Ugh, what were we thinking?! 9 days Deluxe Dining with pics! MY Number 2! 7/21!

[stefani_]

Thanks for replying I am already hooked! I could read reviews all day Personally I wouldn't try a dish unless I saw a pic to get the general idea, because I do not understand half of what is in a dish with all the fancy food names in them!! After seeing your pics I am very excited to try some things!

I'm still trying daily to get Le Cellier, which is the only place I haven't been able to get some sort of time for yet, but with almost two months before our trip I am confident that something will open up soon! Also thank you for your feedback on Cape May/Chef Mickey's. The mickeys look good but I always wondered.. what makes them so delicious and different from regular waffles (besides the awesome shape that is )??

Also I read your reply to NitemaresSister and noticed a mention of HP @ Universal. I'll be going there and I am SO excited!! I'm a HUGE HP nerd/fan We almost went to Disney last summer instead of this summer, and I was really upset when we couldn't go, but I'm glad we didn't go with HP opening this summer!!! Will you be returning to Disney and going to Universal soon?

I hope the transportation to Universal will not be too difficult. Have you ever been from Disney to Universal? I checked Google Maps and it looks to be about 17 minutes away.

 

[pharmgirl69]

Lesha, Ok, so I'm a stalker...I admit it. I've read your trip report from beginning to end and you both are the cutest couple and I really enjoyed reading it. DH who rarely goes on DIS even read it all and enjoyed it. Think you'll have to write our report when we get back LOL. Yours was definately awesome and I almsot feel sad its over.

Good luck with your hubby finding a teaching position. My neice is in the same boat here. Now she is going for her masters, hoping to find something! Keep your chin up and don't worry about what others are doing (ie buying house etc), its all about the two of you and your time will come.

Well off to run some last minute errands and get ready for nursing school graduation tonight WOOT and 2 more days til disney weeeeeeeee.

THanks again for your report.....Loved it!!

Below is what I started on our pre-trip, hope I can suck you in like you sucked us in! LOL

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2458878&highlight=the+clampetts

 

[Leshaface]

Thanks for replying I am already hooked! I could read reviews all day Personally I wouldn't try a dish unless I saw a pic to get the general idea, because I do not understand half of what is in a dish with all the fancy food names in them!! After seeing your pics I am very excited to try some things!


I'm still trying daily to get Le Cellier, which is the only place I haven't been able to get some sort of time for yet, but with almost two months before our trip I am confident that something will open up soon! Also thank you for your feedback on Cape May/Chef Mickey's. The mickeys look good but I always wondered.. what makes them so delicious and different from regular waffles (besides the awesome shape that is )??


Also I read your reply to NitemaresSister and noticed a mention of HP @ Universal. I'll be going there and I am SO excited!! I'm a HUGE HP nerd/fan We almost went to Disney last summer instead of this summer, and I was really upset when we couldn't go, but I'm glad we didn't go with HP opening this summer!!! Will you be returning to Disney and going to Universal soon?

I hope the transportation to Universal will not be too difficult. Have you ever been from Disney to Universal? I checked Google Maps and it looks to be about 17 minutes away.

I LOVE reading peoples TR's...but I like the reviews more if they are linked up in their first post. I hate having to go through pages of posts, just to look for their review!!

I'm sure something will open up, especially since you still have 2 months left. I think it is the shape that makes them taste better! Plus your surroundings really does help add flavor to the food! I mean, wouldn't you be stoked to be eating a mickey waffle while you see mickey (and/or his friends) across the room, making his way over to meet you?!

Seriously, that place looks SPECTACULAR! Unfortunately, our next trip probably won't be until winter or summer of 2012! (faint) <--- But I really do want to go see the HP World! So hopefully within our 2012 trip, we'll be able to make a quick getaway from Disney to check it out! So does that mean that you'll be checking it out too??? Ya, it's actually really close to WDW, which is nice. It gives people options of what they want to do, and they don't have to drive very far!

Lesha, Ok, so I'm a stalker...I admit it. I've read your trip report from beginning to end and you both are the cutest couple and I really enjoyed reading it. DH who rarely goes on DIS even read it all and enjoyed it. Think you'll have to write our report when we get back LOL. Yours was definately awesome and I almsot feel sad its over.

I'm so happy you came out of your lurkdom! I knew there had to be some lurkers out there, and I'm glad you came out of hiding! I'm so glad you AND your DH enjoyed my Dining TR!

give me all your notes, pictures, and publishing rights, and we gotta a deal!



Good luck with your hubby finding a teaching position. My neice is in the same boat here. Now she is going for her masters, hoping to find something! Keep your chin up and don't worry about what others are doing (ie buying house etc), its all about the two of you and your time will come.

Thank you! Right now, I'm just taking it one day at a time, trying not to let it bother me, and know that the PERFECT job for him will come up. Same with the house! The PERFECT house will come up, we just need to be patient and know that patience pays off! It's somewhat hard to be the optimistic person I am, when my DH had a full blown pessimistic outlook on everything! Ah well...

Well off to run some last minute errands and get ready for nursing school graduation tonight WOOT and 2 more days til disney weeeeeeeee.

Is it your graduation?!?! TWO DAYS TILL WDW?!?! Wow I'm hating every single person on my Dining TR right now!!! No but really that's soooo awesome!!!

THanks again for your report.....Loved it!!

Below is what I started on our pre-trip, hope I can suck you in like you sucked us in! LOL

Oooh yay!!! A pre TR!!! I'll definitely pop over there right now!!!!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2458878&highlight=the+clampetts

 

[stefani_]

I LOVE reading peoples TR's...but I like the reviews more if they are linked up in their first post. I hate having to go through pages of posts, just to look for their review!!

I'm sure something will open up, especially since you still have 2 months left. I think it is the shape that makes them taste better! Plus your surroundings really does help add flavor to the food! I mean, wouldn't you be stoked to be eating a mickey waffle while you see mickey (and/or his friends) across the room, making his way over to meet you?!

Seriously, that place looks SPECTACULAR! Unfortunately, our next trip probably won't be until winter or summer of 2012! (faint) <--- But I really do want to go see the HP World! So hopefully within our 2012 trip, we'll be able to make a quick getaway from Disney to check it out! So does that mean that you'll be checking it out too??? Ya, it's actually really close to WDW, which is nice. It gives people options of what they want to do, and they don't have to drive very far!

Oh yes.. that's what I forgot to mention. I didn't bother with a bunch of reviewers that didn't link up the thread, unless I really wanted to read a particular review I think I read ALL your reviews (even the restaurants I definitely would not be going to), because of the convenience of links and because they were all very entertaining

I hope so. I've seen a couple of threads of people saying they were finally able to get Le Cellier. Hopefully I will be one of those people starting that kind of thread soon

Are just the waffles available for purchase as a snack or CS credit anywhere in WDW?? All my TS credits are claimed already, none of which are breakfasts...

We are going about a week after opening, probably on 06/27... it will be PACKED I hope everything is fairly organized to deal with the crowds this early in its opening. I'm going early in my trip so I can send some postcards at the Owl Post, with the Hogsmeade postmark and everything!! Hopefully they arrive back home before I return that's the idea! Last time a friend sent me a postcard from FL it took about two weeks for me to receive it! (I'm in Canada)

Have you been to US from WDW before? I looked at the US forum to get some ideas for how to get there, and I read that there is some sort of Mears bus that goes around to all the WDW Resorts to pick up people for US, but it was not very clear. Just wondering if you have experience

 

[Leshaface]

Oh yes.. that's what I forgot to mention. I didn't bother with a bunch of reviewers that didn't link up the thread, unless I really wanted to read a particular review I think I read ALL your reviews (even the restaurants I definitely would not be going to), because of the convenience of links and because they were all very entertaining

That's exactly how I am too! But I'm just an orderly person anyway, so I didn't even have to think about linking them up.


I hope so. I've seen a couple of threads of people saying they were finally able to get Le Cellier. Hopefully I will be one of those people starting that kind of thread soon

Haha, I do think you'll be fine! You're trying to make it for dinner right? Are you still checking availability every day, a couple times a day? That's what I would be doing if I were you. I really hope that people understand to cancel their ADR's if they're not going to make that reservation! Wouldn't that just bug you if you knew some people were not going to show up, but didn't cancel??


Are just the waffles available for purchase as a snack or CS credit anywhere in WDW?? All my TS credits are claimed already, none of which are breakfasts...

You know, I'm not sure if there are mickey waffles available for CS or snack...that would be a good question to ask on the dining board though...I would be interested too, just in case I don't get to do any breakfasts next time! From reading my report, you should know that DH does NOT like wasting credits on breakfast!

We are going about a week after opening, probably on 06/27... it will be PACKED I hope everything is fairly organized to deal with the crowds this early in its opening. I'm going early in my trip so I can send some postcards at the Owl Post, with the Hogsmeade postmark and everything!! Hopefully they arrive back home before I return that's the idea! Last time a friend sent me a postcard from FL it took about two weeks for me to receive it! (I'm in Canada)

Omgosh, you can send postcards at the Owl Post????? That is too freakin neat!!! That place is going to be themed so well, I just know it!

Have you been to US from WDW before? I looked at the US forum to get some ideas for how to get there, and I read that there is some sort of Mears bus that goes around to all the WDW Resorts to pick up people for US, but it was not very clear. Just wondering if you have experience

I've never been to US in Florida before, only here in la. Really? There's a bus system to get you to US and back? Let me know if that's for sure, because then we wouldn't rent a car if that's the case! That would make our trip even cheaper! KIT with me on that for sure!

 

[stefani_]

Yes, I am trying to get dinner for Le Cellier. I have tried 5 times alerady within 2 hours!

I will ask about the mickey waffles and get back to you

I know! I was so excited to see all the "gift shops" they have, all named after real shops from the books!!

Here's the poster that talked about the bus between WDW and US: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36167874&postcount=10

 

[Leshaface]

Yes, I am trying to get dinner for Le Cellier. I have tried 5 times alerady within 2 hours!

I will ask about the mickey waffles and get back to you

I know! I was so excited to see all the "gift shops" they have, all named after real shops from the books!!

Here's the poster that talked about the bus between WDW and US: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36167874&postcount=10

Ooh dinner might be a little tougher to get, but that still doesn't mean things don't open up...keep trying, don't give up! Do you have a back-up restaurant just in case?

WOW! Thanks for the link! That is really neat, that they'll take you and pick you back up! I wonder how much that is or if it's included if you're staying on disney property?? Wow, learn something new everyday on here!!

 

[stefani_]

Ooh dinner might be a little tougher to get, but that still doesn't mean things don't open up...keep trying, don't give up! Do you have a back-up restaurant just in case?

WOW! Thanks for the link! That is really neat, that they'll take you and pick you back up! I wonder how much that is or if it's included if you're staying on disney property?? Wow, learn something new everyday on here!!

Yes, but really hoping it won't be necessary!

I believe the round-trip was $18-20/person, per some DISers that posted.
The site gives no information about going from WDW to US as far as I could see...

 

[sjs314]

Yes, I am trying to get dinner for Le Cellier. I have tried 5 times alerady within 2 hours!

I will ask about the mickey waffles and get back to you

I know! I was so excited to see all the "gift shops" they have, all named after real shops from the books!!

Here's the poster that talked about the bus between WDW and US: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36167874&postcount=10

I had to laugh when I read your post about trying 5x in 2 hours for Le Cellier you see I have been obsessed myself since Wednesday when I made the only Ressie I could get for dinner on one of our Epcot days, it is for 8:15 pm which is not bad in itself since it is an EMH nite and Epcot is open till 12am, but it is going to kill me to be eating while Illuminations is going on, so I have been checking numurous times during the day from first thing when I get up until I head to bed hopeing to secure a ressie just a bit earlier

 

[stefani_]

I had to laugh when I read your post about trying 5x in 2 hours for Le Cellier you see I have been obsessed myself since Wednesday when I made the only Ressie I could get for dinner on one of our Epcot days, it is for 8:15 pm which is not bad in itself since it is an EMH nite and Epcot is open till 12am, but it is going to kill me to be eating while Illuminations is going on, so I have been checking numurous times during the day from first thing when I get up until I head to bed hopeing to secure a ressie just a bit earlier

Nice! May I ask what day that is? As close as my trip (06/26-07/01) or earlier/later?

Haha if I were you, I would keep trying also, but probably not as often because I'd be happy with the ressie we have an extra day that is flexible - haven't planned which park, and our dinner ressie is not in any park so we are free to go to any park since we don't have park hopper, which we can spend in Epcot if we do miss IllumiNations due to dinner.

 

[sjs314]

Nice! May I ask what day that is? As close as my trip (06/26-07/01) or earlier/later?

Haha if I were you, I would keep trying also, but probably not as often because I'd be happy with the ressie we have an extra day that is flexible - haven't planned which park, and our dinner ressie is not in any park so we are free to go to any park since we don't have park hopper, which we can spend in Epcot if we do miss IllumiNations due to dinner.

Oh not till Nov 10th but I could not believe I could not get a dinner ressie for my first choice on Nov 9th and then only such a late one on the 10th, this will be our first time going to Le Cellier

 

[DisneyBoundinDec]

I just found this today and while it was such a fabulous review, I am sad it's over. You and your DH are so adorable, and I loved all your reviews. Thank you for it all. Now go back soon so you can give us more!!!!

 

[franandaj]

Oh not till Nov 10th but I could not believe I could not get a dinner ressie for my first choice on Nov 9th and then only such a late one on the 10th, this will be our first time going to Le Cellier

Le Cellier is the MOST popular restaurant in ALL of Orlando. Pretty much you need to be staying at a WDW resort and you need to make your reservations online at 6AM Eastern time online to get in there. It helps if you are staying multiple days to use the +10 reservation bonus because this is THE most popular reservation on property.

Personally I prefer the Yachtman for a steak and now that I have the recipe for the Cheese Soup we have it at home for dinner every few months/weeks depends on how cold it is, So Cal doesn't need hot soups much throughout the year. Le Celleir, it's a tough one, we could only get in for lunch at 11:50 on only one day during our entire week there when I called at the first day to make ressies (was 90 days back then) perhaps now that it has been extended to 180 day it might be a little easier in that lots of people don't understand or want to plan that far in advance.

Good luck on your calling in daily, you never know what will happen!

 

[bangzoom6877]

Le Cellier is the MOST popular restaurant in ALL of Orlando. Pretty much you need to be staying at a WDW resort and you need to make your reservations online at 6AM Eastern time online to get in there. It helps if you are staying multiple days to use the +10 reservation bonus because this is THE most popular reservation on property.

Personally I prefer the Yachtman for a steak and now that I have the recipe for the Cheese Soup we have it at home for dinner every few months/weeks depends on how cold it is, So Cal doesn't need hot soups much throughout the year. Le Celleir, it's a tough one, we could only get in for lunch at 11:50 on only one day during our entire week there when I called at the first day to make ressies (was 90 days back then) perhaps now that it has been extended to 180 day it might be a little easier in that lots of people don't understand or want to plan that far in advance.

Good luck on your calling in daily, you never know what will happen!

I was online at 5:30 in the morning, continuously checking when the online ADR system opened up, 180 days in advance. And we are staying on property and going to Le Cellier in the middle of our trip, so I was able to take advantage of the 180+10 days for ADRs. We got dinner at our desired time, 5:30PM. We were happy. Never been there yet, and I know it is the most hyped WDW restaurant, but I am not going there with the highest of expectations. I know it won't be Peter Luger (famous old steakhouse here in Brooklyn, NY), but more like an Outback Steakhouse quality. But that is fine with us. Also, as it turns out, my older son now loves steak and is very happy they have steak on the kids' menu at Le Cellier! He's only 5 so I wouldn't order an adult steak just for him! If we were not able to get Le Cellier, we would just have chosen a different restaurant. We want to try it, but it wouldn't have been a big deal if we didn't get into there. I know people rave about the cheese soup and the pretzel bread, but I don't plan on having soup in Florida in July, and while I'm sure I will love the pretzel bread that is not the reason we are going there.

 

[txmama]

Leshaface, thanks so much for doing this thread -- it is pushing us toward the DxDP, and I'd never considered Chefs de France before reading this. I'm sorry that I missed this somewhere in the thread, but did you ever add up what you spent on the plan vs. what you would have paid out of pocket? I would love to see that comparison.

We are thinking that if we combine signature meals and dinner shows with "regular" table service meals, we won't actually need to eat 3 table service meals a day and can still get a good value -- but everything I read seems to indicate that it might not actually balance out anyway.

Would love your thoughts!

 

[pinkle]

Le Cellier is the MOST popular restaurant in ALL of Orlando. Pretty much you need to be staying at a WDW resort and you need to make your reservations online at 6AM Eastern time online to get in there. It helps if you are staying multiple days to use the +10 reservation bonus because this is THE most popular reservation on property.

Personally I prefer the Yachtman for a steak and now that I have the recipe for the Cheese Soup we have it at home for dinner every few months/weeks depends on how cold it is, So Cal doesn't need hot soups much throughout the year. Le Celleir, it's a tough one, we could only get in for lunch at 11:50 on only one day during our entire week there when I called at the first day to make ressies (was 90 days back then) perhaps now that it has been extended to 180 day it might be a little easier in that lots of people don't understand or want to plan that far in advance.

Good luck on your calling in daily, you never know what will happen!

We've been to Le Cellier twice and are going again in September . I really do love the food, but I am really surprised that it's that much more popular than some of the others.........I didn't think it was that much better. There are some amazing restaurants in Epcot??? Did I miss something??? Or is it because I'm Canadian?

 

[Leshaface]

Yes, but really hoping it won't be necessary!

I believe the round-trip was $18-20/person, per some DISers that posted.
The site gives no information about going from WDW to US as far as I could see...

Hmm, I would pay that to get to US! Especially for HP! I'm gonna keep an eye out for more info!

I just found this today and while it was such a fabulous review, I am sad it's over. You and your DH are so adorable, and I loved all your reviews. Thank you for it all. Now go back soon so you can give us more!!!!

Let's start a fund so that Leshaface can go back and write more reviews! That would be awesome!

Anyways, I'm so glad you found my reviews fabulous! Hopefully soon, I'll be able to do another Dining TR!

Leshaface, thanks so much for doing this thread -- it is pushing us toward the DxDP, and I'd never considered Chefs de France before reading this. I'm sorry that I missed this somewhere in the thread, but did you ever add up what you spent on the plan vs. what you would have paid out of pocket? I would love to see that comparison.

Oh yeah, Chefs is wonderful! We went there on our first trip to WDW and we fell in love with food, atmosphere, and the service! And yes, on my final thoughts, I'm actually going to do a comparison of OOP vs DxDDP so stay tuned for that! I promise I'm going to do it, just not sure when!

We are thinking that if we combine signature meals and dinner shows with "regular" table service meals, we won't actually need to eat 3 table service meals a day and can still get a good value -- but everything I read seems to indicate that it might not actually balance out anyway.

If you decide to go with the DxDDP, you'll definitely be able to be more flexible with your dining experiences, versus the Basic dining plan. And you're right, it will still be a better value, even if you don't have three meals a day, and honestly, it gets really exhausting eating three times a day (at home I usually eat 5-6 small meals a day but here there are full-blown meals)

Would love your thoughts!

We've been to Le Cellier twice and are going again in September . I really do love the food, but I am really surprised that it's that much more popular than some of the others.........I didn't think it was that much better. There are some amazing restaurants in Epcot??? Did I miss something??? Or is it because I'm Canadian?

Haha! I remember asking why this place was so dang popular and so hard to get ADR's for...one person stated that it's a better value for a TS because you are able to get steak using one TS vs going to a Signature and using 2 TS for a steak...but I agree! I really enjoyed Le Cellier too, and will probably make ADR's for our future trip! Being Canadian may help too!

 

[franandaj]

We've been to Le Cellier twice and are going again in September . I really do love the food, but I am really surprised that it's that much more popular than some of the others.........I didn't think it was that much better. There are some amazing restaurants in Epcot??? Did I miss something??? Or is it because I'm Canadian?

From a lot of what I read, many visitors to WDW are unadventurous eaters, writer and readers of this thread excluded of course. Le Cellier serves very standard fare, and is pretty consistent in quality. It's not as pricey as Yachtsman and more centrally located than Shula's. If you consider the tastes of the average unadventurous American eater and compare it to all the other TS restaurants in Epcot, you'll find that it is the least exotic of eateries and that probably more than anything is what makes the place so popular!

 

[Leshaface]

From a lot of what I read, many visitors to WDW are unadventurous eaters, writer and readers of this thread excluded of course. Le Cellier serves very standard fare, and is pretty consistent in quality. It's not as pricey as Yachtsman and more centrally located than Shula's. If you consider the tastes of the average unadventurous American eater and compare it to all the other TS restaurants in Epcot, you'll find that it is the least exotic of eateries and that probably more than anything is what makes the place so popular!

Very good point! Wonder if they're ever going to make a TS for America to please the unadventurous palates?

 

[franandaj]

Very good point! Wonder if they're ever going to make a TS for America to please the unadventurous palates?

They could serve Pot Roast, Fried Chicken, Chicken Pot Pie, Chicken Fried Steak, BBQ Beans, Tuna Casserole, Macaroni & Cheese...the place would be PACKED! I'd even eat there