In the back of Epcot's World Showcase Germany pavilion, you'll find the arched entrance to Biergarten Restaurant, home to Walt Disney World's year round Oktoberfest celebration. The pavilion itself gives you the feeling of a small village nestled in the foothills of the Alps. Wonderful shops have Hummel figurines, beer steins and cuckoo clocks of all shapes and sizes for your shopping pleasure.

You check in for your Advanced Dining Reservation (formerly known as Priority Seating) at the podium situated outside Biergarten's entrance. After a short wait you are escorted inside where one of the German CMs, dressed for Oktoberfest, introduce you to your table mates and bring you to your seat. You'll walk through a Bavarian village at twilight with a working waterwheel and geranium-filled flower boxes adorning Tudor-style houses and soft lighting coming from the street lamps. Tables can seat 8 or 12 so this is a good restaurant for large groups. It's also a great way to meet some fellow travelers.

What's Oktoberfest without beer? You have your choice of Beck's, either light or dark, and Lowenbrau. You can have them in managable 16 ounce mugs or satisfying 32 ounce glass steins. Wine and soft drinks are also available. After taking your drink orders, your server will tell you to proceed to the all-you-can-eat buffet for your food. Lunch costs are $15.99US for adults and $7.99US for children aged 3 to 9. Dinner runs $20.99US and $8.99US respectively and has a few more hot dishes on the menu.

The buffet has two large sections. One featuring cold dishes with German potato, wurst, cabbage, beet, macaroni, and tomato salads. The other has your meats like bratwurst, german sausage, chicken schnitzel, rotisserie chicken and roasted pork. Side dishes of spatzle, meatballs, roasted potatos, red cabbage, vegetables, apple sauce and sauerkraut are available. Kids never have to fear as there is mac and cheese and chicken tenders for them. Oh, and don't forget dessert! You'll have your choice of puddings, florentine cookies, black forest cake and warmed apple strudel.

Throughout the lunch and dinner seatings, you'll be entertained by a native oom-pah-pah band dressed in lederhosen and playing tubas, cowbells, an accordion, alpen horn and even a musical saw. The show lasts about 25 minutes and has you singing tradional songs and dancing to the chicken dance. The surprise is the alpen horn which is not a loud, one note horn but a lovely sounding instrument which is featured in a solo performance. At the end, guests are encouraged to come down and polka on the dance floor. It is during the show you will be encouraged to meet your neighbors at your table if you haven't done so already. It can be a bit uncomfortable doing this but it's a great way to get to know people from all over the world.

To find out the entertainment schedule for not only Biergarten but all Walt Disney World themeparks and restaurants, check out Steve Soares' Walt Disney World Entertainment website.

Biergarten Advanced Dining Reservations can be made 180 days in advance of your trip. Check the band's schedule and get a seating time within 30 minutes of the start of a show.