Welcome to planDisney, Darron!
Thanks for bringing your great question my way regarding the experience at
Biergarten Restaurant. This is a really unique and fun place to dine within
EPCOT at the Walt Disney World Resort, inside the Germany Pavillion at World Showcase. I’ve dined here a few times and am happy to help you know what to expect when you visit this summer.
This is an all-you-care-to-eat buffet restaurant, currently priced at $49 USD for adults at both lunch and dinner (subject to change). This price includes the sprawling
buffet featuring authentic tastes from Germany such as sausages, spatzle, cheese soup, pretzel bread, a variety of meats at a carving station, sauerkraut, nudel gratin, pork schnitzel, plus several salads, vegetables, and charcuterie offerings. There is also a
nice kid-friendly section of familiar American-style foods and a beautiful dessert presentation with favorites such as apple strudel or black forest cake. The per-person price also includes all non-alcoholic beverages – are you brave enough to try the typical German Spetzi (a mix of Coca-Cola and Fanta Orange)?
This meal price does not include alcohol, but you’ll find many great beer and wine selections available for an additional cost aligned with other alcoholic drink prices throughout the resort. Biergarten offers generous ½ Liter or Liter sized glasses of beer and I’ve enjoyed the wine flight selections to sample regional flavors. Whatever you fancy to drink, be sure to engage in the enthusiastic group song of
“ziggy zaggy, ziggy zaggy, oi oi oi!” throughout your meal.
While this restaurant is not a character dining experience, the price does include unique entertainment. My family is always entranced by the musicians in traditional dress playing familiar Disney tunes and international songs on both water glasses (yes!) and authentic German instruments. Hearing
Edelweiss in this environment is really special, and so unexpected in a theme park! A meal at Biergarten Restaurant typically takes about 45-60 minutes, but if your reservation time doesn’t align with the start of the staggered showtimes, feel free to linger and enjoy for a reasonable amount of time before heading onto your next EPCOT adventure.
I can’t let you go without describing the atmosphere of this great dining experience, Darron. It’s indoors but designed to feel like an outdoor German village at night – I find the low lighting and atmosphere to be very calming and refreshing on a busy (and hot) theme park day. Their large family-style tables mean there isn’t a bad view in the house, and it’s perfect for large parties dining together.
I hope this helps manage your expectations for a memorable meal this summer. Be sure and save a little room to sample the flavors at the
EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, which will be in full swing during your visit, as you stroll around the World Showcase.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions as you finalize the details for this special vacation, I’d love to help!
Prost! Amy