What to Expect at Medieval Times: Myrtle Beach, SC

The Preshow and Souvenirs at Medieval Times Myrtle Beach

Medieval Times is a self-described “fun family dinner theater themed as a royal banquet and tournament of jousting, sword fighting, and games of skill.”

The doors open 75 minutes before the show, and seating is first come, first served. We arrived about an hour early, and while it did result in some of the best seats in the house, our children had trouble waiting until the show began. If you’re craving those front-row seats, early arrival is key. We recommend waiting if you have young kids.

Upon arriving, you’ll get a seat ticket, a paper crown, and you’ll pose for a photo. My kids were especially impressed when they saw that we were entering a castle, complete with a drawbridge.

Be sure your children use the restroom right before the show as you won’t want to take them in and out during the action.

The Pre-show

Before the show begins, you can watch a pre-show where, pay to be “knighted”, visit several gift shops, stop by the bar, or explore a torture museum (additional fee). The show is around two hours, so if your kids are younger you may want to arrive closer to 20-30 minutes early if you don’t care about your seats.

Gift Shop

The gift shop has a number of interesting souvenirs such as light-up swords, costumes, and rather realistic-looking weapons.  You may want to consider budgeting for flags as your children can wave them during the show. The gift shop sells some really nice flags, but we were offered $3-$5 pennants and flags once sat down in the arena.

The Food at Medieval Times Myrtle Beach

The show is a big part of the evening, but my family really enjoyed the meal as well. You’ll be served a four-course meal. Our meal included tomato bisque soup, roasted chicken, garlic bread, corn on the cob, herb-basted potatoes, a dessert (it was pound cake our night), and Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, or water. Coffee is also on the menu, but it wasn’t offered the night we attended. You can substitute a vegetarian meal that includes items such as warm pita bread and humus, carrots and celery, three-bean soup, and fruit, which is a nice option.

Servers bring the meal throughout the show, so there’s no customization available (other than the vegetarian option). There’s no silverware (since you’re in the Dark Ages), and there are only two rounds of drinks. You can order additional drinks, including non-alcoholic and kid-friendly beverages, from the bartender who will visit your table before the show. They also have a full-service bar for adults who want a drink or two.

What’s the Show Like at Medieval Times?

The show is approximately two hours and includes horses, a falcon demonstration, a knight tournament, and then a battle between the knights to determine the victor. Dialogue between the king, his daughter, and the herald tie different parts of the story together, and they frequently address the audience. Our family had trouble understanding what they said, but we were still able to follow the general flow of the story.

Each family is seated in the arena and assigned a knight and team to cheer for. The show is very personable with the knights making direct eye contact with the people in their sections (or even sneering at the opposing sections). The princess also gives the knights flowers throughout the night which they throw to the children in their section.

My children seemed particularly captivated by the closeness and realism of the arena. In fact, my daughter kept blowing kisses to our knight after receiving a flower. All the seats are really quite good. But you’re a little closer to the knights and action if you have a front or second-row seat.

My kids favorite part was definitely the sword fighting at the end of the show. It was full of big clangs, sparks, and all sorts of weapons. There is no blood, but be prepared for your knight to die as only one will survive. I read reviews online where some families felt like the fighting was inappropriate for small children, but I personally didn’t think it was scary or particularly violent.

Tips for Medieval Times

Gratuity is not included in your ticket price. Be sure to bring cash so that you can tip your server rather than tipping with a credit card. Even though the meal seems simpler than what you would get at a regular restaurant, your server must carry massive trays (possibly a long distance) and stay in character and costume the entire evening. After some online research, we settled on $5/person which seems to be a common tip amount for the show.

Medieval Times is a show with horses and animals. So don’t be surprised if you occasionally smell horses or see things that you would rather not during dinner. At least your average kid thinks that horse poop during dinner is pretty funny. The arena is continually cleaned throughout the show.

If your kid needs to use the restroom at the end of the show (and it’s an “emergency”, of course), you might want to duck out right before the show officially ends. Lines for the restrooms can get quite long afterwards.

General admission is typically $74.95 for guests 11 and up. Children 10 and under are $46.95. You may be able to find deals on the Medieval Times website depending on when you’re attending.

General Information

We attended the Medieval Times show in Myrtle Beach and had a great time. You can also find a show close to the Upstate in Atlanta, Georgia.

Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament
2904 Fantasy Way, Myrtle Beach, SC
843-236-4635

Have you ever been to Medieval Times in Myrtle Beach? What did you think?

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