Biergarten Seating

[luvmarypoppins]

We are a famiy of 5, pretty large, tall etc. How many other people would they sit with us at our table etc. Do you talk to those seated with you? I am considering this for our cp pkg. choice. Do you have your own seats or are they benchs etc? TIA for the info.

 

[ksc37]

They do have individual seats. We were seated at a table of 10 people. The tables are long and situated parallel (lengthwise) to each other. We talked to the people we were sitting next to, but I think that all depends on the people. You are certainly close enough to talk to them.

If you have kids in your group, you will most likely be down in front of the oompah band at some point, so plan on moving around. Also, the food is served buffet style, so you will need to get in and out of your seats. If you have concerns about bumping people next to and/or behind you, you may want to request the seats on the aisle.

 

[bluejasmine]

Went in Aug of 03 and it was just me and my mom we sat with two other couples.. Sounds like you might get a table by yourself or maybe one couple..

 

[CharmedLife]

Last October we ate there (2 adults, 2 small kids) and were seated at a table of 8 with two other older couples. They got a real kick out of watching my kids dance, and we had a really nice time talking to them.

I think that if you're uncomfortable being seated with strangers this is NOT the place to go. Of course, if you just need a good German beer to warm up to them, then this IS the place to go

I could only hazard a guess, but I would think that you would either keep the table to yourself (if the restaurant is not that busy) or be seated with a couple.

Have fun - we sure did!

 

[ktbugsmom]

Hey CharmedLife,
Here is a question for you (sorry a bit off topic). I noticed you are from Wisconsin, and so am I. I get fabulous German food right here. My mom makes some wonderful stuff for the family on a fairly regular basis, so I have always avoided this restaurant.

However, in January, I promised my husband we would try some new restaurants (we usually go for places like Flying Fish, sushi at Epcot- stuff we can't get back here as easily) - and I think my 5 year old would love the action. What are your thoughts? Should we try it, or just head to Mader's next time we are in Milwaukee?!

 

[tazleiten12]

Hey CharmedLife,
Here is a question for you (sorry a bit off topic). I noticed you are from Wisconsin, and so am I. I get fabulous German food right here. My mom makes some wonderful stuff for the family on a fairly regular basis, so I have always avoided this restaurant.

However, in January, I promised my husband we would try some new restaurants (we usually go for places like Flying Fish, sushi at Epcot- stuff we can't get back here as easily) - and I think my 5 year old would love the action. What are your thoughts? Should we try it, or just head to Mader's next time we are in Milwaukee?!

Just wanted to say HI! I'm also from Wisconsin, and we enjoyed This restaurant! I would at least give it a try, go at lunch it very reasonably priced.

 

[ktbugsmom]

Thanks tazleiten12! We may just do that. Besides, my husband and I do love good beer. Maybe after we do the 5K family fun run (marathon weekend in January 06), we can hang out in Epcot and indulge ourselves with some good ole German food and beer.

Also - to get back to the OP, we are social folks, so sitting with others would be fun. However, after running a 5K - maybe no one would want to sit with us.

 

[Swimnoid]

They make it a point of filling the tables so you probably will have other guests with you. We go in a party of 5 at times and have always had other people. My MIL will talk to anybody. We have met some great and/or interesting people!

 

[crisi]

The twice we went, we've been five and six respectively in the party and have always had two added. Once it was a guy who had worked with my Dad ten years before! The other time it was a man and his son vacationing from Germany.

 

[CharmedLife]

Hey CharmedLife,
Here is a question for you (sorry a bit off topic). I noticed you are from Wisconsin, and so am I. I get fabulous German food right here. My mom makes some wonderful stuff for the family on a fairly regular basis, so I have always avoided this restaurant.

However, in January, I promised my husband we would try some new restaurants (we usually go for places like Flying Fish, sushi at Epcot- stuff we can't get back here as easily) - and I think my 5 year old would love the action. What are your thoughts? Should we try it, or just head to Mader's next time we are in Milwaukee?!

ktbugsmom, we never really did this restaurant before for the same reason. However, even though I live (practically) in Milwaukee and so close to the German food, I never go to Maders - difficult with two small children. Kind of a tourist in your own backyard thing... We finally did the Biergarten on a last-minute whim last time, and were so glad we did! Not only was the beer good (of course) and BIG (the waitress wouldn't tell me, but I honestly think it was about 2 quarts of beer in that glass), but the oompa band was a lot of fun and my kids had a blast. There was a good variety of different German foods - I liked the spatzle the best, and even my little guy ate some type of sausage. The only thumbs down is on the dessert, but hey - it was Food & Wine fest so we had lots of opportunities for dessert elsewhere.

I would say that if you already know you like German food and can dance a good polka (what self-respecting Badger can't???) then you will have fun at this restaurant. Is the food as good as Mader's? Probably not - it is a buffet so food is sitting out. But I had a lot more fun here than I ever did at Maders.

Hope this helps!!

 

[Aliki]

Tables seat 8, so you'll probably have another family seating with you.

We were a couple (just DH and I, two NJ-ians) and we got seated with 3 other couples of two-- and we had a blast! One couple (young, late 20's) was from Alabama and very shy and quiet, but so pleasant and polite. Another was a couple of lady friends in their early 60's (one from Chicago who had moved to Florida, and the other grew up in Florida her whole life) and they chatted away with us merrily. The third couple was a married couple in their 60's who had retired to Florida from NJ-- and turns out they used to live just 60 minutes from where we currently live!

We talked about everything from politics to weather to environmental destruction to the education system. We talked about dining and Disney and children and shows on TV! I think the best part of Biergarten is getting to share tables with strangers.

 

[BadgerBruce]

Myself & DW were seated with 6 others in April. There were 2 couples from the Boston area that pretty much kept to themselves, & a mother & her adult daughter from Conn. that we had a nice conversation with. To my fellow Badgers: the restaurant puts on a really good show & the food was very good. We went at lunchtime & felt it was a really good bargain,too!

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

We are a famiy of 5, pretty large, tall etc. How many other people would they sit with us at our table etc. Do you talk to those seated with you? I am considering this for our cp pkg. choice. Do you have your own seats or are they benchs etc? TIA for the info.

We are also a family of 5 (but with small children). We have always been seated with others. Sometimes we do not talk to the other people (their choice). Our last trip we were seated with a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary & with a woman traveling solo for a conference. We didn't talk much but what little we did was enjoyable. The next day we say the woman in the lobby of our hotel & said hello. So, if you want to chat or not chat with the others at your table it will be no big deal. This is the favorite WDW restaurant of one of my DDs. Have fun.

 

[ktbugsmom]

Thanks for the thoughts BadgerBruce (another Wisconsin person!). I may see if we can "walk in" one day for lunch. Sounds like my 5 year old DD would like the entertainment and of course my DH would love the beer and food. Okay - I would love the beer too.

 

[jenjersnap]

In February, my 4-yr-old DS and I were seated across from a pair of Venezuelan honeymooners who seemed appalled at the communal tables and endured my friendly kid's attempt at conversations. They held hands and glared at us the entire time. Poor things, obviously not what they had in mind and, if I were on my honeymoon, I might feel similarly. We were happy to have a family with 3 small kids seated next.

 

[dixiedizfan]

We ate an early dinner there once and at least half of the tables were empty. But they still sat us at a table with other people. I could tell from the looks on their faces they weren't expecting company, but at least they were nice about it. I spoke a few words to the wife just to be polite, but they kept to themselves, as did we.

 

[CharmedLife]

Thanks for the thoughts BadgerBruce (another Wisconsin person!). I may see if we can "walk in" one day for lunch. Sounds like my 5 year old DD would like the entertainment and of course my DH would love the beer and food. Okay - I would love the beer too.

Too bad we won't be there at the same time, sounds like we would get along great! (always nice to run into fellow Badger fans - side note, my family dressed up as Badger fans for MNSSHP a few weeks ago - DD5 wore a cheerleader outfit, DS2 wore a football jersey, DH wore a "Grateful Red" tie-die and I had another Badger t-shirt on. Guess it wasn't really a costume since we ARE Badger fans!!)

Anyway, my real point is that my DD5 LOVES this place, it is the only place in Epcot that she specifically asked to go to, so I'm sure that yours will love it just as much!!

 

[ktbugsmom]

thanks CharmedLife! I am definitely putting this on our list to try out. We will be at WDW for 8 nights, staying at BWV - so we honestly hit Epcot just about every day (or at least night). Such a nice walk over and no rush to leave in the evenings. We LOVE it.

BTW - I will be in Mequon visiting some friends next weekend who used to live in Cedarburg. HUGE Badger fans - as the husband played football for the Badgers in the early 80s. Funny... his wife is a bit younger and was the "ball girl" for the Michigan football team when he was playing for the Badgers! However, she is a fullblown Badger fan now.

 

[JodyTG]

People that eat at the Biergarten should understand that they're trying to make it as much like Germany as possible. And in Germany, people sit together. My DH told me of a time that he went to see a movie and he was the only one in there until a few minutes before the movie started. A German man came in as the previews were showing and he sat down right next to my DH even though they were alone in the theatre. Germans are very social people.

 

[CharmedLife]

thanks CharmedLife! I am definitely putting this on our list to try out. We will be at WDW for 8 nights, staying at BWV - so we honestly hit Epcot just about every day (or at least night). Such a nice walk over and no rush to leave in the evenings. We LOVE it.

BTW - I will be in Mequon visiting some friends next weekend who used to live in Cedarburg. HUGE Badger fans - as the husband played football for the Badgers in the early 80s. Funny... his wife is a bit younger and was the "ball girl" for the Michigan football team when he was playing for the Badgers! However, she is a fullblown Badger fan now.

Everyone comes around to love the Badgers eventually, even former Wolverines!

Enjoy your dinner at Biergarten, I can't wait for my next trip so we can go again!

ON WISCONSIN!