If you are looking for a fun and unique take on a character breakfast and you have a princess lover in your group, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is perfect for your family! This is the one of the only restaurants that offer the chance to meet all your favorite Disney Princesses in one place. You can expect to meet Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Princess Aurora, and Ariel. Reservations are strongly suggested to be made 60 days in advance for the best options to plan your day at EPCOT. Please note, that you will need valid park admission to dine here.
Akershus is located at EPCOT in the Norway Pavilion of the World Showcase. There is typically a line that is formed at the entrance into Norway, which is often confused with the line for Frozen Ever After, so please be sure to check in at the front of the restaurant to save your spot! As soon as you enter the restaurant you are greeted by your first Princess, more than likely this will be Belle, but that is always subject to change. The remaining princesses will then make their way around the restaurant to each table, as they do in most character dining situations. However, if there is one that has been missed by your family you can always request for them to stop by.
Breakfast is served from 8:00 am-11:10am; Lunch is from 11:55am-3:30pm; and Dinner is from 4:55pm-8:35pm. A good tip is to schedule your Advanced Dining Reservation for Breakfast around the time that the park opens. If EPCOT opens at 8:00am, you will typically be allowed to enter at 7:45am which is a great benefit once you are in the park because you will be able to jump on Frozen Ever After as soon as your meal is over! Breakfast is served family style with a selection of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, potato casserole, cinnamon rolls and fresh fruit. There is also a cold item buffet featuring fresh pastries, yogurt (and granola toppings), fruit, cheeses, smoked salmon, peppered mackerel, and sliced salami and turkey. It is a great amount of food with something for everyone to enjoy.
Lunch and Dinner also offers a cold buffet featuring the finest Scandinavian seafood, imported cheeses, cured and sliced meats, and a vast selection of salads and fruits. As for their menu, there is a mixture of some amazing dishes including grilled salmon or oven-roasted chicken breast. One of the favorites is Kjøttkake, which are meatballs that are served with mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and Lingonberry Sauce. Last, but definitely not least, is the amazing dessert, which is actually an offering of a trio of Norwegian inspired desserts served family style!
Akershus Royal Banquet accepts the Disney Dining Plan (not currently available), and it will be one Table Service Credit for Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner. As for prices outside of the Disney Dining Plan, for breakfast, it will cost $53 per adult, and $34 per child plus gratuities and any speciality drinks. Lunch and Dinner will be $63 per adult and $41 per child plus gratuities and any speciality drinks. This option will be approximately $10 cheaper than the Princess dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table.
For our meal at Akershus Royal Banquet we chose to indulge in an early breakfast. We were able to get access into EPCOT at 7:45am and took a relaxing walk back to the World Showcase. Once we arrived, we could see a line starting to form; however the line went quickly, and we were escorted into the entryway to meet with Belle! Once seated, we could see the Princesses start to mingle, and my daughter was so excited, she could barely stay seated. I loved the option to go up and grab fruit or pastries especially if you have small ones with you who want food immediately! I also always love family dining options, basically all you care to enjoy, and if you want seconds of a certain thing it’s ready in minutes. The character interaction is something I will forever cherish. The memories of seeing my daughter talk and gossip with her favorite princesses at our table made her feel so special, like they stopped by just to talk to her! I would highly recommend this to any families that enjoy character dining, especially with a different spin where it is only Princesses. It is a great environment and the food is amazing as well!