By Fairy Diva
With each visit we make to Walt Disney World, our family likes to try at least one new (to us) restaurant. On our last vacation, we didn’t have an dining plans, so I at least hoped to find a new favorite quick service location. However, one evening as we wandered through the World Showcase at Epcot, we knew that we were ready for a nice, sit-down meal.
DIVA TIP: One of the best tips for Disney travel is to make your advance dining reservations as early as possible, at 180 days prior to your vacation if staying in a Walt Disney World resort, and here we were hungry and without a reservation.
We were closest to Germany and had considered eating at Biergarten Restaurant on prior vacations, and decided to try our luck at getting a walk-up dining time. This is definitely not a method I would recommend, but we were pleasantly surprised to find that they could seat us with less than a thirty minute wait.
While we waited with buzzer in hand, we enjoyed looking through the shops of Germany, especially the large display of cuckoo clocks. The Germany pavilion is a really great area to explore!
Finally, less than twenty minutes later, our buzzer alarmed and we headed for our first dinner at Biergarten Restaurant. Upon entering, we were greeted by a friendly server, who explained how the buffet was arranged as he escorted us to our table. The atmosphere was lively, with a band playing on a stage in the center of the restaurant. The feeling of an exciting Oktoberfest definitely filled the restaurant.
At Biergarten, guests are seated at communal style tables, which means that unless you are with a large group, you will most likely be seated with another family or group. Our family of four was seated with another group of four. And while some enjoy the socialization aspect of it, this concept was not really appealing to us. However, we never found it awkward, and the music was so loud that it would have been impossible to have a conversation anyway.
The band entertained with polka music, and lots of children burned off energy on the dance floor area surrounding the stage. The music was festive and enjoyable, and the entire meal truly felt like I was nowhere near Florida, but rather in the middle of a celebration in Germany, just as intended.
The buffet, while not huge, offers some really tasty food. I am not a fan of German food- namely Bratwurst and Sauerkraut- but found plenty of things I did enjoy! My picky daughter, on the other hand, basically made a meal of the pretzel bread (which is amazing), even sticking her nose up at the baked macaroni and cheese, typically her favorite. So super picky eaters may want to consider a different dining location. The buffet consisted of cold salads, soups, roasted vegetables, pork schnitzel, chicken, fish, meatballs, spätzle and roast. Desserts were also delicious with options like Bavarian cheesecake, black forest cake, cookies and my favorite, apple strudel. Allergen guides were available for those needing allergy-friendly options.
Lunch prices range from $15 to $35 per adult and dinner from $35 to $60, with prices depending on the seasons. If using the Disney Dining Plan, Biergarten is one table service credit.
Overall, our impromptu dinner at Beirgarten was a great addition to our vacation! While we will most likely return on future trips, I do look forward to continuing new dining locations.
Ready to plan your next getaway? Contact Patricia at All 4 Dreams Travel!
