Biergarten or Coral Reef for kids?

[mom of 3G's]

I have an ADR made for Coral Reef 6:30 p.m. n 12/5, but I've been reading quite a few negative reviews lately. I thought it would be fun for the kids to eat and watch fish. (BTW -- the kids will be 9, 6 and 3) I have read really good reviews about Biergarten and the show, so I'm wondering if this would be a better choice for us. I'm worried about Coral Reef and the wait that people are having to get seated. I would be more willing to try Coral Reef if I could get an earlier ADR (like 5:00) so that we are one of the first groups seated to help avoid the long wait, but there is nothing available due to CP packages.

 

[TDC Nala]

If you have little kids who like to run around take Biergarten so they can get up and dance. (Be advised that if you have fewer than 7 or 8 in your party you'll probably be sharing a table with another party - Biergarten does communal seating)

 

[mom of 3G's]

If you have little kids who like to run around take Biergarten so they can get up and dance. (

I'm thinking this might be a better fit for us...

 

[CathieArms]

I think they'll love Biergarten.

 

[gerows]

We have eaten at both with kids (DS 8 & DD 5). Each time we were with another couple who have kids the same ages and while the kids all loved the fish tank at Coral Reef, it's not something that tends to keep a kids attention for the span of an entire meal. I would recomend Beirgarten since the entertainment keeps their attention, and they can act more like kids (plus the pretzel bread is awsome).

 

[calngavinsmom]

I have two boys 8 and 6 and they loved the dancing and fun at the Biergarten, but did NOT like the food....I think they ate some buns maybe? They both loved the Coral Reef. They give you a card with pictures and names of all of the animals in the aquarium and you can try to spot them. They also liked the food here, so to us it was a slight advantage to Coral Reef.

Have fun!

 

[lauritagoddess]

I have two boys 8 and 6 and they loved the dancing and fun at the Biergarten, but did NOT like the food....I think they ate some buns maybe? They both loved the Coral Reef. They give you a card with pictures and names of all of the animals in the aquarium and you can try to spot them. They also liked the food here, so to us it was a slight advantage to Coral Reef.

Have fun!

Same thing here, lots of fun to run around at Biergarten, but my son didn't like the food. He did like the food though at Coral Reef and we were able to sit right by the aquarium which was fun.

 

[missminniemouse]

We used to love Biergarten, but the food choices have become fewer than they once were and the food isn't as good as it once was. Also, our last experience with being seated with another party was a bad one. There are 4 of us and we ended up seated with a party of 5 (registered as 4, but showed up as 5 and insisted they had registered as 5.) Our son ended up on the end of the table, which was OK because he was small. The bigger problem was the amount of alcohol consumed by our table mates and their overall bad attitudes. With 2 relatively small children, it was not a good situation.

Our kids love going to the Coral Reef. They enjoy watching the fish. Plus, we've always enjoyed the food there.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Biergarten is a much better place the Coral Reef. Unless you are fortunate to get one of the lower tables, the fish are not very exciting, even up close, it loses interest quick.

We took my partner's sister, husband and son to Biergarten last year and everyone loved it, so much so, it was requested again this year for our large family vacation (18 to Disney). My nephew was almost 3 at the time and loved the food and trying new things (then again, his parents always encourage him to try new things and don't give into the "norms" as the only food to eat).

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

Biergarten is our family's must do "fun dinner". The food is excellent, in my opinion, and the show is a lot of fun. Our DD5 still talks about the friends she made while dancing to the music. We've had good luck with our seating partners each time, and the wait staff has always been attentive and fun. All four of us nearly rolled out of there, we ate so much!

We haven't done Coral Reef in many years, so I don't feel I can give an accurate review of that. The aquarium was cool, in theory, but we weren't seated close enough to really take advantage of the view.

 

[princessnpirate]

I only say Coral Reef because I found when DS was 3, all the fish kept him occupied

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I voted for the Biergarten. We went there when I was a child and I have fond memories of it from way back when. I thought it was super amazing inside and loved the music.

 

[MissionMouse]

We have dined at both and our girls after dining at Biergarten said this is one we need to do again when we come back to Disney next time.

A few photos of Biergarten
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/epcot/p54243-biergarten-entertainme.html
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/epcot/p54370-biergarten-seating.html
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/epcot/p54369-biergarten-entertainme.html
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/epcot/p54368-biergarten-family-fun.html

 

[Kit'smommy]

We go to Biergarten every trip. Our one experience with Coral Reef was so bad we won't be back.

 

[Sweetpeamd]

Our family has enjoyed both. We have had very good food experiences at both. I prefer menu over buffet every time so I actually prefer Coral Reef, foodwise. Our meal there last year was one of the best of our whole vacation, although I understand that it is inconsistent. The Biergarten food has always been consistently pretty good.
Our children (10, 8, 5 and 4) LOVE the Biergarten. After a long day in the parks, they (and we) enjoy the live entertainment, which is much more entertaining than the aquarium IMO. The kids love to get up and dance in a restaurant where that is encouraged. They get tired of having to sit sit sit for every TS meal.

 

[disneygal29]

We do Biergarten every time we go!! This year we will be trying Coral Reef for the first time...hoping it is a wonderful experience for DN5!!!! Will report back when we return home

 

[goofy4prez]

That is a tough call; Coral Reef and Biergarten are two of my favorite restarants. Let me flip a coin, heads CR, tails Biergarten.... coin is in the air... coin lands.... Biergarten it is. How about 2 out of 3.

 

[slipangle]

biergarten would be my choice... very disappointed with the reef every time... won't be another. not that the bg is great food but it's fun and kids will like the meal better there as well.

 

[ccgirl]

I voted Biergarten. We have dined at both many times. This past time, Coral Reef was awful. We sat on the top tier so the fish were not easy to see. I am one of the parents that do not think it is appropriate for my children to go wandering down to see the fish. I was extremely bothered when I dined near the fish, just my DH and myself, and parents were letting ther children swarm all over us to see the fish. Conversely, children are allowed to go and dance during the "show" at the Biergarten. It was so much fun. My children DD7 and DS2 actually prefered Biergarten over Coral Reef. The Coral Reef children's meal options are limted IMHO but Biergarten is a buffet. Here is a picture of my children dancing at the Biergarten to give you an idea of how fun it is...

 

[mom of 3G's]

Biergarten! I just feel that the atmosphere at Biergarten is more suited towards my kids. I'm not sure if they'll like the food, but at least they'll have fun!