Note: This post is from my 2018 trip–check out my 2020 Disney World posts here!
When are you too old to enjoy a Disney princess character breakfast? To me the answer is never!
When I started making Disney dining reservations in preparation for our trip earlier this month, I considered a character breakfast at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, but all of the times we would be at Epcot were already booked up. Luckily though, I kept checking back for an opening using the Disney app while we were there and was able to make a reservation for the morning we wanted the evening before. If there’s somewhere you want to eat but can’t find a reservation–keep checking back because you never know!
Since our reservation was for 9:25am, we were able to get in to Epcot early, which was awesome because we were able to get some cool photos of the park before they let everyone else in. It was my first time (at least that I can remember) seeing the park empty like that. I got some photos of Spaceship Earth as well as Figment and some other lovely topiaries that were up for the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. It made me wish I had brought my DSLR (I don’t like bothering with it while at Disney/all of the photos I took were on my phone.
A sight you don’t see often–an empty Spaceship Earth!
Flower Figment!
There was even a Photopass cast member working already who took a few for us as well:
When we arrived in Norway, it was only 9am, so we also had time to ride the Frozen ride before our breakfast, and we walked right on with no wait. I was excited about that because it normally has a long wait, and I’m not a fan of waiting in long lines especially for non-thrill rides, and we didn’t have Fastpasses for it.
Excited to meet the princesses selfie
Once we checked in, we were seated pretty quickly, and I told our server (and had already told the hostess) that I’m vegan and gluten free. She said I couldn’t have much at the buffet (just fruit), but that they did have a vegan hot breakfast option the chef could make me–tofu scramble with hash browns and veggies. She seemed confused when I asked if I could have some vegan and gluten free Mickey waffles as well (I’d already had them at Caribbean Beach and ‘Ohana so I thought they were pretty standard), but she said she’d ask about them. I started my breakfast with some fruit from the buffet and coffee with soy milk.
When our server brought out the rest of our food, there was a single (non-Mickey) allergy waffle, and I asked again about the Mickey waffles because I was confused, but she said that was the only vegan waffle option and that they didn’t have vegan/gluten free Mickey waffles. Also, the chef never came out to speak to me, which was the only time that happened at a table service restaurant while we were at Disney (I’m not sure if they were too busy or what).
The tofu scramble wasn’t as amazing as tofu scrambles you can find in Austin, but it was still good, and I was really thankful that I found tofu scramble period. The hash-browns and roasted veggies were a nice addition as well.
The waffle wasn’t quite as fun or fresh tasting as the Mickey waffles I’d had before, but I spiced it up with maple syrup and a banana I got from the buffet, and together with my vegan hot plate, I was full and happy.
I asked my family if their non-vegan food was good, and they said that it was, though it was pretty much the same thing they’d had at all of our Disney breakfasts, but they did say the potatoes were better.
Throughout the breakfast, Cinderella, Ariel, Snow White, and Aurora came to our table for photos (we had already gotten a Photopass photo with Belle when we arrived), and they were all really nice.
Overall I really enjoyed our character breakfast at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall! I was happy to have a special vegan breakfast with tofu scramble, and it was a lot of fun getting pictures with all of the Princesses and enjoying some perks of being at Epcot early as well.
Have you eaten at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall? I’ve heard they have a good vegan option for lunch/dinner as well. Or have you tried any other princess/character breakfasts? Let me know in the comments!
PS–Here is the Allergy Menu if you’re curious, though the vegan tofu scramble option is not listed:
Check out all of my other Disney World posts here!