Whose excited about Biergarten Family Style??

[JETSDAD]

So everyone who avoids Biergarten bc of the shared tables do you avoid Japanese/Hibachi as well?

Yup.

 

[reliev]

So everyone who avoids Biergarten bc of the shared tables do you avoid Japanese/Hibachi as well?

I honestly don't mind the shared tables at all. In this period of time, I do though if that makes sense.
Edit
I have had great conversations with random people as well as really strange ones or some you can tell they didn't want to talk to me/friends/family.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I never minded the buffet at Biergarten, but I hated sitting with other people which is why we avoided it. I'd have to see what was offered in the family style meal, but it might be an option for us now assuming they will now only seat a single party at each table.

Agree . we only have been there once and we had 8 people. So we had our own table. But I saw them seating families together and we never booked again. I love having conversations on buses, monorails, in lines, etc with people I don’t know. I don’t want to eat dinner at a table with people I don’t know. Similar at Sci fi. I will only eat there when all 6 of us go since they keep putting 2 people with us in a car when there’s 4. I’m looking forward to booking sci fi in September if I can get in since I know they won’t be seating someone else in our car with us.

 

[BruinsDad]

Biergarten is great atmosphere--underrated on that score IMO. As for food--I'm sure the family style will include great sausage, schnitzel and pretzels, which is all I need. Other than that, what items could you possibly miss from that buffet?

My only fear with family style, especially with limited capacity, is that these restaurants take an Ohana turn where you are getting slammed with a bunch of food right when you sit down and are expected to eat and get out. That would be a real bummer.

 

[nkereina]

So everyone who avoids Biergarten bc of the shared tables do you avoid Japanese/Hibachi as well?

Ehh.. apples and oranges to me. I didn't love the shared tables at Biergarten, but enjoy Teppan Edo/hibachi. At Biergarten, you're seated across from people and almost feel a sense of forced conversation since you're in close proximity and there's just music around. At Teppan Edo, or any other hibachi, its more of a dinner show and you're seated in a U shape. Its easier to keep to yourself in that atmosphere, if you want to.

Other than that, what items could you possibly miss from that buffet?

Spätzle. Dessert variety. Kids foods. Basic foods. One benefit of Biergarten was that if you have picky eaters who may not care for German food, there was always something you could find for them on the buffet line. I imagine that in a family style atmosphere, there will be less variety and the food will be primarily the authentic German foods that picky eaters won't care much for. Plus, I'll miss the other aspects of the buffet where I could go get myself as much or as little of something as I wanted, and wasn't at the mercy of a server to bring me more. If its anything like past Ohana experiences, it doesn't always go well.

 

[puffkin]

Ehh.. apples and oranges to me. I didn't love the shared tables at Biergarten, but enjoy Teppan Edo/hibachi. At Biergarten, you're seated across from people and almost feel a sense of forced conversation since you're in close proximity and there's just music around. At Teppan Edo, or any other hibachi, its more of a dinner show and you're seated in a U shape. Its easier to keep to yourself in that atmosphere, if you want to.

Exactly my opinion. Hibachi isn't a big deal for us, its actually fairly difficult to converse with anyone beyond the person seated right next to you. Even on cruises, we like having our own table or any time seating where we can dine by ourselves. I don't like having to feel "on" at dinner most nights, especially after a tiring day in the parks.

 

[bluejasmine]

Ehh.. apples and oranges to me. I didn't love the shared tables at Biergarten, but enjoy Teppan Edo/hibachi. At Biergarten, you're seated across from people and almost feel a sense of forced conversation since you're in close proximity and there's just music around. At Teppan Edo, or any other hibachi, its more of a dinner show and you're seated in a U shape. Its easier to keep to yourself in that atmosphere, if you want to.


Spätzle. Dessert variety. Kids foods. Basic foods. One benefit of Biergarten was that if you have picky eaters who may not care for German food, there was always something you could find for them on the buffet line. I imagine that in a family style atmosphere, there will be less variety and the food will be primarily the authentic German foods that picky eaters won't care much for. Plus, I'll miss the other aspects of the buffet where I could go get myself as much or as little of something as I wanted, and wasn't at the mercy of a server to bring me more. If its anything like past Ohana experiences, it doesn't always go well.

I feel certain that they will have kids foods available upon request like they do at Ohana and Garden Grill. I certainly will miss the buffet but in todays scary times a buffet wouldnt be safe anyway so I happy to still be able to get my German food!

 

[Captain Morgan Sparrow]

So... family style, but you are still forced to sit at tables with strangers?

I have only been here once, and it is when there were actually 8 people in our party, so I never did experience the strangers among us. That wouldnt even bother me much, but having to do family style with non party members just seems super awkward.

 

[reliev]

So... family style, but you are still forced to sit at tables with strangers?

I have only been here once, and it is when there were actually 8 people in our party, so I never did experience the strangers among us. That wouldnt even bother me much, but having to do family style with non party members just seems super awkward.

you cant technically sit with strangers in the current rules for the state that of course could change, but right now it's not allowed. I'm pretty sure Disney has to follow the same rules but I could be wrong.
I am not going to share a table myself in this current climate let alone sit with someone I feel is too close I can order take out.

 

[SwirlTheCitrus]

I hope that the price goes down-- no entertainment, and family style sounds nice-- but needs to be cheaper to be competitive.

This was the first thing that I saw, by the way, when the list came out. "Now I don't need to sit on the drunk dude next to me!"

 

[Geomom]

Looks like the Disney site updated the Biergarten page? It's different from what I saw the other day.

Boisterous German Buffet
Be transported to a traditional Bavarian village as you feast on German fare to the oompah beat of a lively Polka band.

At biergarten-style tables, enjoy such rotating selections as bratwurst, rotisserie chicken, pork schnitzel and a variety of salads. Save room for Bavarian cheesecake and hand-pulled apple strudel, made fresh daily!

Relax in the twilit atmosphere and raise a stein to over 200 years of Oktoberfest celebrations. Guests 21 years of age and up can enjoy a slew of German beers and wines.

Entertainment is subject to change. Advance reservations are highly recommended.

 

[WorldOfPooh]

Dang it, Disney! I'm sure what they bring to your table is going to be much more limited than buffet choices. I'm also sure since they will save tons of money on family style service, they won't be brining back the buffet. Ugh.

Buffets actually are huge profit centers, so from a cost perspective they would want to bring them back.

 

[peaceluv&mickeymouse]

We are planning on booking it. Love the food so not worried too much how it’s served and what is served. As long as there is beer !!

 

[reliev]

We are planning on booking it. Love the food so not worried too much how it’s served and what is served. As long as there is beer !!

PROST oh the many times my wife and I have gone she orders the 1L realizes it fills her so I basically get 2 1ls good for the rest of the day at epcot.

 

[kaytieeldr]

yeah that's how i understand it now no mixed seating anymore, no more awkward conversations when people ask where you are from you say down the road and they don't have anything to talk to you about

Aw, I wish I'd met you at a shared table! I can think of a ton of questions to further the conversation with a local!

Otoh, I was in a casino with my brother when a time share spook asked him, "where are you folks from?" He responded, "two miles that way." and they left us alone : )

Similar at Sci fi. I will only eat there when all 6 of us go since they keep putting 2 people with us in a car when there’s 4.

Curious why? The cars seat 2 x 2 x 2, and they wouldn't put another party between your two rows, and since everyone is facing the screen there's no need to have a conversation outside your own party, right? Heck, it's not all that easy to converse among your group!

 

[reliev]

Aw, I wish I'd met you at a shared table! I can think of a ton of questions to further the conversation with a local!

Otoh, I was in a casino with my brother when a time share spook asked him, "where are you folks from?" He responded, "two miles that way." and they left us alone : )

Curious why? The cars seat 2 x 2 x 2, and they wouldn't put another party between your two rows, and since everyone is facing the screen there's no need to have a conversation outside your own party, right? Heck, it's not all that easy to converse among your group!

anytime once we can socialize if I'm there id be happy to meet up with anyone from the boards.

 

[Lilsia]

Ehh.. apples and oranges to me. I didn't love the shared tables at Biergarten, but enjoy Teppan Edo/hibachi. At Biergarten, you're seated across from people and almost feel a sense of forced conversation since you're in close proximity and there's just music around. At Teppan Edo, or any other hibachi, its more of a dinner show and you're seated in a U shape. Its easier to keep to yourself in that atmosphere, if you want to.


Spätzle. Dessert variety. Kids foods. Basic foods. One benefit of Biergarten was that if you have picky eaters who may not care for German food, there was always something you could find for them on the buffet line. I imagine that in a family style atmosphere, there will be less variety and the food will be primarily the authentic German foods that picky eaters won't care much for. Plus, I'll miss the other aspects of the buffet where I could go get myself as much or as little of something as I wanted, and wasn't at the mercy of a server to bring me more. If its anything like past Ohana experiences, it doesn't always go well.

What do you mean "kids food"? All of the food there is good for kids. My kids could not get enough of the schnitzel and spaetzle. Not to mention the sausages. My youngest ate about 6 of the fruit compotes each visit. We called her an old lady. LOL

 

[Alan1972]

What do you mean "kids food"? All of the food there is good for kids. My kids could not get enough of the schnitzel and spaetzle. Not to mention the sausages. My youngest ate about 6 of the fruit compotes each visit. We called her an old lady. LOL

Yeah we don’t believe in “kid food” there is no such thing. Do people really think kids worldwide eat chicken nuggets.They eat what adults eat.

 

[Lilsia]

Yeah we don’t believe in “kid food” there is no such thing. Do people really think kids worldwide eat chicken nuggets.They eat what adults eat.

Exactly! I don't know why this has become a thing. How did kids survive for centuries before mac and cheese and chicken nuggets? I know from personal experience, and just common sense, that a child will eat what they are used to from early childhood. If you feed your kid normal food that the parents eat, then that is what the kids will eat. *disclaimer... I am not talking about special needs kids. It makes me sad to see so many kids missing out on good, healthy food because all they are fed is junk now. I was on the cruise and sat with a family who's 10 yo child wanted to try things on the menu like cream of mushroom soup and sea bass. It was all included in the price and she could have ordered anything but the parent refused to let the child get any of it and forced her to eat the kids burger and nuggets that she did not want. The parent even went so far as to give the child 1 tiny bite of her fish and when the girl said that she liked it, her mom refused to give her more. What the heck?

 

[reliev]

my kid eats adult food she likes just about everything I do. Maybe I don't cave to my kid yet or it could be shes beI always let her try anything on my plate.