Your experience with sharing tables at Biergarten?

[EpcotBeauty]

I love the Biergarten but don't go to WDW to make new friends. I totally ignore my tablemates and only converse with my family. I don't like the intrusion of strange people at my table, but it is a trade off that must be made to eat there.....and we love the food.

 

[CharacterFan]

I ate there once, which a group of people from College Progam. One of them was under 21 and kept trying to get the server to let them buy a beer anyway. He kept saying that his birthday was only 3 months away, so it was close enough.

 

[ntsammy5]

Fun, especially if everyone is a beer drinker!

 

[DisneySweetheart]

Fun, especially if everyone is a beer drinker!

That's what I say!!!

 

[Golden Rose]

We generally don't go to Biergarten because we prefer not to sit with strangers, and there are so many other places that have good food that don't force us into a similar situation. DS is very shy with strangers, and it really is very hard on him to be dining with people he doesn't know. DH and I are both fairly friendly when we do find ourselves in such situations, but we don't generally seek them out.

 

[catne]

we always end up sitting with people who don't seem to approve of our ordering beer for lunch. I hate it.

It is still one of my favorite restaurants, though, because the food and atmosphere are great!

That's our experience too, but it was for dinner (so was after "5:00" cocktail hour ) Just can't figure out why anyone would think badly about ordering BEER in a BEER GARDEN. The family really making the frowny faces at us were (1) all grown-ups and (2) the dad spoke German, said the whole family was of German extraction...and that was all we got out of them. Very, very closed-mouth & obviously no interest in talking to us at all. Now, I'm a bit shy, but DH has always been very friendly & outgoing (job depends on getting people to talk to him!) and DD is terrifically all-American friendly girl. But no go with the two families we were sat with (our family was 3, another family of 3 -a dad & 2 grown-up daughters, and an elderly couple.) Oh, the faces made when the waitress brought the first mugs of beer, and then one refill (we split that one.) The last couple, the elderly pair...actually moved their place setting & chairs as close to the end of the table as they could to make sure it was obvious they were their own little party & had nothing to do with anyone else at the table. They both hunched their shoulders away from the rest of the table (so they couldn't even watch the show in that position but didn't have to look at their tablemates at all.) The woman even looked like she was debating whether to take her utensils & drink with her when she went to the buffet (as if those at the table were going to touch her stuff while she was gone.)

We enjoyed the food, we enjoyed the beer, we enjoyed the show...but the whole sit with strangers & hope for friendly situation just didn't work.

 

[Brian Noble]

I haven't done this at Epcot's Biergarten. But, I have done it at the Augusteiner in Munich. And, it's very much a communal experience:

http://www.muenchen.de/Stadtleben/Eating_out/37111/02abeergardens.html

Bavarian "Gemütlichkeit": this concept, central to the Bavarian mentality, translates best as "cosy and relaxed sociability". Just sit down at one of the tables with locals - it is a custom in Bavaria, whether in beer gardens or restaurants, to sit down with complete strangers and enjoy each other's company - they might even end up sharing their food with you.

 

[TinkrLiz]

My DH and I both loved it. We said next year when we go we're going to eat there more than once. We both loved the food, the beer and the company.

We were seated with three other couples. One couple were newlyweds and 25 yrs old, the next couple was in their 70's, the third couple was in their 30's and we're in our 40's. We all got along great. I could have sat there all night and chatted. We left in time to get a spot for illuminations.

 

[Villainess]

We've eaten there a few times and it has been a hit or miss eating w/ strangers. When I'm w/ my family (dad, mom, sis, BIL, kids, g'parents, etc) people have been very friendly and it hasn't been a problem. When I've went w/ my exDH, we usually didn't say more than hello, but he isn't the most outgoing.

 

[fairestoneofall]

We sat with a lovely family for Thanksgiving dinner. Their DD was close in age to our DD. The two girls had a great time dancing to the band after our dinner. We all weren't super chatty, but it was still a pleasant experience. Their DS was close in age to ours, but he was more shy. So, our DS just did the dance floor by himself (since he refused to dance with me! )

 

[Elmo888]

We had a fine time. Our family of four was seated with a party of two older couples (retirement age). We greeted them when they sat down, and then we chatted after everyone ate (where are you staying, etc.)

It was about what I expected. I expect to greet and be greeted. I don't expect to become best friends or even have more than a few minutes of conversation (I don't mind more than a few minutes of conversing, I just don't expect it). I expect people to be courteous. And I would be uncomfortable with rude or bad manners. Just like in real life!

We would definitely eat here again...the food was good, we liked the atmosphere, the kids liked the music and dancing, and DH liked the beer!