Do you miss the old Akershus?

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

I'm new to the forum, and glanced over old threads, but didn't find this. I'm sure it must be here somewhere, but my patience for searching is limited. Does any other family miss the old Akershus format as much as we do?! Akershus was one of our favorite places to dine, even when the kids were little, before they turned it into a character meal. We usually went twice on every trip because there's no place near our home to get anything close to what was served there. The smorgasbord was outstanding, and the choices were such a refreshing change of pace from standard Disney fare. We were disappointed when we found out about the change on our last visit, but went anyway because we were hopeful that enough of the old still survived. Our waitress did bring us some "chef's choices" that were not advertised (but were offered to keep the previous regulars happy), but it just wasn't enough to suffice. In addition, we were placed at a table right by the entrance for the princesses, which would have been a dream come true when my children were younger, but proved quite awkward for this particular meal. Our table of adults and grown children were hungry and tired, and in no mood to converse with princesses... and as the characters are required to stop at every table, we went through 6 of these awkward interruptions in our meal! As I sit here making our ADR schedule in prep to call for our upcoming trip, I am saddened that there is no spot where I will fill in "Akershus"... I wonder if there are others out there who miss the old menu and format, and if there would be any way to get Disney to consider offering say 1 or 2 meals a week where it's the smorgasbord rather than the princess dining. Opinions/comments? ~Ev

 

[maxsmom01]

I do!! My DH and I ate at Akershus a few years ago and really enjoyed it. My parents are Norwegian and it was fun just to be in that environment. I have no interest in character dining (and my 4 year old son doesn't care for the princesses) so I wish it wasn't all-princesses, all the time.

I wish they would choose either lunch or dinner for the character meal and leave the restaurant alone for the other meal.

Of course, I am probably the only one that doesn't enjoy eating with characters.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

My dh and I loved the old Akershus. Our 3 teen ds wont set foot in the place. We have been to Norway and enjoy talking to the cm's about different places and I even had a conversation about the rusk festival with the cm last time. Well dh and I are biting the bullet this time and going. We will just ignore the princesses, sorry. My dh wants to concentrate on his herring. I dont even know if they will let you sample more than 1 main course like they previously did. I want the lamb and meatballs, ds is more like a trout and venison kind of guy. We are going april 14. I guess I will write a review from an adults only perspective when we get back.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Count me in on missing the old Akershus! What a great idea for it to offer one Princess meal and one non-character meal with the original menu. Hellloooo Disney--anyone listening?
I'm tired of character meals--typically they're overpriced with sub-par food--and they get away with this because of the characters.
When I recently called to make some ADRS, the CM was quick to point out "Now you know, these are not character meals." I said, "Yes I know--Thank God!" She chuckled.

 

[KCMiller]

We ate at the very last lunch they did the 'old' way, a few years ago. I had always wanted to eat there, and it was every bit as delicious as I thought it would be. Then, we ate there when you ordered off the menu, but they had the cold appetizers buffet - and it was still wonderful.

My two biggest complaints about making it a Princess meal is that the cost went up, and as much as I love the Princesses, I do NOT want to be interrupted when I'm eating food this good. So I don't know if we'll be going or not . . .


KC

 

[majortom]

I do!! My DH and I ate at Akershus a few years ago and really enjoyed it.

I also miss the old restaurant. Probably one more casualty of the Dining Plan ("Quick! We need more Character Meals for our Dining Plan customers").

I have no interest in character dining (and my 4 year old son doesn't care for the princesses) so I wish it wasn't all-princesses, all the time.

I enjoy Crystal Palace with Tigger and friends (I like him more than his bear sidekick ), but would prefer that there were more non-character options than there are. At this point they could turn California Grill into a character meal and maybe free up some restaurant that actually cares about quality food and service.

I wish they would choose either lunch or dinner for the character meal and leave the restaurant alone for the other meal.

Of course, I am probably the only one that doesn't enjoy eating with characters.

I agree. Make it a character lunch and leave dinner alone.

/carmi

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

We will just ignore the princesses, sorry. My dh wants to concentrate on his herring. I dont even know if they will let you sample more than 1 main course like they previously did. I want the lamb and meatballs, ds is more like a trout and venison kind of guy. We are going april 14. I guess I will write a review from an adults only perspective when we get back.

When we went last time, our CM did bring out multiple items, in smaller portions. She basically tried to recreate our own smorgasbord at the table, only some of the items we loved best were no longer available. The biggest aggravation to us was that every few minutes, another princess would pop through the door and want to chat. I realize this is their job, and Disney requires that they stop at every table... but they wouldn't even pass our table by when we would try to wave them on. There was just no ignoring them without feeling incredibly rude, and I certainly didn't want to hurt a CM's feelings. We're just not willing to repeat the experience with the same format. ~Ev

 

[La2kw]

We definitely miss it. It was such a unique experience and you mentioned. I also miss the character-free lunches at CRT. Whenever the characters move in, the food goes downhill. We stopped doing character meals a long time ago, neither of my kids really ever enjoyed them and I certainly don't need to talk to some actor in a costume.

 

[La2kw]

Count me in on missing the old Akershus! What a great idea for it to offer one Princess meal and one non-character meal with the original menu. Hellloooo Disney--anyone listening?
I'm tired of character meals--typically they're overpriced with sub-par food--and they get away with this because of the characters.
When I recently called to make some ADRS, the CM was quick to point out "Now you know, these are not character meals." I said, "Yes I know--Thank God!" She chuckled.

I always say the same thing when they tell me it's not a character meal.

 

[TDC Nala]

I want my goat cheese.

I know they still have it but I'm not interested in eating with a bunch of princesses or the price tag that comes with them.

 

[scrump]

We miss this restaurant terribly. It was actually the first WDW restaurant we dined at, and it got us hooked! We have not gone there since it has turned all-princess-all-the-time.

 

[bdg100]

Nope. I ate there once for lunch and couldn't stand it. I could not find one thing I liked. I freely admit that my taste buds have been dummed down by American fast food places. For the same reasons, I didn't care for Bomas. Having admitted all of that I am sorry they changed it because I realize that not everyone has the same tastes (or lack thereof) that I have. Some people actually like all that authentic food. Go figure. Gotta go, the spaghetti I made outta the box is ready.

 

[Maggi May]

I haven't been since the princesses moved in, but was sorry to hear about the changes. The old menu at the Akershus was what the Epcot showcase should be about - experiencing different cultures and trying something that you can't get anywhere else. When my DH and I were planning our ADR's for May we reluctantly decided to skip this one.

And I loved that goat cheese, too! I think it was called gjetost.

 

[bdg100]

I haven't been since the princesses moved in, but was sorry to hear about the changes. The old menu at the Akershus was what the Epcot showcase should be about - experiencing different cultures and trying something that you can't get anywhere else. When my DH and I were planning our ADR's for May we reluctantly decided to skip this one.

And I loved that goat cheese, too! I think it was called gjetost.

Yuck. But, I do agree with you, that is what Epcot is about. Just not for me.

 

[ColinA]

I'm new to the forum, and glanced over old threads, but didn't find this. I'm sure it must be here somewhere, but my patience for searching is limited. Does any other family miss the old Akershus format as much as we do?! Akershus was one of our favorite places to dine, even when the kids were little, before they turned it into a character meal. We usually went twice on every trip because there's no place near our home to get anything close to what was served there. The smorgasbord was outstanding, and the choices were such a refreshing change of pace from standard Disney fare. We were disappointed when we found out about the change on our last visit, but went anyway because we were hopeful that enough of the old still survived. Our waitress did bring us some "chef's choices" that were not advertised (but were offered to keep the previous regulars happy), but it just wasn't enough to suffice. In addition, we were placed at a table right by the entrance for the princesses, which would have been a dream come true when my children were younger, but proved quite awkward for this particular meal. Our table of adults and grown children were hungry and tired, and in no mood to converse with princesses... and as the characters are required to stop at every table, we went through 6 of these awkward interruptions in our meal! As I sit here making our ADR schedule in prep to call for our upcoming trip, I am saddened that there is no spot where I will fill in "Akershus"... I wonder if there are others out there who miss the old menu and format, and if there would be any way to get Disney to consider offering say 1 or 2 meals a week where it's the smorgasbord rather than the princess dining. Opinions/comments? ~Ev

Three cheers for your post. We first went to Akershus in 1997 and since then have regarded it as one of our favorites. We dine there several times during each visit to WDW from our home country of Australia. Our last trip was Dec '05 / Jan '06. Must say it is not the same with the princesses........we are sooooooooooo not into them! The food is great, but the princesses have spoilt the ambience that my DH and I once enjoyed. So our vote is to remove the princesses and return Restaurant Akershus to Character free dining.

 

[maggs]

I miss it like crazy. At least in days of old people didnt go if they didnt like the look of the menu. Now they go to see the princesses and complain about the food (knowing they probably wouldnt like it anyway)
I have to come clean. We are going back to our favorite restaurant in August. I am in two minds about this. We dont want to meet the princesses, just eat the food.

Maggs

 

[emmabelle]

We ate there in December of 2004 and my family loved it, besides the addition of princesses, what else has changed?

 

[North of 49]

Our "new" Akershus story, as a newbie. I was make reservations under the Dining Plan. My year old Unofficial Guide said good things about the "old" Akershus, and no mention of characters. The CM couldn't find Akershus to make the ressie, but eventually found it under Princess Storybook at Akershus. We weren't planning on a character meal, but here was an opportunity at no extra cost. Princess did sound kind of girly...

So we get there with wife and DS8. Lots of young girls in princess outfits. The true meaning of what Princess Storybook was became very clear very fast. No other 8 year old boys. Son is rather shy to start but warms up, and we got some great pictures of him with the princesses. DS had no idea who most of the Princesses were. Dad really only knew Mary Poppins. Pretty funny in the end though. Food was good. Liked the goat cheese.

I would agree they should let the characters have a few nights off and let the adults enjoy what the place was meant to be.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

We ate there in December of 2004 and my family loved it, besides the addition of princesses, what else has changed?

There is no more smorgasbord. They have a limited menu that they serve at the table. If you ask your server, there are a few items that are not on the menu available in the back from the "old days" but it's VERY limited. I'm not like most of the Akershus fans of old in that I do not like goat cheese (or most of the cheeses actually) and I'm also not a fan of any pickled fish. I LOVED the cold side of the bord and had a few select favorites from the hot side. In general, none of those choices remain. My DH and DS did enjoy the special items they brought out for our table (more pickled fish and a few of the other items that the new typical customer -- 8 year olds -- would hate), but DD and I were disappointed. I understand that Disney chose this location because of the building construction (we were told it was because the architecture of the pavillion resembled a castle), but I intend to write again lobbying for the choice of "no princess" dining to be offered at least a few times a week. I think they would be surprised at how full it would be on those days if word of mouth got out. ~Ev

 

[Maggi May]

Thanks for the review, North of 49 and to the boards.


Your DS sounds like he's a good sport.