Arabian Nights VS Medieval Times Dinner Shows

[aussiegrl]

I want to take DS 2 to one of these shows when we are in Orlando for a week this month and I was wondering if any of you had any comments or thoughts on if one was better than the other?

Any thoughts and suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks!!

 

[Tigger2252]

We have not been to Arabian Nights but did go to Medieval Times last year. I had the best time at a dinner that I have ever had. I am generally a very quiet person, but I cheered for our knight, stomped my feet, and waved our banner. My kids (11 & 18 at the time) and my husband had just as much fun. I thought the food was quite good (be prepared to eat with your fingers). If you go during your birthday month your meal is free. When you make your reservations, tell them and when you arrive you just show your license to prove it. I would love to go again.

 

[M 'n C]

I went to Arabian Nights a few years ago and the customer service and the food was terrible. My mother and I were sad that we wasted all the money we did on dinner there instead of somewhere else. They have a thing where you can either do a free upgrade and pay full price or take a discount on each ticket. Well the whole time there we had to hear comments about not taking the upgrade and basically was made to feel as if we were cheap. We were not very happy.

I hear medival times is great though. I've done Dolly's show up in Dollywood and I really liked it also.

 

[cgcruz]

Me gf and I have done both. Arabian Nights claims it is voted the best dinner show in Orlando. We thought it was just okay. Very little portions of food, and not much flavor. The show lacked audience interaction. We liked Medieval Times a lot more. You cheer for your section's knight. Food is a lot better. Contrary to what people told us.... You DO get utensils to eat. Big portions, but again, its mass produced to all be served at the same time. Overall, Medeival Times is just funner.

 

[Tinkerboy00]

Ive done both............I prefer Medival Times better.............the characters, show stay true to the theme. The food was pretty good. I just wish they had served wine at the tables. I had to run out to get a glass.

Arabian Knights was very cheesy, they went from knights and lancing to teh beach boys on horses in cowboy gear, which at that point I just walked out. It was so hokey. And the food was awful, and the wine was very watered down.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I've done both with my kids and they enjoyed Arabian Nights better. I think mainly because the "scenes" change so quickly and it keeps their attention. The variety of food choices helps too.

 

[Adi12982]

We enjoyed Medieval Times best - you can get dicounted tickets from AAA. It was a lot of fun, and the food was good!

 

[G8RFAN]

I did Arabian Knights about 7-8 years ago and was unimpressed. Now, it was a long time ago and the food could have improved today but truthfully, I thought the food (I think it was prime rib and a bowl of salad) was subpar. We did like the dressage preformances. Other stuff was as other posters have described were hoakey.

We would never do it again, but I don't regret trying it.

I did Medieval Times with a bunch of highschool friends over 20 years ago. So any review is pretty much useless, but we did have a great time and the mere fact that they are still in business does say something positive.

 

[momoftwodisneykids]

Dixie Stampede is awesome. My DD was 3 when we went last Christmas and she loved it. We did Medieval Times many years ago when my son was about 8 or 9 (he is almost 15 now) and had a great time. My birthday is this month, so maybe we will have to go again, since I will get my meal for free!

Joanne

 

[aussiegrl]

Thank you all for your honest reviews!! I greatly appreciate them and think we might just pass on the dinner shows this year and maybe just do another day at Disney or just spend the day at a beach.

 

[pocohontas2004]

My boys were glued to the show in Medieval Times last summer - ages 7, 9, 11. If I were taking a preschooler to a show, I would go for Dixie Stampede - lots of fun, good food, and nothing scary!

 

[GrandFloridian4]

Never did Medieval Times, but my DH, mom & I we were given Arabian nights tickets for free & thank goodness they were free! If we had paid for that show we would've died! None of us liked it at all. The show was "fair", but the seating, atmosphere & food was YUCK. Of course, we haven't take the kids there & never recommend it to anyone. As was said, it is 'cheesy' & reminds us of a bad carnival attraction.We've shyed away from M.T. because of A.N., but hearing the comments here, maybe we'll give it a try.

 

[gjnellis]

If we are staying near Universal Studios, how far of a drive will it be to Medieval Times? Also, we'd like to do an airboat ride too and I heard there is one nearby....anyone know of this? Comments? Suggestions?

 

[Tinkerboy00]

I know there are air boat rides near Boggy Creek...close to Gatorland......but its not that close to Universal really. Either is Medival Times

Its not a bad drive down I-4 but could take some time.

 

[GrandFloridian4]

If we are staying near Universal Studios, how far of a drive will it be to Medieval Times? Also, we'd like to do an airboat ride too and I heard there is one nearby....anyone know of this? Comments? Suggestions?

Never been to any in the Orlando area, but here's the website to the Airboat Rides at Boggy Creek: www.bcairboats.com. There is also one that's 1/2 mile from Medieval Times called You Drive Airboat Rentals: www.airboatrentals.com & yet another in St. Cloud, Glades Adventures: www.GladesAdventures.com. You can check out all of these & see which would be best for you.

Medieval Times is actually closer to WDW than Universal. It is @ Exit 64A off I-4 in Kissimmee. Universal is Exit 75B off I-4, so it's about 14 miles away. That's about 20-25 min. in "good" traffic, but with I-4 (as the locals like to call it, "Florida's biggest parking lot") it really depends upon what time of day you travel on it.

 

[Walter C]

I've done the Medieval Times Show, when I went for my senior class trip. I thought it was really fun.

Never done Arabian Nights, and sounds like it is not even worth doing even if it was free.

 

[wigglytuftuk]

We were all apalled at the quality of the food at Arabian Knights show it was cold,as in not thawed properly and full of water,ughh lost interest in the show after trying to eat the food.

 

[gjw007]

I've been to both. They both are typical dinner show presentations. I enjoyed both. I was at Arabian Nights in Septembe but its been 11 years since I was at Medival Times. Although they both have horses, the theming is different with it being downright corney at times especially at Arabian Nights. Medival Times had more the jousting feel from a Renasaince Festival. I'd go to both again but I would avoid Pirates. It was the worst dinner show that I've been to.