Restaurant Akershus vs CRT

[pinkerbell]

We have done lunch at CRT for MANY years and are getting a little bored with it. Of course DD's love it. I have been reading about Rest. Akershus and am wondering if anyone has pics and personal experiences they would like to share about why they prefer it to CRT.
DH and I did eat at a buffet in Norway quite a few years ago and did not like it, it was just not our taste. We cannot remember if this is the same resturant just with character dining or not. Can someone clue us in

thanks pink

 

[Alva218]

We've eaten at CRT and Storybook and have enjoyed both. I think that Storybook, which is in Norway, was a little less rushed. My children also met the same princesses who were in the parks and parades and who recognized and gave special attention to my kids later. I had a cod dish, which I thought was great, and the best thing I had eaten all week. From what I've read on the boards the food has become more Americanized so you may find it more to your liking than you did a few years ago.

 

[GatorLady]

We love Akershus! It was great for the food and seeing all the princesses. It was one of the best meals we had on our last trip. We do the dining plan so it's been a great value for 1TS and the photo package. The picture in my signature is from the package.

 

[maitlynn]

We've never done CRT but we love the Norway meal, the food was very good (and my DH is really picky). We were not rushed at all and had plenty of time with each princess there. We are planning another meal there in Jan 09.

Good luck deciding.

 

[Neesy228]

We were there in September and it was absolutely the highlight of our trip. There is a cold buffet with some meats and cheeses and salads. Our kids were able to get hot dogs (which made them happy) and I had a very tasty open faced salmon sandwich. We were able to meet Jasmine, Ariel in her wedding dress, Aurora, Cinderella and Belle. No one rushed us, the princesses were fantastic with the kids, the food was tasty -- and we're going back in March! Can't wait!

My DD2 was wandering around the restaurant staring that the princesses from a distance. It was like she couldn't believe they were actually there...very cute.

I would highly recommend it.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Akershus is a must for us every trip. We did not care for lunch, never had dinner but probably wouldn't care for that either, so we do breakfast every time now. We get a late breakfast so it will count for lunch also. Works well for us. Great characters!

 

[itchin2go]

We have done both. If you have never done Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus, you should definitely do it. It does not have the magical castle setting, but it has plenty of princesses! We did lunch because I wanted to maximize our chances of seeing Ariel (and the trend at the time seemed to be that Ariel showed up at lunch WAY more than breakfast). We were able to see Belle (yellow dress), Ariel (green dress), Jasmine, Aurora & Pocahontas. The food was much better than I expected it to be (based on lots of questionable reviews here and elsewhere), and the princess interaction was great. Servers were notably friendly and welcoming.

 

[pinkerbell]

We love Akershus! It was great for the food and seeing all the princesses. It was one of the best meals we had on our last trip. We do the dining plan so it's been a great value for 1TS and the photo package. The picture in my signature is from the package.

OMG, that picture choked me up!! How precious. We will definately skip Cindys this year and and add Akershus. I would love to hear and see more of this resturant.

I gather you can go here for B L or D and see the princesses??
Is a photo included with the 1 table service or is that extra? (we will be on the dining plan)

I would love for the kids to see bell in the gold gown... are there any tips for who is avaiable (princesses) and when?

Thanks for all the input so far, we are really looking forward to it

 

[pinkerbell]

anybody else??

 

[PiperGirlInWondrland]

We love it! We really prefer the breakfast there, but lunch was nice too! We have seen all different princesses there, Cinderella, Ariel, Jasmine, Belle, Snow White, and even Mulan which my daughters loved!

On the dining plan it's one credit and it does include the photo package now, it used to be extra!

 

[PiperGirlInWondrland]

I would love for the kids to see bell in the gold gown... are there any tips for who is avaiable (princesses) and when?

Every time we have gone ( and yep, the princesses are there for all 3 meals) Belle has been there in her gold dress in the lobby. They let the kids pose with her for a pic for the photo package and then you are seated. Pretty much the way it works at CRT. Enjoy!

 

[heartsy77]

Our first trip to WDW we went to the one in AKS (sorry I don't remember how to spell it) and my girls, whom were 5 & 8, loved it! When we watch the video from AKS my kids love to here they announce our table as the Royal Family of Wahl! Fast forward to 2007 we took kids to CRT and while I agree everyone should have this experience once, the food was ok but did not have nearly as much character interaction. The food at AK was great! My girls loved how the princesses came right to their table; this does not happen nearly as much as at CRT!

 

[GatorLady]

OMG, that picture choked me up!! How precious.

Thanks pinkerbell!!! Hope you have a magical trip!

 

[pinkerbell]

Every time we have gone ( and yep, the princesses are there for all 3 meals) Belle has been there in her gold dress in the lobby. They let the kids pose with her for a pic for the photo package and then you are seated. Pretty much the way it works at CRT. Enjoy!

I have wanted the girls to see belle in the gold dress.. I am so glad to finaly kow where she is!!!

Our first trip to WDW we went to the one in AKS (sorry I don't remember how to spell it) and my girls, whom were 5 & 8, loved it! When we watch the video from AKS my kids love to here they announce our table as the Royal Family of Wahl! Fast forward to 2007 we took kids to CRT and while I agree everyone should have this experience once, the food was ok but did not have nearly as much character interaction. The food at AK was great! My girls loved how the princesses came right to their table; this does not happen nearly as much as at CRT!

We have gone every year for MANY, and this year (oct 2008) was the fastest and most rushed ever!! It was so quick it was not worth the price or 2 table service meals. I am glad to know there is an alternative we can look forward to!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

We ate at both last week. We eat at CRT every trip for breakfast and love it and this trip was no different. Great food, good time with the princesses. Have done it every trip but our first and always will! We weren't rushed at all, in fact we were the last ones in our area and I said maybe we should hurry and our waitress told us to take our time. I had surprised my girls with the slipper dessert and they were enjoying every last nibble of it!

We added Akerhaus for dinner this trip and while I did not enjoy my food at all, the salad bar was great and filled me plenty and the desserts were good too. My DH LOVED his food (the salmon) and said it was his best meal all trip (we ate at lots of places including LeCellier and Cali Grill). I am glad we went, my girls were very happy. My DD6 is named after Ariel and one of her sisters so she loved seeing her with feet and my DD9 was happy to see Belle in her yellow dress and Jasmine who was not at the castle the day we were there. I am not an adventurous eater so I went with the vegetarian pasta dish (though I am by no means a vegetarian) and it was just a bad choice on my part. My only wish would be that I had ordered the salmon because my DH would have gladly eaten it! But, overall, it was great and I would do it again!

 

[pinkerbell]

We ate at both last week. We eat at CRT every trip for breakfast and love it and this trip was no different. Great food, good time with the princesses. Have done it every trip but our first and always will! We weren't rushed at all, in fact we were the last ones in our area and I said maybe we should hurry and our waitress told us to take our time. I had surprised my girls with the slipper dessert and they were enjoying every last nibble of it!

We added Akerhaus for dinner this trip and while I did not enjoy my food at all, the salad bar was great and filled me plenty and the desserts were good too. My DH LOVED his food (the salmon) and said it was his best meal all trip (we ate at lots of places including LeCellier and Cali Grill). I am glad we went, my girls were very happy. My DD6 is named after Ariel and one of her sisters so she loved seeing her with feet and my DD9 was happy to see Belle in her yellow dress and Jasmine who was not at the castle the day we were there. I am not an adventurous eater so I went with the vegetarian pasta dish (though I am by no means a vegetarian) and it was just a bad choice on my part. My only wish would be that I had ordered the salmon because my DH would have gladly eaten it! But, overall, it was great and I would do it again!

we are definatley looking forward to this meal!! Thanks for the heads up on the veggie dish.. it may have been my choice

 

[pinkerbell]

does any one have any pics of the outside or inside of this resturant??

 

[Rora]

To me there is nothing more classic than CRT but I will admit, it gets boring and it's pricey.

We really enjoyed Akershus- the Princesses spent a lot of time at each table and our server was hilarious. I am a very picky eater and didn't particularly care for the food (we were there for lunch). That being said, it was an overall good experience.

I would choose CRT for lunch or dinner but Akershus for breakfast (just not a fan of lunch/dinner at Akershus). It's a nice change of pace from CRT.

Have a great trip!

 

[jenjersnap]

Well, you trade the better atmosphere of CRT for the better food of Akershus. Both are definitely worth doing! Akershus is a much better value. We prefer lunch or dinner over the plain Jane breakfast at Akershus but YMMV ... those who think it's "exotic" food prefer breakfast.