Fun Reigns at Medieval Times

Huzzah!  We came, we feasted, we jousted. Well, we watched the knights of Medieval Times joust, but our shouts and cheers were certainly the encouragement needed.  Learn more about the all-new show at Medieval Times with, for the first time, a queen reigning over the castle.

We received complimentary admission to facilitate this review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  Please read my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Living a block or so from where I grew up presents lots of fun.  There’s always someone to chat with while in line at the grocery store.  I never get lost.  But the element I cherish most is that I can share moments from my childhood with my own children.  Medieval Times was the latest  of these experiences.  My husband and I were chatting while driving to the Buena Park castle about our previous visits.  Birthday parties and gatherings with friends–we both shared such fond memories of the family friendly entertainment.

As we drove, our car was a buzz with excitement from the back seat.  Our preschooler seemed enamored with the royalty aspect, while the older girls were interested in the historical fiction.  But one thing this girl mom was celebrating: for the first time, there’s a queen ruling the castle.  Long may she reign!  Queen Maria Isabella has ascended to the throne at the Buena Park, California castle.  As the story tells, she’s inherited the throne upon the death of her father.  The kind and confident matriarch can also be found at the Medieval Times castles in Dallas, Chicago, and New Jersey with additional debuts throughout the country slated for 2018.

With the new character comes a new show.  Features of the new show include:

• 700 new handmade costumes for performers, including horses, made in the dedicated costume shop in Dallas Design District
• 200 new suits of armor, shield, and helmets
• 350 team members and 225 horses rehearsing for months to prepare for the new show
• A live-action film score sychronized to the lights, jousts, and entries
• A $1 million upgraded LED lighting system featuring 256 colors

You can check out some of the fun in this video:

We arrived approximately an hour before show time.  I informed the castle attendants of our need for vegetarian meals, and will share more on that later in the post.  We checked in and received crowns, alerting us that we would be cheering on the Green Knight for the evening.  We took a photo with the nobility.  Thanks to the talented photographers, we actually got a family photo of the five of us.  There’s a lovely outdoor courtyard, but inside the castle is where the action is.  We ordered drinks when walking in.  There are plenty of fun options with and without alcohol, like the King’s Colada.

While strolling through the castle, King’s Colada in hand, we could see the four-legged stars of the show as there are areas to view the horse stables.  My daughters have inherited my love for souvenirs so we also checked out the wares available for purchase.  Child-sized costume pieces like armor and crowns are available, plus numerous collectibles for the home.  Poppy talked her father into a pointed princess hat with detachable tiara.  We mentioned the color of our knight for the evening was green; she got blue anyway.

Insider tip: Flags on a stick bearing your knight’s color are available for only $5.

Queen Maria Isabella and her band of bards made an appearance to perform knighting ceremonies for those celebrating special occasions at the castle.  In addition to making those individuals feel more noble, it was fun for all guests to enjoy.  There’s plenty to see on the walls and a throne for photo ops, so you’ll want to arrive before showtime to be able to enjoy it all.

My eldest daughter and I also toured the Torture Museum.  For an additional $2 a person, you can learn more about the medieval torture devices.  It wouldn’t be a good fit for all guests, like younger children.  The mood is spooky with music playing and dimmed lights inside the chamber.

After shopping and visiting the museum, it was time to take our seats. Sitting in a row, we were excited to get our evening started.  Our waitress took drink orders, and accepted my coupon for a vegetarian meal.  As the show began, our food was served one course at a time.  The traditional menu features garlic bread, dragon blood soup (tomato bisque), roasted chicken, buttered corn, herb-roasted potatoes, and dessert.  My vegetarian meal was awesome!  I received hummus with veggies and pita bread to begin.  Next came three-bean stew with fire-roasted tomato and brown rice, plus dessert.  And a spoon!  Part of the fun of Medieval Times is eating as was done in the medieval times which means with your hands.  However, I did boast my access to a utensil like I had won some sort of futuristic trophy.

The show began with the royal falcon presentation where the royal falconer demonstrates catching the majestic bird in a fashion that pre-dates the Medieval Age.  If you’d like to see the birds up close, check out the mews prior to showtime.  Previously mentioned, the new Medieval Times show features a queen for the first time.  She rode in behind her knights on a gorgeous white horse.  We got to check out the horses as they parade the arena.  But then it was time for the tournament to begin!  As was done in earlier times, the knights battled with various tournament games on horseback.  As our green knight prevailed over these early games, we cheered.  It’s hard to not get swept up in “Huzzah!” with the crowd.  You may notice in our photos from within the arena, a green hue.  The lighting upgrades shined our entire area the color of the Green Knight, the bravest of the brave.  We literally were covered in team pride.

As our knight succeeded in various games, the queen provided flowers to share with audience members.  The special honor of catching a tossed carnation befell two of my daughters.  Totally swoon worthy moment when the knight acknowledges you.

The story continued with head-to-head battles between pairs of knights. showcasing the brawn and boldness of the men in armor.  For those experiencing the fun with younger children, the fighting is well choreographed making it feel very authentic.  However, it is not gruesome or scary.  My 4-year-old daughter was engaged, but not frightened.  She was inspired by the grace of the horses, and practiced her own prancing in the lobby for a few minutes when she needed to stretch her legs during the show.

Queen Maria Isabella is not a damsel in distress.  Without giving away too much of the show, there is a contest to her authority and this queen has it handled.  To see a strong matriarch adds a modern touch to the Medieval Times entertainment.  Even if you’ve visited the castle previously, it’s time to return to enjoy the feasting, jousting, and all-around family fun.

Tickets for Medieval Times can be purchased on their website.  There you’ll find showtimes and great resources to plan your trip.  Have you visited the castle before?  Share your Medieval Times experience in the comments!