Biergarten fans... tell me about it

[Lisa F]

My wife and I ate there last year in March with much anticipation of having a great experience, sadly it didn't quite work out as planned. While we both enjoyed the food and drink and would highly recommend it based on those things alone I can't say the overall experience was positive. I don't believe our table mates read the part about communal seating because of their immediate reaction to finding this out. Their displeasure at our joining them was immediately verbalized by one of their teenaged sons. His mother shushed him however I suppose at least in their minds the damage was done at that point, or the point was made clear. Undaunted, my wife and I chatted amongst ourselves and had a decent enough experience. I did not try to engage them in conversation until much later in the meal and only to be polite but it was met with a terse indifference. I cannot comment on the show as we left just as it got started. We will go back. I've booked it for our trip this November, but I'm brining reinforcements and whomever we are seated with will be made to feel welcome.

Ha, I just gave it to a snotty teenager (I live in a resort town) who was loudly put out about it taking a half hour to make a "goddamn sandwich." But if someone outright said something to me and made me feel uncomfortable, I would say something right back and get a different table. one of my pet peeves is snotty teenagers with mealy mouthed parents who know enough to be embarrassed by them but not enough to actually apologize or deal with their kids. My son has a lot of trouble with tone and I correct it when it needs to be. He needs to learn how to talk to people and not sound rude even if he doesn't mean to be and lord help him if he actually means to be. But it would still seriously put a ding in my experience to have to deal with any of that and I'm sorry those people were not nice

Not judging here. My DW and I tend to have a drink or two while we are at Epcot. Especially during the F&W Festival. We normally share drinks from the booths/kiosks. I always get a Warsteiner Dunkel when we have dinner at the Biergarten and my DW always gets the Dr. Loosen Riesling (D. L Riesling on the wdwinfo menu page).

It sounds like you have a good play for your December trip. We always take time to walk the WS to check out the different items each shop has. Last year (Sept. 2015) my DW got to pick 3 pearls from the Pick A Pearl in Japan. She got two "black" pearls at just over 8 mm each and a "gold" pearl at 8 mm. The girl that does the show said she had not seen someone get 3 8 mm pearls in 3 picks before. It was pretty neat. Even if you don't do the pick a pearl it is pretty neat to watch.

I am super jazzed about how my December trip is shaping up. Except for the loss of the MSEP, which I may never get over everything seems to be falling into place as it should. La Hacienda was the one thing that was nagging at me as not thrilling (not bad though, lol). The only thing I really wanted was the avocado margarita. But I can just stop at la cava and get one! I wish the wine flight was all reislings because I am really not a pinot gris fan. I wonder if they would let me sub another $9 a glass reisling for that. hmmmm

Hi

My dh & I don't drink alcohol . Is there plenty of soft drink choices? Any mock tails?

Also we love watching shows but r very shy & don't enjoy interaction (WCC was horrendous or us) is there any interaction in the show?

Many thanks

my child asked the same thing about the drinks! I don't think there are any mixed drinks at all (a few shots of things) so no mocktails either but they should have the full complement of soft drinks, juices and milk for the kiddos?

Not sure about the mock tails as I drink the beer and my wife the wine. They do have the usual Disney assortment of soft drinks.

The place is not a boozers hangout. It's just known for the beer because it's Germany. The food in my opinion is the stand out. It's been in the rotation every year since 2013.

if someone wants to booze, mixing it with a buffet is not a good idea. I think the boozers just kind of drink their way around the WS and don't settle in any one spot. But without a lot of hard liquor choices and with all of the food, I don't think that this is a prime place for someone to go if they just wanted to get wasted. No room for beer with all of that schnitzel!

 

[tonga]

interesting that you listed dining with others. this was one of my reservations but I would love to take the kiddo on a cruise and realized we'd be dining with others so why not. He is on the spectrum and has some social issues and is right now very focused on how to make friends, so he is really hoping that he can "make new friends" at this experience. I hope we don't get duds for table mates or at least people who are willing to talk to a sweet, inquisitive 8 year old. I did tell him maybe they will not be very friendly and he said that's ok, they might just get distracted by the food and the show. At least we have each other. awww. Since we are only 2 there is a chance there will be more than one other party at our table, hopefully some friendly!

Too bad we not going at the same time..... my 7 year old DS is a very outgoing only child and would love to be seated with an 8 year old boy!

 

[Lisa F]

Too bad we not going at the same time..... my 7 year old DS is a very outgoing only child and would love to be seated with an 8 year old boy!

it is too bad. he'd be thrilled to have a chance to make a new friend and know about it beforehand. I don't actually care if no one talks to me but I have been prepping him for the idea that people may just be shy and want to eat and watch the show and not talk.

 

[quandrea]

Can anyone tell me how the waits are here? We tried Biergarten a few years back. It was thirty minutes past our seating time when we bailed. Ten minutes I can handle. Any more, not happening. Should I keep my reservation? I'd love to try it.

 

[Lisa F]

I am not much of a beer person but after researching the grapefruit beer I think I might have to try it! I love grapefruit! I can get reislings at other eateries too If anyone who is a fan still is reading, can you tell me more about it? It seems like it is not very beer-y at all. I do like hard ciders and sweeter drinks.

 

[Pats Dragon]

Biergarten used to be our favorite! Last time we went the food was simply not good. Our table mates were rude and sort of hateful. They stared and snubbed not answering my introductions and then making sarcastic comments to each other about us. Not fun.

 

[ALittleWhistle]

Can anyone tell me how the waits are here? We tried Biergarten a few years back. It was thirty minutes past our seating time when we bailed. Ten minutes I can handle. Any more, not happening. Should I keep my reservation? I'd love to try it.

We've been 4 times, I think, and I don't recall waiting more than 15 minutes any time.


And can I just say the macaroni and cheese is magnificent? I've never tasted anything like it. We almost skipped Biergarten for our next trip to make room for new experiences, but in the end couldn't pass it up.

 

[Ciandella915]

We've been to Biergarten a couple of times and love the food. We've never experienced a wait longer than 20 minutes. However, depending on your personality and that if your table mates, your experience can vary. We had great table mates once, and then last time we were seated with a family with wildly out of control children, who were pretty much oblivious that they even had children (plus they were rude to the staff). That detracted from our experience. My husband has hearing loss in one ear, so depending on where he's seated, he can't hear the person on that side. With the music, that made dining with strangers a little tricky. However, all that said, we still like it. Good food, good show, and good beer!

 

[quandrea]

We've been 4 times, I think, and I don't recall waiting more than 15 minutes any time.


And can I just say the macaroni and cheese is magnificent? I've never tasted anything like it. We almost skipped Biergarten for our next trip to make room for new experiences, but in the end couldn't pass it up.

Thanks. I'll take my chances. I really want to try it. Dh will be a bit reluctant but he will go along if it's important to me.

 

[Lisa F]

Biergarten used to be our favorite! Last time we went the food was simply not good. Our table mates were rude and sort of hateful. They stared and snubbed not answering my introductions and then making sarcastic comments to each other about us. Not fun.

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. It does sound like (even based on your own experiences) that it's not typical. I'm sorry those people were so rude to you. It's the risk you run but no one REALLY expects it to happen to them. I don't care what the food tastes like, that would ruin my experience and I wouldn't even be able to focus on that. All restaurants have bad nights and the more you to go them I feel the more likely you'll hit one. On my last trip at Kona they gave me raw (pink at the bone) chicken wings and sushi that had clearly been prepared hours in advance. This is not the experience of most other people both before and after mine and I am giving it another try for breakfast on our next trip.

We've been 4 times, I think, and I don't recall waiting more than 15 minutes any time.


And can I just say the macaroni and cheese is magnificent? I've never tasted anything like it. We almost skipped Biergarten for our next trip to make room for new experiences, but in the end couldn't pass it up.

the mac and cheese is on both of our lists!

We've been to Biergarten a couple of times and love the food. We've never experienced a wait longer than 20 minutes. However, depending on your personality and that if your table mates, your experience can vary. We had great table mates once, and then last time we were seated with a family with wildly out of control children, who were pretty much oblivious that they even had children (plus they were rude to the staff). That detracted from our experience. My husband has hearing loss in one ear, so depending on where he's seated, he can't hear the person on that side. With the music, that made dining with strangers a little tricky. However, all that said, we still like it. Good food, good show, and good beer!

hoping that with the food and music if we have less than friendly people it will still be enjoyable.

Thanks. I'll take my chances. I really want to try it. Dh will be a bit reluctant but he will go along if it's important to me.

us too!

 

[nkereina]

We like it - DH loves the giant class of the grapefruit beer and I like the food options. The band is entertaining as well. Only thing I did not care for was sharing a table with strangers. We were squished between a family who did not speak English and an older couple, and the seating was pretty tight quarters. I felt like I was disruptive to the guy next to me every time I got up. Just wasn't ideal for us, but some enjoy the experience.

 

[sbprincess]

Do they have any ciders? I'm thinking of adding this to our lineup in December/January. It's certainly not a deal-breaker but my DH really loves cider so this would be a plus for us!

 

[Lisa F]

Do they have any ciders? I'm thinking of adding this to our lineup in December/January. It's certainly not a deal-breaker but my DH really loves cider so this would be a plus for us!

not that I see (i am a cider fan too). But the grapefruit beer looks intriguing. I have been looking into it and it looks like a good beer for people who don't like beer. I have enjoyed a belgian white with lots of fresh orange squeezed into it (or I enjoy my sips most where the fresh orange is floating on the top when I squeeze it in, lol) but I will always go for a cider first if they have it. So I think I might actually like this since it is half grapefruit juice, half german wheat beer. Neither belgian whites or german wheat beers are hoppy at all (which is what I don't like about beer. no one shoot me please! My boyfriend likes to get me to try his beer and then make the "beer face.") So I think the combo of that mixed with grapefruit, I will actually like it quite a bit. I will give it a try! and save my reisling for my signature dinners He should try it too! when in Germany.....

 

[mckennarose]

I am not much of a beer person but after researching the grapefruit beer I think I might have to try it! I love grapefruit! I can get reislings at other eateries too If anyone who is a fan still is reading, can you tell me more about it? It seems like it is not very beer-y at all. I do like hard ciders and sweeter drinks.

The Schofferhofer grapefruit is a favorite of one of my daughters. She gets one every time we go to Biergarten. It is a wheat beer, but with a citrus taste and refreshing and light IMO. It doesn't taste like wine or a wine cooler, you can tell it's beer but the beer flavor is not overpowering. I just asked my DH what he thought and he said "It tastes like grapefruit juice cocktail with a hint of beer". LOL! I say try it! I can't drink it because I'm gluten free and its made from wheat. But I've had my share of sips! There are plenty of places you can find it in WDW if you don't want to drink it at Biergarten.

 

[kreckl]

I'm surprised to hear all of the good reviews and it's making me want to try this place again.
We went once and nobody in our family liked it here. We sat with a family with a few kids and after we said our hellos, that was it. They weren't friendly.We can pretty much eat anyplace but here, we all left hungry. I found it difficult not knowing what things were, and don't eat a lot of meat so that meant trying salads and mixed dishes....The music was okay. It was much quieter than we expected. But halfway through our meal they took a break and never returned! Also one more thing- don't know if this was unusual but it was freezing in there. We were all soaked from rain and never warmed up- you may want to bring another layer if this is typical.

 

[sbprincess]

Thanks! I actually tried the grapefruit beer at F&G this year and didn't like it It was still too bitter for us. I was disappointed too since I had heard so many people say they loved it. Just not our thing. I do still think we'll go on ur next trip and just hope. I also love wine so I know I'll find something. DH may just have to stay sober! Not that alcohol is a must...or maybe it is on vacation...Haha!

 

[Lisa F]

ok everyone. this happened. was finally in a place that sells it and figured I'd give it a try at $8.99 for 4 pint instead of $9.50 for a half liter at Disney. omg YUM. I love grapefruit and the slight bitterness of the beer totally complements the sweetness of the juice. if you don't like beer give it a try. would totally pay Disney prices now with dinner.

 

[mckennarose]

I'm glad you liked it! We have a local store that sells bottles too. It used to be harder to find here.

 

[Lisa F]

I'm glad you liked it! We have a local store that sells bottles too. It used to be harder to find here.

they had bottles too but the same price as the larger cans so I got the cans, lol. half liter doesn't seem like much! might have to get the liter lol. actually I should restrain myself!

 

[MsFrazzledFro]

I've been once (it was boyfriend's and my first "big" date a couple of years ago) and we both really enjoyed it! Good, low-pressure introduction to German food if you're not used to it - I'm from the Midwest and most everyone out here has some sort of German or similar background so I'd eaten some of the stuff offered but not all of it. I can't remember any stand outs because it was a while back but I didn't really have anything I actively disliked. I'm usually pretty good at figuring out what I will and will not like on a buffet anyway lol

The entertainment was rather fun. Lively but not so crazy as to get in the way of your meal. The restaurant in general is on the noisy side but not uncomfortably so. My big complaint with it is that you eat in fairly tight quarters, and if you're seated near the stage you have a lot of stairs to climb up and down every time you want more food while dodging around everyone else.

We were seated with three other relatively young couples which was a great relief to us - though we're both pretty outgoing (he more than I) I wasn't really wanting to be seated next to people I couldn't relate to or out-of-control children/adults. The worst thing that happened was one of the gentleman had just a bit too much beer and became pretty noisy, but I think his wife was the only one who really minded.

We said we'd be willing to go back again, but I feel the communal seating is the big thing that would make me second-guess it - I'm really nervous about going back and being seated with an awful party. Ironically, one of my favorite restaurants in WDW is Teppan Edo which also puts you at communal tables so I'm likely just fussing over nothing there - but still.