Odds on Walking in at Le Cellier for Dinner?

[swordsman_24]

My wife and I will be traveling to the world in a couple of weeks (12/10-12/15). I tried to make PS for Le Cellier and it was a no go. I'm guessing there are a lot of people using that for their Candlelight Processional dining location. I'm curious if we are willing to wait what are our odds on walking in for dinner around 5:00 - 6:00? I'd expect at least a 20 minute wait, but from what I'm reading it would be worth it.

Thanks for reading the post and I'm looking forward to your suggestions. We're also considering going for lunch, but we would prefer dinner if the wait is not bad.

 

[Steamboat_Kevin]

The past two times I've been there we've had reservations and we still had to wait outside for quite a while. This was also during one of the most calm times of the year (Mid-January).

Mid-December is a pretty busy time, and Le Cellier is a pretty popular dinner spot. I imagine it would be a pretty big hassle to try to walk-in without reservations

It still might be worth a try though, Le Cellier is worth waiting for! :slurp:

 

[Dubman]

We tried to walk in on our last trip and they wouldn't even take our name in case of cancellations.. We were able to make lunch reservations, but it just wasn't the same... Good luck!!

 

[rainfully]

We did a walk-in at Le Cellier... we couldn't get ressies for weeks ahead so we just walked in... we were quoted about 45 minutes and waited maybe 30... definitely worth it... I'd wait an hour for that place!! :slurp:

 

[DisneygeekCT]

We went in February this year and had advanced reservations. We had to wait 45 minutes and were very angry. The host apologized profusely to us and told us that there was a huge screw up - there was a large party (I think it was more then 20 people) that wasn't added to the list for the day for whatever reason and they had to honor them. So we had to miss the end of Off Kilter's show for nothing! (We left Off Kilter's performance so we wouldn't be late for our AR and as it turned out, we could have watched the entire show and most of the next show!) Le Cellier was definitely worth it though!

 

[Vernonpush]

I would try going to Guest Relations early the day you want to go to Le Cellier and try to make a reservation. There are sometimes ways to get in the day of. When we went in Sept. the hostess at Guest Relations told us that we could have a reservation for Hollywood and Vine if we were a party of 4 (we were 2), and then say the other couple cancelled at the last minute after checking in. Sounds sneaky, but that's what she said, and it worked.

 

[HunnyPot]

I've never been able to walk in at Le Cellier, but we did walk into Alfredo's once. You should keep trying to get advanced reservations though. You never know, something might come available!

 

[mousermerf]

If you're a betting person..

Walking up to Le Cellier for dinner is about the same odds as having an arthrhitic pony who is lame and blind in one eye win the Kentucky Derby.

 

[Yanks07]

My wife and I walked up in Oct. and were told 30 min., 5 min later we were ordering cocktails. Party of 2 helps. Just my experience. :wave:

 

[tink rules]

But I need my $2 bet to go somewhere!!!!!! Usually my horse follows the pace car off the track....:lol:

Although... I have to admit... my mom took me to Saratoga for my birthday this year and I walked away with an extra $91 that I'm taking to WDW with me on Friday...

(ok... so I used to date the high school bookie....)

 

[makscopes]

I would continue to call the Advance Reservation Service to see if something opens up. You are always better off having the Reservation in place - especially since the Candlelight Processional is during this time.

You can also plan a late lunch there as an alternative. Their lunch menu is excellent.

 

[wannabeBelle]

My wife and I will be traveling to the world in a couple of weeks (12/10-12/15). I tried to make PS for Le Cellier and it was a no go. I'm guessing there are a lot of people using that for their Candlelight Processional dining location. I'm curious if we are willing to wait what are our odds on walking in for dinner around 5:00 - 6:00? I'd expect at least a 20 minute wait, but from what I'm reading it would be worth it.

Thanks for reading the post and I'm looking forward to your suggestions. We're also considering going for lunch, but we would prefer dinner if the wait is not bad.

I wont lie to you, it is going to be rough going for this one. Le Cellier is the number one restaurant in World Showcase as per one of the CM's I spoke to last time I was there. I believe it!!! it is a smaller location with a fabulous menu so the odds arent great.
As an alternative a great steak place is the Yachtsman Steakhouse in the Yacht Club which is right outside of International Gateway. You can either take the boat to the resort or walk along the pathway depending on your timing. Belle

 

[Steamboat_Kevin]

As an alternative a great steak place is the Yachtsman Steakhouse in the Yacht Club which is right outside of International Gateway. You can either take the boat to the resort or walk along the pathway depending on your timing. Belle

I agree, Yachtsman Steakhouse is delicious. Good alternative to Le Cellier.

 

[dxwwf3]

The only time we've ever even thought about eating at Le Cellier is at lunch is because that is the only time they offer their burger. And we've usually been able to get ADR the day before and be fine. But I guess it's never a guarantee.

 

[POOHKILLEDTOAD]

your chances are slim to none....and none just killed slim and burried the body in the desert.

 

[Moustronaut]

I agree, Yachtsman Steakhouse is delicious. Good alternative to Le Cellier.

Some would argue a better alternative to Le Cellier

 

[Scooter]

My wife and I walk into Le Cellier every trip without a reservation.
For that matter, we walk onto every restaurant in WDW w/o a reservation and with the exception of Cinderellas Castle we have never had a problem getting seated within 5 minutes of our arrival.

Our secret.....eat early.
We eat in all the restaurants in WDW in the off hours when there are very few people there.

Examples : We are waiting at The Concourse Steakhouse at 7:30AM when they open and are always the first ones in and are seated immediately.
We eat lunch at 11:00AM when the restaurants open for lunch...no waiting.
We eat dinner at 4:30PM and have never had a problem being seated.

Some people are stuck on the idea that you have to eat breakfast at 9:00AM, lunch at Noon, and Dinner at 6:00PM, but if you just change your dinning times to off hours you rarely will have a problem.

When my wife and I are at Animal Kingdom, we make sure we are waiting in front of Flame tree Bar B Que at 11:00AM when they open....then we get our food and head to the farthest seating area we can find.
We are usually all by ourselves in a large seating area, by the river with a full view of Expedition Everest, and it feels like we have the whole park to ourselves.

 

[swordsman_24]

Thanks all.

Thanks for the great feedback so far everyone. Looks like our best shot is to try to eat around 4:30 - 5:00 and hope for the best. If the wait is too long we have a number of other restaurants that we like that we will try.

I'll be sure to update everyone when we get back with how things turned out for us. If anyone else has ideas please feel free to keep them coming we're not leaving until the 12/10 and I'm open to all options.

Thanks again.

 

[shoppingnut]

I happen to like Chef de France very much as an alternative in WS. The steak that they have on the menu is excellent and so are the scallop potatoes it comes with too.

While Yachtsman is excellent and I love it, it is much more expensive than Le Cellier.

 

[Tinkershelly]

Our secret.....eat early.
We eat in all the restaurants in WDW in the off hours when there are very few people there.

Examples : We are waiting at The Concourse Steakhouse at 7:30AM when they open and are always the first ones in and are seated immediately.
We eat lunch at 11:00AM when the restaurants open for lunch...no waiting.
We eat dinner at 4:30PM and have never had a problem being seated.

Some people are stuck on the idea that you have to eat breakfast at 9:00AM, lunch at Noon, and Dinner at 6:00PM, but if you just change your dinning times to off hours you rarely will have a problem.


Oh man!!! You just let out the best dining secret there is. We use that all the time and are rarely disappointed.

(Only three more sleeps until I'm home:sohappy: )

Tink