Le Cellier

[n2mm]

Saw the thread and was surprised that others were surprised. This news was out months ago and even with many of us posting about it, I guess the word was not out enough, or others were in denial. I knew this back when I made my ADRs for next week. I confirmed with our servers many times in October (yes we ate there more than once). I wasn't happy about it mostly because we love lunch here, but back months ago when the news broke I didn't bother to make a lunch ADR for January, but did make a Dinner ADR since the menu was the same. We expressed our unhappiness during our several visits in October and was hoping that there would still be some sort of lunch menu, but our servers told us that the menu would be the "all day" menu. I guess when folks check in for lunch they will be surprised, not only because of the 2TS, but for the new all day menu. I agree, I believe Coral Reef will be next. We are TiW cardholders so the credits are not important to us. BTW--I had no problem getting an ADR here even last minute because we could not make an ADR at this location when the 180 window openned because of the impending changes for 2013.

 

[Ksp]

I'm so glad I saw this thread! We have loved LeCellier for years, but we usually do lunch (with the TIW card) instead of dinner, as our budget can't necessarily handle dinner prices.

I made lunch reservations for our upcoming May trip, but I will have to rethink this. It looks like the cheapest entree on their menu is $34 - ouch!

Is this change meant to make the Dining Plan more appealing?
At $57/day per guest, that would seem to "pay" off pretty quickly, based on the price of having chicken for lunch or dinner at LeCellier.

 

[Kidanifan08]

Is this change meant to make the Dining Plan more appealing?
At $57/day per guest, that would seem to "pay" off pretty quickly, based on the price of having chicken for lunch or dinner at LeCellier.

Since LeCellier will be signature dining all day, anyone on the DDP will have to use two TS entitlements to use at this restaurant. For someone on the DxDDP, that may be appealing, but probably not for someone on the regular DDP.

 

[JimMIA]

Le Cellier is a sad case. We remember "way back when" LC was one of the best kept secrets at WDW -- excellent food, good service, reasonable (for Disney) prices.

I remember being in WDW for a conference one July, and walking from the Mexico pavillion to LC for dinner after one of Orlando's horrendous thunderstorms. It was a little sloshy going, and when we walked down to LC, we were wading through water than was literally almost knee-deep. Once inside, though, we enjoyed the beer-cheese soup, a wonderful meal, and great service from a couple of spectacular young Canadians. The waitstaff in those days was as good representives of any country, in any venue, ever.

DDP and "free" Dining killed all that.

Our last several LC meals have been characterized by severe overcrowding, hordes of absolute pigs in sweaty tank tops (the diners), long waits past reservation times, average food, and mediocre service by really nice Canadian kids. Still the same great kids, but very different product, and very different dining experience.

Since DDP was scuttled a number of years ago, we rarely eat major meals onsite. If we do, they are occasional character meals, and we haven't done one of those in three years.

There are SO many better places to eat offsite.

LC is really a shame. There are lots of psudo-good restaurants onsite. LC was one of the extremely rare actual good places to eat at WDW.

 

[Monte Cristo]

We went to Le Cellier last week after the conversion to Signature...all one menu. It was late in the afternoon, after lunch but before dinner.

I thought the food was very good as usual. I had the caesar salad as an appetizer. Then the soup and lobster mac and cheese as my entree and then the maple creme brulee for dessert. My wife ordered the lobster cob salad as an app then the soup and lobster mac and cheese for an entree. In reality we should have ordered one of the mac and cheese and just split it....it is very rich (along with the soup).

I thought the service was very good and the food we ordered very good. Yes I would have liked a burger, but it turns out what we ordered was perfect.

 

[Luv2CtheMouse]

Yeah, not impressed with this. We have dined here on every trip, but I think we are done.

 

[TheWho]

We usually go for lunch to frankly save a few bucks. Now with dinner prices at lunchtime, going to LC at lunch is a mistake.

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

The way I look at it, we are done as well. We have enjoyed LC, but Epcot has the best food choices, and there are a good number of counter services...Sunshine Seasons and France for example, that I would also eat for a lot less money.

 

[loganpaulsmom]

I have dined twice at Le Cellier. First time, it was amazing! Second time.. My steak came out mooing and it took forever to come back out. Our sever did not seem to care. As someone who is a waitress and a bartender I know that good service goes a long way. I survive mostly because I have lots of regular customers that I go out of my way to please especially if their experience is bad. Eg. Food not as ordered.. Atmosphere issues, cleanliness etc. they come back because if they do have a problem I am comping something or giving them a coupon or taking care of the situation. The problem with Disney waitstaff is they really don't care what your experience is because they know that if its not your butt in that seat the next night it for sure will be someone else. There is no incentive to give good service.. This has been my unfortunate experience at lots of the restaurants in Disney.

 

[bakenatj]

Who needs Le Cellier?

Had wonderful prime rib at Olivia's at OKW a week ago.

I had great prime rib at Olivia's last time too. And I agree with Le Cellier. It's like eating at a Golden Coral, and I don't ever set foot in those places

 

[corpcomp]

While we only went there once years ago, it was fantastic. I guess Signature dining simply means give us your signature and we will bill you for it. What? You wanted food too??? And cooked?? And with a smile?? Get out of here!!!

 

[ffindis]

After I saw the new menu, I cancelled the reservation we had for lunch this coming March.

 

[trampslady]

Add us to the list of unhappy folks. Le Cellier's new menu and lunch pricing should be the poster child for all that ills me about how the DINING PLAN has destroyed one of our most enjoyable aspects of Disney. It's so sad.

 

[marynvince]

turned a dinner reservation into a lunch reservation. Had the strip steak, nothing to write home about. In fact, I grill a much better steak.Had always heard rave reviews about this place, definitely disappointed.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I would like a smaller fillet. Count me among the ones unhappy with the new menu.

 

[sgtdisney]

It's sad what's happening in Orlando, maybe the new (Disney World) President will make some changes.

Dining at Disney World, and in particular EPCOT Center (let's call it was it was.. ), used to be an event in and of itself. Having been DVC members since 1992, and countless trips before that. We used to love just going into the park in the evening for dinner. Again, back in the days when park hopping wasn't considered a premium option.. Now I wouldn't waste the trip, at many of the places. The food is not bad per se, just not great for the price being asked. I really think the DDP has turned a lot of fun, tasty places to eat into places to avoid. We find ourselves going off property more and more for dining opportunities. It's sad, I'd rather be in the parks, but not going to spend 3 times more for lackluster food.

 

[Ansky]

We have gone to LC 3 times over the last 5 years and each time we have enjoyed it less. The first two times were good enough but when we went last August the food was so-so at best. It wasn't horrible, but the prices they are charging for it are shameful. I've had better steaks at an Appleby's than the $40+ one I had there last year. Then throw in the 45min-1hr wait past the reservation time each time we have gone and I unfortunately have to say it just isn't worth it. I hate saying negative things about restaurants, and granted it is only a small sample size of trips there, but you are much better off going to Shula's or the Yachtsman for a steak. The prices are about the same and in my opinion are much, much better. I can't say as though I really care about the menu change at lunch time because 1) we have never been there for lunch and 2) it will be a long time before we go back there for another try. There are a million threads on these boards about Le Cellier and people loving it or hating it....so to each their own.

 

[smcabee]

Dw and I enjoy LC each year and never had an issue. We always use TIW so the price markup doesnt bother us too much. We are both kinda glad its an all day menu so now we can choose to skip breakfast and eat a heavier lunch there and snack more in the evenings which is our preference but I know many people are not fans at all of this change.