Originally Posted By TDR_Fan I have a few questions about the wine cellar dining room in Magellan's: 1) Is it available to all guests? Can I just walk up and request a seat inside? 2) Since you aren't allowed to specify seats when you make reservations, does the wine cellar often get fully booked by people using priority seating? 3) About how many seats are in this room and is there an extra fee to pay for using it? 4) Would you recommend this to a person who has never been inside Magellan's before? I'm bringing family with me, so I was wondering if they would be more impressed with the tables in the main hall(with the giant globe and ceiling mural) or the wine cellar room. 5) Since it is a closed off room (behind a bookcase), how do you get from inside to other parts of the restaurant? For example, what if you want to get a waitress or want to use the restrooms? 6) Is the atmosphere more romantic in here? Is there renaissance music playing inside here too, or are all the speakers in the main dining room? It'd be kind of dull if it was just complete silence...
Originally Posted By Kayoss <<<I have a few questions about the wine cellar dining room in Magellan's: 1) Is it available to all guests? Can I just walk up and request a seat inside? >>> It IS available to all guests, but there may be days when it is being used by a VIP and will not be available. The best thing to do is make an advance reservation for Magellen’s (preferably as a guest of MiraCosta) and then, much in advance before your reservation time is up, politely talk to the CM at Magellen’s table and request the celler room for your reservation time hours later. Then, once again, when you arrive at the restaurant for your reservation time, again request the cellar room. This process should ensure you a much higher chance at actually being able to dine there. <<< 2) Since you aren't allowed to specify seats when you make reservations, does the wine cellar often get fully booked by people using priority seating? >>> The wine cellar (when not being used by a private party) has always been completely booked… at least that I’ve noticed. There only about 6 tables in there, so it’s very easy. << 3) About how many seats are in this room and is there an extra fee to pay for using it? >> About 6 tables with 2-4 seats per table. There is no extra fee. << 4) Would you recommend this to a person who has never been inside Magellan's before? I'm bringing family with me, so I was wondering if they would be more impressed with the tables in the main hall(with the giant globe and ceiling mural) or the wine cellar room. >>> Although Magellen’s is incredibly beautiful, the cellar room is one-of-a-kind and is (at least in my opinion) very unique, even topping the grandeur of the general restaurant. <<<< 5) Since it is a closed off room (behind a bookcase), how do you get from inside to other parts of the restaurant? For example, what if you want to get a waitress or want to use the restrooms? >>>> This is done exceptionally well. Luckily, I photo documented the entire experience, as well as have extensive video, and I hope to do an EXTENSIVE detail on this amazing room in a future photo blog. So you’re in luck. But here’s some highlights: The ‘hidden bookcase’ thing is pulled off here FLAWLESSLY. To enter the room, you are led down the main staircase, past the regular diners and to a wall (near the kitchen) which is lined with three in-wall cabinet-style bookcases with glass shelves (it’s a very old, unique style of bookcase that existed in the 16th century). Anyway, there’s three of them, all identical in design. The best attention to detail here, and the most amazing part about this, is that there is ABSOUTELY NO OBVIOUS WAY INTO THE ROOM. The CM runs her finger over the deep wood relief of the bookcase, which consist of several oval wooden carvings. Although all of them are COMPLETELY identical, one of them is in fact a button, and presses inward. At this point, the bookcase silently (electrically) slides open, revealing the hidden room. A laser guidance system tells the door that there is someone standing in it, so it will not close on someone. As soon as you enter the room, the door again slides shut, making it completely private (and totally secret). A button (which IS obvious) resides near the door so you may exit from the inside, but it’s ASTOUNDING how well-done the outdoor ‘wood-relief’ button is hidden. You literally have no way of knowing (without being shown) which identical oval wood relief carving is actually a button. There are no ‘markings’ that ‘give it away’ as a button. It is not discolored from too much use, it does not have any noticeable ‘seam’ where you can see that it’s a button, it is just PERFECTLY done… just as you’d imagine a real hidden bookcase in a movie. Even better, as a guest of the cellar room, you can leave and enter the room (while you’re eating) as many times as you want, getting a chance to fully appreciate the marvelous door. It’s just so magical, and so well-done, to me it puts the club 33s to shame… and the food is just fantastic. <<< 6) Is the atmosphere more romantic in here? Is there renaissance music playing inside here too, or are all the speakers in the main dining room? It'd be kind of dull if it was just complete silence... >>> There is atmospheric music… kind of like 16th Century Baroque if I recall correctly. It’s all done at an appropriate volume, and yes, by far, the cellar room is certainly the most romantic (and well worth it) single spot in any Disney park in the world. It’s outstanding, beautiful detail, meticulous service, fantastic food, and indeed, candlelight. A must-do!!!!
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan Thank you very much! I haven't heard much about the interior of the cellar room before, so how is it? I'm sure it must be very beautiful!
Originally Posted By Kayoss it's outstanding. I mean, it's a cellar room.... but the detail in the brickwork is breathtaking. Actually, the secret room is the focus of my new photo blog update at: <a href="http://web.mac.com/okwhatev/iWeb/disneysea" target="_blank">http://web.mac.com/okwhatev/iW eb/disneysea</a>
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan Another question about the reservation. Can I call the reservation center and request the wine cellar room a month in advance. I'm just a bit worried that I won't be allowed access to the wine cellar when I finally arrive at Magellan's for my reservation time.
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan Here's another silly question about the wine cellar room ^_^ Do they play the same music in here as the main dining hall or do they play a different loop to differentiate the atmosphere? I understand Magellan's has a set order of loops, but maybe the wine cellar room plays it in a different order than the main dining hall. Just something I was wondering...
