My mom and I were able to visit a place and time long gone at the "Castle," located on Highway 192 in Kissimmee, Florida. Not sure what to expect, I was intrigued by the place called Medieval Times (866/543-9637).
My mom and I were able to visit a place and time long gone at the "Castle," located on Highway 192 in Kissimmee, Florida. Not sure what to expect, I was intrigued by the place called Medieval Times (866/543-9637). Turns out it's a four course dinner and a two hour live show all 'roled' together…
The Castle was surrounded by a moat of dark water. After entering the castle gates, we donned crowns, albeit paper ones, and the staff took photos of us. An earlier show had not yet finished, so we waited in the Hall of Flags and admired its impressive array of armor, weapons, and flags. Banners were hoisted in support of the night we had been assigned knight. There was a shop where we could buy items to support our new "clan."
We headed toward the Wine Cellar to sit, because we had already been standing for a while waiting for tickets. A "wench" asked if we wanted anything to drink. Her outfit was a couple of centuries out of date; everything around was made to suggest that we had traveled back in time. Since we still had a few more minutes before our dinner and show started, I decided I wanted to visit the Medieval Village outside, where there was supposedly a dungeon.
I suggest wearing comfortable shoes during your visit, because the ground is rocky and uneven. The grounds were set up to entertain, and it was interesting to watch a lady working on a loom, to explore a blacksmith's room, and to watch another lady painting pottery. I eventually found the dungeon but had to pay a few dollars to see the instruments of torture. If you're into this kind of stuff, it's definitely worth a visit.
Suddenly trumpets blared, and a royal official announced which knight's team was allowed to enter the main dining arena first. The room consisted of rows of tables, divided by color, graduated in height so those sitting in the back could see the action. After everyone was seated, the King was introduced and he welcomed all of his guests. Beautiful Andalusian horses showed off what they had learned in training, gracefully galloping by in various military formations and even bowing to us.
Soup and bread were served first. Don't expect to use any knives or forks, because Medieval Times didn't seem to have any, though the soup bowl conveniently had a handle. When the roasted chicken came, we got our hands dirty (though fortunately we were provided with plenty of napkinds).
The performances were wonderful and even though everything was staged, skill was required to win some of the contests. If you ever want to catch dinner and a show with your family, or to travel back in time, Medieval Times is sure to please. It's a great place to celebrate a child's birthday or to treat your family to something that's quite different from our everyday life.
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