Epcot's Le Cellier May Become Signature

[Amy]

You don't want to whine and put on the sad face. That would be a last ditch effort at the restaurant. The best thing to do is to try working through dining and see if they can help get you in. Say something like you just booked and thought it was still 90 days out.... That would be the best thing to approach with. Always ask for supervisors and work your way up the ladder. Disney does not usually want to get their guests angry. After all you are spending good money to stay on property.

Yeah, I was only joking about being good at the big sad eyes, I smile and laugh all the time! Seriously! (Get it? I'm serious about being in a good mood )
Anyhow...We might choose one or two restaurants that we want to try and see if we can make ADRs but we are more "fly by the seat of our pants, see where the day takes us" kind of people and ADRs would seriously hinder that fun in our opinion. Plus it will be difficult for my Mom to get around quickly. So I don't want to feel like I am rushing her to be somewhere at a certain time. That will make her grumpy and me frustrated. I'm hoping that we will be able to walk-up and get in somewhere if we are dining at off peak hours, or if we know we are going to be in one park all day, maybe call Disney dining in the morning and see if there are any openings. We are more about the park immersion and experiences in and around the parks rather than the food. I know the restaurants offer great experiences as well but it just isn't as central to our vacation enjoyment. As long as I get one rice krispie treat and Mom has her coffee every morning and a mickey mouse ice cream bar sometime during the trip, we are happy food campers.
I'm only really curious about Le Cellier since I have been reading so much about it on here. And I think my Mom would really enjoy the soup. Perhaps we can get a cup to go? Do they do take-out?!

[nicklesm17]

well i've been re-checking availability twice a day at this one, never an opening. i hate going the "let me talk to your supervisor" route, but if you've actually had success with that, i may have to try it. food for thought?

[Len90]

well i've been re-checking availability twice a day at this one, never an opening. i hate going the "let me talk to your supervisor" route, but if you've actually had success with that, i may have to try it. food for thought?

It is more along the lines of "May I please speak to your supervisor" Sometimes a little Mousekebending of the truth doesn't hurt. You can tell the supervisor you booked and thought it was 90 days out when reservations had to be made. See if the supervisors can try getting in contact with the restaurant. It is my opinion that you never want to leave any stones unturned.

[nicklesm17]

no, i didn't intend to be mean about, but even polite "let me talk to your supervisor" is something i don't really care for. that's why i delegated this one to my wife. she won't mouskebend either (bad karma...esp when the happiest place on earth is involved). i believe she intends to play on the person's sense of fairplay. we did just book this, and even as far off as it is, there's no reservations to be had... how 'bout making this trip a little more magical, eh? if this approach yields nothing, we'll go the walk up route. either way leaving it to fate/luck, see what happens.

[Len90]

Since you just booked it you can state how it's not fair. I am the type of person who wants what I want so I usually have no issues asking for the supervisor. Unfortunately in a case like this, you will really need to speak to supervisors and plead your case until you get what you want. The best thing you can do is also be flexible when working to get in. Don't close them off to one day. Let them work with a few days of your stay.

[nicklesm17]

well, my wife was informed "there are no supervisors, we have been told to handle all problems on our own, no exceptions". you can imagine how helpful the girl was after that. right, no reservations scored on that phone call. back to plan "b". it is what it is, i'll keep checking twice a day online... otherwise, guess we'll have to hope for some of that magic at the park.

[Sockdoodle]

NOOOOOOO!!!!! My doom has been announced! Beginning March 1, 2011, Le Cellier will be two credit restaurant! Not sure if it is good deal on the dining plan anymore - it was a great deal as a one credit sit down, but it seems only average as a two credit sit down. Well, I guess I kind of expected it.

[nicklesm17]

2 credits huh? well, for sure then i need to lock this one down for my october trip while it's still one credit. since i've never eaten there, i don't know one way or the other, but i wouldn't like to be disappointed on 1 credit... i'd hate to be disappointed on 2. oh, by the way len90 if you're checking this post, i just got the chef mickey reservation 10 minutes before replying to this post... WAHOOOO! so le cellier's is the only dining res. left. i'll keep trying.

[theBIGyowski]

Well...guess I may never eat there again...unless I come into a large sum of money. I decided against going there on my upcoming trip because the fiance isn't a big eater and steak, even though she likes it, would be that much heavier for her if we are walking around the parks. Not to mention...I have been there a few times now and I'd rather mix it up.

I seriously think the ADRs for people with the Dining Plan will drop off drastically starting March 2011.

The only other in-park signature restaurants are Cinderella's Royal Table (MK) which has characters that "justify" it being signature...and The Brown Derby (DHS) which I don't really understand either because there is nothing amazing about it.

I just don't get it...

***UPDATE***
Just saw that lunch will still be 1 Dining Credit...so Lunch ADRs will be impossible...whereas dinner will be much, much easier to get.

[nicklesm17]

***UPDATE***
Just saw that lunch will still be 1 Dining Credit...so Lunch ADRs will be impossible...whereas dinner will be much, much easier to get.

this news makes me more hopeful if i don't make it this trip. here's a question for anyone familiar with this restaurant. is there any real difference eating here lunch vs. dinner? the menu seems virtually the same. i've never been in there, but if the theme is a cellar, wouldn't the interior (lighting) be the same no matter when you went? so what are the pros/cons of making this choice?

[Len90]

I guess that puts an end and confirms all the rumors. It was interesting that the restaurant seemed to think it was a plausible thing when I was there in July. For us it works out as we usually don't do the DDP. I wonder if this will benefit us with making it slightly easier to get in. I am curious to see if their prices will go up though.

As for the other Signature in park restaurants, I feel the Brown Derby is not worthy of the Signature label. The food was not great when we ate there years ago and the portions were very small.

[Amy]

I guess that puts an end and confirms all the rumors. It was interesting that the restaurant seemed to think it was a plausible thing when I was there in July. For us it works out as we usually don't do the DDP. I wonder if this will benefit us with making it slightly easier to get in. I am curious to see if their prices will go up though.

As for the other Signature in park restaurants, I feel the Brown Derby is not worthy of the Signature label. The food was not great when we ate there years ago and the portions were very small.

Just putting the name Signature in front of the restaurant makes it sound more expensive

[boilerbabe]

DH and I did not understand why Brown Derby was a "Signature" restaurant. We tried it out in '06 when we were there for our honeymoon b/c we had the dining plan. We have not been back since. We liked it, just did not think it was worthy of that "Signature" status.

We still want to get to Le Cellier someday.....

[Amy]

DH and I did not understand why Brown Derby was a "Signature" restaurant. We tried it out in '06 when we were there for our honeymoon b/c we had the dining plan. We have not been back since. We liked it, just did not think it was worthy of that "Signature" status.

We still want to get to Le Cellier someday.....

I've always wanted to try the famous Cobb Salad at the Brown Derby. Plus I think it would be fun to try just because it is such a famous restaurant in the "real" world. But having read the reviews on here, I'm not sure it would be worth the money

[boilerbabe]

DH and I did not understand why Brown Derby was a "Signature" restaurant. We tried it out in '06 when we were there for our honeymoon b/c we had the dining plan. We have not been back since. We liked it, just did not think it was worthy of that "Signature" status.

We still want to get to Le Cellier someday.....

I've always wanted to try the famous Cobb Salad at the Brown Derby. Plus I think it would be fun to try just because it is such a famous restaurant in the "real" world. But having read the reviews on here, I'm not sure it would be worth the money

I really can't say that it is worth the money, sadly.