Your experience with sharing tables at Biergarten?

[mmcguire]

We've been to Biergarten twice. The first time we were seated with strangers. They were OK to talk to (and actually lived 1.5 hours away from us), but it was kind of awkward.

The 2nd time we had a larger group and got our own table. That was much more enjoyable.

 

[psu1978]

We had a very positive experience when we went. I think that the sharing tables thing really goes along with the whole Biergarten theme and makes it feel more "authentic". That being said, if you don't like dining with others, you might want to skip this dining experience. I always talk to strangers (yeah, I know I shouldn't - but I just can't help myself ) so I loved it.

Overall, Biergarten is alot of fun. The food is good and the beer is even better.

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

We had 3 japanese ladies who were about 20-30 years old.
We found out that they worked in the Japan pavillion and came over there to have lunch!

I was like, COOL!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

We've always had a great experience with other people and sometimes that means we've just said hello. Really, there isn't any silent akward moments.

If you really want to experience this then go right at opening for lunch midweek. That is when you are more likely to be seated alone if asked.

 

[NC State]

Thanks for the information. I have shared this thread with my husband and we're changing our plans for another TS.

 

[tejasranger]

This was one of my favorite dining experiences at WDW. The atmosphere was so fun with the band and the theming. I loved the beer, good food and great service. Only flaw was....

I wasn't too keen on sharing the table with strangers. It was just DBF & me in our party and I get VERY shy around people I don't know. The people we shared our table with were all very lovely and I'm sure I looked like a snob because I wasn't interested really in talking with them, though I was very polite. I paid attention mostly to DBF & the band. I definately would have preferred our own table. I noticed other tables were mixed-some seemed to be chatting away, others were clearly focused on their groups only.

I had a great time at the Biergarten & I definately plan to go here again for our next trip. I just wondered if anyone else felt uncomfortable sharing their table or feeling "forced to mingle" or if it's just me being a baby?

Anyone ever had a negative experience sharing their table?

We did not mind at all. We loved the food and band.

 

[Matt'nMeg'sMom]

We're originally from Boulder, Colorado (I don't know if that makes a difference or not) but my husband and I actively seek out communal dining experiences.

There are lots of restaurants here that have community tables. Diners can walk right in, introduce themselves to whoever is already there, and visit over a cup of coffee or a Westword. It's so social and friendly.

We love Biergarten, and we also love old-fashioned group dining on cruise ships.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

OMG! Matta nd Meg are about the cutest kids I have ever seen! Adorable!

I chose the "tolerable" option. We usually mind our own business. It is just my DH and my DD, and I wish we could request to be seated with another family with little ones. We have been sat with adults each time. I guess it doesn't really matter, because DD is on the dance floor the majority of the evening. My DH and I pretty much keep to ourselves, after saying "hello" and maybe chit chatting about the food or beer or whatever. We kidn of "read" the other group, and if they are talking amongst themselves, we do the same.

I do remember hearing a story here on these boards about a family with daughters being seated with a solo man and it was kind of awkward and creepy. They felt like they were being rude, but he kept chit chatting and it was just awkward.

We love Biergarten and have not had a bad experience (yet) so we will continue going back. Whenever we play the "where would you like to be at WDW right this instant" game, my DH always says BIERGARTEN!

 

[RMulieri]

Here is a funny story....When Epcot first opened, my parents made ressies for Biergarten, I am not sure if they advertised it back then as one table for so many people...Anyway, we walk in and are seated with 6 other people.Well, my mom does not do well with other people, so she made us get up and leave.So we all ( 5 of us ) follow her and end up in a dead end corner and everyone was looking at the moron family following , a now yelling short woman into a corner...even the wait staff was laughing ..my brothers and I were mortified... Needless to say we never went back there.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Our family is not too outgoing either. It was the 5 of us, with the 3 ds teens and at our table was an older couple and a grandma in a wheelchair. I already have hearing issues so I cant hear that well anyway. Later dh told me he did talk to the people. Turns out the guy was a cast member from DisneyLand in California, the lady was his sister and grandma was their mom. Another kind of inconvenience was that the tables are so close together and while they did place grandma more twoards the outside it was really hard squeezing back into the table sometimes as we are kind of large people ourselves. The ds have asked not to go back and dh was not impressed either. The food was o.k.

 

[familyS]

I didn't answer the poll, because we were at the Biergarten earlier this month and sat at a table for 4, we ate alone

So, it can, and does, happen

 

[Noleball]

We ate there last Monday for dinner and had a great time. Me , DW, DD7 and DD3 were seated with another four individuals who were there from New York. They were in their 60's and 70's and were having a great time at the park as we were. They talked to us and the children without distaste or disdain and the dinner was excellent. Probably will be one of my favorite buffets in the World now.

I might add that DD7 presented some excellent entertainment. She loves to sing and is very quick at picking up songs (even in other languages). So, through the meal, she was loudly singing the German drinking songs and even holding up her glass and yelling "hoy, hoy, hoy" when appropriate. We all got a kick out of that even though she did not have a full understanding of what she was doing.

I'll be back there next time.

 

[shellyfive]

I went with my sil and we were seated at a table with gm and gp, mom and dad and 2 kids......we are outgoing so we didn't mind-----turns out the gm went to grade school with my sil's dad-----we were taking group pictures and everything and singing it's a small world after all and laughing ourselves silly..........I guess it just depends who you get seated with!!!!!

 

[SnowWtch]

We've been here many times and every time we go I can't stand it. I just concentrate on my food instead of talking to strangers. We've never had anyone who wasn't nice sitting with us though. I feel uncomfortable eating in front of people as it is but to be sitting with complete strangers bothers me greatly. The reason we keep going back is b/c the food is so good. I just can't help myself.

 

[TDC Nala]

It doesn't bother me but I won't go alone. The amount of posters on this board who are especially disturbed by being seated with a single diner confirms that decision.

 

[LSchrow]

now i'm getting nervous.....
we talk to everyone, & are hoping to be seating with others that are outgoing. it seems like a lot of ppl don't want to be bothered with "strangers".

we're not huge drinkers, btw, but we enjoy having fun & meeting ppl.....since, it'll only be DH & myself, think the hostess would mind if we asked to be seated with the "loudest, fun table"?

ETA: nala: singles, couples, families, whatever ~ it doesn't bother us in the least... so if you're there in may or oct, c'mon over & sit at our table

 

[KimR]

I am very shy and reserved, but I don't mind sharing tables with strangers at all. DH is outgoing enough for both of us and my girls love meeting new people. Biergarten sounds like a lot of fun and a place I'd love to try if it weren't a buffet - I don't do buffets.

We do have an ADR for Teppan Edo, though, and it's the same way there. We will be a party of 5 though, so the only thing I worry about is that we will be seated with a couple who don't care for children. My girls are very well-behaved and a bit older (15, 10, and 6), so maybe I'm worrying for nothing.

 

[TDC Nala]

now i'm getting nervous.....
we talk to everyone, & are hoping to be seating with others that are outgoing. it seems like a lot of ppl don't want to be bothered with "strangers".

we're not huge drinkers, btw, but we enjoy having fun & meeting ppl.....since, it'll only be DH & myself, think the hostess would mind if we asked to be seated with the "loudest, fun table"?

ETA: nala: singles, couples, families, whatever ~ it doesn't bother us in the least... so if you're there in may or oct, c'mon over & sit at our table

I like a party at Biergarten.

 

[monica31671]

We've been three times and loved it every time.
My son even had to take his picture with the first family we ate with!

 

[ReggieB]

I've been to the Biergarten only once. Our tablemates were two different couples. We were a bit worried that out DS would wear out his welcome, but he was complemented on his great manners (or they were just being polite!)

One couple was simply adorable, we wanted to adopt them for my son (he was 4 at the time) to be his grandparents. This couple were from PA, were in their eighties, and had been coming to WDW since it opened, always for her birthday. The guy had been stationed in England during WWII in an area near where I grew up, so that was quite a coincidence. When we got up to leave my DS suddenly sang an impromptu Happy Birthday out of the blue to the lady and got lots of hugs for that (and a big smooch)

I really hope they are still going to WDW for her birthday! DH and I decided we wanted to be that couple in 45 years time.