Wingnut sighed.
We continued walking along the mostly-empty path, while I scanned the ground, hoping for a possible dropped pen.
“Maybe we could borrow one from someone who works at the restaurant,” Wingnut suggested.
“I doubt it. If they loaned out pens to all unprepared patrons, they’d never have a writing implement again.” I didn’t want to give up on getting the card signed, but chances were looking pretty slim for a pen at this point. All of the shops were closed. If we turned around at this point, we’d be late.
“We don’t HAVE to get the card signed,” Wingnut reminded me.
“I REMEMBERED THE CARD. WE HAVE TO.”
We approached Norway, and checked in. I took a few photos of the area.
While looking around, I noticed an open door across from us. It looked like part of the Norway gift shop was open.
“Should I go over there and see if they have a pen?” I asked him.
“No.”
“I’m going over there.”
Afraid they’d call our name during the minute I’d be away, I walked quickly over to the shop, which was empty except for a lone CM in the area with the princess dresses.
“Excuse me, are you open? And do you have pens?” I asked, looking around and back at Wingnut, who was still hanging out outside Akershus.
“Yes, we are open. And we do have two types of pens, right over there.”
I looked over to where she indicated, and knew that there wouldn’t be a simple, inexpensive pen looking back at me.
“This is the most basic pen you have?” I knew the answer before she said it, but also knew there would be relentless mocking from Wingnut if I came back with one of these.
“Yes. Princess or Mickey Mouse.”
I grabbed a Mickey pen (I figured if Wingnut wanted to get Cinderella’s autograph, he may as well have the manliest pen option there was.), paid, and raced back to Wingnut, who was still waiting for our name to be called.
“They had pens!” I triumphantly held it up. “This was the smallest one they had,” I explained. (It was around a foot long with a Mickey head on top. It’s not a subtle pen.)
“Good. How much was it?” He asked.
“Um. I’m not going to tell you.” I shoved the receipt in my pocket, but Wingnut grabbed the pen out of my hand and looked at the price tag.
“For a pen??”
“I told you. This was the only one they had. Unless you would have preferred a princess one.”
Leave it to us to have to utilize the unprepared-autograph-seeking-guest-emergency-gift-shop-by-the-character-meal. We’re not used to this whole “having to carry a pen and paper and our most dazzling smiles” thing.
(And of course, now every time Wingnut needs a pen, I always hand him this one, which always he refuses to use because he says it’s ridiculous. I frequently use it, simply out of principle.)
A few minutes later, we were welcomed into the restaurant and waited in the area to meet Belle.
(Wingnut had alluded to him doing this review during his Crystal Palace chapter. I asked him if he'd still be interested in writing the Akershus part as well:
W: Nah. I'll provide input, like the DVD commentaries people never listen to. There. There's your first quote.)
It felt a little strange to be meeting princesses without a child in tow, but she was friendly and gracious nonetheless. We handed her the card, and told her about our niece (“We have a niece”), and she happily signed it for her. We then posed for our picture with Belle, and I know you guys have been waiting for this one since this ADR was made (shown in the souvenir folder thing)…
(Wingnut pulls off “regal” very well. I’m pretty good in my “girl who looks awkwardly out of place in a princess photo” role, if I do say so myself.)
We were then seated in one of the often-maligned table-for-two-by-the-pole’s, which didn’t really bother us. We were really there for the food!
(If this little hutch near our table had been covered with tons and tons of free pens, I would have been really annoyed.)
Wingnut, awaiting the Norwegian bounty.
After a couple of minutes, our server came over, and told us about the buffet and the plate of food we would receive (there is a cold buffet you can help yourself to, and an unlimited hot plate of food your server brings over). We were then released to peruse the buffet, which you don’t really need to tell this girl twice, and we were off to check out the various Norwegian dishes, which includes cheeses, meats, fishes, yogurt, fruit, and pastries.
My plate:
Strawberry yogurt with granola, a lingonberry muffin, a cinnamon roll (
I know, I'm living it up), and some fruit.
Wingnut's plate(s):
W: "Some sort of salami. Cheese. Can't tell. Cinnamon roll. Some berries. Yogurt with lingonberry jam and granola."
We really enjoyed these items - I thought the lingonberry muffin was really good. Wingnut liked the meat and cheese selection. "I'm not much for salmon, but the herring was REALLY good. Standard pastries, better than most."
Soon, our platter of hot food arrived.
We thought this was very good, we liked the cheesy potatoes better than the ones at
Grand Floridian Cafe (more cheese at Akershus). The bacon was standard Disney bacon, but the sausages were good. W: "I really loved the potatoes and eggs they put on the plates. It was awesome."
This plate is also unlimited, our server offered to replenish any parts of it we wanted (we declined, because, clearly, we are such dainty eaters.)
While we were eating, the princesses were making their rounds around the restaurant. They were all very sweet and gracious, and happy to sign the card for our niece. They all asked if Wingnut was my prince, and how many dragons he had slayed (he totally exaggerated this number to show off...) Only two of them insisted I take photos with them, and because my picture with Snow White is far less than flattering, I'll post the still not great picture with me and Cinderella.
(Note to self: Wingnut is no longer allowed to take pictures of me while he's sitting and I'm standing.)
The princesses then led the children around the restaurant in a parade that might have been themed around a flower or a rose or something. We sat and ate more muffins (me) and herring (him).
The finished card for our niece:
(I've wondered since our breakfast when this post would fall, in terms of her actual birthday (we had brought the card knowing it would be held on to for a couple of months). So close...it is actually next week!)
I love Ariel's little "hugs and fishes" with the bubbles.
After the princess parade, things seemed to wrap up pretty quickly, we got our check, and were out of the restaurant right before rope drop.
Seriously, with all the times the monorail is not running, it almost seems like it's more of a hassle to take the monorail from a resort than a perk. Sorry you had to take a cab, but glad you made it to Epcot on time! 
Hopefully you found one before your breakfast!
moment. I hope you guys were able to find one!
Oh girl, you HAVE to have food porn !! No one cares about food pics ?? What ?? Oh no. Food porn is a must.
One of our friends who went with us a few trips ago went down to the food court one night and didn't return for almost an hour. We figured she was talking to some of her kids on the phone or something like that, maybe sitting out by the pool. When she finally got back, she told us she had been wandering around lost! 
I just could NOT figure that place out at all!
