Medieval Times Atlanta Dinner & Tournament
From the days when we were young, as a boy, maybe you felt
as if some day you would be a King that rules gallantly over his people or a
Knight who journeys to far off lands to slay the dragon that has taken the
Princess as his captor. Maybe as a girl, you grew up thinking that one day you
would wed the charming knight that rode in on his valiant steed covered in
shiny armor. Perhaps you would design a group that stole from the rich and gave
to the poor as the Robin Hood tales describe. Either way, you saw yourself as
Royalty and beloved by the people, but as you grew, fantasy became less and
less and reality set in leaving these dreams ever so lingering in the back of
your minds. You became adults and life itself took away from the dreams and
took second place to maintaining a living for you and your family. I am here to
tell you that your dreams have found a way out and made themselves into a
reality.
My family and I were lucky enough to be contacted by
Medieval Times Atlanta and we were offered a chance to review everything
possible that this event has to offer. Of course, with us having five children,
we accepted with enthusiasm and excitement. However, we were not ready for what
we encountered. It was as if we were transferred back in time to the days of yore.
In the beginning, the staff came out dressed in the attire of the times and
then a trumpeter blows his mighty trumpet announcing the King’s arrival along
with the beautiful young Princess. King Carlos announces to the crowd at how
happy he was to have guests at his castle and ordered a feast and games for the
day. As he leaves back into his castle, the doors are opened to the customers.
When you enter into this realm of Medieval ways, you are thrust back into your
dreams which have become reality with a little bit of a twist. Gift shops align
the walls inside the castle where young knights and princess’ can purchase the
items that drive their imagination from fantasy to reality. There are even
items there for the big kids such as myself like shields, swords, battle axes,
helmets with and without chain mail of all different kinds of design, and so
many more items. The gift shops have tunics that represent their knights
colors, which you are given the knight’s color at the entrance, that the
children can purchase and wear during the show. It is unbelievable at how many
items they have available for purchase to make your visit seem as realistic as
possible.
For adults, they do have a cash bar for drinks along with
drinks for the kids such as Pepsi in multitudes of collector’s glasses and mugs.
Since this is a family friendly event, I do believe that they should limit the
drinks to adults before the show. I understand that they want you to be
outgoing and boisterous during the show, which I will get too shortly, but save
that for the show, not during the time that the children are running around in
awe.
As you are walking around the common areas before the show,
they have an area that you can sit that is absolutely beautiful with a
fireplace made for a king and from this area, you can see from one end of the
area to the other and just take in the magnificence of the design and splendor
of the medieval time that has come to life. The walls are adorned with actual
full size armor pieces that knights would be dawned in and they are actually
for sale if you are interested in adorning your home with one. There is a
beautiful balcony just above where King Carlos would conduct his Knighting
ceremonies. If you want to get pictures, it is welcomed and you can take them anywhere
in the castle. I urge you to make sure that your batteries are fresh and your
camera has been dusted off because after the year of non-use, it will be put to
the test on this night.
We were fortunate enough to be at Medieval Times Atlanta when they
were hosting an activity for the children known as “Knights Training”. It is
available to children between the ages of 5-12 and I am happy to say that I had
3 of our own children take part. During this training, the Knights that will
take part in the show come out and teach your children how to defend themselves
with sword strikes along with relaying to them the importance of listening to
their parents and growing as a good knight and only using these tactics that
are taught under adult supervision and never against other children, pets, or
adults. The training itself took
approximately 20-30 minutes and once they were finished, each new knight, boy
and girl, took part in a knighting ceremony conducted by the king. Once the
knighting ceremony was complete, it was back to the common areas and time to
await the show.
When they are ready to seat the guests, they are very
organized and call you by your card color, which you are given at the main
gate. As you enter the arena, your area is lit up by the color that you were
designated and on your card, it will have which seats you are supposed to be in
so that there is no overcrowding. The wenches and serfs were readily available
to direct you to exactly where you need to be for the show. If you are sitting
there thinking that you may have problems seeing over the individuals that may
be in front of you, guess again. The seating is exemplary because no matter
where you sit, it is as if you have a front row seat everywhere. It did not
matter if I stood up in front of the person behind me, they were still able to
see and participate without any issues of me obstructing their view.
The center ring is enormous and rightfully so
since the show takes place here and it will incorporate everything from horses,
falcons, and battles. It truly does come to life as the music and lighting
enhance your senses for everything about to happen.
As the show begins, of course the King and his Lord Chancellor announce
what we will be seeing and for any animal loving individual, the beginning is
especially captivating because we are lucky enough to experience the
gracefulness of their dancing horses. Each horse follows its commands to a “T”
and as somebody who has ridden horses for quite some time, I have never really
seen up close and personal the amazement that they provide. Only the best from
the King’s stock I suppose.
As the show progresses, we have the luck and bewilderment of
watching a falcon trainer with her falcon as it shows its magnificent abilities
in hunting. The falcon will glide around the whole room just over the heads of
the patrons swooping up and down until finally attacking its prey at the end.
Before the event is held, it is a firm warning given to the people not to
interfere as this is going on. You understand very well why once you view the
falcon attack its prey. From there, the meal begins to start making its way to
the guests.
During the show, you are not bombarded with events and food
all at once; they bring the food out gradually during the show. I have to say,
I thought I would be getting hungry between each piece of the meal but your
attention is kept and I have to honestly say, I wish that we could incorporate
this style of eating at home. You start off with your bread and (dragon blood)
tomato bisque’. Once the falcon is done, they bring out the dragon wing
(chicken wing) which was very good. It was juicy and succulent and seasoned
very well. When we think of a chicken
breast or thigh, we think “it’s probably going to last a few minutes”; this was
not the case with this delectable “dragon wing”. My piece of “dragon wing”
lasted almost until the very end of the show which lasts approximately 2 hours.
Once they have served the “dragon wing”, then they bring out the “dragon’s rib”
(spare rib) covered in barbeque sauce. Once that is served then comes out the
“dragon’s egg” which is a potato cut in half with ridges on one side and
sprinkled with seasoning. Finally, once we you have received all of these
delectable items, and trust me, everything is scrumptious, then you are bestowed
a great dessert or apple turnover dusted with cinnamon. These pastries were so
good that I ended up having mine and my 4 year olds, when he wasn’t
looking….LOL For those of you that are saying “shame on you” don’t worry, he
wasn’t even able to make it through the “dragon’s wing” because of its
size. And don’t worry; if you can’t make
it through your meal, they have to-go plates available from your wench or serf.
As I said, the feast is brought to you during the show, so
if you are done with one piece of the meal, and awaiting the next, you have the
entertainment to keep your palate at bay until it arrives. You have the
traditional show of strength and honor between each knight and the fans are
encouraged to rise from their seats and cheer on their knight and “boo” the
other knights. It was a great and magical time of competition and chivalry.
However, during the show, there is a bit of spinoff from the competition as a
stranger from a different land approaches and attempts to make a bargain with
the King. He is granted his leave to provide his message but in the end, the
harrowing tale of strength and honor really does come out to play.
I can say this, during the whole event at Medieval Times Atlanta, from the entrance
until the end; you become caught up in this world, this time, this era, of
imagination and reality. You become entranced in the ways of the old and are
bewildered at the advancement of life. You wonder how such a simple life became
as complex as we see today. The program shows how they used to take into
account the well-being of others and wanted them to feel satisfied and
entertained during their stay. How many of us go out of our way today to make
sure that others are taken care of before ourselves?
Medieval Times Atlanta Website ~HERE~
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Medieval Times Atlanta is also sponsoring a giveaway! 1 Lucky Fan will take home a Family pack of 4 Tickets for Dinner & Tournament!
Get your entries in on the Rafflecopter below!
Medieval Times Atlanta on Facebook ~HERE~
Medieval Times Atlanta on Twitter ~HERE~
Medieval Times Atlanta on Pinterest ~HERE~
Medieval Times Atlanta is also sponsoring a giveaway! 1 Lucky Fan will take home a Family pack of 4 Tickets for Dinner & Tournament!
Get your entries in on the Rafflecopter below!
Disclosure: I received one or more products mentioned above for review purpose. No other form of compensation was received.
my opinions are my own. Your opinion may very from mine. If a giveaway is being held, please read my rules of sweepstakes in the tab above.
I cannot be held responsible for prizes or shipping. Sweepstakes and Giveaways om this blog are not affiliated with Facebook or any
other social media network. Thank You and Enjoy! Chris and Misty
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