Akershus....princesses or no princesses?

[TDC Nala]

Maggs, this is why I believe the food is going to change. Disney would be much better off pleasing the princess crowd now that the restaurant has been turned over to them.

 

[bicker]

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.

They already do. Face it: They're only going to serve what people are going to be willing to buy. In many cases, that does include very authentic offerings. In other cases, it does not.

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.

I mentioned the term "Disneyfication" in a thread earlier this week (though I think I consistently misspelled it as Disnefication). That word has a very specific meaning, and stems from how Disney has very successfully transformed ideas and concepts that simply would not be profitable otherwise. However, Disneyfication specifically implies applying a transform to something to make it more palatable to the audience. That's precisely what they've done with everything they do. That is part of their special excellence. Disney has never been about reality. It has always been about fantasy.

Applying micro-market analysis to every component of a system does NOT lead to an optimum solution!

That's very true, but unfortunately it still leads to the situation you're objecting to, because "optimum" is not measured the way you personally might want it to be measured.

 

[MarkC]

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.

I should've clarified; I didn't consider breakfast, as far as I know, that doesn't include the traditional Norwegian food that we are all talking about.

As for your thought process that them removing one meal as a "character" breakfast would result in them making less money; I disagree that it would. If you've ever been involved in any sort of marketing analysis, factors which are considered go far deeper than just surface level effects. Other questions/research that is done are the less apparent effects of such changes (i.e. a lunch that is 80% filled without princesses may be a crowd that is more likely to dine more often and elsewhere within the WDW Resort if satisfied with the food offering there as opposed to a 100% filled character lunch with patrons who may only dine once). A value is attached to each different patron, and after they are each analyized, a decision is made. Knowing how WDW has done surveys in the past by aquantances that have worked within Marketing and Research for the WDW Co in the past, I know that they usually dont' employ such a technique unless they absolutely need to. Their research is far more basic and more short-term goal oriented.

I also question the idea that they would lose money by offering a non-character lunch. The kids portion of the buffet generally costs significantly less than an Adult's price; being that this restaurant is now made up with a higher porportion of children patrons, they may very well break even or make slightly more. Granted, I don't have the data for this, but I do know that if they conducted their research on this change simliar to how they do research for some of their other projects, chances are they don't have this data either.

 

[Planogirl]

I always thought that Marrakesh was the most unpopular restaurant in World Showcase. Maybe that has changed?

I would personally settle for a dinner a week or even just a late princess-free dining hour. Anything to be able to enjoy the good food and service once again. Oh, I want my Ringnes back too.

But I do understand why the princesses make Disney more money though. I can't see them changing the food though. Into what? What kind of food should a restaurant in Norway serve besides Norwegian food?

At least there's still the Bakery. If only they would expand the offerings there.

 

[bicker]

I should've clarified; I didn't consider breakfast, as far as I know, that doesn't include the traditional Norwegian food that we are all talking about.

Why shouldn't that be the point then? After all, we've had years of Norwegian dinners ... why isn't it time for Norwegian breakfast? Please understand: My point is how arbitrary the delination you're making is.

As for your thought process that them removing one meal as a "character" breakfast would result in them making less money; I disagree that it would.

That's strange because those were your words I used: "so they wouldn't be losing as much money if they turned that into a non-character experience."

Their research is far more basic and more short-term goal oriented.

Sorry, but I have had contacts with WDW who's experiences contradict your assumption here. One of my former colleagues actually worked with WDW to do some of the things you suggest they don't do. So I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree about that.

 

[TDC Nala]

I can't see them changing the food though. Into what? What kind of food should a restaurant in Norway serve besides Norwegian food?

They've made the decision to turn the Norwegian restaurant into a Princess banquet hall. It's most likely going to stay that way because it's bringing in the crowds and provides an outlet for those who can't get the wildly popular CRT.

If they can fill the place every day based on the princess presence and still keep the food Norwegian, they'll probably do that.

Just on these boards you see lots of posts that say "We were only there for the princesses. We didn't like the food. Nothing there my kids would eat, we wouldn't go back." Or, "Should we book it? My kids want to see princesses but the menu looks yucky."

I think they're going to keep the princesses. If they think they're going to lose business by serving Norwegian food, they're going to start offering a menu more palatable to the average American family, no matter what the original intent of World Showcase was. If they can fill the joint daily at lunch and dinner while still offering Norwegian food, they probably won't change. So far, the popularity of a princess meal seems to have nothing to do with the quality or ethnicity of the food because the vast majority of diners are not there for the food, but who knows what Disney will do with enough complaints.

 

[bwv4me]

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

DITTO! Yuck!

 

[rxlowry]

IKEA serves Norweigan food with no princesses.

 

[maggs]

DITTO! Yuck!

And did you go to the restaurant for the food? If so, fine. if not, I rest my case!
Rxlowry - I thought it was Swedish!

Maggs

 

[bwv4me]

And did you go to the restaurant for the food? If so, fine. if not, I rest my case!
Rxlowry - I thought it was Swedish!

Maggs

Well, actually I have done both. I did go for dinner once before princesses were not there. I did not like the food. I rest my case.

I also went for breakfast (no Norewegian food) with princesses and enjoyed it.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

We loved (& miss) the old Akershus. Our dd2.75 has just recently discovered the whole princess thang. We will do one lunch there, but during a normal 10 day stay, we would have visited three times. I am glad they brought back the koldbord. I understand they were simply bringing a three tiered serving platter with some cheese, meats and bread in the beginning.

Does anyone know if a child under three can eat here free? I'm hoping they'll let her pick a few items from the koldbord.

 

[Claire L]

Well, actually I have done both. I did go for dinner once before princesses were not there. I did not like the food. I rest my case.

I also went for breakfast (no Norewegian food) with princesses and enjoyed it.

Hmmm so what you are saying is you like the Princesses and 'American breakfast' but don't like Norwegian food?? Well that means you could go to other places for a Princess meal with American food and then the Norwegian food could return to Akershus as that is its rightful place and 'home'.

Claire

 

[DisneyDuo]

Just have to add our voices to the outcry for the old Akerhuis! We don't have kids, aren't interested in character meals. We ate at Norway at least twice on every visit. Loved the food and the atmosphere. Now that is all gone Sure would be nice to have at least one princess-free meal!

Oh well, guess we'll have to look for a new favorite.

Lin & Andy

 

[sotoalf]

I suspect that parents think that if they feed their princesses authentic Norwegian food they'll turn into frogs.

 

[bwv4me]

Hmmm so what you are saying is you like the Princesses and 'American breakfast' but don't like Norwegian food?? Well that means you could go to other places for a Princess meal with American food and then the Norwegian food could return to Akershus as that is its rightful place and 'home'.

Claire

I was just replying to a poster who asked if I went for the food or not. I could and will go to princess meals wherever they are offered (if my DD still digs them) - Norway or not. Norwegian food could return to its "rightful place" at Akershus. Makes no never mind to me. The Norwegian food here just wasn't for me ... and I don't think my daughter or I would turn into frogs.

 

[29apr00]

Well count me in the "bad" group as it would have been one of the last places we ate, but we have a ADR for Dinner with the Princesses. I tried for DAYS to get CRT and just couldn't. So we are basically "stuck" with Akershus. The menu doesn't look good to me, but we were originally booked for Dinner at Garden Grill and that Menu didn't look to good either, so i guess we are no better off.

It's all Disney's fault!! They push the Princess's so much here in the real world, than make it practically IMPOSSIBLE to see them when you are there!! Never able to get ARD at CRT, $$$ for lunch or $$$$ dinner at CRT, and basically a character meal that no one wants to eat at!

They should put Character Dining back at Hollywood -n- Vine at MGM and make that a Princess Meal, makes sense because they have the Beauty and The Beast stage show there! Now that would make sense!


jennifer

 

[erikthewise]

Well count me in the "bad" group as it would have been one of the last places we ate, but we have a ADR for Dinner with the Princesses. I tried for DAYS to get CRT and just couldn't. So we are basically "stuck" with Akershus. The menu doesn't look good to me, but we were originally booked for Dinner at Garden Grill and that Menu didn't look to good either, so i guess we are no better off.

It's all Disney's fault!! They push the Princess's so much here in the real world, than make it practically IMPOSSIBLE to see them when you are there!! Never able to get ARD at CRT, $$$ for lunch or $$$$ dinner at CRT, and basically a character meal that no one wants to eat at!

They should put Character Dining back at Hollywood -n- Vine at MGM and make that a Princess Meal, makes sense because they have the Beauty and The Beast stage show there! Now that would make sense!


jennifer

I like the Hollywood & Vine idea -- there used to be a character meal there not too long ago.

But I don't know about "making it impossible". They have increased the princess meal offerings from one (in 2001) to six (in 2005). What more can they do? Convert the Contemporary Resort Convention Center into Princess Central, serving multiple princess meals around the clock? And as you say, commandeering Akershus hasn't improved the situation at CRT that much. They have raised the prices sky high, and you still can't get in. Since it's not helping, how about giving us Akershus back?

 

[Glenn]

Disney seems to forget there are alot of people that have no kids, or the kids are now teens. I liked some of the food they had & wished they had a few things my grandmother used to make. One less sit down place to go which will mean 1 more counter meal. Maybe they can convert pecos bills to a wild west princes to make even more money.

 

[bicker]

They haven't forgotten. There are a large number of restaurants in the World Showcase, and only the one offers Princesses.

 

[MarkC]

Sorry, but I have had contacts with WDW who's experiences contradict your assumption here. One of my former colleagues actually worked with WDW to do some of the things you suggest they don't do. So I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree about that.

Please re-read what I wrote, I said they only employ such techniques if they absolutely have to. I'm not saying they dont' do some rather indepth marketing analysis that does test out several variables and their effects on other actions; however, they usually chose to bypass those steps if: 1. Their manager/director feels the extra work is unecessary, 2. Their manager/director is rather lazy and does not want to deal with something they feel is petty, 3. They'd rather devote their time to other major projects that other departments are pushing. The political side to number 3 is usually what happens with most research done at Walt Disney World. Lately, most of their research efforts have been on multiple projects that have gone nowhere. Short of elaborating on exact details, these projects are "pet projects" of those looking to make a name for themselves within the organization with rather worthless ideas they feel are worth pursuing.