Ok, first an important disclaimer! As a heterosexual middle age man, I like women, especially beautiful women but this is NOT why I dined at the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall within Walt Disney World’s Epcot’s Norway Pavilion.

I want to clarify this matter, as this dining experience is definitely not for a single traveler, especially an heterosexual middle age one, that likes women, especially beautiful women in costume, that are housed within a medieval castle.

The women of Akershus are beautiful creatures only matched by Disney’s wonderfully costumed princesses, that delight young children dining on Norwegian specialties while their fathers and other male companions stare in admiration and lust.

The above culminates in a strange permutation of Disney magic and voyeuristic fetishism sporadically disturbed by the intriguing Bokmål and Nynorsk accents of Akershus’s servers.

I make a passionate plea to all male Disney theme park diners, please focus on the Norwegian food delicacies offered at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall and leave the leering to the Gentleman’s and strip Clubs back home. It was disturbing to watch fathers, brothers and even aging grandfathers jostle children out of the way to get a better look at the vivacious Jasmine or the buxom Snow White.

Ok, with the Bharfly sermon now over and lets talk about the dining.

Firstly, this place is beautiful. As you enter Akershus, the Disney Imaginers immerse you in the regalness of a medieval castle-themed restaurant. I must say, I have never been to Norway but as a virgin to the Norwegian culture and its architecture, Akershus felt like the real deal.

The menu is a refreshingly challenging alternative to your normal American theme park restaurant fare that proudly features Norwegian dishes complimented by an à la carte koldtbord buffet.

I ordered the pork, beef and caper meatball called the “kjottkaker”. I recommend ordering this dish, just to hear the pronunciation. I asked my server three times how to pronounce this dish and each time she laughed at me hysterically and finally gave up! The kjottkaker is served with mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and lingonberry sauce.

I also ordered a bottle of Brassfield Estate Cabernet Sauvignon that was served in a bottle and accompanied by a glass…

Even though it was a Tuesday night, service was slow and by the time my kjottkaker arrived, the Brassfield was half finished and I was on my third trip to the koldtbord buffet.

The kjottkaker meatball was interesting, not in a bad way, but not inspirational either. It was a cross between a great Sunday night family dinner offering and a Frankenstein food experiment performed on certain delicate parts of the cow. However, filling it was and after the three previous trips to the koldtbord and almost a whole bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon in my belly, dessert was only ordered to fulfill my duties as a gluttonous food & wine reviewer.

Mercifully, desserts offerings at Akershus are of a lighter affair. My wonderful server Hjørdis that hailed from Norway’s Fredrikstad, delivered a trio of dessert offerings to the table. The plate consisted of bite sized portions of Norwegian inspired Chocolate Mousse, Traditional Rice Cream with Strawberry Sauce and Flaky Puff Pastry filled with Mascarpone Mousse and fresh Berries.

Overall, the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is a dining “attraction” and definitely not a fine dining experience. It is pure Disney magic in its design and delivery but be aware it does contain a few quirks for first time diners.

Firstly, this is a Character Dining Experience, which features Disney Princesses and as such attracts many families with young children (and a few male princess voyeurs as well) but the menu does not reflect its wider audience. Although it is wonderful to have authentic Norwegian dishes offered within a theme park environment, I would like the menu expanded to also cater for palates a little less adventurous.

Also, this is a restaurant that can be uncomfortable / intimidating for single diners, especially men. There can be some uncomfortable moments when the Disney princesses first approach your table and make rehearsed conversation. It is also an unexpected challenge when you are asked by the photographer as you enter the restaurant “would you prefer to wait until your family also arrives, before we take a photo of you and Arial”. This one is hard to fix, but be aware if you are planning to dine alone at Akershus.

My recommendation is to give Akershus Royal Banquet Hall a go next time you visit Epcot and enjoy the friendly Norwegian hospitality and the unique food offerings of Norway while immersed in Disney magic and architecture.

Bharfly Rating: 7 /10

Ser deg senere
Bharfly

To celebrate the addition of DCL to the site and after our return from a recent DCL vacation last December, I thought that I would share with you an overview of the dining options provided aboard the Disney Magic and Wonder ships. So pull up a chair and prepare to get hungry as we introduce you to cruising cuisine “Disney style”.
Elegant dinners, casual buffets, character breakfasts, themed deck party buffets and other exciting options make dining on a Disney Cruise Line ship a memorable experience for guests of all ages.

Uniquely themed restaurants are as delightful as they are delicious, and Disney Cruise Line features a rotational dining program that allows guests to experience a different restaurant for dinner while their servers remain the same.

Fresh influences, culinary trends and popular favorites inspire each menu, providing unsurpassed quality and a variety of offerings to delight the palate of every guest. Lighter offerings, vegetarian and vegan selections, and specially noted guest favorites can be found on each dinner menu. Varietal wine-pairing recommendations are coupled with entrée items so guests, assisted by their servers, can make selections that suit their particular tastes and budget.

For an enchanting ending to the meal, Sweet Temptations dessert samplers feature a trio of tasting-size dessert selections, giving guests the opportunity to indulge in a variety of flavors served in the perfect portion size.

Rotational Dining

Disney Cruise Line originated the rotational dining concept. While guests “rotate” through different restaurants for dinner, the same servers accompany them.  This rotational dining takes guests through a variety of dining experiences and menus, while still providing friendly, familiar, personalized service each night.

• Lumière’s (Disney Magic) invites passengers to “be our guest” in a grand dining room with French elegance, reminiscent of classic transatlantic ocean liners.  Triton’s (Disney Wonder) is a splendid venue inspired by the “under the sea” theme of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.”

At both venues, passengers savor continental cuisine with a French flair, including items such as braised lamb shank with creamy polenta in a red wine sauce;  duck confit with dried prunes, candied walnuts and apple-walnut dressing; seared sea bass with a mushroom herb risotto and sweet onion marmalade; and  Grand Marnier soufflé.

• Animator’s Palate offers outstanding culinary fare and a dining experience only Disney could imagine. Keep an eye on the artwork on the walls. Animation  scenes from classic Disney films that begin as black and white sketches magically come alive with color throughout the meal. The cuisine is Pacific Rim  combined with California freshness and a host of other culinary influences.

Specialties include grilled veal chop with roasted red bliss potatoes, sweet onions and a morel mushroom sauce; fire-roasted beef tenderloin, carved to order, with  wasabi mashed potatoes, sautéed bok choy and a tamarind-barbecue reduction; and cranberry and orange cheesecake with a dark chocolate sauce.

• Parrot Cay, inspired by Caribbean colors and architectural styles and the fresh cuisine of the tropics, serves island grill specialties made extra special with regional spices, fruits and vegetables. Vibrant colors, a relaxed atmosphere and delicious fresh fare are the heart of this restaurant.

Selections include island-spiced grilled rib-eye of beef, poached halibut with clams and mussels flavored with ginger, lime and cilantro, braised jerk-season pork chop and French toast banana bread with coconut ice cream and caramel sauce.

Special Themed Menus

Special themed dining experiences bring a splash of new culinary influences and provide a one-of-a-kind dining experience every night.

• Pirates IN the Caribbean (Disney Magic and Disney Wonder) celebrates “a pirate’s life for me” with Caribbean cuisine and Bahamian specialties such as smoked pork ribs with guava barbeque sauce served with onion red bliss mashed potatoes and Dijon-crusted sirloin of beef.

• The Captain’s Gala (Disney Magic) is a cruising tradition. The menu features fine wines and world-class cuisine such as baked lobster tail; oysters Rockefeller; and pan-seared venison medallions with marinated red cabbages and potato croquettes in a port wine and juniper reduction.

• Golden Mickeys (Disney Magic) takes some of the best European-inspired dishes and combines them onto one magnificent menu for a magical dining experience at sea. Fine selections include double-baked aged Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese soufflé with gorgonzola, spinach and mascarpone sauce with white truffle oil; and roasted fillet of beef Wellington with mushroom stuffing, fingerling potatoes and pearl onion ragout with a light grainy mustard sauce.

• Till We Meet Again (Disney Magic) is the perfect opportunity to say farewell to your servers and tablemates. This special last-night dinner salutes some of the great culinary influences of American cuisine with dishes such as garlic and rosemary marinated lamb sirloin with leek potato gratin and sun-dried tomato jus; oven-roasted, glazed Atlantic salmon with stir-fried Asian greens; and sesame-crusted tuna sashimi with wakame salad and American caviar.

Dining With Character

Guests can interact with Disney characters during several special dining opportunities.

• Character Breakfasts offer guests aboard the Disney Magic a special way to meet popular Disney characters for pictures, hugs and autographs.

• Tea with Wendy Darling is a posh-yet-casual afternoon snack just for families. Peter Pan’s pal, Wendy, enchants guests with stories of her adventures while they enjoy an afternoon service of iced tea, served in a teapot, and cookies.

• During Pirates IN the Caribbean evenings, guests partake in a Caribbean-inspired dinner and a special pirate-themed deck party. Characters such as Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, Captain Mickey, Minnie and Goofy join guests on deck for a raucous good time, complete with spectacular fireworks, music and dancing.

Additional Dining Options

From elegant to casual, there are dining experiences that fit everyone’s tastes and preferences.

• Palo, Disney’s signature restaurant at sea, treats adults to sweeping ocean views and exquisite northern Italian specialties. Located high atop both ships, it’s the perfect setting for romantic dinners and intimate gatherings. During sea days, Palo hosts a spectacular champagne brunch and a traditional high tea. Advance reservations are required.

• Topsider Buffet (Disney Magic) and Beach Blanket Buffet (Disney Wonder) prepare breakfast and themed lunch buffets every day. Topsider Buffet also offers casual dining on select evenings.

• Pluto’s Dog House and Pinocchio’s Pizzeria serve snacks like burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, tacos and pizza. Goofy’s Galley serves ice cream treats and frozen yogurt, plus healthy options such as fresh fruit, salads, sandwich wraps and toasted paninis.

• Around the clock, guests can order complimentary stateroom dining or refresh themselves with soft drinks, iced tea, lemonade, assorted juices and teas, milk and coffee at a complimentary self-service beverage station.

• At Castaway Cay, Disney’s private Bahamian island, families enjoy an “all-you-care-to-eat” island barbecue, while adults can choose from a menu of grilled sandwiches at the far end of the island in an area reserved just for them.

As you can see, dining aboard Disney cruise line offers many great options to suit everyone’s taste and I must admit that the above information was just what I needed to give me the confidence to book our first Disney cruise vacation aboard the Disney Magic.

I encourage everyone that loves great food to check out the Disney Cruise Line Website and to book a vacation of sun, fun and great food!

And by the way, when you get back home after your cruise, ensure that you post your Disney Cruise Line food photo’s on DisFoodLov, as we love to share the magic of Disney food to the entire online Disney community.

Bon Appetite

AJ