Eating gluten free at Medieval Times

Just about 18 years ago, Superman and I were newlyweds, in the big city for our honeymoon. We decided we would go to Disneyland. While were were in southern California, we went to Medieval Times. If you’re not familiar with Medieval Times, it’s a two-hour dinner & show featuring knights and horses fighting their way to be the king’s champion in a series of events in an 11th century-inspired castle.

For our oldest son’s 13th birthday, we decided to take all our kids to Medieval Times. It was their first time, and Superman and I were anxious to see how things have changed in the last 18 years.

Wow, a lot changes in nearly two decades! The food was outstanding. The show was great. And they were incredibly accommodating with their gluten-free menu! Our whole family ordered gluten-free, and it wasn’t a problem at all.

I have to apologize ahead of time for the quality of these photos! After our seven-hour drive to southern California, I realized I had left my Canon on our bed, and had to rely on my iPhone to take pics!

The beginning of the night started with a beautiful white horse wearing a fancy Leather halter coming out into the fog, with the room dimly lit by candles all around:

Part of the show included a falcon flying around the room:

The food is very authentic (medieval-style) with no forks or knives, just your good ol’ fingers to eat! We had Tomato Bisque as an appetizer, then chicken, corn on the cob and a yummy potato for dinner. For dessert, they served a pastry, but since we were eating off the gluten-free menu, they served us fresh fruit. It was an excellent meal!

Here’s me and the birthday boy with my daughter photo bombing. =)

My girls both caught carnations from the knight!

Superman and I 18 years later, and more in love now than we were then!

As the last event of the evening, the knight that represented our section (each person is assigned to a color for the night, and you root for knight that represents your color) of the arena was challenged to a dual:

The night was a blast, and our kids all loved the experience. Eating gluten free at Medieval Times was simple, and I was so thankful they had a separate menu for Superman.

A few takeaways from our experience:

*We got there early (like 5:30 for a 7:00 show) since doors opened at 6:00 pm. I was glad we were early because we got great seats! I don’t know that there were any “bad” seats, but we were happy with where we were. However, the first hour is spent in the merchandise area, where there is a ton of merchandise for sale–attire, swords, etc. You can also see the show horses as well.

*The prices were quite high, especially for a family. We received free tickets in exchange for this blog post, but the regular price is $61.95 for adults and $36.95 for kids 12 and under (not including tax & tip). That is a really hefty bill, especially for a large family like ours. However, for a unique one-time experience, it could be worth it.

*The food was great. As I mentioned, the gluten-free options were delicious. Everything was hot and fresh, and the kids loved eating with their hands. =) They even give you a wet nap at the end to wash your hands with.

*There were a few times during the show when the kids got a little bored. Some of the horse demonstrations were a little long (if you are an equine enthusiast, you probably wouldn’t feel that way), and although they were fun to watch, they were just a bit drawn out.

Overall, our Medieval Times experience was fabulous. We loved letting the kids experience a little piece of our early marriage, and it was a fun time as a family!