Le Cellier Steakhouse dinner becomes 'Signature Dining' - see the new menu

[wdwmagic]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/Dining/Le-C...mes-'Signature-Dining'---see-the-new-menu.htm

 

[PhilharMagician]

This is a good way for Disney to make money. Change to a Signature restaurant and mark up items +20%. The strip steak went up $8.00 and has the same sides. I hope something else changed to add to the value like less tables, better wait staff or better plating.

I look forward to a review of the new Le Cellier.

 

[Kamikaze]

This is a good way for Disney to make money. Change to a Signature restaurant and mark up items +20%. The strip steak went up $8.00 and has the same sides. I hope something else changed to add to the value like less tables, better wait staff or better plating.

I look forward to a review of the new Le Cellier.

Less tables? How impossible do you want getting in there to be?

 

[WDWFigment]

Less tables? How impossible do you want getting in there to be?

Now that it's Signature, it won't be impossible at all. It was so impossible to book before because it was probably the best bang-for-buck on the DDP.

My prediction is that nothing has changed besides price and status. While Le Cellier is fine and all, if I were on the DDP, the only restaurant I *might* use two credits at is California Grill. I can't say I'd pay the Le Cellier prices out of pocket, either.

Great, albeit slightly overrated, restaurant.

 

[PhilharMagician]

Less tables? How impossible do you want getting in there to be?

I have to assume that is the main reason it went to signature. It was typically booked solid at 180 days out and management figured they could make more money and changed it's status to signature and bumped the prices. With these higher prices I could only hope that I am going to get something in return. Room to move my chair out would be nice. Some of the seating in there was extremely tight.

Like figment said, ADR's should be easier get.

 

[corey154]

I know I would not pay those prices out of pocket, I bet the Le Cellier fans are having a fit as they wake up and see this news! I understand to Disney this is another way to make more money, but man, their profits were already up this past year according to our local news why keep making it harder for us to be able to afford a Disney vacation.

 

[bgraham34]

I know I would not pay those prices out of pocket, I bet the Le Cellier fans are having a fit as they wake up and see this news! I understand to Disney this is another way to make more money, but man, their profits were already up this past year according to our local news why keep making it harder for us to be able to afford a Disney vacation.

Because its corporate owned and greed is good.

 

[jt04]

I know I would not pay those prices out of pocket, I bet the Le Cellier fans are having a fit as they wake up and see this news! I understand to Disney this is another way to make more money, but man, their profits were already up this past year according to our local news why keep making it harder for us to be able to afford a Disney vacation.

They have to make up costs for the new contracts they just agreed to with their employess. :shrug:

Plus I think Epcot needs more signature service. Evidently the suits are responding to all the 'walmarting' comments on boards like this. So they are providing higher quality options for those that want them.

 

[menamechris]

Now that it's Signature, it won't be impossible at all. It was so impossible to book before because it was probably the best bang-for-buck on the DDP.

This is so true! I eat out at Disney a few times a month and have NEVER been able to get a reservation for this place. It's sad really. Amazingly, this morning I have my pick of times, but I am questioning whether its worth it now.

 

[ASHLAND WDW MAN]

For my time and money, I believe that instead of Le Cellier I would go to the Yachtsman Steakhouse.

 

[klineski96]

Not a DDP user here.

My wife and I are heading to WDW again for our 5 year anniversary in August, we have a reservation for Le Cellier for one of the nights.

I have a strong feeling we'll be cancelling our reservation. Out of pocket it used to be a little pricey, now with the price increase I don't think it's worth it anymore.

 

[redshoesrock]

For my time and money, I believe that instead of Le Cellier I would go to the Yachtsman Steakhouse.

Ooh, tough call on that one. I like the ambiance of Le Cellier more than the Yachtsman, but the Yachtsman has that 24oz porterhouse steak...mmmmm.

 

[WDWFigment]

Not a DDP user here.

My wife and I are heading to WDW again for our 5 year anniversary in August, we have a reservation for Le Cellier for one of the nights.

I have a strong feeling we'll be cancelling our reservation. Out of pocket it used to be a little pricey, now with the price increase I don't think it's worth it anymore.

This is a serious concern for us, too. I believe that the prices are only increasing at Le Cellier (and many, many other restaurants) to give the DDP a great impression of value.

Likewise, although to a lesser extent since the percentage of people getting "free" (far from "free," actually) dining compared to those paying for the DDP is lower (I would guess), I think the price of the DDP keeps increasing to give it a great impression of value as compared to other, potentially better, discounts.

Nothing at Walt Disney World has increased as substantially as dining has in the last several years. Dining increases outpace tickets and resort rooms, easily.

The food at Walt Disney World (with a few exceptions) is not getting better. The ambiace is no better. The only thing increasing is price. Unfortunately, as long as people keep purchasing the DDP (or 'buying into' free dining) in huge numbers, this trend will only continue. What incentive does Disney have to stop raising prices if restaurants continue to fill up with guests willing to pay the prices?

 

[menamechris]

Honestly, I think the price of dining is as high as it can possibly be without having empty restaurants. And some restaurants are still empty on a normal day (Brown Derby has been MAYBE 1/4 full the last couple times I went). The goal seems to be to get vacationers to pay for the DDP, and then screw them with 2-credit signature restaurants. Unfortunately, those of us who are not on the DDP pay the price as well.

I wonder if waitstaff is finding they are getting stiffed more when prices rise like this...

 

[NYwdwfan]

They have to make up costs for the new contracts they just agreed to with their employess. :shrug:

Plus I think Epcot needs more signature service. Evidently the suits are responding to all the 'walmarting' comments on boards like this. So they are providing higher quality options for those that want them.

Actually they are providing higher priced options - whether or not it's of higher quality remains to be seen. I too am looking forward to hearing the reviews.

 

[pax_65]

For my time and money, I believe that instead of Le Cellier I would go to the Yachtsman Steakhouse.

I totally agree. I'm sad because I used to love dining at Le Cellier (love the cheese soup, but at $9? Wow!), but it became yet another victim of DDP as I wasn't about to book many months in advance (I still remember fondly the days when you could make reservations DAYS in advance or even walk up!)

The food at Le Cellier is really good, but not on par with the Yachtsman. Also the decor is nowhere near the Yachtsman (at least the last time I was there which was a couple of years ago). It feels like a basement.

To be honest, with these prices I might choose Living Seas over Le Cellier. They have good steaks there also and the atmosphere is incredible.

 

[jt04]

I totally agree. I'm sad because I used to love dining at Le Cellier (love the cheese soup, but at $9? Wow!), but it became yet another victim of DDP as I wasn't about to book many months in advance (I still remember fondly the days when you could make reservations DAYS in advance or even walk up!)

The food at Le Cellier is really good, but not on par with the Yachtsman. Also the decor is nowhere near the Yachtsman (at least the last time I was there which was a couple of years ago). It feels like a basement.

To be honest, with these prices I might choose Living Seas over Le Cellier. They have good steaks there also and the atmosphere is incredible.

It is incredible. Love the view at the Living Seas. But it could be so much better. But that is a topic for my "Less is More" thread over in the Imagineering thread.

Soon.

 

[PhilharMagician]

I totally agree. I'm sad because I used to love dining at Le Cellier (love the cheese soup, but at $9? Wow!), but it became yet another victim of DDP as I wasn't about to book many months in advance (I still remember fondly the days when you could make reservations DAYS in advance or even walk up!)

The food at Le Cellier is really good, but not on par with the Yachtsman. Also the decor is nowhere near the Yachtsman (at least the last time I was there which was a couple of years ago). It feels like a basement.

To be honest, with these prices I might choose Living Seas over Le Cellier. They have good steaks there also and the atmosphere is incredible.

Uh? That is what it is! :lol:

This is a serious concern for us, too. I believe that the prices are only increasing at Le Cellier (and many, many other restaurants) to give the DDP a great impression of value.

Likewise, although to a lesser extent since the percentage of people getting "free" (far from "free," actually) dining compared to those paying for the DDP is lower (I would guess), I think the price of the DDP keeps increasing to give it a great impression of value as compared to other, potentially better, discounts.

Nothing at Walt Disney World has increased as substantially as dining has in the last several years. Dining increases outpace tickets and resort rooms, easily.

The food at Walt Disney World (with a few exceptions) is not getting better. The ambiace is no better. The only thing increasing is price. Unfortunately, as long as people keep purchasing the DDP (or 'buying into' free dining) in huge numbers, this trend will only continue. What incentive does Disney have to stop raising prices if restaurants continue to fill up with guests willing to pay the prices?

You are right on. The food prices have gone almost out of reach for a moderate sized family to dine out every night during a week long stay.

I have done a cost breakout for the DDP on here in the past (including plan price, tips, meal options etc) , but in short the DDP is worth approx 1/2 it's value today as it was just 5 years ago.

Ther are other things that can seem a little unfair with food pricing. One we have notice more now that our daughter is beyong the 11 Y/O range. Buffetts now are full adult price and dinner shows are the same. It is tough for me to justify a 55 lb child that will eat a scoop of macaroni and cheese a little garden salad and a dinner roll will get charged $30.00 for dinner? The the dinner shows which include alchohlic beverages for adults still charge for children 11 and older the adult price even though they will not or more importantly cannot consume alchohol. There really should be a teen price range for dinner shows. We have simply stopped eating at buffetts for now. I cannot think about feading a family of 5 at a place like Boma which costs $39 for an adult. You will be more than $250.00 for a buffett dinner and you didn't even see any characters!:hammer:

This runaway pricing has to stop at some point. I hope.

 

[Tomi-Rocket]

oh man.....

We will most likely not go to Le Cellier now that they have taken prime rib off the dinner menu, it's the whole reason my DH wanted to eat there. We'll have to discuss......

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

They have to make up costs for the new contracts they just agreed to with their employess. :shrug:

Plus I think Epcot needs more signature service. Evidently the suits are responding to all the 'walmarting' comments on boards like this. So they are providing higher quality options for those that want them.