I’m thinking it’s dinner and a show. A jousting show and dinner with no utensils. Perhaps some mead for me and ale for the hubby. I’m making me a medieval necklace and need a place to wear it.
Has anyone gone? Am I right about it? Is it worth the extra money to upgrade the tickets? Am I a hopeless geek?
We did it once (In Schaumburg, IL) when my daughter was around 5 and loved princesses. I thought it was a fun experience – you get food, beer is available, and there’s a show to watch. The characters meet you at the door and there are some museum-type displays to look at before the show.
I don’t remember anything about the costs or upgrading tickets.
I’m interested in the responses, I live near Lyndhurst and haven’t thought at all about going there. I used to enjoy the Renaissance Fair in Sterling Forest, but this might work out better with a child.
I went to the one in Las Vegas. The meal was fine, the jousting & sword fighting show was below the quality of what I have seen at renaissance festivals. I am not sure what an upgraded ticket would get you.
There is a MT next to Knott’s in Anaheim. I’ve taken students there on “field trips” before. Moderately entertaining, but the jousting is, as noted, sub-par when compared to any decent-sized Ren Faire.
I’ve been to the one in NJ, but it was years ago. I enjoyed it for what it was. I remember the food being better than I anticipated. The renaissance fair here in Charlotte has better jousting, but it’s a good time. I don’t remember an upgrade option when I went.
[QUOTE=Southern Yankee]
The renaissance fair here in Charlotte has better jousting, but it’s a good time. I don’t remember an upgrade option when I went.
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We will have better jousting this year, so plan ahead! 
Opening day is October 5.
If Medieval Times is anything like Pirates Voyage, upgraded seats put you more “front and center” and closer to the action, but no change to the food.
Thanks guys. I’d be more expansive, but I’m on my old-assed I-Pod.
Here’s what you get extra:
If money is a consideration, no alert person not constrained by a school-age child’s schedule/calendar need pay full price. There are usually discount coupons at tourism promotion places (racks at highway rest stops, etc). Several Trip Advisor posters mentioned getting discount tickets from Living Social.
Medieval Times posts their special offers:
And they’ll be happy to put you on the special offers notification list:
You might also hit the Ft. Tryon Park Medieval Festival:
It was ok… a chicken leg and a potato on a pewter plate which you had to eat with your fingers. (Its “plate in one hand”, and “Mongul fist manga” with the other. You will have greasy fingers, so dress appropriately. Your soda will be on the floor in front of you until you are thirsty.) Your huge plastic cup-o-soda will be the color of the knight in the games you root for (which depends on where you are seated, which you will have no control over). You get to bring the plastic mug home as a souvenir for free.
Out front, they will sell you knight cutlery like short swords, long swords, and broad swords. They also sell hard liquor at two bars. If you buy swords etc, you’ll have to pick up your cutlery purchases after the show or take them out to your car before the show as the slicing up of loud guests is frowned upon. They do take VISA at the cutlery shop and their prices are high enough that in 30 days time, everything that you buy you’ll think of as a “Bastard!” sword. :rolleyes:
Biggirl, I seem to remember seeing a picture of you several years ago,wearing a medieval outfit. If you still have the outfit, will you wear it to the event? If so, take pictures and post them online.
Heh. Not sure if potatoes fit in well with the mediæval knights. 
Insert obligatory Ben Stiller quote about the soda.
We’ve been to the one near Chicago last year. It was fun but not one of the highlights of the trip. It’s more like a stage production than a Ren Faire type re-enactment. By that I mean it’s heavily scripted, the combat is very stylized with lots of spinning and twirling, there’s not really an attempt to make it authentic in any way, it’s just a show. Some of the horse riding was pretty cool. The combat and jousting could have been more impressive IMO but they were being careful to not hurt each other while being as flashy as possible.
We got paper crowns similar to the ones they used to give out at burger king. You don’t have utensils so you get stuff like chicken that you can eat with your fingers off of plastic plates, a plastic bowl of soup that you drink, soft drinks in plastic cups, etc. IIRC you had a couple choices (chicken or ribs for meat, vegetarian option, etc) but there’s not a “menu” per se. The food didn’t suck but wasn’t good.
It was fun, but it’s not a Ren Faire type deal where everyone makes a major effort to stay in character and give you the authentic medieval experience. Didn’t hear a single “Thee” or “Thou” from anyone working there. There’s not really any storylines or acting, although they do make up backstories for the “fighters”, tell you won-lost records etc which is kind of funny considering how obviously scripted the fighting is. It kind of resembles professional wrestling more than anything else.
Summary: Cool horse-riding stuff, not quite as cool (but still fun) swordplay and dueling, and kind of mediocre food. If you go on their website you can get package deals. IMO the upgrades that get you a group photo or Dvd aren’t worth it (you can take your own pictures and the dvd seems to be just a camera pointed at past shows) but the ones where you get reduced prices are good deals. If you don’t get seat upgrades you won’t be able to see the swordfighting as well (it’s not THAT big a deal).
Despite living in the area, I’ve never been there. I’ve been to King Henry’s Feast in Orlando (many moons ago–I don’t know if it’s even still there) and it was fun, but not the most fun I’ve ever had. This time of year if you’re in the area, I think you’d probably have more fun at the Faire up in Sterling Forest (provided the weather cooperates).
We had a blast when we went. It didn’t hurt that our knight won the night and he chose my daughter to give the flower to. The food was not the main attraction.
Semi-Hijack.
I JUST moved to Charlotte…where is this fair at? I have never been to a ren faire and I would LOVE to go.
Hubby and I are having a week at-home vacation where the plan is to rip up carpet, paint and spruce up our house. I was looking for a middle of the week fun-thing. After reading these posts, I’m thinking not so much.
Ren-Faire is a possibility but it’s only Saturday and Sunday-- not so much the middle of the week. I guess we’ll just clean and clean.
Some people here have loooooooong memories! Yes, there was a picture of me floating around in ye olde garb. Than was at Ren-Faire. Not my clothes, though. They belonged to the picture booth people.
I agree. It’s sort of like pro wrestling–very showy and stylized, with flamboyant gestures and sparks flying when the weapons clash. It’s fun in the same way that pro wrestling is fun, as long as you don’t take it seriously.
The food was right up my alley since I like plain hearty fare, but it isn’t for everybody.
I’ve been once. It’s not the kind of restaurant you put on your list of favorites, but it’s definitely an experience that’s worth the money.