Walked into Le Cellier during Free Dining

[MapleGirl]

I tried to get a reservation for Le Cellier for dinner during our Free Dining trip last week. I kept calling before the trip, to no avail. While down there we stopped by Canada to ask about getting a table for that night. We were told to come back around 4 or 4:15 to see if they were going to accept walk-ins that night. At 4:45 we were shown to our table!

 

[Tricia1972]

That's fantastic for you! It fits with what others are reporting that it's pretty slow right now at Disney even with free dining.

It also gives others hope that they could walk in if they don't have an ADR.

 

[pigletto]

As I was waiting for my 5:10 ressie that I had made at 180 days out I watched at least 5 tables of people given a walk in. This was just 4 days ago. Must have been slower than expected. I was happy to see people get a ressie that they had been unable to get previously.. but also a little mystifed as to why I had gotten up super early at 180 days out to secure a spot.
I'm not a morning person

 

[KatMark]

Good for you...that's why it never hurts to ask as it could always happen (although when we were there on September 5 for dinner at 5:00 they turned away three couples that we saw come for a walk up so it just depends on the day).

 

[somcgregor]

That gives me hope for December. I will keep trying though

 

[disneyfan55]

If there are all these walkups I wonder why we couldn't get a reservation for next week. Maybe they are leaving some tables for walkins who knows.

 

[catne]

If there are all these walkups I wonder why we couldn't get a reservation for next week. Maybe they are leaving some tables for walkins who knows.

Mostly I think it's just a lot of no-shows. But if there's a specific restaurant you want, keep trying. And call in the morning from your hotel room to see what's available for the same night...you'd might be pleasantly surprised next week.

CM's have reported on here that they do not set aside any tables for walk-ins:they'll book every table if they can. When we were there a couple of weeks ago, CM at a restaurant podium and a Dining Reservation person on the phone both told me that there had been many, many cancellations on previously fully-booked restaurants. Sign of the economy, I think...even with free dining, if you don't have the money for the room & park tickets, no vacation.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

Lucky you

 

[disneyfan55]

Mostly I think it's just a lot of no-shows. But if there's a specific restaurant you want, keep trying. And call in the morning from your hotel room to see what's available for the same night...you'd might be pleasantly surprised next week.

CM's have reported on here that they do not set aside any tables for walk-ins:they'll book every table if they can. When we were there a couple of weeks ago, CM at a restaurant podium and a Dining Reservation person on the phone both told me that there had been many, many cancellations on previously fully-booked restaurants. Sign of the economy, I think...even with free dining, if you don't have the money for the room & park tickets, no vacation.

Thanks. I think we will do just that.

 

[belleatheart]

You also get the people double booking! And then cancel that morning. I also know speaking from experience, people get sidetracked, end up in different parks than previously planned because of whatever, and then just cancel one ressie and make a new one. During our last trip, I had a tad bit of a soy reaction to something I had eaten and so our 1 pm Garden Grill did not work out, but a 5:30 at Boma did! So we canceled and somebody got lucky for there and we ended up at Boma which was fine with us! A tip, I have called, then within the next 20 min called again just to see and gotten the time I originally wanted, people are always canceling and moving ressies, so just keep trying and you might get lucky. Lucky you to get a walk up to Le Cellier

 

[Lynn5700]

That is awesome! Good for you!

 

[princessesrule4]

Good for you!

 

[K9pal]

I think it's a combination of no shows plus those that cancelled due to the threat of Ike. We were at WDW last week also, and noticed how uncrowded the restaurants seemed to be (except for at the Poly, where it's ALWAYS hoppin'!).
Glad you had a good experience!

 

[webray]

LOL, we did that one night. A few minutes later the hostess that seated us was getting her butt chewed and told not to accept anymore walk ins. The restaurant remained only 1/2 full the entire time we were there, the servers definately could have made more in tips that night.

 

[GlendaO]

Mostly I think it's just a lot of no-shows. But if there's a specific restaurant you want, keep trying. And call in the morning from your hotel room to see what's available for the same night...you'd might be pleasantly surprised next week.

CM's have reported on here that they do not set aside any tables for walk-ins:they'll book every table if they can. When we were there a couple of weeks ago, CM at a restaurant podium and a Dining Reservation person on the phone both told me that there had been many, many cancellations on previously fully-booked restaurants. Sign of the economy, I think...even with free dining, if you don't have the money for the room & park tickets, no vacation.

I'll second this! We wanted Le Cellier and were unable to get an ADR for months. Called today, just to check, and hit my time dead-on for five days out!

 

[mrsltg]

I'm glad it's working for some people. We had dinner there on the 13th and people were getting downright nasty to the host because there were no walk-ins available.

 

[dioxide45]

Some people are probably also forgoing TS for CS while on their trip to help cut costs, increasing last minute cancellations or no shows.

 

[shyjade]

Some people are probably also forgoing TS for CS while on their trip to help cut costs, increasing last minute cancellations or no shows.

That would be us! I made TS ADR's for our entire trip at 180 days out but as our trip approaches, I've decided to cancel many of the TS ADR's and opt for CS instead. While I could still pay for those meals, I'd rather save the $$ for something else. I'm quickly realizing that the magic of Disney won't be lost if we opt for CS meals instead of dropping $150/meal for TS!!

 

[xipetotec]

I tried to get a reservation for Le Cellier for dinner during our Free Dining trip last week. I kept calling before the trip, to no avail. While down there we stopped by Canada to ask about getting a table for that night. We were told to come back around 4 or 4:15 to see if they were going to accept walk-ins that night. At 4:45 we were shown to our table!

It happens!

When DW and I were down by ourselves ( sans kids ), DW did NOT want fast food for dinner and it was getting quite late. We walked up to Crystal Palace and ... No... they told us we needed to have an ADR to eat there that night. that it was booked and getting late... So I walked back to the nearby bench DW was sitting at to give her the bad news... but while we were discussing our next move, we had a CM come up to us and ask if we wanted to eat... She'd freed up a table for two for us!!! I wish I had taken down her name

 

[kswm30b]

We should have tried that! We just got back, and every place we ate at was NOT full. There were always empty tables. The only time we had to wait was for lunch at the Coral Reef, but when we were seated, there were several tables empty. The only other time we saw people waiting was when we were leaving California Grill. When we ate lunch our first day at the Kona Cafe, there were only 2 other tables being used.