Possible Changes at LeCellier

[TK Brown]

Sorry....I like LC just the way it is. 1 credit. And I happen to like the food that they serve. I have never had a bad meal here. Im crossing my fingers that this is just a rumor and thats all.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Interesting this. Not sure WHY they are doing this as from all I hear, the restaurant was always full.
In any case, I agree with those who suggest they must upgrade the quality of their meat. Just fewer tables won't do it. And upgrading the beef will clearly require higher prices, so it shall be interesting if this all works out. If they desire to be "equals" with Shula's (or even Yachtsman) they have a long way to go.

 

[Mustangdi]

I have a res for Sept and hope that it will
Still be 1 credit. I will watch for updates.
Thanks for the info.

 

[Luv2Roam]

My guess is if this comes about it is partly due to LC being so full/popular.
They could be getting enough grief and complaints from guests about how hard it is to get in that they are making it much easier to get in. Possibly even back to walk up service status.
And possibly make a chef happy too by not serving generic foods. (Switching to Canadian beef as example.)
2 credit/Signature would make it less desirable to many, just as many don't dine at Brown Derby for the same reasons.
Could be BD just decided back then not to do what LC did and be a part of the regular DDP. Their food quality, menu and prices stayed up. Which from what others have posted about LC did not happen once they went to 1 credit on the DDP. (Can't say I dined at LC enough either way to notice enough of a difference.)

 

[Lewisc]

Makes sense. The deluxe resorts all have at least one signature restaurant. MK and DHS each have a signature restaurant.

Enough WS restaurants change to signature and Disney may be able to sell more Deluxe Dining Plan Packages.

 

[Cheloconnell]

Very sad Our favorite restaraunt will now be a difficult decision to keep if it turns to 2 TS.

 

[Jason71]

However, I can't see them changing it to a Signature restaurant in the middle of the year, especially when people have already made reservations there expecting it to be one credit. You'd think that if they are going to change it to a Signature restaurant that they'd wait until the new year to do so.

No specific info whatsoever on Le Cellier, but keep in mind Disney's fiscal year generally begins right around October 1. The reason Pleasure Island closed in late September when it did. If a change is coming, that is the most logical time for it.

 

[TinaMedley]

I hope they wait until after October. We have the DP and ressies there. DH has never eaten there and he is excited about it.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I would see it happening October 1, at the beginning of the fiscal year if it were not that guests generally travel by calendar year.
If there is a change, I would guess it to be immediate (and fall under the subject to change policy) or wait until January 1, 2011.

 

[focusondisney]

Don't know how I feel about this. We love the mushroom fillet & Canadian moose dessert. We do get the deluxe plan sometimes, so using 2 credits wouldn't be an issue for us.

What I would have a problem with is if they change it in the middle of free dining. Our ADR's have been made for over 2 months. Our dining credits are planned. And since free dining has been available to book for weeks now, I'm sure it will be hard to get an alternate ADR at a place we want to eat at, if they close it before we go. I would probably pay 2 credits & adjust else where, but what do we do if they close for renovations?

 

[yitbos96bb]

And they've finally been able to negotiate bringing back true Canadian beef which will probably improve the quality of product - hence the price increases!

Hmm... I've never would of thought of Canadian beef improving the quality... not as much as Pure High End Prime Angus beef or Japanese Waygu beef, but I'll definitely be interested in trying it to see if it does represent a big difference. Still, if they get the higher end of the prime scale, that will mark a significant improvement.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Yahtsman is a signature restaurant. They don't serve prime meat. Shua's doesn't even serve prime meat.

I agree they'll have to improve the quality, and cuts, of beef.

Wow, not sure where you got your information but you are completely mistaken on one, and partially wrong on another.

Shula's certainly does serve Prime Beef. It's a Black Angus Beef cut... they choose the higher end Prime Beef, just like places like David Burkes and Gibsons in Chicago and Peter Lugar's in NY and most High end premium steakhouses.

Here is the website: http://www.donshula.com/thestory.php?sub=5

As for Yachtsman, they do serve Prime, just not on all cuts. Usually one or two cuts is Prime, generally a ribeye or a strip in my experiences. However, the majority are Choice cuts with the added on Disney premium.

While I think Shula's doesn't hold a candle to some of the top places in the country like Gibson's, David Burke's Prime, Peter Luger's, they do make an excellent steak... definitely top on Disney Property.

Either way, quality wise, both are much better than Le Cellier although Le Cellier definitely has some of the best sides, such as the Beer Cheese Soup and the Pretzel bread.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Sorry....I like LC just the way it is. 1 credit. And I happen to like the food that they serve. I have never had a bad meal here. Im crossing my fingers that this is just a rumor and thats all.

Well, having a good meal and creating a truly great steak experience are two VERY different things. Le Cellier right now is more on par with Outback... I want to see it reach a Ruth Chris or Morton's level (well better than morton's as I find their steaks ridiculously bland.)

 

[Belle & Ariel]

Don't know how I feel about this. We love the mushroom fillet & Canadian moose dessert. We do get the deluxe plan sometimes, so using 2 credits wouldn't be an issue for us.

What I would have a problem with is if they change it in the middle of free dining. Our ADR's have been made for over 2 months. Our dining credits are planned. And since free dining has been available to book for weeks now, I'm sure it will be hard to get an alternate ADR at a place we want to eat at, if they close it before we go. I would probably pay 2 credits & adjust else where, but what do we do if they close for renovations?

I totally agree with your thought as to reservations.
We got up before 6 on a Sunday to book at the 180 mark to get LC for 2 meals. Our others were not as popular and we could have easily gotten them later in the day. Now with free dining announced, our bookings made 2 months ago could have been a total waste as others have recently booked what we would have booked mid-March instead of LC.
I would be disappointed at getting up so early to book then not have LC available, and more so to have all our other choices not be available 2 months later.
I also think closing it during free dining would put stress on an already maxed out supply of restaurants.
I do not think it's worth 2 dining credits, though.
Disney needs to give 190 days warning so people can make ADRs accordingly. I think they will do the right thing.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

I just played with the reservation system and could get a late lunch in early August prior to free dining. I could not get any time I tried using the 5 day range during mid September. I could get the first day I tried in November.
I wonder if they are holding back some tables during free dining for walk ups or later bookings? I know people not on FD get really upset at low availability, so this could appease them.

 

[Lewisc]

Posters on DIS consistently maintain Yachtsman only serves choice beef.

Shula's does not serve USDA graded Prime Beef. Peter Lugar's (and other top steak houses) serve USDA graded Prime Beef. They select the higher end of Prime.

Shula's serves Shula's cut. From Shula's website:

The SHULA CUT ® is an exclusive beef program for Angus type cattle, that has to meet eight (8) science based qualifying specifications in marbling, maturity, consistency, flavor, leanness, appearance and tenderness.

Seven (7) of these standards exceed those of USDA PRIME and all eight (8) exceed those of USDA choice

Their steak doesn't meet Prime Standards in at least one category.I say at least since the grading isn't being done by a third party.

Shula's serves great steak, just not Prime.

You're not the only person fooled.

I have no idea if you're correct regarding the Yachtsman, but your opinion lacks credibility.

edited to add I know there is a market in WDW for an Outback style restaurant. I'm not sure why Disney can't just add a high end steakhouse. American Pavillion doesn't have a TS restaurant.

Wow, not sure where you got your information but you are completely mistaken on one, and partially wrong on another.

Shula's certainly does serve Prime Beef. It's a Black Angus Beef cut... they choose the higher end Prime Beef, just like places like David Burkes and Gibsons in Chicago and Peter Lugar's in NY and most High end premium steakhouses.

Here is the website: http://www.donshula.com/thestory.php?sub=5

As for Yachtsman, they do serve Prime, just not on all cuts. Usually one or two cuts is Prime, generally a ribeye or a strip in my experiences. However, the majority are Choice cuts with the added on Disney premium.

While I think Shula's doesn't hold a candle to some of the top places in the country like Gibson's, David Burke's Prime, Peter Luger's, they do make an excellent steak... definitely top on Disney Property.

Either way, quality wise, both are much better than Le Cellier although Le Cellier definitely has some of the best sides, such as the Beer Cheese Soup and the Pretzel bread.

 

[MSLRAC]

I have two reservations there for our Oct trip. If it's changed to a signature restaurant I know exactly what I'll be doing. I'll be cancelling both reservations. It's not worth 2 credits. However, I can't see them changing it to a Signature restaurant in the middle of the year, especially when people have already made reservations there expecting it to be one credit. You'd think that if they are going to change it to a Signature restaurant that they'd wait until the new year to do so. Also what about Tutto Italia? My last meal there was more expensive than my meal at Le Cellier.

Our meal at Tutto was the same price as our meal at Narcoosse's so I'm with you on the pricing.

We enjoyed LeCellier, it was one of our favorite meals, but there is no way we would drop 2TS credits for it unless there were some serious menu changes.

That said, the rumored DP changes for 2011 have be worried. We loved the DxDP. DH never wants to go again without it because he's very money conscious and he enjoyed the all-inclusive feel of it. But being as money conscious as he is, I just don't know if he'll see the value of it again next year if the rumored changes actually occur.

 

[MichaelColey]

Yahtsman is a signature restaurant. They don't serve prime meat.

As for Yachtsman, they do serve Prime, just not on all cuts. Usually one or two cuts is Prime, generally a ribeye or a strip in my experiences. However, the majority are Choice cuts with the added on Disney premium.

Posters on DIS consistently maintain Yachtsman only serves choice beef
....
I have no idea if you're correct regarding the Yachtsman, but your opinion lacks credibility.

The New York Strip at the Yachtsman is definitely USDA Prime. All of their beef is very well marbled (which is much more important to me than an official certification) and I think most of it is dry aged for 3-4 weeks on site (which gives it the tremendous flavor), but I think you're correct that their other steaks are USDA Choice.

 

[Lewisc]

At least a half dozen knowledgeable posters claimed Yachtsman only serves USDA Choice meat. I'll defer to the two posters in this thread. Does the menu say Prime? FWIW even the Outback sometimes has Prime on their menu.

Shula's serves Choice grade meat. Sounds like it's the best Choice grade meat you'll ever find.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

The New York Strip at the Yachtsman is definitely USDA Prime. All of their beef is very well marbled (which is much more important to me than an official certification) and I think most of it is dry aged for 3-4 weeks on site (which gives it the tremendous flavor), but I think you're correct that their other steaks are USDA Choice.

LewisC is absolutely correct. There is no restaurant at WDW that serves Prime (unless V&A's do). The Shula cut is close and they claim it to be "better than Prime" but it does not meet all of the Prime criteria.

All of the other steak at WDW, Yachtsmans, FF, CG, AP, Jiko serve USDA choice. Now some do serve a better cut of choice than others (Yachtsmans cut is better than Le Cellier) but it's choice nonetheless.

My source is information from three head chef's from WDW (friends ... one still working there).