Vote of the week: Cinderella's Royal Table or Le Cellier Steakhouse?

September 2, 2011, 2:15 PM · You walk into Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom or Epcot, and a cast member approaches you:

"Congratulations! You've been randomly selected to dine today at one of the two toughest Walt Disney World restaurants to get a priority seating time: Cinderella's Royal Table at the Magic Kingdom, or Le Cellier Steakhouse at Epcot.

Le Cellier Steakhouse is located in Epcot's Canada pavilion.

Cinderella's Royal Table, upstairs in the castle at the Magic Kingdom

"You don't have to worry about getting a priority seating time. One will be reserved by Mickey Mouse himself, just for you and just for today. But Mickey's only making one reservation, so you will have to choose which restaurant you would like."

Okay, that's enough time in Fantasyland. ;^)

Cindy's and Le Cellier long have been two of the toughest tables to get at Walt Disney World, despite the fact that neither rank among the highest-rated restaurants in the Disney theme parks. (Epcot's Bistro de Paris won the Theme Park Insider Award for best theme park restaurant the past two years, and Epcot's Via Napoli was a runner-up this year. But Bistro de Paris' high price makes it a relatively easy table to book - few guests feel that can afford it.)

Le Cellier's appeal is steak - a fancy meaty meal in a handsome room, along with a killer Cheddar Cheese Soup appetizer. Cindy's appeal is simple - the chance to dine inside the castle, overlooking Fantasyland.

But which would you pick, if you were given the chance to pick one, and without having to go through the hassle of calling six months in advance to score a PST (priority seating time). That's our vote of the week. It's time for the ultimate priority seating showdown.

Please tell us in the comments why you picked the one you picked. (Registration is not necessary, but comments from unregistered readers are held for approval before publishing.) Have a great holiday weekend and thank you again for reading Theme Park Insider.

Replies (17)

208.120.17.168

September 2, 2011 at 2:40 PM · I remember working at WDW as a College Program cast member in 1998. It was around this time that Le Cellier switched to become the steak house it is today. Since it was "new," it was easy to get in and I enjoyed dining there and using my holiday discount. It was good, but it's a steakhouse in a nice but beige basement. Frankly, it's not worth the effort it takes to get a reservation these days. I'd rather got to Yachtman's Steakhouse at the Yacht Club for a similar and easier to book experience.

So, while I'm not Princess fan, I think it makes far more sense to spend the effort to eat in the Castle and see some characters.

Tony Duda

September 2, 2011 at 3:30 PM · I am assuming that I will still have to pay for the privilege of eating at either of these vastly overpriced restaurants since you just said a "reservation" is what I won. If it's not paid for by Walt Disney World, I would decline the honor. If it is paid for by WDW, I'd go to Cinderella's since I've eaten at Le Cellier a few times and never at Cindy's.

173.168.77.66

September 2, 2011 at 4:04 PM · I grew up loving Disney parks and a major part of Disney is Cinderella's Castle so who wouldn't want to be invited to join the royal table.

Robert Waldbauer

September 2, 2011 at 4:23 PM · Considering that we ate at both this past vacation, it's the food quality that made me pick Cinderella's Royal Table -- Le Cellier just wasn't up to par for what was served -- cold dishes, gummy dressing...compared to everything just per[fect at Cindy's.

Carol Lindsey

September 2, 2011 at 5:16 PM · Hands down Cinderella's Royal Table. Everything...the food, service, ambiance and character interaction....waaaaay better than Le Cellier. In two visits to Le Cellier, we have had 3 almost inedible prime ribs, salmon that was raw in the middle, an hour wait past our reservation time to be seated, and horrendously slow service. On the flip side, CRT was wonderful....great food, best service we have ever had, a beautiful setting and great entertainment throughout the meal. Now that Le Cellier has become a Signature Service, I would say it's even less worth the money or dining credits. I'm actually shocked that Le Cellier is currently winning the poll!

50.89.51.237

September 2, 2011 at 7:40 PM · I vote for Cinderella only because I've never eaten there. I've eaten at Le Cellier several times with no problems getting in.

David Sutter

September 3, 2011 at 3:31 AM · Having eattin in both Ill go for The Royal Table any day. I usually go for the "King Stephens Pie" A puff pastry filledd with garliced mashed potatoes, served with madallions of beef topped with sauted pappers and topped with chrisp fries onions, sitting on a bed of hunter-type graavy. And start my meal with the chrisp greens in a rasberry vingerette dressing...All severed by a very attentive wait staff of lords and Ladies in waitting. Oh yea and a swing by of Cinderllia herself. And did I mention a great escape for the din of the Magic Kingdom

David Sutter

September 3, 2011 at 3:32 AM · Having eattin in both Ill go for The Royal Table any day. I usually go for the "King Stephens Pie" A puff pastry filledd with garliced mashed potatoes, served with madallions of beef topped with sauted pappers and topped with chrisp fries onions, sitting on a bed of hunter-type gravy. And start my meal with the chrisp greens in a rasberry vingerette dressing...All severed by a very attentive wait staff of lords and Ladies in waitting. Oh yea and a swing by of Cinderllia herself. And did I mention a great escape for the din of the Magic Kingdom

Anthony Murphy

September 3, 2011 at 8:50 AM · Le Cellier has much better food and much happier cast members. There was no contest for me.

Cindy is ok (actually excellent for MK), but there are only a few good things on the menu (I suggest the porkchops) and the cast members are overly stressed out

Joshua Counsil

September 3, 2011 at 9:32 AM · Neither. For those prices, I'll eat at one of the superior resort restaurants like the nearby California Grill.

TH Creative

September 3, 2011 at 10:52 AM · Steaks without beer? That's crazy talk! No Moosehead in the Magic Kingdom. That makes the choice easy.

74.247.193.253

September 3, 2011 at 12:21 PM · I have eaten at both and honestly it's a toss up for me. If it's just adults in the party Le Cellier is the best choice. After drinking your way around the world (Thru Epcot...) a good steak is an easy choice to wind down (sober up?)with...Kids in the group? Cindy's hands down! Better prices, awesome salads, kid friendly menu (duh...). Last time we hit The Castle we had all 3 with us and it was actually the least we spent on dinner the whole week and nobody cared when 2 of them racked out at the table (reservations or not it's a LONG WAIT....). Our waiter actually brought out folded up towels to use as pillows.

kjay

September 4, 2011 at 10:21 AM · I've never been to Cinderella's Royal Table, but it's getting my vote here for sure. I did the requisite 180-days-out ADR for Le Cellier prior to my last trip to WDW. We ate at probably 12 different onsite restaurants that trip, and Le Cellier was, by far, the most sub-par meal of all. I have no interest in ever going back. I think Le Cellier is truly a case of the hype, rather than the food quality, creating the demand.

Lauren Hayhurst

September 5, 2011 at 2:57 AM · Getting to dine in the castle? No contest.

Anthony Murphy

September 5, 2011 at 7:33 AM · I really do not understand how people could think that Le Cellier has bad food?

167.176.16.8

September 6, 2011 at 5:06 AM · My family ate at Le Cellier Sunday 9/4. We have been many times and were very dissapointed. We had read reviews that the quality was down but chose to ignore them. While the service was very good the food was medium to bad. Everything we ordered was drowned in garlic. Now I love garlic but this was rediculous. I had the cheese soup and the filet and they were almost inedible. My wife had the tart and it too was swimming in garlic. I love hot spices but my eyes were watering throughout the meal.

Now this isn't the end of the world but when you have a restaurant this hard to get a table at you expect better. They need ot bring back the old chef!!!

Anon Mouse

September 6, 2011 at 7:15 AM · The Royal Table is the better choice for me. The food is likely to be more consistent and more suitable for kids. The castle environment cannot be beat. As for Le Cellier, I can go to any steakhouse and get the same thing. The problem with steaks is that you can cook your own. Why go to a high priced restaurant to have someone put it on their grill for you? I enjoyed the Royal Table and never felt it was too expensive.

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Vote of the week: Cinderella's Royal Table or Le Cellier Steakhouse?

Replies (17)

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