The Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is a majestic and enchanting dining experience that is perfect for princess lovers everywhere.
📍EPCOT | World Showcase | Norway
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is located in the Norway Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase,
Inspired by a medieval castle, the banquet hall welcomes visitors with its grand entrance and intricate details that mirror the rich heritage of Norway. The backstory is that the castle belongs to Elsa and Anna as a banquet hall, and they loan it to their friends Aurora, Snow White, Ariel, and Cinderella for a party hosted by Belle.
Ambience
As guests step inside, they are greeted by a warm and inviting ambiance, complete with rustic wooden beams, stonework, and beautiful stained glass windows. The dining hall exudes an aura of regality, befitting its name, and offers an immersive setting for guests to indulge in a feast fit for royalty.
Character Dining
Character dining is a great experience in Walt Disney World and a great way to meet your favorite characters in a one-on-one without the lines! Cinderella’s Royal Table is by far the most popular princess dining experience in Walt Disney World, and therefore a really hard dining reservation to get. Akershus Royal Banquet Hall offers a very similar princess experience and is a much easier reservation to get, and it is less expensive, too!
MDT’s Guide to Advance Dining Reservations
Here’s How Character Dining Typically Works
Upon arrival, guests are warmly welcomed by Disney Cast Members who guide them to their first interaction. Belle is the host of the party at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, so you will meet her prior to entering the restaurant. Then the Cast Member will escort you and your party to your table.
Guests settle into their seats and enjoy your meal. Don’t worry, you won’t miss anything!
Throughout the meal, the princesses make their way around the dining area, visiting each table to greet guests, engage in conversations, pose for photos, and sign autographs. This interactive meet and greet allows guests, both young and old, to have personal interactions with their beloved princesses, creating unforgettable memories.
The princesses are typically accompanied by Cast Members who ensure the smooth flow of the experience and assist with coordinating interactions. They help manage the lines, keep the princesses on schedule, and create a joyful and welcoming atmosphere for guests.
Menu at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall hosts breakfast, lunch and dinner. While the breakfast option is slightly cheaper than the lunch or dinner, the menu is so basic, you may not find it worthwhile. It’s a hard pill to swallow to pay $50 for some scrambled eggs and hash browns.
The lunch and dinner options have a fun EPCOT element to them. Because this restaurant is in Norway, the menu features classic and traditional Norwegian dishes, so you can learn about this foreign cuisine while giving hugs to your favorite princesses!
Changes to the Menu at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
We have noticed a lot of changes to the menu to help more people enjoy the beauty of this dining experience. Prior to the closure, Akershus featured predominantly Norwegian fare, and it was honestly difficult for the children to enjoy their meal. There are only so many rolls with butter a kid will eat before they need real sustenance.
Corn Dog Nuggets
We’re happy to say that in addition to traditional foods that we love to try, there are a series of American options, including corn dogs to keep picky eaters happy!
Disney Dining Plan Information
With the reintroduction of the new 2024 Disney Dining Plan, there have been some changes to the dining credit requirements for various restaurants, and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at Epcot is among them.
Starting in 2024, Akershus will now be categorized as a Signature Dining experience, and as such, it will require 2 Table Service credits per meal on the Disney Dining Plan.
The decision to upgrade Akershus to a Signature Dining experience reflects the exceptional quality of the cuisine, the immersive ambiance, and the enchanting character interactions that guests can enjoy during their visit. While this change means that guests will need to allocate additional dining credits to experience the royal banquet, it also signifies an elevated dining experience that offers an even more indulgent and immersive journey into the world of Disney princesses.
Both Cinderella’s Royal Table and Be Our Guest will also be 2 credit character dining experiences, however, character dining featuring the Fab Five are still only 1 Table Service credit!
Akershus is part of our Ultimate Beauty and the Beast Day and Ultimate Frozen Day at Walt Disney World.
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This MDT Post By: Erin Schreiver Erin is a MilSpouse who loves going to Walt Disney World with her family, pin trading, and collecting Minnie ears and coffee mugs! Check out her bio. Steve is the Military Disney Tips Founder and Editor in Chief. Check out Steve's Bio |
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