Akershus Royal Banquet Hall: Insider Tips Before You Book

Published June 11, 2026 · Updated September 9, 2026

Quick take: Akershus offers the longest princess interaction of any EPCOT character meal, but it’s a premium price, often closed for refurb, and requires ninja-level reservation timing. If you can lock a spot, bring a battery pack, scan with MagicBand+, and you’ll walk away with a solid value compared to Cinderella’s Royal Table.

What It’s Like

Akershus sits inside the Norway pavilion’s castle-styled hall. The restaurant serves a family-style, platter-based menu that blends American comfort with Norwegian touches. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all on the menu, and the venue is one of the few EPCOT character-dining spots that opens before the standard 11 am “drinking around the world” start, letting you snag an early lunch if you need a mid-morning break.

Pricing & the Disney Dining Plan

Breakfast – the cheapest meal slot, priced at the “$$” tier and costs one table-service credit on the Disney Dining Plan. It’s also the safest bet for picky eaters because the menu is simpler.
Lunch & Dinner – sit in the “$$” tier, costing two table-service credits per person. The family-style dinner runs about $69 per adult and $46 per child (pre-tax). Expect a premium over non-character restaurants.
Candlelight Processional Package – available for a limited window, it bundles an appetizer, entrée, dessert (or full buffet) plus a non-alcoholic beverage and guarantees a seat for every guest.
Garden Rocks Package – during the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival (Mar 1 – Jul 5) you can tack this on for extra seasonal sides.

When to Book & How to Secure

Mark the 60-day window. Reservations drop exactly 60 days out on the My Disney Experience app or website. Slots fill fast, especially for the Candlelight Processional, so be ready the moment the clock flips.
Set a reminder. Use a phone alarm or a calendar alert for the exact release minute; the app can’t pre-load the reservation page.
Pick a non-peak time. Early lunch (around 11:30 am) or a late dinner (after 5 pm) usually has lower wait times for the princess rotation.
Watch the EPCOT refurbishment calendar. If nearby pavilions are closed, crowd patterns shift and Akershus can get unexpectedly busy.

Smart Timing & Crowd Hacks

Monitor real-time crowd levels in the My Disney Experience app. A spike in wait times for “World Showcase” usually means the park is at peak, and you may want to shift your reservation an hour earlier or later.
If the Transportation & Ticket Center security line backs up early in the morning, the whole day will be crowded. In that case, book the earliest possible Akershus slot or consider a later dinner.
Early lunch advantage: Because Akershus opens before the 11 am “drinking around the world” start, you can eat while the rest of the World Showcase is still quiet, giving the princesses more time at each table.

Princess Interaction vs. Other Options

Akershus rotates up to five princesses—Belle, Aurora, Snow White, Tiana, and Merida—between tables. Compared to Cinderella’s Royal Table, you typically get longer interaction time per guest, making it a better value for princess fans who want photos and conversation rather than just a photo-op.

If you dislike forced character moments, former cast members note the experience can feel awkward. In that case, skip Akershus and grab a regular table-service spot in Norway or elsewhere.

Tech & Check-In Hacks

MagicBand+ scan – Use it to check in faster and avoid paper tickets.
Portable battery pack – Bring a FuelRod-style pack and use Disney’s free swap stations to keep your phone alive for reservation updates.
MultiCharger for MagicBand+ – Often on sale, it lets you charge both your phone and band in hotel rooms where outlets are scarce.

Current Status & What to Watch

Akershus is currently closed with no announced reopening date. Disney updates status on the My Disney Experience app and the official website, so verify before you plan a reservation. The venue did reopen on Nov 4 2022 to allow Candlelight Processional bookings, but closures can happen again for refurbishments.

Bottom Line

If you can lock a reservation during a low-crowd window, bring the tech gear, and love extended princess time, Akershus offers the best value-for-princess-interaction in EPCOT. If you’re budget-tight, dislike character dining, or the restaurant is closed, skip it and allocate that credit to a cheaper table-service meal.

One takeaway: Treat Akershus like any high-demand Disney experience—set a reminder for the 60-day release, book the earliest slot you can, and arrive with a charged phone and MagicBand+ for a smooth, princess-filled meal.

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