Is there a princess lover in your group? If so, book a table at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall! If you are a classic Disney movie nerd like me, chances are you have a soft spot for Disney Princesses, whether we are talking about the OG Disney Princess: Snow White. Or later princesses with stories told in beautiful hand-drawn animation like Princess Aurora in the 1959 classic Sleeping Beauty.
I am a massive fan of Disney Princesses and look for every opportunity to meet them during a Walt Disney World vacation. Obviously, Cinderella’s Royal Table in Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park is a great character dining opportunity to meet this special Disney Princess and Prince Charming. Magic Kingdom’s Princess Fairytale Hall is also a great spot in the Park to schedule a time to meet some of the leading ladies from Disney animated movies.
Lucky for fans like me, there is an incredible Disney dining opportunity that also brings Guests up close to characters is right in EPCOT’s World Showcase. Suppose you want to enjoy delicious food and meet Walt Disney movie-inspired princesses. In that case, you must book a dining reservation at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall during your Walt Disney World Resort vacation. You will love the food, ambiance, and, of course, the character dining experience.
If you are new to character dining, you are in for a treat! Character meals or character dining is a great experience that is uniquely Disney. In Disney Parks, Disney World Resort Hotels, and around the property, you will find table service restaurants serving delectable themed food alongside your favorite Disney movie characters. Winnie the Pooh at Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom Park, Minnie Mouse at Hollywood & Vine in Hollywood Studios, and Chip and Dale at EPCOT’s Garden Grill are a few character meal highlights I love. These restaurants and more, mean you can see a beloved Disney character while you dine instead of spending precious Park time searching out character meets and waiting in line.
Related: Disney Vacation Club Just Made a MAJOR Change to Its Member Points System
That said, many Disney World insiders find Disney Princess character meals in short supply. The truth is, you can find some of these leading ladies if you know where to look. Enter – Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in the Norway Pavilion in EPCOT’s World Showcase. This dinner spot serves up a family-style nordic feast while princesses greet you. Characters are subject to change, but you can expect to meet Aurora, Snow White, Belle, and Ariel during your meal. We’ve even seen Mulan and Jasmine on specific days.
The princesses will rotate around the dining room as you enjoy three delicious courses. Keep your camera handy and autograph books ready to go when your favorite princess arrives at your table. To reduce fumbling and delays, my family chooses one designated camera to snap all the group’s photos and shares them with the rest of the party after the meal. This will maximize the amount of time you get to spend chatting with the princesses.
Related: 6 Things You Will Love About Tusker House Restaurant At Walt Disney World
You may feel like royalty yourself. After all, it’s hard not to fall seamlessly into this storybook theming in such a beautiful dining space. Inspired by a medieval castle, the tapestries, color scheme, and architecture of the area are so convincing you may forget you are in Lake Buena Vista in central Florida and not in a european castle.
This Disney character dining experience comes with some incredible food on the menu. For $63 per adult, you’ll dine on an assortment of family-style dishes with options like Field Greens Salad with Lingonberry Vinaigrette, and Lefse with Cardamom-Cinnamon Butter. When you’ve finished the bread and starter course, you’ll move on to heartier fare.
Traditional KjØttkake: hearty Norwegian meatballs, fluffy mashed potatoes, and gravy make a perfect plate. You don’t think of Norway and not think of salmon. Lucky for you, flavorful grilled salmon with smooth herbed butter is on the menu.
This hearty main course is served with sides like fresh green beans, red cabbage, classic macaroni & cheese, and a new-to-you side Kylling og Melboller. This dish will surely be a crowd-pleaser in your family and is best described as Norwegian chicken and dumplings. The menu also has crunchy corn dog nuggets for the kids (or the big kids) to enjoy. An allergy-friendly menu is available, so feel free to contact a Cast Member to learn about allergy-friendly options.
The dessert course is an event at Akershus. You’ll finish your meal with an assortment of Norwegian desserts that you will love. Soft drinks are included with the cost of your meal, but there are some fun libations unique to the Akershus menu that you may want to try during your visit.
Related: VIDEO: Give the Green Light to Toy Story Land’s Green Army Drum Corps!
The Northern Light’s Cocktail and the Blue Viking are the top cocktails I recommend, although you cannot go wrong with this menu. The Northern Light’s Cocktail is made with Helix7 Vodka, Bols Blue Curaçao Liqueur, Blueberry, Desert Pear, and Sprite® and served with a fun glow cube. The Blue Viking is a flavorful drink made with a blend of Helix7 Vodka, Don Q Cristal Rum, El Jimador Blanco Tequila, Askur Gin, and Bols Blue Curaçao Liqueur.
@wrightdownmainstreet Dinner at Akershus! #wrightdownmainstreet #youcanflytravels #epcot #disneyparks #disneyeats #disneyfood #wieiad
If meeting characters and indulging in a wonderful Disney meal is on your vacation to-do list, you should consider booking a table service meal at Akershus. As you might imagine, this princess character meal is in high demand, so be sure to secure your advanced dining reservation as soon as your booking window opens. Happy Disney dining!