Biergarten Seating

[darlak]

We ate at Biergarten for the first time last week and although the food was not bad, we probably won't go back. Although we were a group of 8, only 3 of us were having dinner there that night. I was unaware that the tables were arranged to seat 8, but thought it might be fun sitting with another family. We 3 adults were seated with a family of 5 that included a child (a 6 year old little girl) who kept reaching over and touching my food. Yes, actually touching the food on my plate! I wasted lots of food that night. So much so that I felt compelled to explain my reason to the waitress.

I tried politely telling her "Honey it isn't polite to touch food on other people's plates." Her mother's reply to this was a frosty "She washed her hands before we were seated."

Now I'm wondering if it's possible to request NOT to be seated with another family. Anyone done this?

 

[Swimnoid]

How annoying! I love the mom's response...."She washed her hands! " Like that makes it allright to touch a stranger's food. If it had been my FIL that little girl would have had a fork stuck in the back of her hand!

 

[Tink888]

How rude of that mother. I can't believe she actually said that. After that comment I'd have been tempted to reach over and grab a piece of food off of her plate just to make a point and she how she liked it. People are amazing!

You can ask to be seated by yourselves but unfortunately it's very unlikely Biergarten will grant it. Too many people and the need to fill all available seats.

 

[rebecca06261]

You can ask the waiter to be moved, but they could only move you if they have the room to do so, and you would still be seated with another family. Otherwise, to be a little more specific- you cannot get a table for 3 at Beirgarten. Afterall, Beirgarten style dining is communal!

btw, I would have called b.s. to mom in front of God and everyone if she had pulled that line on me. I doubt I would have been tactful about it either. (of course, I still would have been lovely to the child, afterall, she's only displaying behavior deemed appropriate by her parents.)

 

[disnut8]

I would have asked the family to switch seats so the girl wasn't sitting near you.

Or brought back a second plate with the exact things on the plate you wanted to eat from and put that second one in front of the girl and told her to touch that one instead of the one in front of you.

Or "sneeze" into your hand (loudly) and then start touching the girl's food.

Or spilled a glass of water into the girl's lap so she would have to be removed from the table to get dry. Or even a bowl of soup.

But don't judge the Biergarten on one ignorant mother.

 

[BriarRosie]

I would have asked the Mom, "I washed my hands. Would you mind if I touched your food?"

 

[Dopey420]

We had to sit with 2 other couples that wanted to talk. I wanted to eat! I'm sure they thought we were anti-social as the other 2 couple regaled each other with tales of their cruises, but I go to Biergarten to put away some serious chow, not chit chat!

I can turn kids to stone with one look! That kid would have gotten it from me!

 

[DjdBrit]

As a Mom of 3 little "darlings" I am very shocked at what this girl did, let alone what the Mother said to you. I personally don't want my kids touching my food let alone anyone else's. That is not OK. I would be horrified and BEG forgiveness from you if my kids did this.

We ate at the Biergarten in April with My Dad, DH, DS7, DD4 and DS2. I know that they have tables in 8's and although my kids are well behaved I felt bad for an older couple who were seated with us. They were celebrating their 100th wedding anniversary or something and I know if it was me I wouldn't have wanted to sit with us.

Its too bad that this place doesn't have better seating arrangement, especially for singles/couples. I ended up sending my kids to "dance" so they wouldn't bother thhis cute old couple

 

[Racknack]

My family and I have had dinner at the Biergarten three times, and each time we have been seated on the back row, just over the little wall that seperates the waiting area from the tables. The noise is bad, the company seated with us usually not too enjoyable, and the food, while OK for us adults, was not enjoyed by the children.

I probably won't be eating there in the future.

However, sitting with others isn't always a bad idea. My last visit to the World Showcase found me, as a solo visitor, sitting with "strangers" at Teppan Edo in Japan, and it was an excellent evening with a nice family, and a very good Filet Mignon served with flair. Very enjoyable.

So, for my taste at least, I'd recommend the Japanse restaurant, but not the German one.

You'd think I'd like the German Biergarten better, since I have a collection of over 600 German beer steins and mugs.

 

[rebecca06261]

We had to sit with 2 other couples that wanted to talk. I wanted to eat! I'm sure they thought we were anti-social as the other 2 couple regaled each other with tales of their cruises, but I go to Biergarten to put away some serious chow, not chit chat!

I can turn kids to stone with one look! That kid would have gotten it from me!

I'm with you on this.. fortunately, we were seated with a lovely family with 3 younger children. They were there celebrating her 40th birthday. Fortunately, they weren't the make small talk with strangers type. They were polite, pleasant, and even offered us a slice of her birthday cake. We were lucky

 

[disneygirlinnj]

I don't tolerate ignorant and dumb people. I would have probably been mean (and been sorry for it after...but I would have still done it) and I would have grabbed the girls wrist and made her apologize and scare the living heck out her. If her mother doesn't teach her manners someone should. ugh! that's annoying!

Definitely don't judge Biergarten by one dumb family though. I'd say 90% of families at Disney actually have manners.

 

[darlak]

Thanks for all the great suggestions guys! Wish I had thought of some of them at the time. Even though I didn't realize beforehand that Biergarten was communal seating, I wasn't put off at all by the idea once we got there. I though it might make for interesting dinner conversation. Glad to hear that's been the case for many others.

So now, armed with all your great suggestions for handing such a situation, should it arise again, I'm ready to try Biergarten again! The desserts alone are almost enough to convince me anyway.

 

[DjdBrit]

Glad your planning to go back. While my kids didn't dig the food we had a great night here. This is one of the places they are still talking about

I would love to go back next year but I think we are sold on Le Cellier

 

[disnut8]

As a Mom of 3 little "darlings" I am very shocked at what this girl did, let alone what the Mother said to you. I personally don't want my kids touching my food let alone anyone else's. That is not OK. I would be horrified and BEG forgiveness from you if my kids did this.

We ate at the Biergarten in April with My Dad, DH, DS7, DD4 and DS2. I know that they have tables in 8's and although my kids are well behaved I felt bad for an older couple who were seated with us. They were celebrating their 100th wedding anniversary or something and I know if it was me I wouldn't have wanted to sit with us.

Its too bad that this place doesn't have better seating arrangement, especially for singles/couples. I ended up sending my kids to "dance" so they wouldn't bother thhis cute old couple

I highly doubt it was an 100th year anniversary.

People are told on the phone making their reservations and at the podium when checking in about the seating arraignments so the couple knew what they were doing. It's quite possible they WANTED that experience. Maybe they were married in Germany or honeymooned there or met there.

The Biergarten has the seating it does because that is the way restaurants seat people in Germany. You sit down with your companion directly across from you and by the end of the meal, he could be three people down and across the table from you.

Americans are guarded about their personal space. We don't offer for strangers to sit with us even in a crowded food court when we have available seats. We just watch them circle looking for a place to sit while their food gets cold.

 

[rebecca06261]

I highly doubt it was an 100th year anniversary.

People are told on the phone making their reservations and at the podium when checking in about the seating arraignments so the couple knew what they were doing. It's quite possible they WANTED that experience. Maybe they were married in Germany or honeymooned there or met there.

The Biergarten has the seating it does because that is the way restaurants seat people in Germany. You sit down with your companion directly across from you and by the end of the meal, he could be three people down and across the table from you.

Americans are guarded about their personal space. We don't offer for strangers to sit with us even in a crowded food court when we have available seats. We just watch them circle looking for a place to sit while their food gets cold.

Just wanted to add that I didn't know until being seated that we would be seated with others. It never even occurred to me to look it up on the DIS, but the cm never mentioned it when I was making the ADR.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) The old saying applies to me - "don't get mad, . . . . . . ."
2) I have had these type of rude occurrences.
3) I usually politely warn, ONCE.
4) IF it happens again,
. . . it usually startles me, since after the warning I assumed it wouldn't recur
. . . my arms/hands jump and move uncontrolled
. . . my food-wine-beer fly high and frequently lands on the rude folks
. . . afterward I apologize for being startled

 

[DjdBrit]

OK, it wasn't there 100th anniversary that was a bit of a joke but they were pretty old.

I have read plenty about WDW and even after we were seated I wasn't expecting anyone to be sat with us. No one ever mentioned this to me at the podium, the first I knew about it was when the waitress brought them over. I knew that this was possible but figured since there was 6 of us it wouldn't happen.

It wasn't a big deal I just felt bad for them.

 

[jess20k]

OMG! I CANNOT beleive how people are!!!! Thank goodness I was not there..Disney or no Disney, I would have gone off on that mother, after she said that!

Anyway, some people just don't have a clue in life...sorry it had to disrupt your good time.

 

[familyS]

We expected to be seated with other when we went in February.

Imagine our surprise when we were seated at a table for four!

Yes, they have at least one table for four. It is located to the far left as you are facing the stage.

 

[darlak]

Hmm, we were NOT told beforehand that we would be seated in a communal style. Still, as I said, I was fine with it and thought it might provide some interesting dinner conversation.

Instead it provided us with an interesting story to look back on and laugh.