Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament is located in Buena Park, California, less than seven miles from Disneyland, off the 91 Freeway at Beach Boulevard. Parking is free and on-site. The Buena Park castle has been operating since 1986 and runs shows year-round, with both afternoon matinees and evening showtimes available.
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The show runs approximately two hours and is fully indoors inside a climate-controlled arena. Six knights compete in jousting, sword fights, and games of skill on horseback, with Andalusian stallions and a trained falcon as part of the performance. The arena seats approximately 1,100 guests, divided by color section — each assigned a knight to cheer for. Dinner is served during the show: a four-course, hands-on meal with no utensils. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available upon request, and the show uses stroboscopic effects — worth knowing before you go.
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Standard tickets run roughly $50–$75 per adult and $40–$60 per child, depending on the date and show time, with discount codes frequently available through the Medieval Times website. Children three and under are admitted free as long as they sit on an adult's lap and don't require a meal. Upgraded VIP packages are available at a higher price point and may be worth considering — priority seating puts you in the front rows, which means a closer view of the action and a bit more breathing room from the general crowd. Budget for extras regardless — the gift shop, souvenir photos, and bar service add up quickly once you're inside.
Medieval Times
We've been to Medieval Times in Buena Park three times now. And every single time I am in that parking lot thirty minutes before the doors open. Not because I'm overenthusiastic about knights — because for my son, walking into an already-crowded waiting area with nowhere to land is one of the fastest routes to a dysregulated night.
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We always get VIP tickets. Not because we need to be VIPs — but because VIP means the first two or three rows, and fewer people in my son's sightline means a more regulated kid. I'm also the first one in line the second they call our color. The entry itself is honestly a lot — it's an organized cattle call, herding everyone through at once. I'm not going to sugarcoat that part. It's loud and crowded and we just move through it as fast as possible.
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Once we're seated it genuinely gets better. The food surprises me every time — chicken, potatoes, a veggie soup, and they're actually decent about gluten free which I never expect. The show is loud, flashy, and full of horses, a hawk, knights, a princess, and a king. My kids are completely locked in from start to finish. And I'll be honest — this is my birthday dinner request every year. Not because it's fancy. Because my kids are engaged, entertained, and I'm not bribing anyone with a screen at a restaurant table. That counts for a lot.
Getting there first means open space, patient staff, and my son gets to find his spot before the chaos arrives.
Ambiance Dark, loud, and completely committed to the bit — Medieval Times is a full sensory production from the moment you walk in. It's immersive in a way that can either lock your kid in or push them straight to the edge.
Service Standard Staff are in character and focused on the show, not on scanning the room for a family in survival mode. Don't expect proactive support — come with your own game plan.
Experience Adaptability Once you're seated, you're seated — the show runs on its own timeline and there's no quiet version of a jousting tournament. Exit access exists if you need it, but the experience itself doesn't flex.
Sensory Environment The arena is loud, dark, and packed — crowd noise plus live action plus the echo of an enclosed space adds up fast. If your kid can handle that combination, the payoff is genuinely spectacular; if they can't, you'll know within the first ten minutes.
Overall Ease Medieval Times is a gamble for ND families — high reward if it lands, hard exit if it doesn't. Know your kid's capacity for unpredictable noise and enclosed crowds before you commit to the ticket price.
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