One thing that I'm really surprised about is the popularity of all the restaurants in the parks. When I went to Disneyland as a kid we would always just grab a quick burger and head back over to Mr. Toad or wherever, but things have gotten serious. Disney World now takes reservations at all their sit down restaurants 180 days in advance. That's six months. And some of them fill up instantly. To put that in perspective, one of the fanciest restaurants in New York just announced that they would only take reservations one month in advanced (as opposed to two) because "people just don't plan that far ahead."
Now the hardest ADR (Advanced Dining Reservation in Disneyese - apparently "reservation" is too vague for the average Disney diner who's usual Saturday night restaurant frustrations amount to having to guzzle a Strawberry Creamsicle at the Cheesecake Factory bar before their booth is ready) in Disney World is Le Cellier, a steakhouse in "Canada" at Epcot. The place is completely booked a half hour after the phones open at 7am, 180 days before any given day. You're screwed if you live on the West Coast, though some psychos will undoubtedly wake up at 4. OK, look at this menu taken from allears.net.
Entrées
Pan-Roasted Chicken Breast - served on a Cassoulet of white beans, wilted spinach, and a fragrant consumme $21.99
New York Strip Steak - topped with bercy butter and served with Gruyere Yukon Gold Potato Gratin $34.99
Salt-crusted Prime Rib - with Roasted Yukon Potatoes finished with au jus and horseradish cream sauce $25.99
Coffee-rubbed Kansas City Strip Steak - with hazelnut butter and cream cheese mashed potatoes $32.99
Spice-crusted Pork Chop - with rosemary polenta and endive-citrus salad $23.99
Veal T-Bone - with black bread "Pazanella" salad and Banyuls vinaigrette $36.99
King Salmon Two Ways - Pan-seared and poached served with a fried brown rice tempura roll $23.99
Le Cellier Mushroom Filet Mignon - with wild mushroom risotto, white truffle and herb butter sauce $34.99
Sautéed Potato Gnocchi - with grilled eggplant, cherry tomatoes, pesto broth, and parmesan cheese $19.99
Brioche-crusted Pacific Halibut - with a sweet pea ravioli, carrots, and a white wine-butter sauce $23.99
Did you fall asleep? First of all, please tell me what any of this has to do with Canada. Secondly, when the FIRST ENTREE on the menu is Pan-Roasted fucking Chicken Breast with a "fragrant consumme" you are definitely in airplane territory.
Now many of the podcasts I've been listening to (Yes I've been listening to many podcasts. I'm sick.) swear by this place. They love the filet, they love the chocolate moose (I know). It goes to show you that when these people want to have an "ethnic" meal in World Showcase, Canadian is the ethnicity they're most comfortable with. But they probably know what they're doing. It's not like the Moroccan food at Restaurant Marrakesh is anything but completely shitty. I'm hedging my bets and booking one night in "Italy" and one night in "Mexico." Even terrible Italian and Mexican food is pretty good, and after a few shots at La Cava de Tequila that plate of chili cheese nachos will look fantastic. Besides, who do you have to blow to get a table at Le Cellier?
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