I mean of you guys, of course. I figure it’s worth a shot.
FWIW, I’ve decided I need to do some pre-event training this week. Along those lines I’ve been drinking beer every day this week (not my usual regimen. That and heavy German foods, which go nicely with the fall weather.
If you want to get in to one of the beer tents, go early. Someone told me 6:00, and I don’t think he meant p.m. They were packed by the time I was there in the early afternoon, but I got lucky and someone let a few of us in through a side door. Never found a seat, though.
If you hit the midway (or whatever they call it in Germany) let me know if you see a particular ride (for lack of a better term). It’s basically just a fast, inclined conveyor belt, then stairs, and a slide to come back down. The entertainment value seems to be in watching other people try to get on the belt and fall on their ass. There are guys working the ride to catch people, and they hop on and off at will, but almost no one else does.
Googling “Oktoberfest conveyor belt” is no help at all.
It was way at the south end of the grounds when I was there in 2004. I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere else.
Dude, you’ll have beer enough. Leave the hard stuff alone, ok?
RA: I shall find you a picture and name of said ride. I doubt I will get to any tent by 6:00 am. If I can’t get in, I can’t get in. If it’s just me it can be easier sometimes to find a way into places.
Bier kicks my butt. Whisk(e)y not so much.
Thanks, but I don’t need a picture. I’m just curious if the thing is still there; it looked more permanent than most carninval rides. And if you try it, let me know what it’s like.
My knee is injured and feeling a little more achy each day, so if I’m smart I won’t try it. But beer does tend to induce the stupid in some folks. We’ll see.
I am just grateful that my daughter is now home from Oktoberfest 
Si
Ah yes, Oktoberfest.
I was there AGES ago, and still have fond (if foggy) memories of it.
However, like many wonderful things in life, I think this was a one-time, been- there, done-that event for me.
I suppose if I were ever near Munich during Oktoberfest, and felt like a stroll down memory lane, I might go as a casual observer to relive the madness and watch other 20-somethings do as I did…but I would much rather go to any of the regular beer halls in the city, any time, year-round, and deal with the drunks on a much smaller scale.
However, I think everyone should experience it at least once - so Prost! Have fun, one and all, and report back! How much is “eine Mass” these days?
Um, first, the tents open around noon, so 6 am would be rather pointless. Secondly, everybody will there on this, the last, weekend, so no matter at what time you go, it will be packed. Third, if you don’t have a reservation (which are all sold out 11 months in advance, roughly), don’t expect to get a seat in the tent on a weekend. The time to go would have been during noon on a weekday.
It’s called “Toboggan” (I never knew that was Canadian for sledge); built entirely out of wood, has been around for decades; and quite near the entrance from the Undergrounstation Goethstrasse.
Yes, that’s the fun part. Women and children always get helped - in fact, they put up a sign that every customer who aks for help is helped - but apparenlty men consider it too wussy to ask. Unless you watch some time, it’s easy to misjudge the huge speed the belt has, and the sudden jerk it gives you. Once you’ve lost your balance from that, you usually can’t regain it.
Why only guys?
I already went last week Wednesday afternoon and I’m not keen on the throngs of people during the weekend. I would like meeting Dopers, but I doubt we would find a place to sit!
Everything is re-mantled after the Octoberfest is over, even the tents. It does take two months to build everything up, though. Most of the year, the Wiesn is simply an empty ground used for parking buses. Till the Frühlingsfest (Spring festival) in April comes, and Tollwood.
Guys is a figure of speech and includes, most often, persons of every gender.
Constanze, I have found I really like Munich, so I will probably swing through town again soon enough. Maybe even Thursday* after this weekend. You’ve been a great source of Munich information, so maybe I can say thank you sometime by inviting you for a drink or meal of your choosing?
*I’m flying back out from Munich that Friday afternoon.
8.60 euro apparently, plus tip.
My daughter decided that Oktoberfest was overrated, but YMMV
Si
Oh, I thought guys = men, gals = women.
Glad that you liked it !
I’m glad to hear that my tips have been helpful and would like to meet you. It’s not necessary to invite me, though, we can simply pay dutch, as is usual here.
Do you want a typical Bavarian Restaurant, or one a typical native like me goes to? Standard Italian, or modern, a bit new-age, natural, one?
Would other Dopers in Munich also like to come? The other Dopefests, even London, are always a bit far away for me…
For a litre of beer? Mein Gott! You can get beer a lot cheaper elsewhere in Germany.
You can get it cheaper elsewhere in Munich, too. You can buy beer at the supermarket and drink at home, or go to a Beergarden and pay more for everything with it.
We had a nice time at the SchwabenWelt tent at the Volkfest. Not something I’d want to do everyday, but nice to see for at least once. Yes, the beer is expensive but:
a) it’s good beer
b) you get a nice atmosphere, live music, and plenty of things to look at to go with it.
Plus, I’m on expenses for the trip, so my partying for this is fairly well subsidized, within some limits.