Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is one of the more appealing character meals at Walt Disney World if your family wants to meet Disney Princesses without leaving EPCOT. The restaurant combines a medieval-style dining room in the Norway pavilion, family-style food, and princess visits during the meal.
My verdict: Akershus is worth booking for the princess experience, but I wouldn’t choose it primarily for the food. It’s a particularly good fit for families already spending the day at EPCOT. If nobody in your group is especially interested in princesses, the price becomes harder to justify.
Here’s what I think makes Akershus worthwhile, what the food is actually like, how much to budget, and whether breakfast or dinner makes more sense.
What Makes Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Worth Visiting?
The biggest advantage is its location. Akershus sits inside EPCOT’s Norway pavilion, close to Frozen Ever After. You can build a princess meal into your existing park plans without traveling to another resort or theme park.
The restaurant itself also feels different from the typical Disney character dining room. Its stone walls, arches, high ceilings, and warm lighting create a setting that resembles a medieval banquet hall.
For me, that’s a large part of the appeal. You get a themed environment and a slower sit-down meal in the middle of a busy park day. The atmosphere is memorable without needing constant entertainment or elaborate effects.
However, the experience only feels worth its price when you’re excited about the princess interactions. If you’re hoping to find the best food at EPCOT, there are other restaurants I would consider first.
Which Princesses Can You Meet at Akershus?
Akershus offers Princess Storybook Dining, where Disney Princesses visit guests during their meals.
The princesses are the main reason I would recommend this restaurant to families with young children. Because you’re seated at a table, the interactions can feel more relaxed than standing in separate character meet-and-greet lines around the park.
You can enjoy your meal while the character experience unfolds around you. For a child who loves princesses, that combination can be a major highlight of the trip.
Don’t book Akershus expecting a guaranteed appearance by one particular princess. Character lineups and entertainment are subject to change. Disney confirms the princess dining experience but advises that individual appearances can vary.
How Much Does Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Cost?
Akershus is a premium character meal, and the cost reflects the entertainment as much as the food.
Published menu prices can change. Recent listings place the standard meals approximately in these ranges:
| Meal | Adults (ages 10+) | Children (ages 3–9) |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | Approximately $62–$66 | Approximately $39–$42 |
| Lunch | Approximately $69 | Approximately $47 |
| Dinner | Approximately $69 | Approximately $47 |
These are planning estimates before tax and gratuity, not guaranteed reservation prices. Check Disney’s Akershus Royal Banquet Hall page for the current menu and booking details.
One thing worth correcting about the usual breakfast recommendation: breakfast isn’t dramatically cheaper than lunch or dinner. The savings are relatively modest compared with the overall cost of the meal. I would choose breakfast for its menu and timing, not simply because it’s the cheapest option.
Is Akershus a good value on the Disney Dining Plan?
The Disney Dining Plan changes the comparison considerably.
- Breakfast: 1 Table-Service meal credit per person.
- Lunch: 2 Table-Service meal credits per person.
- Dinner: 2 Table-Service meal credits per person.
If you’re using the Disney Dining Plan, breakfast may be the more appealing redemption because it requires fewer credits for the same princess character dining concept.
If you’re paying out of pocket, I would base the decision more on which menu sounds appealing and where the reservation fits into your EPCOT schedule.
Akershus Breakfast Review
Breakfast is the easiest Akershus meal to recommend to families with picky eaters. The menu is familiar, with enough Norwegian touches to make it feel a little different from an ordinary Disney breakfast.
Disney’s published breakfast offerings include:
- Norwegian waffles with maple syrup
- Scrambled eggs
- Cheesy potato casserole
- Bacon and sausage links
- Breakfast pastries and fresh fruit
Food is served family-style, so your group receives shared dishes at the table instead of ordering individual entrées.
I like breakfast as an option because it keeps the food simple and lets you enjoy the princess interactions early in your EPCOT day. It can also be easier to fit around afternoon plans than a lengthy midday meal.
That said, the food itself is fairly conventional. You are paying premium character-dining prices for eggs, waffles, breakfast meats, and the experience of meeting princesses.
Akershus Lunch and Dinner Review
Lunch and dinner feature a more distinctly Norwegian-inspired menu, although Disney includes familiar choices for guests who prefer less adventurous food.
Published menu items include:
- Norwegian meatballs with lingonberry jam
- Seared salmon
- Chicken
- Mashed potatoes and brown gravy
- Seasonal vegetables
- Macaroni and cheese
- Lefse, cheeses, salad, and other accompaniments
- An assortment of Norwegian-inspired desserts
This menu is more interesting than breakfast if you want to try something beyond typical American character-dining food.
I especially like that the family-style format allows everyone at the table to sample different dishes. At the same time, the restaurant isn’t trying to compete with EPCOT’s most ambitious dining experiences.
For lunch or dinner, I would approach Akershus as an experience that includes a meal, not a restaurant I’m visiting solely because of its menu.
Akershus vs. Cinderella’s Royal Table
If you’re comparing Disney princess meals, Cinderella’s Royal Table at Magic Kingdom is the obvious alternative.
The two experiences have different strengths:
- Akershus Royal Banquet Hall: A Norwegian-inspired, family-style meal in EPCOT’s World Showcase. It’s convenient if you’re already spending the day at EPCOT and generally costs less than Cinderella’s Royal Table.
- Cinderella’s Royal Table: A prix-fixe character meal inside Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom. Its biggest advantage is the experience of dining inside Disney’s iconic castle.
I would choose Cinderella’s Royal Table for someone who dreams of eating inside the castle itself. For a family that primarily wants to meet princesses and is already visiting EPCOT, Akershus is often the more practical reservation.
Neither restaurant is necessarily the best choice if food quality is your top priority. In both cases, a substantial part of the price goes toward the setting and character experience.
For more alternatives, see my guide to the best character meals at Disney World.
What I’d Know Before Booking Akershus
Make a dining reservation in advance
Disney highly recommends advance reservations for Akershus. Walt Disney World dining reservations generally open 60 days in advance, with additional booking flexibility for eligible Disney Resort hotel guests.
Don’t assume you’ll be able to walk in, particularly if you’re visiting during a busy period or have a large group.
Allow time for the princess interactions
I wouldn’t schedule a Lightning Lane reservation immediately after the meal. Character dining is more enjoyable when you aren’t constantly checking the clock.
Leave some flexibility for checking in, eating, meeting characters, and taking photos.
Remember that EPCOT admission is separate
Akershus is located inside EPCOT, so valid theme park admission is required. A theme park reservation may also be required depending on your ticket type.
Having an Akershus dining reservation does not guarantee admission to EPCOT.
Check the cancellation rules
Disney uses a cancellation and no-show policy for this restaurant. The specific terms appear during booking and in your reservation confirmation, so review them before committing.
Who Should Skip Akershus?
I wouldn’t recommend Akershus to everyone visiting EPCOT.
I’d consider skipping it if:
- Nobody in your group is particularly interested in Disney Princesses. The character experience is a major part of the value.
- You’re visiting EPCOT primarily for its food. Other restaurants offer more compelling dining experiences without the character-meal premium.
- You’re working with a tight budget. A family can spend a substantial amount on one meal before tax and gratuity.
- You want to maximize attraction time. A leisurely character meal takes time away from rides and other experiences.
If cost is your main concern but you still want character dining, compare Akershus with the least expensive Disney World character dining options before booking.
Is Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Worth It?
I think Akershus is worth it when the princess interactions are a major reason for your visit. The Norway pavilion setting is charming, the meal provides a comfortable break from EPCOT, and the character experience can be memorable for families.
For me, the choice comes down to what you value. I’d book breakfast if I wanted familiar food, an earlier reservation, or a better Disney Dining Plan redemption. I’d lean toward lunch or dinner if I wanted the Norwegian-inspired menu and a longer break in the middle of the day.
But I wouldn’t spend the money expecting one of EPCOT’s best meals. Akershus works because of the combination of princesses, atmosphere, and convenience. If those things matter to your family, it can absolutely justify the splurge.
Menus, prices, Disney Dining Plan requirements, reservation policies, and character appearances can change. Confirm the details through Disney’s official restaurant page before booking.
