I would Love to hear the best experiences at the Biergarten and the worst.

[JACKNAG]

My lovely wife has already posted a kind of similar question, but I have to go here....I am just a bit worried about this group seating. We love socializing and meeting new people and joining in in the festivities, what I'm afraid of is being seated with people that may not have the best of table manners. Or regards of personal space, keeping it real because, really besides that, you can bring up any topic at the table with us , I'm fine with having a great time, kids are great, as long as little Johnny isn't reaching in to my plate Just kidding , I have two kids also. Just seems like just a strange concept sitting with people you know nothing about. It can go real good or go down hill really fast. Would love to know some of your experiences. Will we probably do this, .... Probably just like to be prepared for what ever. And again like my wife I will be ordering the large mug of beer to keep my pleasing personality just in case things go awry.

Thanks for your input
Jack

 

[Belleandtinker]

We enjoy Biergartens and have had several different experiences. We have a DS and he was 2.5 during his first visit and 5 during his last visit.

Sat with other families with kids - we tended to stay seperate, families kept to each other.
Sat with other couples (with no kids) - they were very social then the families with kids.

We prefer to "trap" our DS at the railing or at the end. It works better for the others at the table too.

When your light starts to flash to say your table is ready, get in line asap so you can get a good seat (any from alot of kids). If we were without kids, I would prefer the railing so you could focus your attention to the stage.

My DS has been pretty good every time we have gone, so I don't think the people around us found him annoying.

Good luck!

 

[JACKNAG]

We enjoy Biergartens and have had several different experiences. We have a DS and he was 2.5 during his first visit and 5 during his last visit.

Sat with other families with kids - we tended to stay seperate, families kept to each other.
Sat with other couples (with no kids) - they were very social then the families with kids.

We prefer to "trap" our DS at the railing or at the end. It works better for the others at the table too.

When your light starts to flash to say your table is ready, get in line asap so you can get a good seat (any from alot of kids). If we were without kids, I would prefer the railing so you could focus your attention to the stage.
My DS has been pretty good every time we have gone, so I don't think the people around us found him annoying.

Good luck!

My wife and I when to disney alone we enjoy watching the kids enjoy themselves, our kids have out grown disney for now so we miss when they were little at times.... Its not the kids, its more maybe lets say someone sitting next to me and starts picking their teeth with their fork or blowing there nose and leaving dirty tissues on the table,or lack of the person next to me with access to deodorant, can't really escape that like you can just walking around out side....Keeping it real and with that realize I'm talking about the worse case scenario....Can you request a railing seat?

 

[minniebride]

We have been to the Biergarten a handful of times for dinner and we just made ADR's there for our friends and us the night before our wedding.

My DF is a pretty chatty guy in social situations, but he prefers more intimate dining arrangements. I tend to be more anti-social and shy in those situations, though I am polite! Typically I would hate and refuse to dine in a group situation with strangers, but I love the Biergarten so much, it's worth it to me!

I have to say that we actually much prefer to be seated with families with kids because it will almost garuntee us that we won't have to dine with rowdy drunk adults LOL! We did have a less than stellar experience there once seated at a table with a really obnoxious drunk older couple and we could not wait to get out of there. The couple was already drunk when they arrived & I think they thought because we were a couple as well, we would hang out and get drunk with them. My DF & I love the beer there, but we are just not the type to get drunk and rowdy with a bunch of strangers.

We had another dinner there where we shared the table with a family with kids and we much preferred that. The family was focused on themselves, so aside from some polite greetings and friendly small talk here and there, my DF and I were able to concentrate on each other and our meal We also had fun watching the little ones in that party get up and dance when the band was playing

Our first time there we were seated with a bunch of business men and a newly married older couple. We didn't really know how to respond to the communal tables thing and I think neither did the couple, so we tried to force fake conversation, but we had zero in common & just did not "click." It was uncomfortable feeling like we were forced to get to know each other. After that we realized though that, just because you are sharing a table with strangers, doesn't mean you have to be forced to socialize with them, aside from a friendly greeting and maybe a comment here or there if an opportunity arises. My DF & I are usually able to just be polite but form a little bubble and enjoy our meal with each other.

Aside from the drunk couple, we have never had a bad experience at the Biergarten. People are polite and courteous & just there to enjoy their experience as well.

The food is excellent-lots of choices! We always find the servers to be friendly and outgoing. & the band is so much fun!

 

[DonnaDuck333]

We have been to the Biergarten a handful of times for dinner and we just made ADR's there for our friends and us the night before our wedding.

My DF is a pretty chatty guy in social situations, but he prefers more intimate dining arrangements. I tend to be more anti-social and shy in those situations, though I am polite! Typically I would hate and refuse to dine in a group situation with strangers, but I love the Biergarten so much, it's worth it to me!

I have to say that we actually much prefer to be seated with families with kids because it will almost garuntee us that we won't have to dine with rowdy drunk adults LOL! We did have a less than stellar experience there once seated at a table with a really obnoxious drunk older couple and we could not wait to get out of there. The couple was already drunk when they arrived & I think they thought because we were a couple as well, we would hang out and get drunk with them. My DF & I love the beer there, but we are just not the type to get drunk and rowdy with a bunch of strangers.

We had another dinner there where we shared the table with a family with kids and we much preferred that. The family was focused on themselves, so aside from some polite greetings and friendly small talk here and there, my DF and I were able to concentrate on each other and our meal We also had fun watching the little ones in that party get up and dance when the band was playing

Our first time there we were seated with a bunch of business men and a newly married older couple. We didn't really know how to respond to the communal tables thing and I think neither did the couple, so we tried to force fake conversation, but we had zero in common & just did not "click." It was uncomfortable feeling like we were forced to get to know each other. After that we realized though that, just because you are sharing a table with strangers, doesn't mean you have to be forced to socialize with them, aside from a friendly greeting and maybe a comment here or there if an opportunity arises. My DF & I are usually able to just be polite but form a little bubble and enjoy our meal with each other.

Aside from the drunk couple, we have never had a bad experience at the Biergarten. People are polite and courteous & just there to enjoy their experience as well.

The food is excellent-lots of choices! We always find the servers to be friendly and outgoing. & the band is so much fun!

Thank you very much, great advise here, its is a strange concept to sit and break bread with people you don't have any idea about... Sounds like you had more good then bad here.... By the way my husband is the OP and we are just wanting to hear your stories to get a better idea.... Thank you so much for sharing yours

 

[minniebride]

Thank you very much, great advise here, its is a strange concept to sit and break bread with people you don't have any idea about... Sounds like you had more good then bad here.... By the way my husband is the OP and we are just wanting to hear your stories to get a better idea.... Thank you so much for sharing yours

You're very welcome! I hope you guys decide to give it a try. I went in there for my first time thinking I would not find a thing to eat and I left there completely stuffed!! The food is really good! They even have pretzel bread like they do at Le Cellier (though in smaller portions)! You will also find that people tend to focus alot on the band, rather than the people at the table.

 

[JACKNAG]

Thanks, I think we will give it a try, I love the pretzel bread at LeCellier and we have had the Bratwurst and sauerKraut and Bavarian cheesecake for a counter service and it became our favorite one in EPCOT. So looking to trying all the different foods there.

Thanks

Jack

 

[bcrook]

I always take a large group and we have our own table. I have never thought about how that would be just as a couple. Interesting dilemma. I don't think I would do it.

 

[vinotinto]

I see all these posts about Biergarten and people feeling nervous before eating there because of the "sharing" of tables and I don't understand it (maybe because I did not grow up in the US?). Yes, you are all on the same table, but honestly, it's a big table, you are much closer to your neighbors at LeCellier. Also, the restaurant is loud. The band is playing pretty much constantly (they do have a break between sets) and you can barely talk to your family, let alone the family sitting at the adjacent table. It's similar to being at a regular restaurant and talking to the table next to yours (or not). I can't believe I'm going to say this, but the band is pretty good (am I talking about an ooompah band, why yes!) and it's worth seeing them. The German drinking songs have opportunities embedded in them to "toast" with your neighbors. You don't have to become BFFs, you just need to sit back, relax and enjoy together the music and show.

 

[SYLVESTER7577]

We had dinner a few years back and our waitress (who should be from Germany) asked about our last name being Sylvester. She told us that Sylvester means Happy New Year in the German translation. I would have to think she was not pulling my leg but it really seems wierd Sylvester=Happy New Year.

 

[roxysmum123]

We had dinner a few years back and our waitress (who should be from Germany) asked about our last name being Sylvester. She told us that Sylvester means Happy New Year in the German translation. I would have to think she was not pulling my leg but it really seems wierd Sylvester=Happy New Year.

Not pulling your leg, though in German its spelled "silvester". It has to do with Saint Silvester and New Years Eve. I'm sure there's the whole story about it on Wikipedia

 

[cp'ersmom]

Sharing tables is a very European thing so it certainly fits the theme. We just booked our ADR for my DD's birthday and we will be a group of 8 but the first time it was just my DD and I. We sat with an older couple there for their 50th anniversary and another family of 4 with 2 young kids. The children were well behaved and fun to watch. For most of the dinner there was just polite chit chat but towards the end of the meal we were all really enjoying each others company and I was sad for the meal to end! I can't wait to go back!

 

[JACKNAG]

I see all these posts about Biergarten and people feeling nervous before eating there because of the "sharing" of tables and I don't understand it (maybe because I did not grow up in the US?). Yes, you are all on the same table, but honestly, it's a big table, you are much closer to your neighbors at LeCellier. Also, the restaurant is loud. The band is playing pretty much constantly (they do have a break between sets) and you can barely talk to your family, let alone the family sitting at the adjacent table. It's similar to being at a regular restaurant and talking to the table next to yours (or not). I can't believe I'm going to say this, but the band is pretty good (am I talking about an ooompah band, why yes!) and it's worth seeing them. The German drinking songs have opportunities embedded in them to "toast" with your neighbors. You don't have to become BFFs, you just need to sit back, relax and enjoy together the music and show.

I've eaten at Lecellier, and the table are close but not as close as eight people being cramped in to one table. I've never once smelled any BO from the table next to me or little Johnny's need for a diaper change. Or hearing somebody talk about bodily functions or inappropriate dinner talk thats going to make it less then a pleasant dining experience. Again I like people just fine its just that it can go real good and we can all be holding hands and skipping my loo and singing oompah songs on our way out after a lovely meal, or Ill be looking over at my wife and saying you better wolf down that Bavarian cheesecake because we're high tailing it out of here. We are going for the food any thing else is gravy and if it turns out to be an unpleasant experience we will deal with it and probably laugh about it later. And thank You for sharing your story

 

[DonnaDuck333]

Sharing tables is a very European thing so it certainly fits the theme. We just booked our ADR for my DD's birthday and we will be a group of 8 but the first time it was just my DD and I. We sat with an older couple there for their 50th anniversary and another family of 4 with 2 young kids. The children were well behaved and fun to watch. For most of the dinner there was just polite chit chat but towards the end of the meal we were all really enjoying each others company and I was sad for the meal to end! I can't wait to go back!

That does sound truely lovely and you and your family had a great experience. My husband is the Op and we will hope for the best and would love to have a lovely group of people with us.... Thankyou for sharing, I'm becoming more hopeful....

 

[stasijane]

I have only eaten there one time, the last day of our last vacation and have instantly found it to be my favorite restaurant. I was a little unsure when I first heard about the seating situation but found that once we started eating there wasnt to much conversation.

 

[abminer]

I think Biergarten is underrated. It's really great theming/atmosphere and the food is quite good.

We were a group of 4 adults for CP package. We were seated with a family of 4 who had older kids (college-aged). I was worried about the social thing too, but we made very brief small talk (what city we're from, how many times we've been to WDW...) until our server arrived and from then on we ignored each other for the most part. Between going to the buffet and with the show to watch, there wasn't much idle time to chat anyway. It was so much easier than I expected.

You send signals even without talking to your table mates - if you don't want to chat, they'll be able to tell.

Try it, we especially like the Bavarian-style cheesecake!

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

How funny that I saw this post-I just got finished writing an update in our pre-trip and it was about te Biergarten (plus some funny experiences at te REAL Oktoberfest, LOL).

We have eaten there twice and are looking forward to our next visit.

Pros:
fun dancing
good food
fun atmosphere
good beer

Cons:
loud (if that bothers you)
people that think communal tables means you want to deal with their kids

^The kid comment was b/c we had a kid who kept coming to our table and grabbing our friends' son's Legos. The mom seemed to think it was cute and we had to shoo him away. Other than that we have not had a problem. We have kids and they like to dance so we take turns eating and drinking.

If you are looking for a quiet place to relax, I don't think Biergarten is for you. But of you want an upbeat and lively place to enjoy a Fest-tent" atmosphere I think you will enjoy it!

 

[Pats Dragon]

We have always enjoyed Biergarten especially at Christmas. If you are shy there is a show and you don't have to socialize with strangers. The table is large. We have always enjoyed our table mates, whether they have kids or not. Only 1 experience when a couple obviously were disapproving of our having a beer but they didn't say anything. We pretended they weren't there.

 

[RMulieri]

We are a Family of 3 and LOVE it there. My DH is not a chatty person , but he loved it too.We have eaten here a few times and never had a bad experience.We have had a BLAST and met some great people too.The food is worth it alone.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We have been many times and sometimes we get a dud table where no one wants to talk, they just want to eat and get outta there and other times we have had wonderful table mates and have all had a good time singing along and chatting.

The reason we do not go there anymore is the food, it isnt as wonderful as it used to be.

I long for the days when you could order off a menu, skip the buffet!