Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
By: Meg KlineMay 11, 2017
Are you looking for a way to meet your favorite Disney Princesses while skipping the long lines? Akershus is a hidden gem located in Norway in Epcot’s World Showcase. This dining experience is straight out of a fairytale and is fit for a princess.My family and I had dinner reservations and we made sure to arrive earlier than normal so as not to miss out on our reservation. I had a pink tulle Disney Princess dress tucked away in my stroller for my 15-month old daughter. I quickly changed her into the dress and matching headband before we were called for our reservation.
When you enter the banquet hall you immediately feel like royalty! As my eyes quickly scanned the hall I noticed Belle waiting for us in her yellow ball gown. I was filled with joy that my daughter finally got to meet my favorite Disney Princess. A cast member called us over and we posed for a perfect picture with Belle. I was able to scan my magic band and the picture was automatically sent to our Memory Maker package. We were seated for dinner in a less crowded area of the hall tucked away in the back corner which was nice with two young children.The great thing about dining at Akershus is the option of an appetizer buffet along with your plated meal. The buffet features Scandinavian seafood, imported cheeses, sliced meats, salads, and fresh fruit. It was great to sample everything and even my children enjoyed the new flavors and textures.Now onto the main course! My husband ordered the Tradisjonell Kjøttkake which is Norwegian Meatballs, he absolutely loved them! The meatballs are served with Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables, and Lingonberry Sauce. I, on the other hand, love seafood, so I ordered the Skalldyrsgryte, which is a creamy casserole style dish with mussels, shrimp, and scallops. I was in heaven and enjoyed every bite. My son ordered the cheese pizza and enjoyed his meal. My daughter, who was 15-months old at the time, was able to order he own entrée and she loved the mac and cheese. Dessert was served family style with 3 options that pleased all 4 of us. We were served 3 large portions of each dessert. A chocolate mousse, a rice pudding, and an apple cake. This was a great way to end our already enjoyable meal.Our character interaction at Akershus was so magical and definitely an experience I will never forget. The characters are subject to change and you never know who you will end up meeting. We had the pleasure of meeting Belle, Cinderella, Aurora, Snow White, and Ariel. Each princess gracefully made their way over to our table and allowed us to have wonderful conversation with them. We posed for pictures and even signed autograph books. My son and husband both had hearts in their eyes after each one walked away.I was left with another emotion and even shed tears! Ariel made her way over to our table and chatted with my son and posed for a beautiful picture. She then knelt down to my daughter and was face to face with her on her level. My daughter completely fell in love with Ariel before our very eyes. Ariel was so sweet and kind to her, she touched her arm and spoke so soft and sweet. Ariel was at our table longer than any other princess and we really had quality time with her. She even came back around to us two more times! On the last time she kissed my daughter on the cheek and I was brought to tears. The magic is real and I will never ever forget that moment.
Akershus is now on our must do list for dining and I always recommend my clients to give it a chance when booking dining reservations for them.If you have any questions about Akershus Royal Banquet Hall or any other Disney related topics Visit Megan's Facebook Page for more information!