Akershus....princesses or no princesses?

[MarkC]

I've been reading several topics on here where a lot of people have mentioned that they liked the restaurant before it became the princesses character breakfast/lunch/dinner. What are everybody's thoughts here, do you wish they brought it back as just a regular restaurant and not with the characters?

My personal opinion is that the characters have ruined the restaurant..now it's a noisy mess, with an emphasis on the characters rather than the food. It's no longer a quaint, nice, and interesting restaurant with a wonderful immersion into the Norweigian/Scandanavian food culture, but simply another, run-of-the-mill character meet n greet that's been forced into the once-enjoyable Aksershus. It used to be a not-to-miss restaurant on our vacations (and when I moved down to Orlando, we always hit it up at least once a month), but now that it's an all character dining experience, i haven't been there in quite sometime I almost wish they'd leave at least one meal alone..at least leave Lunch a "character free" experience so those wishing to have a nice meal in World showcase have that option.

 

[scrump]

We were also big fans of this restaurant, and always looked forward to this as a "must do", but sadly no longer go. Ironically, it was Akershus that got us hooked onto WDW Dining. I don't begrudge the kids their princesses, but I do wish we had one meal for those of us who just want a quiet meal without the character commotion.

 

[TDC Nala]

No princesses. I say keep 'em for breakfast. It'll stay the way it is, though, now that CRT has been priced up the wazoo.

 

[shellybaxter]

I'm not sure whether they should go back to a regular restuarant or not. I think it would depend on whether there are enough people who like the food and will eat there. I wouldn't go without the princesses. Its not the kind of food I like, but when I take Dniece I'd got there so she could she the ladies even though the food isn't to my liking.

From a business stand point if there are enough people like the previous posters in this thread they could consider changing it back. But if the majority of those now booking the restaurant and filling it up are like me then they should leave it the way it is.

 

[BonnieA]

Its not the kind of food I like, but when I take Dniece I'd got there so she could she the ladies even though the food isn't to my liking.

And that's why the restaurant is being ruined. Those going now to see the princesses are not interested in the food. They could put those princesses anywhere and get a crowd. Why did they have to ruin a great restaurant this way. They should put the Odessey back in service as a princess meal palace and give us back our Akershus.

 

[maggs]

And that's why the restaurant is being ruined. Those going now to see the princesses are not interested in the food. They could put those princesses anywhere and get a crowd. Why did they have to ruin a great restaurant this way. They should put the Odessey back in service as a princess meal palace and give us back our Akershus.

My feelings exactly.However I dont see why they cant do a lunch menu with princesses and a dinner menu without. I think in that way most people would be catered for.

Maggs

 

[Merriwind]

We would love to go back to the old Akershus, even DD7 who loves princesses! It won't happen though.

 

[erikthewise]

My feelings exactly.However I dont see why they cant do a lunch menu with princesses and a dinner menu without. I think in that way most people would be catered for.

Maggs

I suggested just this to wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com . They could even serve "normal" food for lunch if that would make the princess crowd happy -- Norwegian food doesn't seem to. As many have said, all we ask for is one meal with authentic Norwegian food, no characters.

I also had planned to return there this year but am not interested in paying $10 extra per person for (at best) the same food. Maybe someday we'll go to a princess meal but it's not a high priority.

The reason Akershus was chosen for the princess meals is simple: It has a castle, and castles are in short supply.

 

[sotoalf]

The restaurant should consider offering the princesses as a breakfast item. If diners like what they're eating, then Akershus should continue to cater to them.

 

[bicker]

My feelings exactly.However I dont see why they cant do a lunch menu with princesses and a dinner menu without. I think in that way most people would be catered for.

Well, that's really what they need to rely on their survey data for, and evidently it indicated that there were more of "THEM" (families with children looking for more and more character dining experiences) than there were of "US" (folks who enjoy the more hard-core, authentic Norwegian food, in a non-character setting). I've been in such a minority so often that I've come to accept it as a fact-of-life. There are still some wonderful experiences available, but surely as much as my perspective is a minority perspective, there will be fewer such experiences than there will be experiences that the majority of folks enjoy. Oh well.

 

[MarkC]

The reason Akershus was chosen for the princess meals is simple: It has a castle, and castles are in short supply.

Akershus was actually chosen because it was the least popular restaurant in World Showcase. They always had a hard time filling this place to capacity (ever notice how this was the only restaurant that continually was offering discounts for lunch and dinner years ago..even going so far as to print coupons in the Birnbaum's guides). I understand if Disney wants to keep the characters there to keep it a busy place, but why not leave one meal alone (lunch) as a plain dining experience that's based solely on the culture and the food? Lunch is the cheapest meal anyway for them, so they wouldn't be losing as much money if they turned that into a non-character experience.

 

[bicker]

I'm not sure I understand your point: breakfast is the cheapest meal. Regardless, it wouldn't make sense for them to deliberably make a decision that, all other factors held constant, would result in them making less money.

 

[TDC Nala]

No way they'll ever surrender even one meal, it's not going to happen. They're cleaning UP moneywise with princess meals. They're making much more off the princess seekers than they ever did off those of us who actually went because we liked the food. I thought when Akershus went princess, and I still think, that the place is going to wind up going to a fully Americanized menu eventually, probably sooner rather than later. I am very surprised they haven't already. I suppose they figured it doesn't matter what they serve, give them princesses and the crowds will appear.

 

[erikthewise]

Well, that's really what they need to rely on their survey data for, and evidently it indicated that there were more of "THEM" (families with children looking for more and more character dining experiences) than there were of "US" (folks who enjoy the more hard-core, authentic Norwegian food, in a non-character setting). I've been in such a minority so often that I've come to accept it as a fact-of-life. There are still some wonderful experiences available, but surely as much as my perspective is a minority perspective, there will be fewer such experiences than there will be experiences that the majority of folks enjoy. Oh well.

Oh, come on! Much as I appreciate your alternative points of view, in this case the reasoning would lead to all Epcot restaurants having mainstream American food. Whereas the overall theme of World Showcase is to display different cultures and different cuisines; it would be pointless for World Showcase to exist otherwise.

It may that ALL Epcot restaurants are only patronized by a minority, but that everyone is happy about the situation because they can all find something they like. Applying micro-market analysis to every component of a system does NOT lead to an optimum solution!

The real problem here is that they had to find somewhere to put all the princess meals that guests were asking for, and Akershus was in the wrong place (a castle) at the wrong time.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I don't begrudge princess people time with their favorite characters. But I think at least dinner meals should be left for the adults, or families who don't care about princess characters.
Although due to the Akershus change, I have found I think the Biergarten is better anyway. Let's hope Snow White and her entourage stays away.

 

[maggs]

Let's hope Snow White and her entourage stays away.

Dont worry.I'll sort that out!

Maggs

 

[Luv2Roam]

You know -- Now THAT would maybe make the princess meals entertaining -- if they had their nemesis also at the restaurant!

 

[Claire L]

All I can say is bring back the old style cold and hot buffet dinner no Princesses. Will we NEVER visit again all the time princesses are there, btw DH thinks the Norwegian girls are much prettier Even if it was just the cold buffet and no princesses we would visit but prefer the hot buffet as well.
Claire

 

[figmentfan1]

Princesses are the only thing that saved this place for us. Food was disappointing.

 

[maggs]

Princesses are the only thing that saved this place for us. Food was disappointing.

And yet that I suppose is the point of most of the posters - people who would never gone before the princesses, criticise the food which the people who went before the princesses and would never return loved the food. I still say why go if there is a major element of the experience which is going to or has disappointed you.I apply this reasoning to people on both sides of the argument. As I said in a previous post it still gets excellent ratings in many guides for its great food but sadly it wont be for us ever again. I may try Biergarten. Thanks for the suggestion.

Maggs