Epcot dining Question.

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I have Marakesh, Akershus, and Biergarten on my list. Of all the other things, we have the same thing here. As my mother says... We aren't walking around the international showcase to eat Hamburgers, HotDogs, and Pizza. Which of the three above did you like/dislike and why?

Also, I'll be there during the food and wine festival. I've noticed it says they have alot of culinary and wine booths. For those that have been there will we be munching and wine tasting so much that when it comes time for dinner we'll just look at each other and giggle or should I plan on eating?

And now for your entertainment, the dancing bananas


Ok I just had to work some smileys in. They were overthere just begging me to do it.

Thx.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Food & Wine--my absolute fave time to dine. Wine portions are a tad smalller (and more affordable--but decent) and food portions are appetizer size max. For "dinner" I had the pasta from Italy--some sweet concoction for dessert--and a glass of wine--for $10 and it was plenty You won't need a separate PS for dinner--you can lunch and dine around the world at Food & Wine--closer to the dinner hour and on until illuminations--some of the lines can get pretty long.

Of the choices above--there have been some rants about Akershus that since they went all princess and cut down on the norwegian offerings--that it is not the same or as good as before. Beirgarten was quite tasty and I haven't tired Marrekesh yet--but love that cuisine. I would vote to ditch Akershus.

 

[Verity Chambers]

Have only tried Marakesh, but we really enjoyed it. Good food and great atmosphere!

Verity.xxx

 

[Trinity721]

I liked Marrakesh, but my DH thought the food was only OK. I loved the lemon chicken I had. DH had Night in Casablanca and thought it was alright.

We went to Akershus for the Princess Dinner, and I liked it. The appetizers were good. I had the chicken pasta and liked that. Will you be doing a Princess meal there? Because I think that is all they offer there now.

Have a great time!

 

[jpmom97]

I have only been to Biergarten and we LOVE it! It's a must on every trip.

 

[sunny04]

We have done Marrakesh and Biergarten and enjoyed both. However, I must say they are opposites! Marrakesh is off the main walkway and is much quieter (until the show starts anyway). It was not very busy when we went in Oct. and was a nice quiet spot. The service was excellent and our food was great. DH is EXTREMELY picky, but he really enjoyed his baked chicken. He hates chicken on the bone and was very disapointed when it showed up that way, but he just barely touched it and the meat fell off the bone. It was really tender and he liked it a lot. I am a little more adventurous and tried the chicken cous-cous. It was excellent. It was fun to try something different that wasn't too exotic. The belly-dancing show was really nice as well. Biergarten on the other hand was very busy and very loud. They have a fun show as well with the band onstage. The inside theming is awesome, it looks like you are outside in a little village - there is a night sky with the moon, and fronts of buildings with trees and a water wheel. Really neat! It is family-style seating, so since we only had 2 in our party, we were seating with another family of 4. Kinda strange, but everyone is so nice at WDW. It's a buffet, but still really good food. DH was able to fully enjoy this meal as well and we're actually going back there in June. They have the traditional German foods, and some basic foods that picky people can enjoy as well. Lots of breads, salads, etc.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Marrakesh is my fave Epcot restaurant - it's very relaxed, great food, good service, and beautiful atmosphere. THe belly dancer is very good, too!

Akershus is now another princess meal, so the food evidently has gone down and is not as authentic anymore. The price went up, too. Unless you really want to see princesses, I'm not sure I'd choose that restaurant at Epcot anymore.

Have not dined at Biergarten as German food is not our fave.

That all said, I doubt you'll need a PS and additional meal when going for food and wine. You will eat and eat and eat and get to taste so many different things instead of paying $ for a meal. I'd do that instead of eating a full meal, personally.

 

[Cookie Princess]

Of the three, we would select Beirgarten. However, I actually prefer to make a meal out of snacks from the F&W Festival. For me, that is plenty to eat. However DH views them as just tiny appetizers and still longs for a FULL plate of food.

 

[disneyfan62]

DH and I haven't dined at any of those but we have gone to the Food and Wine Fest twice now which we absoultely love to do the best thing to do is pace yourself ! The first time we wanted to try everything & ended up stuffing ourselves by the time we got to the end !! needless to say NO DINNER.. The second time we started our day off just having coffee for breakfast, got a food & wine fest menu list and just checked off the items we wanted to try and started when the World Showcase opened at 11am. Since you do alot of walking in Epcot you do burn off what you just ate!! but if you don't eat too much, a late night dinner or a snack back at the hotel is just fine. Love the beef stroganoff at the Eastern Europe stand and cheddar cheese soup in Canada! DH loves the Tusker beer at the African stand and of course the Guinness beer in Ireland ..the Australian and African wines are very good too... Enjoy !

Disneyfan62

 

[BeckyH]

My family really enjoys the Beirgarten restaurant! My boys always can find something on the buffet that they enjoy and the show is great! We thought Marrekesh was ok but have never gone back. Good luck!!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. Biergarten sounds yummy. The official Disney site didn't do that one justice. It made it sound like all you'd get is a bunch of sausage. It was off my list untill I saw the full menus. Now it may be at the top. I was really looking forward to Norweigan. It's a shame they took a bunch of the Norweigan food off the menu. Marakesh sounds real good too.

back at the hotel is just fine. Love the beef stroganoff at the Eastern Europe stand and cheddar cheese soup in Canada! DH loves the Tusker beer at the African stand and of course the Guinness beer in Ireland ..the Australian and African wines are very good too... Enjoy

That all said, I doubt you'll need a PS and additional meal when going for food and wine. You will eat and eat and eat and get to taste so many different things instead of paying $ for a meal. I'd do that instead of eating a full meal, personally.

That's what I was beginning to think. Everything I read on this makes it sound more likely that I'll be eating and drinking, and eating. . I just cannot resist sampling. HEHE. I think I'll just not make any ressies for epcot and if I get hungry and there's a spot open for walk ins. I'll go to Marakesh. Biergarten is all you can eat and I probably won't want to totally pig out. That's not to mention I have a light eater in the group that totally won't want to eat much if she samples during the festival. I'll save Biergarten for sometime when I go in early December for the xmas stuff.

 

[Leota]

We have gone to F&WF several times. We eat most of our meals during that time by sampling in WS, no real sit-downs to speak of. I'd much rather have the little tastes than one big meal.

 

[MICKEEP]

We loved Marakesh and are planning to return again on our upcoming trip. The food was very good and a bit adveturous and like a previous poster stated it is off the beaten path and a little quieter.

Been to the Biergarten once and my DW and I really disliked it. Felt like we were eating in a big noisy cafeteria. Now, that was ten years ago. Things may have changed but we do not want to take the risk.

Our plan for our next trip is to eat at Marakesh again and to try two other places we have not tried yet but have heard wonderful things about: Le Celier and Tepanyacki. After that we will have eaten at all the countries but England.