Do you like sharing tables with other families?

[Donald is #1]

I'm sure it can be very fun with the right mix, but we had a rotten experience in May 2007 -- was myself, DH & 18 yr. old daughter. Well, we were seated first at the table, so we got the "ring-side seats" by the dance floor, then our drink order was taken. Next, they seated another party of 3 -- was a 50-something guy & two adult daughters. Well, right after we'd all exchanged first names & such, the waitress brings the beers DH & I ordered. Thought the guy was going to have a heart attack...and the prune faces we got from the daughters! Lordy...it's a BEER garden. Apparently they didn't know that's what "biergarten" means, lol. Well that was the end of the small talk with them...they weren't going to have anything to do with us nasty beer drinkers (and that's funny, because that was the first beer I've had in about 10 years! But I figured I better drink beer in a beer garden. )

Then the last couple - an elderly husband/wife - was seated.These folks didn't even exchange names, they looked absolutely horrified to be seated with strangers. The wife made a big production about moving their cutlery & such as far away from the rest of the table as possible - instead of each of them sitting on a side, they pulled their chairs around to squeeze onto the end of the table -- the waitress told them sorry, they can't sit on the end cuz they're blocking the aisle...so they sat as close to the end on each side as they could - plates almost fell off the table they were that close to the edge. They waited until the waitress brought their drinks...and then they took their drinks with them to the buffet line (guess they thought the rest of us would take sips or maybe spit in the drinks while they were gone )

Anyway, I know some people have a great time there (my parents did the year before!) and we liked the food & the show...just not the sitting with others experience.Blah.

Wow, your experience is just too strange. People surprised that you had a beer at the Biergarten???

 

[catne]

Wow, your experience is just too strange. People surprised that you had a beer at the Biergarten???

I know! And these people claimed to be of German extraction from Chicago!

Tell me they didn't realize people would drink beer there!

 

[tndisneyfan]

I'm not a real big fan of it. I'm not antisocial I'm just sort of shy and have a hard time talking to people I don't know.

I think quite a few people don't like to sit with strangers. When the Japanese steak houses first got big in this area, most places had a big table where ten or so people sat together and they cooked in front of you. Now most places have went to cooking in one area and having individual tables.

 

[SoonipiLady]

but I think that's because when I was first married and on my own for the first time, I lived in Germany. It was weird the first few times we went out to dinner, but you just get used to it. Then it seems weird when you get back to the States and have to wait for a seat, even though there's plenty of tables with empty chairs!

Of course not nearly as hard to get used to as coming back to the States and remembering that bathrooms ARE NOT unisex here! After years in Europe, I just got used to not waiting in a line, just going into whichever restroom was not busy. Wow was I ever embarrassed two days after I got back and just strolled into the men's room at the Talking Heads concert!

 

[ScarletFire]

ITA.

I don't want to come off as a snob, or anti-stranger. I'm not. I actually think it would be fun to sit by some nice, normal strangers and have an enjoyable dinner sharing conversation and fun.

However. I am a freak magnet. If there is a lunatic within four miles, they will find me. And no, I'm not exaggerating...my friends and family always joke about it. It doesn't matter if I'm in line at the post office, or sitting in a theater, or browsing in a store. They always find me. And when I say "loon" I don't mean someone who's just not like me, or someone who looks different, or someone who talks different. I mean full-on whacko's.

I must give off some sort of vibe.

.

 

[katmittens]

We have eaten here a few times and have been pretty lucky with who has been seated with us. We are a family of four and the last time a father and his daughter and her boyfriend sat with us. We only made small talk. One other time we sat with two couples from florida and three of them were originally from New York (we are from PA) and we had alot in common. we even stayed longer just to chat. I guess it is luck of the draw.

 

[BriarRosie]

ITA.

I don't want to come off as a snob, or anti-stranger. I'm not. I actually think it would be fun to sit by some nice, normal strangers and have an enjoyable dinner sharing conversation and fun.

However. I am a freak magnet. If there is a lunatic within four miles, they will find me. And no, I'm not exaggerating...my friends and family always joke about it. It doesn't matter if I'm in line at the post office, or sitting in a theater, or browsing in a store. They always find me. And when I say "loon" I don't mean someone who's just not like me, or someone who looks different, or someone who talks different. I mean full-on whacko's.

I must give off some sort of vibe.

.

My mom, my older sister and I have that same vibe. Mostly it's just complete strangers that wish to talk to us (or unload their life stories in my case). But my mother did get serenaded by some lunatic about 20 years ago, while in the produce section of the supermarket.

I think I need to get seated at your table and help bring on the freak show.

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

But my mother did get serenaded by some lunatic about 20 years ago, while in the produce section of the supermarket.

Last year my bug man (who is also an Elvis impersonator) held me captive with a 30 minute concert. I'm not kidding. Thank God he quit the next month - he was going compete in the National Elvis contest (or something) in Vegas. He never came back, so maybe he won...

I think I need to get seated at your table and help bring on the freak show.

Lol, whenever I tell DH about my latest weirdo encounter, he just says "well, you know...birds of a feather..." Then he ducks.

Maybe it's us?

 

[Uncleromulus]

I don't care for it much. One of the main reasons why we've never been on a cruise.

 

[flstatenolefan]

After living in Germany, I've come to love eating like this. You meet some of the nicest people this way. I haven't eaten at the Biergarten, yet, but would have no problem with it.

 

[ancestry]

I don't mind sitting next to other people in a situation like the Biergarten but I really don't like it if strangers try to strike up a conversation with us. Smiling and saying hello, (i.e. being cordial). is enough interaction for me. I'm not one who likes to have a conversation with complete strangers especially when I have my children with me. If I am by myself then I don't mind it as much.

 

[Kit'smommy]

DH and I enjoy the Biergarten and have been there 10-12 times without having a bad experience. We also have had very nice people at our table both times we have eaten in Japan.

Generally, I do not enjoy sitting at a table with people who are not open to conversation. It seems odd to me that someone would knowingly eat at a restaurant with communal seating, if they were not willing to have at least a brief exchange of small talk.

Disney has been great for these types of exchanges as you at least have the "where are you from" and "how long are you staying" type of questions. However, as much as I love our local Japanese steakhouse, we usually get seated with less than friendly tablemates. It makes for a long meal, if you have someone across the table who won't at least exchange pleasantries.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

We're fine with it, and have had mostly pleasant experiences. On our last visit to the Biergarten, we sat with two young ladies who were part of the college program and their parents. My daughter - college age - clicked immediately, and they actually met up later that evening. It was all very cordial and unforced. Ditto most teppanyaki restaurants.

It is a funny thing about how some folks attract others. My daughter's original major was elementary special education. We've all noted and laughed at the fact that in any large group setting that special children, kids with Down's, etc., just automatically seek Amy out without even knowing her. And she is patient, and sweet, and loving, and I'll tell you it's a joy to watch.

On a Wonder cruise some years ago our tablemates were a family of four - parents and two older teenage boys. It was just my wife and I. When they found out we were from Mississippi, I could tell that that made them really uncomfortable. It's like they were afraid of us. Funny how subtle prejudice can be. I assured them that we wore shoes year-round, still had all of my teeth, lived on a paved road, etc. And we learned that they raised exotic birds, were big Star Trek fans ... and before it was all over we were pretty good friends. On our way driving back home, we actually came up on them on the road, broken down, and were able to get them headed north again.

Short version ... if you're uncomfortable sitting with other folks, don't put yourself in a situation where that'll happen. Most folks are genteel enough to try to make things pleasant for all, but there are those awful exceptions.

 

[cdtommie]

In Germany you share tables in pretty much any biergarten. I've never had a problem since I'm a major chatterbox.
When we were at the Oktoberfest back in the 90's we were seated at a table right in the middle of a large family - we got serious dirty looks until I told the waitress that I was buying a round for everyone at the table...they end up writing their name and address on a napkin and telling us in broken english that next time we are in Munich they want us to stay with them rather than at a hotel.

 

[BriarRosie]

I don't care for it much. One of the main reasons why we've never been on a cruise.

That's why you'd have to go on a cruise with the rest of us Disney foodies. At least we'd all have one or two things in common.

 

[lecach]

I can see shared tables going either way. On our first cruise we were seated with 3 other couples and just didn't enjoy the experience. So on subsequent cruises we asked for - and got - tables for two.

We've never tried Biergarten. I think I would be okay with it because I am chatty and it's just one meal. But if the other people wouldn't speak at all - even just small talk - it would probably make me very uncomfortable.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I definitely understand. I hate sharing at Biergarten, as you are forced to sit with someone else.

But at CS locations when it gets super busy like at Flame Tree BBQ, I don't mind letting another couple sit with us when there is not seating left. If there's only two of us at a 4 table top, why not let someone else sit?

 

[Disnsyncey]

on a bit of side note....

I was thinking about this, and when I went to a real biergarten and a beer hall (I don't know what the generic word for it is) in Germany, that's how we sat....and in the beer hall, we had the BEST table, but we literally had to climb on the back of the bench to get to our seats.....it wouldn't be authentic if everybody was by themselves! It makes it fun!

 

[seadd67]

We love the Beirgarten!!,my Moms from Germany and Its pretty darn close to the food I grew up on.As for the seating its not what i would chose but Its in the spirt of the Night and Its not like your not all there for the same reason Disney!,right. We are polite If the folks around us would like to talk we talk but It nothing like we can not leave untill the conservation has eneded.Now I am good eater,I am not a slob and i will never say anything about some one elses eating habbits and really thats all I ask be respectfull.

 

[GSDRescuer]

No, I don't like it. I would not be comfortable sharing a table with strangers. I don't think they'd like it either if my DGD(4) is with. LOL