To all the Biergarten experts!

[CJ]

I've made an adr for 7:30pm on Thursday December 18 (we'll be doing the 5:00pm candlelight processional the next day with lunch at the Coral Reef). We're a group of 4 adults, including my very spry 82 year old father. He loves German food and we haven't been to the Biergarten in almost 15 years!

I'm wondering what everyone's opinion is about this restaurant? When are the showtimes? I'm not sure if 7:30 is a good time or not as well....... we don't want to miss anything that's offered as entertainment. We'll be spending the day at Animal Kingdom beforehand, then heading to Epcot after an afternoon rest. Will we be able to do Illuminations afterwards?

Anyone have any experience with this place?

 

[goofygal531]

They can give you the exact show times for your date when you booked at WDW-DINE. They told me they start on the 45, so if you're ADR is for 7:30 the show should start at 7:45 which wouldn't give you much time to get seated (IF your seated immediately) grab your food and settle in for the show. They suggested a 4:20 ADR for me to catch the 4:45 show.

 

[CJ]

They can give you the exact show times for your date when you booked at WDW-DINE. They told me they start on the 45, so if you're ADR is for 7:30 the show should start at 7:45 which wouldn't give you much time to get seated (IF your seated immediately) grab your food and settle in for the show. They suggested a 4:20 ADR for me to catch the 4:45 show.

Interesting! Thanks so much for that info!

 

[bavaria]

Much of the food, like most of World Showcase, is Americanized food or 'inspired by' the authentic.

Overall it is not bad, albeit it not overly authentic.

 

[ntsammy5]

Food is good, entertainment is fun and the beer very good!

 

[GinaBean]

I've made an adr for 7:30pm on Thursday December 18 (we'll be doing the 5:00pm candlelight processional the next day with lunch at the Coral Reef). We're a group of 4 adults, including my very spry 82 year old father. He loves German food and we haven't been to the Biergarten in almost 15 years!

I'm wondering what everyone's opinion is about this restaurant? When are the showtimes? I'm not sure if 7:30 is a good time or not as well....... we don't want to miss anything that's offered as entertainment. We'll be spending the day at Animal Kingdom beforehand, then heading to Epcot after an afternoon rest. Will we be able to do Illuminations afterwards?

Anyone have any experience with this place?

According the WDW website, Illuminations starts at 9:30 that night. I am not sure how far it is from Biergarten to where Illuminations is.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...ex?id=EPCalendarDailyViewPage&date=12/18/2008

 

[NOLA_Tink]

We had a 7:30 ADR here in October. I believe the entertainment came on around 8 pm & it was perfect timing for Illuminations. We also LOVED the food and it was one of the BEST meals we've eaten in a long time. The braised beef roulades, pork schnitzel, warm potato salad, cabbage, potato leek soup, dumplings, macaroni salad, and bavarian cream cake were amazing! Plus, they had so much more that we were too full to try. The entertainment was fun to watch and we both sang along- surprising b/c my hubby is not a singer. We each ordered a liter of beer & the server gave me a plastic cup so that I could take my remaining beer to watch Illuminations. We enjoyed it so much that we're planning on going back in December.

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

We always watch Illuminations outside Biergarten (one of our favorite restaurants, too)! My hubby just got back from his first trip to Austria with his mom/aunt/2 sisters to meet relatives of his grandmother that are still over there. We HAVE to go back to Biergarten to try to recreate the food and atmosphere!

Funny story: the first time we took our son, he was 2. He was scared to death of the German guys he, for some unknown reason, called "the farmers" (he pronounced it with no "r"). We still talk about going to see the "fah-mers"!

 

[disney aviator]

My wife and I always eat at the BG any Disney trip we make. I believe it's one of the few good values left at Disney World. And, it's close enough to 'authentic' German food to enjoy. Anytime you can eat lunch there instead of supper, you will save a few extra $.

We really enjoyed the Oktoberfest show last year during the Christmas season. If you've never heard the performers sing 'Silent Night' --- Stille Nacht --- in German, you will love it.

 

[ntsammy5]

Overall it is not bad, albeit it not overly authentic.

Yeah, but the beer is still good!!!

 

[bavaria]

That element is pretty authentic, as is the Rüdesheimer Kaffee

Macaroni and cheese however is I believe authentic American food!

 

[NOLA_Tink]

That element is pretty authentic, as is the Rüdesheimer Kaffee

Macaroni and cheese however is I believe authentic American food!

I crave their spaetzle noodles with cheese. I tried to get some at a local German restaurant & they weren't nearly as yummy. I wish they weren't only on the lunch menu. So tasty!

 

[CJ]

Thanks for all the great reviews! I did call Disney Dining and they told me that the entertainment starts at 8:05pm, so I think the 7:30 adr should be just fine!

 

[disnut8]

From http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/index.htm

Experience the excitement of Oktoberfest with a festive dinner show in the Biergarten.
Daily at 1:15, 2:15, 3:15, 4:45, 5:55, 7:00 & 8:05pm
Length of show: 25 minutes

With a 7:30 seating, you'll be mostly over with your food half of the meal before the entertainment starts. The length of show is 25 minutes so that will be over by 8:30. Plan an hour for the dinner.

After the dinner, you'll have plenty of time for the 9:30 showing of Illuminations. Personally, I think a great spot is right there in Germany, across from the Hummel shop.