Please tell me about eating at Norway

[las3888]

I am considering making dinner reservations at Norway and we haven't been there since it has been transformed into a princess thing. It will be DH and myself, my parents as well as DS 6. He is not into Princesses at all. However, we are having a hard time getting into EPCOT restaurants in early Oct for anything before 6pm and we need to eat around 5pm (and they have availability). Also, from what I understand, it is one dining credit on the dining plan and I am pretty sure we will do the dining plan and it seems like an awesome deal for the use of one credit, isn't it around $45 per adult? Do I have all this correct so far?

Can anybody tell me what it is like? It sounds like the meal itself is like the old days before Princesses. What do the Princesses do? Is it just your basic character visit to the tables? I thought I read something about how the price includes a photo - what kind of photo? Will DS be overwhelmed? He would probably take it in stride if it weren't all Princesses or too overly done?

TIA!!!

 

[maj42169]

The princess dinner includes a picture with Belle. The other princesses will come around and visit all of the tables. The setting inside is that of a royal atmosphere. As for the food, you get to eat from the salad bar which also includes some meats and cheeses. You then choose one entree from the menu. I suggest reviewing the menu beforehand as it is traditional Norwegien cuisine. If your son isn't into princesses, I don't know if he would enjoy this meal. It is worth one table service credit.

 

[PoohsFan1]

The PP is correct with that there is a picture that you take with a princess (Belle is at breakfast, but then I heard that Ariel is at Dinner but don't know since we never have dinner, only eat breakfast) as you first walk in the door (this is the photo that is free), then there will be princesses that comes around to your table. If you don't think that your DS would enjoy it that much, why don't you try getting an ADR for a restaurant at either BC or YC. BC has Cape May Cafe which is a clam bake that gets rave reviews (going there for the first time in a few weeks) or Captain's Grill at YC...this too gets a lot of good reviews. Good luck.

 

[smiths02]

This might not be popular, I understand boys can like princesses, etc.

But there is no way my DH and FIL would sit through a princess meal with my DS (almost 5) unless we also had a little girl with us.

I am sure something in Epcot will open up at 5pm before your vacation. Cape May Cafe or Captain's Grille sound like viable options.

Also, are you going to have the DxDP or just regular? I would say that Epcot would be a great place to use your CS credits if you are on the regular DP (that would leave you a TS for arrival night or departure breakfast or one day you could do a breakfast and a dinner or even a signature or one of the 2TS shows)

 

[las3888]

I appreciate the feedback. We are considering it because it is our last night of our stay. We will be at BCV. We already have a dinner and a breakfast booked at Cape May. We wanted to spend our last evening at EPCOT (esp. since we are so close at BCV) and have a nice meal in the park. There is something very funky about booking dining before 6pm at EPCOT in early Oct (there is another thread about that) so this and Bistro de Paris is all we can get prior to 6pm. Like I said, my parents really enjoyed the restaurant before the Princesses took over, so I know they will really enjoy it. DS will probably make do. I just didn't understand what the high cost was all about as well as this photo, or why we had to use a CC to make the resv. I appreciate hearing about it. It would be nice if they threw in an odd character related to Princesses which might make DS happier. He also does like Mulan and doesn't consider her a Princess (not sure if she technically is either!).

Well, we'll keep thinking. We really wanted Biergarten but it is booked the entire stay for us. It must be booked off for some F&W activity or something.

 

[bjscheel]

Mulan was there when we went once, so it's a possibility.

 

[mom2val]

We love Akurshus. The cold buffet is wonderful! The entrees are very good- actually our last trip all the chicken I ate the entire week was dry dry dry except here where I ate a very moist chicken breast! The Princesses make their rounds but it's not over the top. Some girls are in costumes but my dd is a tom boy and always wears t-shirts. She does a quick photo with each Princess and it's over. They also do a Princess parade but my dd has never gotten up to join.

 

[clutter]

If you like salmon, the salmon entree was excellent! One of the best meals I've had at Disney.

 

[catne]

another option would be Captain's Grill at the Yacht Club, or ESPN Club at Boardwalk. Both are 1 credit on the dining plan. ESPN does not take reservations so would depend on whether there's some big game on at 5:00 when you want to be there. Captain's Grill does take reservations...nice steakhouse type menu...and afterwards you can walk or take the boat to Epcot.

 

[pixarmom]

We have three boys (ages pre-school to pre-teen) and until recently, I hadn't been to Norway since its pre-princess days. Earlier this year, our youngest was really into princesses and asked to have "dinner with Belle" for his birthday. So we were just there for dinner in January.

We had a great time, but that's because our youngest was really into the princesses. He was thrilled to meet Belle before dinner in her "meet and greet" area near the entrance. (A photo package is included with the meal.) Princesses visited our table throughout the meal and kids participated in a parade with the princesses at one point. Our son liked to talk with the princesses about their stories, and many of them did a great job of staying in character and answering his questions. The food wasn't great, but our son was so excited to meet the princesses that it didn't matter for us.

So yes, the whole thing is very princess! I wouldn't recommend it for a family without a princess fan (either child or adult, girl or boy!) Our pre-schooler's interest in princesses has diminished since January, and he's back to pixar characters, Mickey and Donald. I just don't see it as a good value unless someone in the group like princesses, so it's not in our rotation at this point.

 

[Quin]

We really wanted Biergarten but it is booked the entire stay for us. It must be booked off for some F&W activity or something.

Did you try calling? Computers are wonderful but sometimes there appears to be a glitch in the ADR system and the CM on the phone can do better. I agree that Biergarten is a great choice if you can get it. Another option your DS might like would be Teppan Edo; some of the chefs are supposed to put on a pretty good show. Or have you tried Marrakesh? That one sounds kind of neat: exotic but nothing at WDW is going to get too far out of the mainstream in terms of food tastes.

 

[DCDisney]

? Will DS be overwhelmed? He would probably take it in stride if it weren't all Princesses or too overly done?

TIA!!!

If you liked the food pre-princesses chances are pretty good you won't now. The food has changed pretty dramatically towards American foods. They still have a few fish items on the buffet but it seems like there used to be about 10. It's mostly things like fruit salad, regular types of cheese like Swiss rather than Norwegian, pasta salad, fruit salad, etc. In the past they had smaller servings of entrees and you could order more or a different entree to try a few things. The entree size is still small but now you can't order more. I guess they expect people to fill up on the buffet items? The meatball dish is the same but I think all the other entrees have changed.

We used to LOVE Akershus especially the salmon meal but even with a daughter none of us has been interested in returning our past few visits. The tables seem closer together and they seat whole rooms at a time now so it feels kind of like a cattle call. I used to think the building was so lovely but now it's just lost in the frenzy. I think as it gets closer to Oct they'll release the tables they are holding. We went last year for F and W and it didn't seem like there was an event at more than 1 Epcot restaurant per night so I'm sure once they settle the schedule out they'll release the other restaurants.