MagicKingdomMommy80
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2012
- Messages
- 87
I'm so excited for your reviews. WDW for me is as much about the food as it is about the parks. I plan my park days around my ADR's! Looking forward to seeing more pics.
BFFs Deluxe it Up in WDW! w/ PICS! - Wolfgang Puck Cafe - COMPLETED!! :)
- Thread starter elyse43230
- Start date
smile4stamps
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2009
- Messages
- 4,427
Joining in on the Dining Review!
The seared Mozzarella looks amazing!! They used to have a similar mozzarella at Buca de Beppo's that they discontinued and I was SO dissapointed! We may have to stop in there just to try that! They have a bar you can eat at right if you just want apps?
The seared Mozzarella looks amazing!! They used to have a similar mozzarella at Buca de Beppo's that they discontinued and I was SO dissapointed! We may have to stop in there just to try that! They have a bar you can eat at right if you just want apps?
elyse43230
Is this real life? I feel funny...
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2008
- Messages
- 442
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (B)
I LOVE DISNEY PRINCESSES. When I was growing up, we didn't have the princess dresses and everything like they do now. Talk about missing out! Ariel is my favorite, but I truly love them all!
The princess breakfast at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is a must do for me! My DBFF had never done this before, and she absolutely loved everything about it!
Here are the princesses we met:
-Belle (the one with the photo)
-Ariel
-Snow White
-Aurora
-Cinderella
We had a magical moment. Ariel came out and we thought that was the last princess we would see (our host listed only four, Belle, Ariel, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty). And we are wrapping up our meal, and I see my DBFFs eyes light up and she smiles and says, "It's Cinderella!" That's HER favorite princess so it was a wonderful moment. Totally magical!
And then in a NOT so magical moment, there was a mommy who yelled very loudly to her kids, "Well what do you want, to meet Ariel or ride Soarin'?" Where CLEARLY riding Soarin' was the right answer. I'm like seriously? Let the kid meet Ariel! I know it was 9am and the park was just opening but it just seemed unnecessary to me.
99.99% of you reading this already know this, but the Akershus breakfast includes a cold buffet with meats (including poultry and fish), cheeses, fruits, and baked goods. Then they bring out a hot foods plate to your table and you can get refills of any of the hot items.
Orange Juice and a bottle of still Norwegian bottled water
We ordered our orange juice, and I also asked for water. Our waitress asked us if we wanted the bottled Norwegian water. And I was like, "Yes?"
I didn't want it if it wasn't on the meal plan, but she said it was. They also make sparkling water if that's your thing (hence why it is called "still"). So that's what that glass bottle is.
Hot foods plate: (clockwise: eggs, bacon and sausage, potatoes)
MG]
The highlight for me is always the potatoes on this plate. These are so freaking good! They are creamy and have a crunchy top. I also eat the eggs, but I don't like how runny they are (that's my personal preference, I prefer "dry" eggs). I don't eat bacon (I know, right?) so my DBFF got all of that to herself! We didn't get refills of anything.
DBFFs plate:
She was really excited about the special cream cheese they had for the bagels (it's the blob at the very bottom). She loved it! I can't remember what flavor the cream cheese was, but it was something unique! She also got the yogurt (that's the pink stuff) and fruit.
My plate (clockwise: muenster and swiss cheese, fruit, cinnamon roll, cinnamon-y muffin (SUPER YUMMY), apple turnover, cherry danish, chocolate twisty pastry thing (very good):
I got each of the pastries on my plate they offered to taste. I enjoyed everything. The little muffin thing was probably my favorite and the chocolate pastry was very unique, the rest were exactly how you expected them to taste!
Awesome princess interaction: Sleeping Beauty asked us what we were celebrating. My DBFF said she got accepted to school. Aurora said, "What will you study?" And my DBFF said "I want to be a nurse anesthetist." And without skipping a beat Aurora said, "Oh I have no problem falling asleep myself!"
I LOVE DISNEY PRINCESSES. When I was growing up, we didn't have the princess dresses and everything like they do now. Talk about missing out! Ariel is my favorite, but I truly love them all!
The princess breakfast at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is a must do for me! My DBFF had never done this before, and she absolutely loved everything about it!
Here are the princesses we met:
-Belle (the one with the photo)
-Ariel
-Snow White
-Aurora
-Cinderella
We had a magical moment. Ariel came out and we thought that was the last princess we would see (our host listed only four, Belle, Ariel, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty). And we are wrapping up our meal, and I see my DBFFs eyes light up and she smiles and says, "It's Cinderella!" That's HER favorite princess so it was a wonderful moment. Totally magical!
And then in a NOT so magical moment, there was a mommy who yelled very loudly to her kids, "Well what do you want, to meet Ariel or ride Soarin'?" Where CLEARLY riding Soarin' was the right answer. I'm like seriously? Let the kid meet Ariel! I know it was 9am and the park was just opening but it just seemed unnecessary to me.
99.99% of you reading this already know this, but the Akershus breakfast includes a cold buffet with meats (including poultry and fish), cheeses, fruits, and baked goods. Then they bring out a hot foods plate to your table and you can get refills of any of the hot items.
Orange Juice and a bottle of still Norwegian bottled water
We ordered our orange juice, and I also asked for water. Our waitress asked us if we wanted the bottled Norwegian water. And I was like, "Yes?"
I didn't want it if it wasn't on the meal plan, but she said it was. They also make sparkling water if that's your thing (hence why it is called "still"). So that's what that glass bottle is.Hot foods plate: (clockwise: eggs, bacon and sausage, potatoes)
The highlight for me is always the potatoes on this plate. These are so freaking good! They are creamy and have a crunchy top. I also eat the eggs, but I don't like how runny they are (that's my personal preference, I prefer "dry" eggs). I don't eat bacon (I know, right?) so my DBFF got all of that to herself! We didn't get refills of anything.
DBFFs plate:
She was really excited about the special cream cheese they had for the bagels (it's the blob at the very bottom). She loved it! I can't remember what flavor the cream cheese was, but it was something unique! She also got the yogurt (that's the pink stuff) and fruit.
My plate (clockwise: muenster and swiss cheese, fruit, cinnamon roll, cinnamon-y muffin (SUPER YUMMY), apple turnover, cherry danish, chocolate twisty pastry thing (very good):
I got each of the pastries on my plate they offered to taste. I enjoyed everything. The little muffin thing was probably my favorite and the chocolate pastry was very unique, the rest were exactly how you expected them to taste!
Awesome princess interaction: Sleeping Beauty asked us what we were celebrating. My DBFF said she got accepted to school. Aurora said, "What will you study?" And my DBFF said "I want to be a nurse anesthetist." And without skipping a beat Aurora said, "Oh I have no problem falling asleep myself!"
DonaldDoleWhip
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2008
- Messages
- 3,608
You weren't kidding when you described this moment as awesome - what a brilliant and hilarious response.Awesome princess interaction: Sleeping Beauty asked us what we were celebrating. My DBFF said she got accepted to school. Aurora said, "What will you study?" And my DBFF said "I want to be a nurse anesthetist." And without skipping a beat Aurora said, "Oh I have no problem falling asleep myself!"
Glad to hear about your great experiences so far - all of your meals so far are new to me (I've been to Akershus, but for lunch instead of breakfast), so it's nice to hear about new options awaiting us.
debrapagliasotti
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2011
- Messages
- 2,500
subbing.We are eating at several of these places in Dec.
Your pasta dishes looked super yummy.
Aurora...how hilarious what she said
And did you ever figure out how to get those Magic Kingdom fast passes??
emmysmommy
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2010
- Messages
- 5,070
I too am a huge fan of the cheesey potato dish at Akershus! Your review is really, really making me second guess ditching this place for my next trip. I love everything about that buffet - including the Mickey waffles.
That Aurora - perfect response!
That Aurora - perfect response!
I really enjoyed your Princess Aurora story. It's nice to know that the Disney Princesses have both brains and beauty. 
Purple Opal
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2010
- Messages
- 131
Subbing...
butiflfeet
I drink and I know things
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2008
- Messages
- 1,397
Great reviews so far! I've wanted to go to breakfast at Akershus for years now and we just never make plans for it
wilma-bride
<<This space intentionally blank>>
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2005
- Messages
- 22,681
I hope that poor kid got to meet Ariel 
Great breakfast at Akershus, although I would have been
at those eggs - I like dry eggs too. I am funny about eggs (as you can see from my ta).
Great breakfast at Akershus, although I would have been
at those eggs - I like dry eggs too. I am funny about eggs (as you can see from my ta).
elyse43230
Is this real life? I feel funny...
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2008
- Messages
- 442
Les Chefs de France (L)
AKA: The meal of cheese!
I'm a big cheese fan. If you like cheese, you'll LOVE Les Chefs de France! But if you don't love cheese, there is plenty of other stuff to eat.
The last time I was here (in 2009), my service was SUPER slow (like 2 hours stuck in there slow). The food was great, but I made sure to eat there for lunch, because last time I was WAY too close to missing Illuminations!!
So fast forward to 2012 and again, we had another great meal and had no problems with the speed of service!
NOTE: Their lunch and dinner menu is different so make sure you go at dinner if you want all the options. I also found the menus online to be different than the one I saw so just keep that in mind, what you expect might not be on the menu!
Appetizers
French Bread
So they bring this out to your table HOT. It's very fresh and very good. My DBFF took a chunk and then said, "Get this off the table or I will eat the whole thing!" I didn't need to remind her that we get 3 courses coming!
We both ordered the same app: FRENCH ONION SOUP (or Soupe a l'oignon gratinee - The classic onion soup topped with gruyere cheese $7.99)
I can't express to your enough how delicious gruyere cheese is (and expensive in everyday life!) When my mom makes homemade mac and cheese, she uses gruyere cheese and though it's expensive it is so rich, delicious, and worth the money! (We don't make it often!)
This soup was piping hot, and had a good mix of onion and crouton. My DBFF wanted more onion, but I liked the ratio. And the baked on cheese layer? Shut the front door! And worth the price of admission!
While we waited for our entrees, Remy stopped by. The french guy who accompanies him is the BEST! He was hilarious as he made his rounds! He even did a dance number with Remy! WONDERFUL interaction with kids so bring your kids and prepare to laugh!
A note about Remy: He came right at the beginning of our meal, and then never came again. I saw other tables (without 3 courses like us) come and go and never see him.
So just be aware that it may take a while (and might not even be a guarantee!)
Entrees
DBFF's Plat de Cote de boeuf au cabernet avec pates - beef short ribs briased in cabernet with pasta, pearl onions and mushrooms $22.99
Now I don't eat beef, so I didn't try this. But she was VERY impressed with the quality of this dish. I could tell that the meat just pulled apart, very tender and she loved the pasta. She said she would order it again and wished that she was more hungry!
My Gratin de Macaroni - Baked macaroni with cream and gruyere cheese $14.99
Big surprise! I ordered the cheesy pasta! This is not any normal macaroni and cheese let me tell you! First of all, the top layer is sort of crusty and baked. And then underneath is a macaroni and cheese sauce to die for! It's pretty thick sauce and this doesn't need salt or anything because the cheese is so nice! Just wonderful for someone like me who loves, well, CHEESE!
I thank my lucky stars that I do not have a dairy intolerance of any kind!
Desserts
I am very sad, because I cannot find EITHER of these desserts on wdwinfo.com, allears.net, OR the WDW site.
DBFF's Strawberry Thingy
This is a sorbet (that is strawberry I THINK) with some sort of strawberry mousse-type thing with real strawberries in it and a strawberry glaze on top. She LOVED this dessert (especially the square thing) and I had a bite and didn't quite like it as much as she did. It wasn't fruity and had a buttery/custardy type taste which isn't my thing.
My Chocolate Mousse
I was in a chocolate mood, so I got the chocolate mousse. On the bottom of that cup of mousse is a layer of caramel sauce! YUM! This was super rich and I ate quite a bit of that cup! The cake stuff on the side was some sort of buttery cake-loaf and was really dry and super crumbly so I just didn't mess with that. But the mousse? Thumbs up!
AKA: The meal of cheese!
I'm a big cheese fan. If you like cheese, you'll LOVE Les Chefs de France! But if you don't love cheese, there is plenty of other stuff to eat.
The last time I was here (in 2009), my service was SUPER slow (like 2 hours stuck in there slow). The food was great, but I made sure to eat there for lunch, because last time I was WAY too close to missing Illuminations!!
So fast forward to 2012 and again, we had another great meal and had no problems with the speed of service!
NOTE: Their lunch and dinner menu is different so make sure you go at dinner if you want all the options. I also found the menus online to be different than the one I saw so just keep that in mind, what you expect might not be on the menu!
Appetizers
French Bread
So they bring this out to your table HOT. It's very fresh and very good. My DBFF took a chunk and then said, "Get this off the table or I will eat the whole thing!"
I didn't need to remind her that we get 3 courses coming!We both ordered the same app: FRENCH ONION SOUP (or Soupe a l'oignon gratinee - The classic onion soup topped with gruyere cheese $7.99)
I can't express to your enough how delicious gruyere cheese is (and expensive in everyday life!) When my mom makes homemade mac and cheese, she uses gruyere cheese and though it's expensive it is so rich, delicious, and worth the money! (We don't make it often!)
This soup was piping hot, and had a good mix of onion and crouton. My DBFF wanted more onion, but I liked the ratio. And the baked on cheese layer? Shut the front door!
And worth the price of admission!While we waited for our entrees, Remy stopped by. The french guy who accompanies him is the BEST! He was hilarious as he made his rounds! He even did a dance number with Remy! WONDERFUL interaction with kids so bring your kids and prepare to laugh!
A note about Remy: He came right at the beginning of our meal, and then never came again. I saw other tables (without 3 courses like us) come and go and never see him.
So just be aware that it may take a while (and might not even be a guarantee!)Entrees
DBFF's Plat de Cote de boeuf au cabernet avec pates - beef short ribs briased in cabernet with pasta, pearl onions and mushrooms $22.99
Now I don't eat beef, so I didn't try this. But she was VERY impressed with the quality of this dish. I could tell that the meat just pulled apart, very tender and she loved the pasta. She said she would order it again and wished that she was more hungry!
My Gratin de Macaroni - Baked macaroni with cream and gruyere cheese $14.99
Big surprise! I ordered the cheesy pasta! This is not any normal macaroni and cheese let me tell you! First of all, the top layer is sort of crusty and baked. And then underneath is a macaroni and cheese sauce to die for! It's pretty thick sauce and this doesn't need salt or anything because the cheese is so nice! Just wonderful for someone like me who loves, well, CHEESE!
I thank my lucky stars that I do not have a dairy intolerance of any kind!
Desserts
I am very sad, because I cannot find EITHER of these desserts on wdwinfo.com, allears.net, OR the WDW site.
DBFF's Strawberry Thingy
This is a sorbet (that is strawberry I THINK) with some sort of strawberry mousse-type thing with real strawberries in it and a strawberry glaze on top. She LOVED this dessert (especially the square thing) and I had a bite and didn't quite like it as much as she did. It wasn't fruity and had a buttery/custardy type taste which isn't my thing.
My Chocolate Mousse
I was in a chocolate mood, so I got the chocolate mousse. On the bottom of that cup of mousse is a layer of caramel sauce! YUM! This was super rich and I ate quite a bit of that cup! The cake stuff on the side was some sort of buttery cake-loaf and was really dry and super crumbly so I just didn't mess with that. But the mousse? Thumbs up!
Tracerr00
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2010
- Messages
- 1,122
I'm kind of doing the happy dance right now because we're eating here for the first time during our next trip! 
This review is just what I was looking for and I think I'll have exactly what you did. 
I'm from Wisconsin so you know I'll be looking for cheese!
This review is just what I was looking for and I think I'll have exactly what you did. I'm from Wisconsin so you know I'll be looking for cheese!
DonaldDoleWhip
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2008
- Messages
- 3,608
Great review of Les Chefs! The appetizers and entrees all look great. And I had that strawberry dessert in May (it's the fraisier sur coulis de framboise et sorbet fraise - fresh strawberry and cream cake, raspberry sauce, and strawberry sorbet). Although I love most foods with strawberry, I agree with your description of it. The sorbet, however, was heavenly. 
emmysmommy
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2010
- Messages
- 5,070
Yum! I love the french onion soup there. The short ribs look amazing! 
The strawberry dessert looks like cheesecake.
The strawberry dessert looks like cheesecake.
Belleofthehouse
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2011
- Messages
- 217
Just catching up! Great hear positive reviews on food and service 
. We have been to WDW during free dining and have never experience poor food or service!
POR food court is probably the best overall resort CS. The food is great everytime.
. We have been to WDW during free dining and have never experience poor food or service!POR food court is probably the best overall resort CS. The food is great everytime.
elyse43230
Is this real life? I feel funny...
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2008
- Messages
- 442
Yum! I love the french onion soup there. The short ribs look amazing!
WARNING: Does not taste like cheesecake!
Another poster said that it was "cream cake" and I would definitely describe it as that!I am going to have to get myself to Chef's one of these days
It really does look good
What time was your ADR for? I just wondered if Remy only comes out a scheduled times or if it's just pot luck
Our reservations were for exactly 1pm. I just now realized that I haven't told when ANY of my reservations were so far. Is that useful information? Let me know!
elyse43230
Is this real life? I feel funny...
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2008
- Messages
- 442
Via Napoli (D)
We had 7pm reservations. I did this on purpose, because I am always paranoid about missing 9pm Illuminations so I give myself PLENTY of time to eat! We were seated right away. Our waitress was SUPER sweet and my DBFF took a lot of time to talk to her about Italy. And the bus boy and waiters were SO FREAKIN' CUTE!
Appetizers
DBFF's Calamari Fritti - corn-crusted rings served with spicy tomato sauce $14.00
My DBFF is a little Italian "snobby" because her grandparents are Italian. She didn't care for this calamari. In fact, she ate only a few bites. (She much preferred the calamari at Tony's Town Square later on in our trip believe it or not). She did like the spicy sauce though!
My Gamberetti Fagioli - jumbo shrimp, cannellini bean salad, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice $9.00
Why did I get this? I have no idea! Honestly, I wasn't hungry at all, and all I wanted was my pizza and dessert! So I wanted something super light and super FRESH! So I got this. I love shrimp and all the other ingredients in this. It wasn't super flavorful, so it was just okay. Nothing too special.
Entrees
DBFF Individual Margherita - tomato, mozzarella, basil $16.00
I had a piece of this. It was so good and very "traditional" margherita pizza (the 3 colors of the Italian flag, no tomato on top). I love the crust on Via Napoli pizzas. It's thin but not CRISPY thin.
My Quattro Formaggi - mozzarella, parmesan, fontina, provolone $18
Umm, cheese anyone? I loved this. My only issue was that one half of the pizza was too burnt for my taste. (The bottom half of the pizza that I wished wasn't so cut off in the picture so you could see how dark it was). I just didn't eat the crust on that half but it was pretty black! Maybe if I ate here again, I would have sent it back and asked for a less "done" one. I still ate most of this though and loved the cheeses and crust!
Desserts
DBFF's Pistachio Gelato
DBFF is a pistachio lover so this was heaven for her! It's a huge portion! That is not a small cup! She ate 2/3 or it and had to quit! She didn't eat the brittle thing on top of it.
My Zeppole di Ricotta - Ricotta cheese fritters, served with whipped cream and chocolate sauce $10.00
Inside of one donut
Okay, confession time. I wanted to try the pizzas here, but really I wanted to eat THIS DESSERT. I love hot donut-type desserts so I was like, YES PLEASE when I saw this on the boards before my trip. And let me tell you these did not disappoint! These were piping hot, tender in the middle and there were like 10 of them in that cyclone-type cup! No WAY I could finish these. I preferred the whipped cream dip rather than the chocolate (the chocolate overpowers the delicate flavor of the donut). I just loved this dessert so much!
Overall, I would recommend Via Napoli. I can't vouch for any entrees other than the pizzas, but I think that's what Via Napoli is all about!
We had 7pm reservations. I did this on purpose, because I am always paranoid about missing 9pm Illuminations so I give myself PLENTY of time to eat! We were seated right away. Our waitress was SUPER sweet and my DBFF took a lot of time to talk to her about Italy. And the bus boy and waiters were SO FREAKIN' CUTE!
Appetizers
DBFF's Calamari Fritti - corn-crusted rings served with spicy tomato sauce $14.00
My DBFF is a little Italian "snobby" because her grandparents are Italian. She didn't care for this calamari. In fact, she ate only a few bites. (She much preferred the calamari at Tony's Town Square later on in our trip believe it or not). She did like the spicy sauce though!
My Gamberetti Fagioli - jumbo shrimp, cannellini bean salad, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice $9.00
Why did I get this?
I have no idea! Honestly, I wasn't hungry at all, and all I wanted was my pizza and dessert! So I wanted something super light and super FRESH! So I got this. I love shrimp and all the other ingredients in this. It wasn't super flavorful, so it was just okay. Nothing too special.Entrees
DBFF Individual Margherita - tomato, mozzarella, basil $16.00
I had a piece of this. It was so good and very "traditional" margherita pizza (the 3 colors of the Italian flag, no tomato on top). I love the crust on Via Napoli pizzas. It's thin but not CRISPY thin.
My Quattro Formaggi - mozzarella, parmesan, fontina, provolone $18
Umm, cheese anyone?
I loved this. My only issue was that one half of the pizza was too burnt for my taste. (The bottom half of the pizza that I wished wasn't so cut off in the picture so you could see how dark it was). I just didn't eat the crust on that half but it was pretty black! Maybe if I ate here again, I would have sent it back and asked for a less "done" one. I still ate most of this though and loved the cheeses and crust!Desserts
DBFF's Pistachio Gelato
DBFF is a pistachio lover so this was heaven for her! It's a huge portion! That is not a small cup! She ate 2/3 or it and had to quit! She didn't eat the brittle thing on top of it.
My Zeppole di Ricotta - Ricotta cheese fritters, served with whipped cream and chocolate sauce $10.00
Inside of one donut
Okay, confession time. I wanted to try the pizzas here, but really I wanted to eat THIS DESSERT. I love hot donut-type desserts so I was like, YES PLEASE when I saw this on the boards before my trip. And let me tell you these did not disappoint! These were piping hot, tender in the middle and there were like 10 of them in that cyclone-type cup! No WAY I could finish these. I preferred the whipped cream dip rather than the chocolate (the chocolate overpowers the delicate flavor of the donut). I just loved this dessert so much!
Overall, I would recommend Via Napoli. I can't vouch for any entrees other than the pizzas, but I think that's what Via Napoli is all about!
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