Biergarten, banquet seating, and a party of one...

[wildernesslodgelover]

Ok, I know this topic has gotten hot before, but I never paid much attention to it. Now, however, it has happened to our family and it was kind of awkward.....

We went to Biergarten (My DH's FAVORITE Epcot restaurant...and DD and I love it too!) and were seated with another family that had two children about DD's age. We were talking to them and I noticed the CM brought another chair to the table and placed it next to my DH. I was sitting across from DH, and in between my DD and the wife of the other family. The husband was seated next to my DH, and their two boys were next to the railing, in the innermost seats.

Well, then an older gentleman was seated across from my daughter, next to my DH. I didn't really mind at first, although my DD felt awkward because he kept asking her questions. He also would interject in every conversation. If my DH was talking to the other father, the older man knew something about every topic. He also discussed his health issues, which was uncomfortable. He basically monopolized every conversation. No one wanted to ignore him, but we all wanted to have an equal chance to chit chat.

Anyway, it did not ruin our night by any means. Also, my dad is in his 70's and is quite a chatterbox, too. I would not want anyone to be rude to him or make him feel out of place. I just felt a need to post because I told my DH afterwards, "Öh, I have heard of this happening on the DISboards!" I kind of chuckled and realized it was bound to happen to us eventually.

BTW, Biergarten was excellent as usual!

 

[catne]

That sounds like my dad, too...he's a real chatterbox too (cept my Mom would have been there making faces at him to let others talk )

bravo to you & yours for being polite...you probably made that old guy's day. Look at it from his viewpoint: he probably told friends later about the wonderfully friendly people he met at Biergarten that day and what a great time they all had with lively conversation, etc...

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

That sounds like my dad, too...he's a real chatterbox too (cept my Mom would have been there making faces at him to let others talk )

bravo to you & yours for being polite...you probably made that old guy's day. Look at it from his viewpoint: he probably told friends later about the wonderfully friendly people he met at Biergarten that day and what a great time they all had with lively conversation, etc...

Yes, I admit my first reaction was "ÜGH!" but then I thought about it and was ashamed I even felt that way. It wasn't the best case scenario, but it wasn't awful, either.

 

[Cinderelly5507]

he was there all alone? makes me sad, yet happy all at once... Sad he was at the most magical place on earth, alone, yet happy because he was at the most magical place... I'd love to see the older people in my family actually go to WDW!! (Sorry, off topic...)

 

[DisneyCP2002]

I will be eating at the Biergarten in December as a party of 1. I am scared to even think of what will happen. It was the only place available that would work with my schedule and the Candlelight Package.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

at first I used to feel sad for people that are alone at disney but.... now I TOTALLY want to try a solo trip! I think it'll be so much fun! kudos to you guys for entertaining the solo diner. I would feel the same way you did

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I will be eating at the Biergarten in December as a party of 1. I am scared to even think of what will happen. It was the only place available that would work with my schedule and the Candlelight Package.

Oh, please don't feel that way! Unless you talk and talk and talk and talk..... If I were you, I would just get the "vibe"of the table and follow along. We have gone a few times where we don't really interact with the other family we are seated by. Other times, (usually when there is another DD about the age of our DD) we end up hanging out the rest of the night with the other family!

My first reaction would be to ask to sit with parties of other adults...but the kids at the table kind of break the ice a little. Just go with it...i am sure you will have fun! And the food....MMMMM...I ate my weight in thise little potato dumplings!

 

[NMAmy]

It's nice that you were kind to him.

DH and I had a great experience on our last trip. My dd and her friend didn't want to come so we were on our own. We were seated with three other couples all of whom were older. We had the best time I've ever had at the Biergarten. None of us knew each other but we just had the most interesting conversations and dh and I ended up staying much longer at dinner than we had planned. It was really a wonderful evening--like a really fun dinner party with people you are meeting for the first time.

Of course, I've been another time where we were seated with a family who were horribly rude. The mother was irritated that they were seated with us and started out by saying to her husband, "Well, honey, meet the strangers who are joining us for lunch." When I tried to engage one of the daughters in conversation (I was there with my own dd who was about 10 at the time), the mother gave me a dirty look and told her dd, "We don't talk to strangers." My dd was a bit confused because she'd always been taught to answer people politely in this kind of situation whether she knew them or not. Our waitress kept apologizing to me because this family was so rude.

So, I've experienced the fantastic and the horrible at the Biergarten. I think if you go in with an open mind and are willing to make an attempt to engage with your fellow diners that you can have a wonderful time and meet some really great people.

 

[disnut8]

We were seated with a party of one once at Biergarten. It was the single, my husband and me, and two older women (there was another couple at the table but they left quickly - long story). It turned out the single guy just got out of the Air Force and had been stationed in Germany for a long time. My husband was in the Air Force for twelve years and had made several trips to Germany. There was no way the single guy could have known any of that if my husband hadn't asked the guy where he was from, etc. The two of them ended up chatting all dinner long and the guy taught us German drinking songs (even the two older women who hoisted their ice teas).

It was a great dinner and the single would have just sat there on his own if my husband hadn't asked just one simple question.

 

[perdidobay]

I've had 2 different experiences there. One was like NMAmy's, they made no conversation or even eye contact with my family. acted like we weren't there

The other was great with the 4 different groups all talking to each other.
Maybe it was because it was all adults.

If someone made the comment outloud that NMAmy's tablemate did, I'd just have to say something along the lines of- Maybe you should have checked out what kind of seating they have here.

It's all too familiar when you cruise and are seated with strangers..it makes it miserable if your tablemates aren't friendly!

One cruise we had a family from India at our table...that first night they asked the staff to move them. Since they didn't speak much English I guess it worked out, plus DH and I had a table to ourselves

The best cruise was when DH and I were seated with 4 cast members

 

[Ilivetogo]

We have never been there before, so I am looking forward to going on Christmas Day with the Candlelight Processional package. I'm hoping we get the "friendly folks" at our table and not the grumpy ones! I guess I'll have to report in once we get back to let you know how it went!

Wish us luck!!