Anyone go to Munich's Oktoberfest?

[amberlyrose]

We're going this year with a group of friends, and I'm wondering what to expect. We plan on going to the actual Oktoberfest on a Monday, instead of the busy weekends. We have an airbnb about 10 minutes away, but other than that, I really don't know what to expect.

[looseseal]

I was there just after, so missed the actual Oktoberfest. I'd love to go back to Germany again with H, though, so am curious what other's thoughts are on being there during.

[Champagne Supernova]

Monday should be a good day. You might not need reservations. It was super crowded on Friday, Saturday and Sunday when we went.

Are you planning on wearing a dirndl? I love seeing the different styles.

It might get busy and there will be lots of people as the day goes. Bring cash!

Just go with the flow and have fun. Try all the foods. OMG.

Oh, the women's bathroom queues can be ridiculous in AND out of the tents.

[Cioccolato]

I went once, 7 years ago.

It's ver crowded. You will need reservations or you need to show up to line up around 6am. You will probably need to get two sets of reservations because you will be kicked out at 4 if you have the early reservations.

Get dressed up! Get a drindl, they're expensive but everyone wears them. The shops in Munich will sell them. It's fun but its crazy.

Enjoy the food, it's so good!

[more adventurous]

If you can manage to get the search feature to work, it seems like there have been a few posts about this recently. I'm not sure how big your group is but we were ok without reservations for 2 on the weeknights. (With a bigger group I do think it would be much harder though.) We bought the dirndl and lederhosen and fit right in. My tip would be, if you don't get to the tents until later in the evening, make sure you grab dinner at a booth before heading in! I had read that there would be food available in the tents so we didn't eat but once it gets later it's nearly impossible to eat because everyone is standing on the tables to sing and dance. We ate a bite after the tents closed, but I think not eating dinner before drinking liters and liters of beer was what lead to our demise the next day, lol.

[amberlyrose]

Jul 18, 2016 16:06:00 GMT -5 Champagne Supernova said:

Monday should be a good day. You might not need reservations. It was super crowded on Friday, Saturday and Sunday when we went.

Are you planning on wearing a dirndl? I love seeing the different styles.

It might get busy and there will be lots of people as the day goes. Bring cash!

Just go with the flow and have fun. Try all the foods. OMG.

Oh, the women's bathroom queues can be ridiculous in AND out of the tents.

I'm actually looking at a site right now to buy one. I'm worried about sizing, so I want to buy one ahead of time that isn't costume-y. 

[amberlyrose]

Jul 19, 2016 11:19:26 GMT -5 more adventurous said:

If you can manage to get the search feature to work, it seems like there have been a few posts about this recently. I'm not sure how big your group is but we were ok without reservations for 2 on the weeknights. (With a bigger group I do think it would be much harder though.) We bought the dirndl and lederhosen and fit right in. My tip would be, if you don't get to the tents until later in the evening, make sure you grab dinner at a booth before heading in! I had read that there would be food available in the tents so we didn't eat but once it gets later it's nearly impossible to eat because everyone is standing on the tables to sing and dance. We ate a bite after the tents closed, but I think not eating dinner before drinking liters and liters of beer was what lead to our demise the next day, lol.

Officially 5 of us, maybe 6 or 7 by the time everyone gets their act together. lol. 

[more adventurous]

Yeah, if you can get reservations for a group that size at this point, then I definitely would. It will be much less stressful that way! When you say you're worried about sizing on the dirndls do you mean you're afraid the ones in Germany won't fit you? They had tons of sizes at the place that we went. I had looked into ordering ahead, too, but it seemed like such a gamble on quality since I didn't really know what I would be getting, and it still seemed to be $$, especially with shipping. I can try to find the name of the place where I bought mine if that would help.

[amberlyrose]

Jul 19, 2016 13:05:31 GMT -5 more adventurous said:

Yeah, if you can get reservations for a group that size at this point, then I definitely would. It will be much less stressful that way! When you say you're worried about sizing on the dirndls do you mean you're afraid the ones in Germany won't fit you? They had tons of sizes at the place that we went. I had looked into ordering ahead, too, but it seemed like such a gamble on quality since I didn't really know what I would be getting, and it still seemed to be $$, especially with shipping. I can try to find the name of the place where I bought mine if that would help.

thanks! If you can find the place, I'd love to know
My SIL went around Christmas last year and she said she had a hell of a time finding a good quality dirndl that fit. She and I are about the same size, except I definitely have more curves. So, that's what I'm worried about. 
I found a few sites that have good reviews from travel blogs to buy from. I don't mind spending a decent amount because my husband's family is super German and attend every cultural festival related to Germany (and beer!), so I know I'll wear it more than once. 

[Champagne Supernova]

Jul 19, 2016 12:43:04 GMT -5 amberlyrose said:

Jul 18, 2016 16:06:00 GMT -5 Champagne Supernova said:

Monday should be a good day. You might not need reservations. It was super crowded on Friday, Saturday and Sunday when we went.

Are you planning on wearing a dirndl? I love seeing the different styles.

It might get busy and there will be lots of people as the day goes. Bring cash!

Just go with the flow and have fun. Try all the foods. OMG.

Oh, the women's bathroom queues can be ridiculous in AND out of the tents.

I'm actually looking at a site right now to buy one. I'm worried about sizing, so I want to buy one ahead of time that isn't costume-y. 

Gurrrl, buy one when you get there! So many choices and styles in different price ranges! I had fun shopping for one.

ETA: Some of the styles are actually forgiving. Like, mine zips on the side but also laces-up in the front so I can tighten it and loosen it up when needed.

[more adventurous]

Jul 19, 2016 13:21:25 GMT -5 amberlyrose said:

thanks! If you can find the place, I'd love to know
My SIL went around Christmas last year and she said she had a hell of a time finding a good quality dirndl that fit. She and I are about the same size, except I definitely have more curves. So, that's what I'm worried about. 
I found a few sites that have good reviews from travel blogs to buy from. I don't mind spending a decent amount because my husband's family is super German and attend every cultural festival related to Germany (and beer!), so I know I'll wear it more than once. 

Ok, I'm 99% sure that we bought ours at Trachten Rausch off of Ruppertstraße. I'll see if I can find anything on the tag when I get home, but that looks like it, and I had it saved on Google Maps. Here's their website: www.trachtenrausch.com/bavariashop.html. It looks like they have another location now, too.

Aren't a lot of Germans curvy? I could be wrong, but I'm surprised that your SIL had such a hard time! 

[amberlyrose]

Jul 19, 2016 13:35:54 GMT -5 more adventurous said:

Jul 19, 2016 13:21:25 GMT -5 amberlyrose said:

thanks! If you can find the place, I'd love to know
My SIL went around Christmas last year and she said she had a hell of a time finding a good quality dirndl that fit. She and I are about the same size, except I definitely have more curves. So, that's what I'm worried about. 
I found a few sites that have good reviews from travel blogs to buy from. I don't mind spending a decent amount because my husband's family is super German and attend every cultural festival related to Germany (and beer!), so I know I'll wear it more than once. 

Ok, I'm 99% sure that we bought ours at Trachten Rausch off of Ruppertstraße. I'll see if I can find anything on the tag when I get home, but that looks like it, and I had it saved on Google Maps. Here's their website: www.trachtenrausch.com/bavariashop.html. It looks like they have another location now, too.

Aren't a lot of Germans curvy? I could be wrong, but I'm surprised that your SIL had such a hard time! 

thanks. We also don't have a ton of time, so I want to spend most of it drinking
She was super upset about it, actually. She ended up with lederhosen instead. 

[more adventurous]

Jul 19, 2016 13:38:11 GMT -5 amberlyrose said:

thanks. We also don't have a ton of time, so I want to spend most of it drinking
She was super upset about it, actually. She ended up with lederhosen instead.

Yeah, that would be really disappointing. Good point about the time, too. We probably spent a good half a day getting there and back and being indecisive about what we wanted to buy. But if you get into a bind, they're really good quality! Hopefully you can find something similar online. I love mine. The more we talk about this, the more jealous I am of your trip! You're going to have a blast!

[amberlyrose]

Jul 19, 2016 13:54:04 GMT -5 more adventurous said:

Jul 19, 2016 13:38:11 GMT -5 amberlyrose said:

thanks. We also don't have a ton of time, so I want to spend most of it drinking
She was super upset about it, actually. She ended up with lederhosen instead.

Yeah, that would be really disappointing. Good point about the time, too. We probably spent a good half a day getting there and back and being indecisive about what we wanted to buy. But if you get into a bind, they're really good quality! Hopefully you can find something similar online. I love mine. The more we talk about this, the more jealous I am of your trip! You're going to have a blast!

I'm thinking of this one. I love green and purple together  

www.oktoberfest-dirndl-shop.co.uk/women/dirndl/dirndl-und-dresses-60cm/7308/mididirndl-2pcs.-kirsten-purple-60-cm?c=1336

[Champagne Supernova]

If you're really limited on time, you can easily get one off the rack at the department stores around the Marienplatz.

C&A had plenty of great choices. You just have to try them on because the sizing is all over the place.

[klingklang77]

If you are going on the Monday of October 3rd, it's a holiday and it will be impossible to get a place unless you go early. It's also the last day.

I usually go around the side entrances instead of the front entrances. You will have a better shot at getting a place. I had a few reservations last year for the weekend, but I went a few times during the week with no problems getting in. I have two reservations for 2 different weekends this year (I live in Munich, so that's why I go so much!).

I'd get the dirndl when you get here, but try and go outside of the city for a larger selection. The selection at the department stores in Marienplatz are thin by the time Oktoberfest starts or right before, IMO. I go to Moser Tracht Outlet in Brunnthal and there is so much to try on www.trachten.de/damen/dirndl ! I think they have other places throughout Munich.

The one you posted is nice, but I'm weary because of how they tied the bow in the middle. I'm not sure it would be quality because this is a smallish detail that an authentic Tracht place would not do.

If you are really looking to get something authentic, you are going to pay 600 Euro or more. Even the ones in department stores aren't really "authentic," but they aren't cheap either.

[Cioccolato]

amberlyrose, Are you still planning to go with the reecent terrorist attacks?

I'm sure they will step up the police force this year.

[amberlyrose]

Jul 26, 2016 0:50:43 GMT -5 Cioccolato said:

amberlyrose , Are you still planning to go with the reecent terrorist attacks?

I'm sure they will step up the police force this year.

yup. Somehow, there is always a terrorist attack before I leave somewhere, but I refuse to let them ruin my trips. That is what they want. 

Not going to lie, it does freak me out.

[buckeyegirl]

I've been following the recent attacks but still plan to go as well. We have reservations in the lowenbrau tent for a Sunday.

[amberlyrose]

Jul 26, 2016 16:28:46 GMT -5 buckeyegirl said:

I've been following the recent attacks but still plan to go as well. We have reservations in the lowenbrau tent for a Sunday.

When are you going? We'll be there the first weekend. 

[buckeyegirl]

We'll be there for the second weekend.

[amberlyrose]

Aug 9, 2016 19:24:52 GMT -5 buckeyegirl said:

We'll be there for the second weekend.

Darn.