Storybook Dining At Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
- Ruth
- Aug 15
- 3 min read
Join princesses in a medieval castle in EPCOT!
The Disney Princesses are as iconic as the castles they inhabit. Walt Disney World has created memorable experiences for fans in the form of dining with many of the Disney Princesses. WDWAO Blogger Heather and Ruth are each sharing their experiences dining with royalty. In this blog, journey around the World Showcase with WDWAO Member, Ruth, as she shares her experience at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall! For Heather's Cinderella story, check out her Cinderella's Royal Table Review.
A Norwegian Princess Experience:
If you’re a princess fan, no doubt you’ve considered a Disney character meal with princesses. During a girls’ trip last year, my friend Stephanie and I decided to try the princess dining experience at Akershus, in the heart of EPCOT's Norway Pavilion. Akershus offers a unique blend of Norwegian cuisine and Disney magic, making a unique alternative to the more popular Cinderella’s Royal Table in Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom.
The Meal:
As we entered the grand hall, we were immediately transported into a fairytale. The castle, while not as famous as Cinderella’s, was a royally perfect backdrop for our meal. The dining experience is family-style, meaning it's all you care to eat, but brought to the table vs. buffet style. The menu features a variety of Norwegian-inspired dishes, including salad with lingonberry vinaigrette, Lefse (a Norwegian flatbread) with cinnamon butter, traditional Norwegian meatballs, grilled salmon, chicken with apple/fennel preserves, vegetables, mashed potatoes, and assortment of desserts. Interestingly, they also included a few items that we didn’t expect on an adult plate – mini corn dogs and mac & cheese. If you’re not likely to eat these, you can ask your server to only be served items from the adult menu. While the food was good, and we didn’t leave hungry, it wasn't the highlight of our visit, nor particularly magical in any way.
The Princesses:
The real magic was in the atmosphere and the interactions with the princesses. During our meal we were greeted at our table by a lineup of Disney princesses in their gorgeous gowns. Princess appearances are on a rotating schedule. On the day of our visit, the princesses were Aurora, Belle, Ariel, Snow White, and Tiana. Each princess took the time to chat, pose for photos, and make us feel like royalty. One of the standout moments was when Snow White stopped to admire my DisneyBound outfit and Snow White inspired manicure. It was a truly enchanting experience that made our lunch at Akershus unforgettable. Our experience concluded with one final view of the princesses, as they paraded through the castle, giving us a twirl in their stunning gowns. We left with full bellies, lots of great photos, and princess experiences that were the highlight of our day.
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall vs. Cinderella’s Royal Table:
I’m sure you’re wondering which was better, this or Cinderella’s Royal Table. I’ll preface my thoughts with this. Knowing this was family style vs. full menu, I didn’t expect the meal to be as good as Cinderella’s Royal Table, and it wasn’t. But, it’s also not as expensive ($69pp vs.$88 pp, plus tax and gratuity at the time of writing this blog). If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, both are two meal credits though, making a meal at CRT the better value. From pure princess experience alone, the two are pretty close, but I’d give the nod to Akershus because of the wide-open space where the princesses can fully show off their gowns. Of course, your experience may vary. The only way to know which is better for you is by trying both!
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is a table service restaurant that offers breakfast ($35-$60), Lunch ($60+) and Dinner ($60+). The culinary team here plates up American and Norwegian cuisine for diners. As a popular character dining experience, reservations are recommended if you’re looking to dine with the Disney Princesses.
Have you been to Akershus Royal Banquet Hall? Let us know your thoughts on this dining location in the comments.
Photos: Walt Disney World Adults Only
We dined here for the first time in March for my bachelorette at breakfast and it was so magical! The food was amazing and the princesses were fantastic!