer than normal and they eventually did seat us at a 2 top, though. So you may have to wait, but you'll get served!

 

[maxiesmom]

We had a ressie for four, but some members of our party didn't end up going, so when we showed up there were only two of us. They didn't bat an eye, and when we were seated, we saw many parties of two at four-top tables. So I'd say stick with what you have. Personally, if it were me, I'd call occassionally and try to change it to two if I could, but I wouldn't give up what you have before you get something else!

Well we got the ol stink eye when we ate there last year. We were a party of 6, and for some reason they had us down as a party of 8. I don't know if they thought we had lied or something, but 2 different CMs questioned us about it. They didn't toss us out though.

 

[mcgrawfan]

I just made an ADR for 1900 Park Fare for a party of 4 (we are a party of 3). I have been calling for about 2 weeks with no luck for 3 but today got an ADR for 4. I still didn't get a great time and will continue to call to see if I can change it.

 

[tigger813]

We booked at Le Cellier for 4 people at lunch during our April trip calling at 90 days. Got in the exact time we wanted. We actually got all of the reservations we wanted within 5 minutes of our requested time.

 

[Tammil]

I just had to do the same thing today. We are a party of 5 and I had reservations at 1900 Park Fare for 8:00 - too late for my 2 year old but it was the only thing I could get. I've been calling every other day for 3 weeks but nothing has been available. Then I read hear about trying with a table of 6. I called today for a table of 5 - nothing but for a table of 6 I could get multiple early reservations. Crazy! So, I booked it with a 6. I now have to call back and cancel my one for 5.

I feel really guilty about doing this but when I'm spending over $100 for my family to eat dinner, I should be able to eat at a time when my kids won't be sleeping in their soup. This thread has made me feel more at ease!

 

[summermac]

Oh this post is just whack. Not the replies - the fact that anyone has to do this to get a ressie. Jeesh. Insane.

I'd have done exactly what you did - took the table for 4 and ran with it. Not your problem that someone who needs a ressie for 4 calls in after you do.

 

[Lynn5700]

No don't worry. I have never done it before but I have had ADRs where some of our party bailed out last minute and it was no problem. Just tell them the other 2 couldn't make it.

What cracks me up though it when I make ADRS for 2 they put us at a 4 person table anyway.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

wow thanks! i was debating doing this or not, and then i saw this thread so i gave disney a call and upped our party size, now we have LeCellier, which was completely unavailable for all days of our trip... until i changed the party size.. woo hoo.. too bad it wasnt for dinner, but hey it beats coral reef~

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

I have done this many times, asked for larger tables. The reservation and seating systme is not a perfect puzzle! People cancel constantly and many don't show up...I am sure each restraurant goes through this each and every day.

I too have had CM says lets book a table for 5 instead. Today though, this CM was just plain nasty with me. She had NO idea if I was lying about needing a table for 5, which was the odd part. She said to me, if less than 5 show up for this, they will be refused seating. This was at Ohana!! I know Ohana has many odd number tables...3, 5 and 7s. When I asked for 4, nothing, when I asked for 5 or 6, TONS were available! So, I went up.

 

[Micca]

I have done this many times, asked for larger tables. The reservation and seating systme is not a perfect puzzle! People cancel constantly and many don't show up...I am sure each restraurant goes through this each and every day.

I too have had CM says lets book a table for 5 instead. Today though, this CM was just plain nasty with me. She had NO idea if I was lying about needing a table for 5, which was the odd part. She said to me, if less than 5 show up for this, they will be refused seating. This was at Ohana!! I know Ohana has many odd number tables...3, 5 and 7s. When I asked for 4, nothing, when I asked for 5 or 6, TONS were available! So, I went up.

We had something like that happen in December with Ohana ressies. We had it booked for 3 and when we tried to change it to 4, we were told the restaurant was entirely soldout for the whole day. We were told that if more than 3 showed up we would not be seated. I stressed over this thinking that if need be I would volunteer to sit in the lounge and order appetizers so the rest of my party could eat at our table for 3. DW assured me that would not be necessary.

On the day of our ressies Ohana was packed, and when we went to the podium to check they said "party of 3?" I replied "4"..."just take this pager, have a seat in the lounge and you'll be seated at the first available table."
We sat down, were enjoying our drinks and waiting for our server to bring my credit card back when our pager went off. We waited for all of about 10 minutes for the so called "impossible seating."

I think the smart/safe thing to do is to try to book for the correct number in your party, but in my experience I certainly wasn't turned away.

 

[ShannonMB]

Today though, this CM was just plain nasty with me. She had NO idea if I was lying about needing a table for 5, which was the odd part.

That is so weird! I wonder if they just had a meeting, and their boss told them "stop suggesting that people book larger tables than they needed", and she stepped it up and decided to start yelling at everyone who calls that they better not be trying it!

Some people have the weirdest attitude about things~

I would definitely just get there, tell them the others cancelled, and it doesn't sound like you'd have any problem. It's just dumb the way they have it set up.

 

[maxiesmom]

I would definitely just get there, tell them the others cancelled, and it doesn't sound like you'd have any problem. It's just dumb the way they have it set up.

Not so dumb from Disney's standpoint. Disney doesn't have a hard time filling tables at their most popular restaurants like Le Ceiller and Chef Mickeys. Why wouldn't they want to seat 6 people at a table for 6, and not just seat 5? An empty seat at the table is money lost to them. It makes perfect sense from a business standpoint to fill the tables if they can.

I do think from a customer standpoint it is a pain in the rear. But I wouldn't be suprised if too many people start adding people to their groups that don't exist that Disney would go to a deposit down at more places. They already do that for the restaurant in Norway. And you have to pay in full before eating at the Castle.

Like I said, we got a wierd look last May when we had less people on our ADR than they had us down for. And that was an honest mistake! So I wouldn't be shocked if they start to be a bit more strict on dining numbers.