Opinions on Biergarten

[wundermommy76]

We have a 6:40pm ressie for Biergarten on the day we go to Epcot. I have heard great things about it from friends who were there a couple years ago, but have also seen some not so good things about it on these forums. Anyone gone recently and what were your opinions? We have a party of 10 - what are the chances we'll get our own table? We don't mind loud and crazy during dinner.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I was looking fwd to eating at Biergarten after all the rave reviews. Most of the food was good, im glad i went, it was fun...but i dont think i'd go back. Some of the meat textures didnt sit well with me. Nothing wow'd me enough to go back. But as I said, it was good. The items i did enjoy were quiet good thou. They have awesome soup. way better than the cheese soup at LC in my opinion!

I like sharing tables, its fun meeting new people. Since there are 8 per table (i believe) im not sure how it'll work out with 10 of you. Maybe someone else can chime in?

Its a fun place to try at least once. The band is quite entertaining. I say go for it.

 

[GoofyKidd]

We sort of had low expectations of Biergarten when we went for the first time and we all absolutely loved it-including our small children. The food was excellent, the entertainment was fun and the people we sat with were great. We absolutely would go back. But with DIS, you'll get people who love it and people who hate it. It's always just best to give it a try for yourself-everyone likes something different. Have fun!

 

[Mamu]

I know it a favorite of so many here but were in the minority, while the show was good we did not care for the food.

 

[BigMickeyFan]

H and I ate at Biergarten when it was just the two of us, and we had a great time with our tablemates - another couple who happened to have similar occupations, and a lively family of four (kids were tween/teen age). The food was good, but definitely a lot of sausage! Our one disappointment was that the band did not play at all, and we were there for over an hour. Not sure why.

As it happens, I am headed to WDW on short notice for a conference next week, and am thinking about going there since I'll be solo and would like some company at dinner. I definitely would say that it's worth trying!

 

[Pakey]

It's hugely overpriced if you are paying OOP but on the dining plan, I could see it being okay. We enjoy Biergarten. The kids love the dance floor and the adults love those gallon sized beers. We enjoy sitting with strangers and we've had good luck in that regard; always seated with fun people. The food is decent enough and there's a pretty good selection.

Our last visit was about 5 months ago and with the new prices, we probably won't be returning as we just don't eat enough food to justify the OOP cost of Disney's buffets.

 

[wundermommy76]

It's hugely overpriced if you are paying OOP but on the dining plan, I could see it being okay. We enjoy Biergarten. The kids love the dance floor and the adults love those gallon sized beers. We enjoy sitting with strangers and we've had good luck in that regard; always seated with fun people. The food is decent enough and there's a pretty good selection.

Our last visit was about 5 months ago and with the new prices, we probably won't be returning as we just don't eat enough food to justify the OOP cost of Disney's buffets.

We are on the dining plan and using a TS for this meal. Someone said there is a lot of sausage.....please tell me there are some other choices too???

 

[Bellamouse]

We love it. Lots of other choices other than sausage. But DH and I are first generation German Americans and grew up on this type of food, so it is totally to our taste/liking. We almost never miss Biergarten (except this time we are going to try Les Chefs de France!). We just decided to try something new this time. I'm kind of bummed we're missing it actually. I just keep telling myself "there's always next trip....."

 

[Uno Mas]

This is the only Disney buffet we like. It has good variety and more meat choices than just sausage. Always a pork roast being carved, pork shnitzel (basically just breaded pork), beef roulade, etc, etc. My kids have loved it since they were young and they are now teenagers. DH and I enjoy the beer selection and the show is fun. Tables seat 8 so you will be split up, but ask for adjacent tables and you will be fine.

 

[iloveeeyore]

We LOVE it and count it as one of our few must-do's (for lunch, but we tried dinner years ago). There are so many choices, especially at dinner. Yes, there are many varieties of sausage, but also the schnitzel is delicious with huntsman's sauce (red wine reduction - it's on the side, in case you don't care for it, but it is sooo good), there is sauerbraten (like potroast) that is so tender, roasted chicken with flavorful herbs, and also a variety of "cold cut" types of meats...and that is just in the meat category. There are also a few kinds of spaetzle ("dumplings"), various potatoes, tons of salads and cheeses (beware of the herring salad...it looks like potato salad but is fish!), and really yummy soups and breads. Please save room for the bavarian cheesecake with berry compote and vanilla sauce, one of my favorite desserts in all of Disney. There are other desserts as well, but that one really stands out. The entertainment is great, though each "set" is pretty short. There is even a cowbells player!

The tables are usually for 8, but I think they could probably squeeze all of you in one table...maybe someone else who has dined there with 10 can chime in about that.

Enjoy!

 

[castmemberb4]

Do you know that your ADR is during a show time for the band? They do play at specific times and as a pp said it's possible to be there and not see the show. I'm assuming with 10 people you have kids in the group, the kids will enjoy the show. We were two adults and were seated at a table of adults, we enjoyed our table mates and the food and beer were good enough. I'm glad we did it once the whole 'village' atmosphere is really neat, but there are many other places I would chose before going a second time.
It's funny but every mention of the Biergarten brings back the overwelming smell of warm sauerkraut !

GO. You'll enjoy it and 'mark it off your list'

 

[Ninja Mom]

BigMickeyFan, be sure to check the Times Guide at Epcot to know exactly when you can catch Oktoberfest Musikanten perform. Oktoberfest Musikanten performs 25-minute shows throughout the day in the Biergarten restaurant or outside in the nearby courtyard. They were probably outside performing a set when you were inside.

As for the food we liked it better than the food we had in the real Germany. I loved having such a great selection of fresh salads and the kids ate the hot dog type sausages and said they really liked them. We would definitely go back, My husband for the beer and myself for the Pretzel rolls!

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

We've been with a large group before and were split between two tables. The tables were fairly close to each other.

 

[busymom11]

I love Biergarten. It is a must do for our family. It has a wide variety of food, something for everyone. We had a couple picky eaters and everyone left full. Last time we ate there we had 11 people and we all sat at one table. 6 adults and 5 kids (ages 4-16). Had no problem all fitting at the table.

Definitely give it a try, I think you will like it!!!

 

[KrazeeK120]

Biergarten is my husband's favorite Disney restaurant! We have been there twice. We had nice tablemates both times...when we were there a few weeks ago, I was actually sad to leave my table because the people we ate with were so nice!

As far as the food goes, I think there is something there for everyone. I'm a very picky eater and I even found things there that I liked.

It's not my favorite place (I go there for hubby), but I would not say I dislike it. It's definitely worth trying out at least once for the neat atmosphere.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Our Ratings of Biergarten: (rev 8/8/11)
. . . food price value: C
. . . food quality: B
. . . food quantity per serving: A
. . . food prep speed: B
. . . food selection: C
. . . seating quantity: B
. . . seating comfort: C
. . . eatery atmosphere: B
. . . eatery convenience: B
. . . staff friendliness: C
. . . staff attentiveness: B
. . . characters: B (entertainment, not characters)

NOTE: Seating is on long beer-hall tables, so other families will be
seated with you. Although entertainment at lunch and dinner, the
dinner show is far more fun. At dinner you get more Oom-Pah music
and dancing, let alone be chosen to participate. Although WDW likes
to Americanize its food, Biergarten remains relatively authentic. It
is good, above average German comfort food. The tables are in seats
of 6-8-10-12. (There are three tables for 4 along the mezzanine wall.)

 

[xipetotec]

We have a 6:40pm ressie for Biergarten on the day we go to Epcot. I have heard great things about it from friends who were there a couple years ago, but have also seen some not so good things about it on these forums. Anyone gone recently and what were your opinions? We have a party of 10 - what are the chances we'll get our own table? We don't mind loud and crazy during dinner.

We *love* this place. We travel in large groups with kids and adults of every age ( our last trip had kids under 10, teenagers, young adults, older adults and a couple of seniors ). We always get our group together, for us that typically means two full tables, but they will probably get your 10 at a single table no problem.

 

[BigDaddyWill]

We always book an ADR for Biergarten when we go to WDW.

The food is authentic and we have always had great servers. I spent two years living in Germany and the one thing I always missed was the food. My oldest DD25 and I enjoy the beer (bier!) and my wife enjoys the Tomato Salad.

I think you will be happy with it and I think they will do their best to accomodate the size of your group.

Will

 

[Iwant2BAprincess]

I was really looking forward to this one and was disappointed. It wasn't bad but nothing to write home about. Most of it all tasted like some form of hot dog-but hey- they kids loved it.

 

[Z28KatCar]

We loved Biergarten, lots of different potatoes and sausages. The kids had a blast dancing and the wine flight was amazing. We will definitely do this again!