Biergarten alone???

[Ms. WDW]

I'm doing a solo trip (I do it all the time) and really want to eat at the Biergarten. But...I'm not sure how I'd feel being seated at a table with people I don't know. I have no problem dining solo, but I've never dined here without companions/family.

Has anyone dined here while traveling alone and if so, how did you do? Were you seated with others or do they have little tables squirreled away somewhere for solo folks?

Thanks!

 

[Lisa F]

they don't have little tables but i think like anything it's a crap shoot who you get seated with. I travel solo with my son so while it's not exactly the same as being alone, it's not like I have another adult. I often battle with feeling like the 5th wheel when I am out with other parents who are married. We were seated with a family of 6 at biergarten, 2 parents, 2 kids, 2 grandparents... and it was fine. we had a great time talking about Disney and DVC etc. but as I said, it's crap shoot

 

[NYCgrrl]

I haven't eaten at Disney's Biergarten solo or otherwise but have at beer gardens in the Germanic countries. It was fun solo or in a group for me. Just pull out your inner extrovert and sing a long.

Oh and from the pictures I've seen it's the traditional long benches. If you really think you wouldn't like the experience how about trying Sommerfest?

 

[figmentedfollies]

I went to Biergarten solo in February 2015 and was places with a family of four (or five, I can't quite remember). They were friendly and tried to engage me in conversation, but I would have preferred a solo table honestly. Especially as we ate at different speeds.

 

[Ms. WDW]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I really have no problem eating alone but I'm re-thinking the Biergarten. I'll wait until my DH is with me! I really don't think I'd be comfortable among strangers.

 

[Skippyboo]

I did it solo last year. There are no little tables. Just big long ones. I believe they seat eight. I got paired up with a nice couple from OK and their little 5 year old girl. The rest of the table was already filled up when we were seated. I am an introvert but I was able to talk Disney with them. But it's definitely a crap shoot. You also feel pressure to kind of finish when the people right around you finish.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Well, you're taking a chance. It could be great, or it could be awful. I dined solo at a communal table once, and got seated next to a teenaged girl who was experiencing her worst nightmare-vacationing with the parents and now, being seated next to a stranger. She wouldn't speak to me and we were both glad when the meal was over and we could leave. That's when I decided I'd rather dine solo than wish I was. However, one time DH and I were at Biergarten and a solo was seated at our table. We asked him questions and all had a great time during the meal. I'm sure he enjoyed the meal.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Even Biergarten with a party of 2 can be uncomfortable. We've had three fairly bad visits to Biergarten with unfriendly table mates. I wouldn't do it again unless I was with a party of 6 - 8 and we could fill our own table.

 

[DisneyHardin]

When we ate at Biergarten last year there was a man at our table who was solo (his wife wasn't feeling well and had gone back to the room). He fit right in at our table and we chatted with him as well as the people on the other side of him did too.

 

[cruisin5]

When are you going? We'll be there Dec. 2 and you are welcome to join us!

 

[pezaddict231]

I haven't gone solo but we're a party of three and were seated with a solo diner. It was a little awkward because they placed my daughter's high chair next to him and then we had to move everything around. We did talk with him a little bit during the meal but it was awkward because it was very close quarters. There was another party of four at the table, they weren't very friendly but at least they were at their own section of table. So just be aware that they may seat you at the last seat of the table.

 

[mickey1968]

I did it solo last year and it sounds like I got lucky. There was a family of 5, myself and a couple. I sat across from the couple and we talked a little bit but mostly just concentrated on the food. It was a little awkward at first but not bad.

 

[bwang123]

Do it. Excellent food and experience. We've always been seated with people who were friendly. I've seen a lot of posts from people on here that say they hate sitting by strangers so you may get those types of people but ignore them. You make your own experience, not others.

 

[Belle5]

When my kids were young we were a party of 7, including my mom. They seated a single business man with us. Honestly, I don't think he really enjoyed himself. I don't know what the hostess was thinking to seat him with a bunch of little kids! It was...awkward.

 

[StageTek]

I've done it twice. Very first time to WDW and solo. I got seated with a family of 4 and a young couple. Miserable experience. The teens (I'm guessing 13 and 16) were MORTIFIED to be seated with strangers and the couple were uncommunicative. My second time I almost didn't go. But I really love it there (the Schöfferhofer!) so I went for it. I got seated with two couples, one in their 30's the other in their 60's. We chatted, shared stories and even joked with the Austrian family at the next table about just how "authentic" the food is. Two tables of people really enjoying themselves. They all thought I was brave to be going solo and even a bit envious.

 

[Jennasis]

If you are dining solo, how is it any different than eating at any other restaurant? You aren't conversing with anyone while eating alone at other restaurants...does it matter if your table mates chat with you at Biergarten? Just enjoy the food and the show.

 

[nkereina]

We were a party of 9 last trip and they sat us at a 10-top and told us that if a solo diner arrived, he or she would be seated with us. We were fine with that, but I'd imagine the solo diner would have been uncomfortable since we were all one party. We also had two kids at the table who are loud and always moving, so I'd imagine a solo diner and the kids would both feel awkward. But, we would have welcomed the person had they been seated with us!

We don't care much for the communal table, just because we don't like the forced socializing. It's not for everyone. Last time, we were squished between a family who didn't speak English and a couple much older than us. We didn't talk much with either, and felt odd talking among ourselves being in earshot of the other people.

 

[999_Happy_Haunts]

If you are dining solo, how is it any different than eating at any other restaurant? You aren't conversing with anyone while eating alone at other restaurants...does it matter if your table mates chat with you at Biergarten?

There is an inherent difference between being seated at separate tables and not interacting with the people behind you and sitting directly across from someone at the same table and not interacting. The seating at Biergarten is more akin to what you would experience on the first night of a cruise where you have assigned dining and are seated with others at a table that holds 8. Sure, you could go through your meal and never acknowledge the others at the table. But that would be rather awkward. I think it is assumed that at the communal arrangement at BG, a polite "Hello. How is your day going so far?" or "Where are you folks from?" is the minimum expected. If someone is not interested in or open to even that level of conversation, I would advise against dining at BG as a solo or small group.

 

[Jennasis]

There is an inherent difference between being seated at separate tables and not interacting with the people behind you and sitting directly across from someone at the same table and not interacting. The seating at Biergarten is more akin to what you would experience on the first night of a cruise where you have assigned dining and are seated with others at a table that holds 8. Sure, you could go through your meal and never acknowledge the others at the table. But that would be rather awkward. I think it is assumed that at the communal arrangement at BG, a polite "Hello. How is your day going so far?" or "Where are you folks from?" is the minimum expected. If someone is not interested in or open to even that level of conversation, I would advise against dining at BG as a solo or small group.

Meh. We (DH and I) adore Biergarten. Have had chatty tablemates and some who never said a word (even when we initiated the "Hello, how are you?"), and it's okay with us either way. We are there for the food and the show. I wouldn't let the idea that the other people at the table might not talk to me be a deterrent, nor would I let the expectation to speak to strangers dictate my decision. OMMV.

 

[999_Happy_Haunts]

We (DH and I)

I was referring mostly to an individual, ("someone"). Obviously if you already have a dining/conversation companion sitting directly across from you, the balance of the table's composition doesn't much matter. But being seated as a solo diner directly across from someone else and not making eye contact or polite conversation seems more like prison cafeteria dining than being at WDW.