Medieval Times Dinner Show in Orlando

The most memorable part of Medieval Times Orlando is not the meal. It is the moment royal trumpets call you into the arena, where you sit in a color section tied to one of six regions of Medieval Spain and cheer for your assigned king. Horses charge, swords clash, and falcons sweep through the air while dinner arrives without silverware.

I like the strong crowd involvement and the excellent horsemanship. I also like that the castle setting, Hall of Arms, costumes, and weapons display begin the story before the show even starts. The main drawback is comfort: the hard bench seating and occasional sales activity in the aisles can take some shine off the spectacle.

Key points to know

• Two-hour tournament: Expect jousting, sword fights, horsemanship, falconry, and a story built around six rival kings.
• Four-course feast: Chicken, potatoes, corn, and other meal courses arrive while the show runs, with two rounds of soft drinks.
• Castle-style arrival: The Hall of Arms has coats of arms, medieval artifacts, and weapons to inspect before you enter the arena.
• Best for families and first-timers: Children can cheer for a knight, eat with their hands, and follow the simple good-versus-bad drama.
• Plan extra arrival time: Early entry gives you time for photos and the Hall of Arms before the trumpets call you inside.
• Know the trade-offs: The sound system can be hard to follow, the benches are firm, and the ticket cannot normally be refunded or changed.

A castle evening before the curtain rises

Medieval Times Orlando is designed as a full evening out, not just a seat in front of a stage. You arrive at a building made to resemble an 11th-century European castle, then pass into the Hall of Arms before the main event. This early portion helps set the mood and gives you something to do before seating begins.

Take time to look at the coats of arms and the display of medieval weapons. The collection is decorative rather than a museum visit, but it gives children useful visual clues about the world they are about to see. If you arrive at the last minute, you will miss part of this setup and rush straight toward your section.

The building is also useful in practical terms. One recent visitor valued the fact that the event is indoors and air-conditioned, a welcome change from Orlando’s heat. Free parking is included, but hotel pickup and drop-off are not, so you need to arrange your own way there.

Six color sections, six kings, one loud arena

Royal trumpeters announce the call to the feast, and you are sent to one of six color zones. Each section represents an authentic region of Medieval Spain and supports one of the six Kings of the Realm. Your assigned color gives the evening a simple mission: cheer for your knight and hope he wins.

This is the show’s cleverest trick. You are not watching from a detached seat. You are part of a noisy crowd with a clear side to support. Even adults who arrive unsure about the whole idea can find themselves clapping and shouting by the second contest.

The story does not demand close study. That is good news for families, mixed-age groups, and anyone who would rather enjoy action than follow a complicated plot. The arena is fairly compact, which can make the action feel close, although one person found it smaller than expected.

Try to arrive early enough to take photos and look around before the seating call. Better seat locations may be available through an upgrade, and one useful option mentioned by a recent customer was an upgrade that included better seats and free pictures. Since exact upgrade choices can vary, ask what is available when you book or arrive.

Dinner served with both hands

The meal is part of the performance. You receive a four-course Medieval feast while the tournament unfolds, and the meal is served without silverware. That detail surprises some people, especially those who expect a conventional dinner show, but it works well with the period theme.

The meal includes familiar, filling food. Chicken, potatoes, corn, and soup are among the items described by diners, with portions large enough that some people have needed takeaway plates for food they could not finish. Two rounds of soft drinks are included.

The food gets a mixed but generally favorable response. I would set your expectations at hearty event food rather than a restaurant meal. Several people found the chicken moist and the meal better than expected, while others found the seasoning on the chicken, potatoes, and corn too strong or salty. One person specifically wished there had been bread with the soup.

Dietary needs can be accommodated, according to the information provided, and the serving staff has been praised for being friendly, attentive, and willing to help. Staff members named in comments include Jess and Ashley, though staffing naturally changes. The personal service is one of the evening’s stronger points.

Eating with your hands can be funny for children and a little awkward for adults. It is also part of the point. If you want a quiet dinner with a choice of several dishes and polished table service, this is not that kind of night. If you want food that keeps the action moving and adds to the medieval theme, it fits.

Jousting, swordplay, and serious horse work

The live production runs for about two hours. Expect jousting, hand-to-hand sword fights, horsemanship, falconry, and other staged contests. The horses are not simple background decoration. They perform precise movements and carry much of the visual excitement.

The horses and costumes receive especially strong praise. The brightly colored outfits make it easy to identify each side, while the animals bring weight and speed to the arena. The jousting is staged, but the impact of a charging horse and lowering lance still gives the event a physical thrill that a standard theater show cannot match.

Falconry adds variety between the mounted contests. Animal performances were a favorite part for some people, and they help break up what could otherwise become a long sequence of sword fights. The show is built to keep the whole room involved, with the crowd reacting to each victory, defeat, and royal command.

There is a limit to the format. If you have seen other dinner tournaments, the basic pattern may feel familiar. One person wanted more jousting, while another found the production similar to other events of its kind. The show is best approached as a festive family spectacle, not as a historically exact account of medieval combat.

The length matters, too. The full experience takes about three hours, including the pre-show arrival and Hall of Arms time, while the tournament itself lasts about two hours. That is plenty of time for a preschool child to lose interest, so I would think twice before bringing very young children unless they already enjoy horses, costumes, and loud action.

Sound, seating, and the small distractions

The biggest practical complaint concerns the sound system. At times, announcements from the king or queen can be difficult to understand because of crowd noise, microphones, or the actors’ accents. The main action is easy to follow visually, but you may miss bits of spoken story.

The arena uses bench seating, which some people find hard during a long show. If comfort matters to you, an available seating upgrade may be worth asking about. I would also avoid assuming that every seat offers the same view, since the event divides the room into color sections and seating quality can differ.

There can also be sales activity during the performance. A recent audience member disliked staff walking through the aisles to sell glow-in-the-dark items, saying it interrupted the show. This will not bother everyone, especially children who like souvenirs, but it is a real distraction for anyone hoping to watch without interruption.

These details do not ruin the evening, but they help set a fair expectation. Medieval Times is a lively, commercial dinner attraction. It is not a quiet theater, an intimate restaurant, or a silent historical exhibit.

What $82.72 buys you in Orlando

At $82.72 per person, the ticket is a serious part of a family budget. The value depends on how many parts of the package you will actually use. Your admission covers the roughly two-hour tournament, the four-course feast, two rounds of soft drinks, mobile ticket entry, and free parking.

That price compares more favorably if you treat the event as dinner plus entertainment. You do not need to buy a separate meal afterward, and the castle arrival, Hall of Arms, horses, costumes, music, and competition fill most of an evening. For a family celebrating a birthday or looking for something beyond the usual Orlando attractions, that combination can make sense.

The value is weaker if you mainly want a serious meal or a long, technically detailed jousting show. The menu is fixed, seating can be firm, and the action follows a familiar format. I would not book it expecting luxury.

The strongest value comes when your group enjoys participation. Children who like choosing sides, cheering, and watching animals will get more from the ticket than someone who prefers to sit quietly and observe. Couples can enjoy it too, especially if they are willing to play along with the crowd rather than treat it as a formal night out.

Timing, tickets, and booking care

A mobile ticket is included, and confirmation is sent at booking. The experience is often reserved about 22 days ahead, so popular dates may require some planning. That is especially sensible if you are visiting during a busy Orlando period or need a particular show time.

Pay close attention to the exact attraction and time you select. One customer described confusion between different themed shows and another reported a mismatch between the booked time and the time communicated by staff. A manager resolved that situation, but you do not want to discover a scheduling problem after arranging a taxi or driving a long distance.

The ticket is normally non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or request an amendment, the amount paid is not returned. The stated exception is poor weather: if the experience is canceled for that reason, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

Service animals are allowed, the venue is near public transportation, and most people can participate. There is no hotel transportation included. If you are staying outside central Orlando, factor in your own travel time and avoid a tight return schedule.

Who will enjoy this dinner show most?

I would recommend Medieval Times to families with school-age children, teenagers, and adults who enjoy a playful evening. It also works for birthdays, visiting relatives, and anyone who wants an indoor attraction with a strong sense of occasion.

Children get an easy role. They cheer for a color, watch knights charge, see horses perform, and eat with their hands. Teenagers may appreciate the action and the chance to take photos around the castle, while adults can focus on the horsemanship, costumes, and crowd energy.

Couples should book it if they want something theatrical and unusual rather than quiet or romantic in the traditional sense. The room is noisy, the seats are shared benches, and the crowd is part of the show. That can be fun on a first visit, but it is not ideal for intimate conversation.

I would be more cautious if anyone in your group has trouble hearing announcements, dislikes loud crowds, needs soft seating, or expects highly customizable food. The show can still work, but those drawbacks are more likely to matter.

Should you book Medieval Times Orlando?

Book it if you want a complete, three-hour evening built around horses, costumes, cheering, and a generous meal. The friendly service and impressive horse work are the safest reasons to go, while the castle setting and hand-served feast make the event feel different from a normal theater performance.

Before paying, confirm the show time, ask about seating upgrades, and arrive early for the Hall of Arms and photos. Go in expecting a fixed menu, firm benches, occasional aisle sales, and a sound system that may not deliver every line clearly.

For families and first-time visitors, I think the price can be fair because it combines dinner and entertainment in one ticket. For repeat dinner-show customers or anyone seeking historical depth and refined dining, the value is less certain. If your group is willing to cheer loudly for its king, this is a fun Orlando night. If not, the spectacle may feel longer and pricier than it needs to be.

FAQ

Where is Medieval Times Dinner Show located?

The experience is in Orlando, USA. Free parking is included, and the venue is near public transportation.

How long does the experience last?

Plan on about three hours in total. The live tournament itself lasts about two hours.

What does the ticket include?

The ticket includes admission to the live tournament, a four-course Medieval feast, two rounds of soft drinks, and free parking.

Is hotel transportation included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must arrange your own transportation.

Is the meal served with silverware?

No. The feast is served without silverware as part of the Medieval theme.

What happens during the tournament?

You watch jousting, sword fights, horsemanship, falconry, and other live contests while cheering for one of six Kings of the Realm.

Do I need to print my ticket?

No. The experience provides a mobile ticket, and confirmation is received at the time of booking.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes. Service animals are allowed.

Can I cancel or change my booking?

Normally, no. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If the event is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.