Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
Food Type: Norwegian, American.
How It Works: Akershus is a little different than other buffets. For the all-you-care-to-eat breakfast, the hot items will be brought to the table by a waiter and served family style. You may also enjoy the “cold bar” that features a variety of pastries, yogurts, and fruit For lunch and dinner, there is a cold bar with appetizers, bread, sliced meats, and a variety of other chilled foods. You may go to the cold bar as often as you like. Instead of a family style meal, lunch and dinner features a set menu where you will choose the entrée and a waiter will bring it to the table. Dessert is served family style with several options.
Dining Plan: One Table Service
Cost:
Breakfast: $32.99 for adults, $19.99 for children 8:00AM-11:10AM
Lunch: $35.99 for adults, $21.99 for children 11:40AM-2:50PM
Dinner: $39.99 for adults, $22.99 for children 4:20PM-8:40PM
Setting: The restaurant is a beautifully themed 14th century Scandinavian castle. High-beamed ceilings, leaded-glass windows, and archways compliment the white stone interior. Each meal features four to five princesses. Belle, Ariel, Jasmine, and Snow White are usually present and Cinderella and Mulan make special appearances as well.
Imaging Package: A photographer will take a picture of your party with Belle before you are seated. Note that Belle does not also visit tables. Akershus is one of the only character meals where the picture will be presented to you for “free.” The same imaging package would cost about $30 at Tusker House and other similar character buffets.
Advantages: The imaging package is a nice bonus and most pictures turn out well. The breakfast buffet offers a wide variety of fantastic entrées and sides, including the potato casserole which is exceptional. Character interaction is as good as or better than Cinderella’s Royal Table and the price is about $20 less per person. Breakfast is the stand out meal with better food and a wider variety of options. The cold bar at lunch and dinner offers a nice selection of Norwegian staples along with plenty of options that cater to the Americanized palette.
Disadvantages: It is expensive and reservations are almost always required. The lunch and dinner entrees are hit or miss quality wise and may not be appealing to those with limited palettes. The restaurant is always busy and tables are close together.
Value: It depends on your situation, expectations, and what you’re looking for in the meal. If you want the pictures and the princess interaction then this is an excellent value, especially on the Dining Plan. If you’re just here for the food then you could probably do better elsewhere, both in terms of quality and price.
Reputation: Akershus is highly rated, especially for a buffet style meal. The character interaction is excellent and this is one of the only opportunities to meet five princesses so easily. Akershus is recommended for breakfast in particular. If you can get a reservation before the Park opens in the morning then you will also be admitted into Epcot before the official rope drop, allowing pictures throughout Future World, Mexico, and Norway with few people around. If you’d like to experience breakfast after visiting the major attractions, make a reservation around 10:45am. Overall, Akershus is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a character meal featuring the Disney princesses.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
hello! I’m a bit confused about AKERSHUS because I’ve read different reviews and some people say that you may order more than one entree… I know there’s a salad buffet or something like that but can you also have as many entrees as you wish? How does the dessert work?
Thanks in advance,
B.O.