OT - Medieval Times or Dixie Stampede

[Minnie's Pal]

We're going on vacation soon and I wanted to take the kids to a dinner show. I went to Dixie Stampede as a child in TN and loved it. But they also have Medieval Times now, which I've never been to, so I'm not sure which one would be better.

They are costly, so we're only going to be able to go to one or the other. I have a DS and DD. Please help me decide...

 

[mickeylove2]

I don't know what Dixie Stampede is but I love Medievel Times! It may help to know the ages of your kids, Medievel Times is kind of dark and loud at times. There is sword fighting and then some of the knights get killed. The horses are wonderful and the atmosphere is really fun though. I'm not sure I would take young children but others were there with some really young kids.

 

[DVCJEN]

I have been to Medieval Times. The show was good if you like the Renassaince Festival type thing. The food was not good at all though. Also you eat with your hands--no silverware, which may or may not be okay with you. I would go to Medieval Times only if you had a really good coupon or were really into the whole knight/swordfight thing.

 

[shortbun]

Dixie Stampede!!! Great food, great entertainment, well run. We just did it in Pigeon Forge and my 12yo son said it reminded him of a Disney show. The food pleased all of us-we were two 12yo'ds, two 50 yo'ds and three 70's who are picky eaters. I was suprised. DH and I thought we were sacrificing a nignt for the others; we had fun. Get there as soon as the preshow opens. The preshow is a concert by a VERY talented group of musicians. We all liked that too!

 

[Lisa_M]

we went to Medieval Times in June since DH had never been there, he really wanted to go. There were 2 coupons for 50% off in the Orlando Entertainment book, so that worked well for us. The show is ok. I don't really care for it too much, but DH loved it. The food was actually better than I remember, but not great by any means. I have never been to the Dixie Stampede, so i can't comment on it.

 

[DawnM]

I said Dixie, but only because I am terribly allergic to horses. When I went to Mideaval Times I had an allergy attack before the food even came out and had to sit outside for the entire preformance and had dinner brought out to me. I almost needed oxygen.

I will never again go anywhere where there is a lot of hay or animal hair all in one enclosed space.

Dawn

 

[Minnie's Pal]

Thanks for all the input. At this point, the poll is split even with nothing overly negative about either one. So I'll just leave it up to the kids.

 

[Andrea]

we been to both... in fact my husband worked for this guy, that guy's father ownes dixie stampedes so we got free tickets all the time. we both enjoyed medival times better but not for any certain reason

 

[LizinSTL]

We're going on vacation soon and I wanted to take the kids to a dinner show. I went to Dixie Stampede as a child in TN and loved it. But they also have Medieval Times now, which I've never been to, so I'm not sure which one would be better.

They are costly, so we're only going to be able to go to one or the other. I have a DS and DD. Please help me decide...

We've been to both.

If you can find a discount code to one or the other- go with the cheaper option. They are basically the same thing- just different themes. If you are more into the "civil war" stuff- go with Dixie Stampede. If you are more into the Middle Ages and Knights- go with Medieval Times. There is a preshow for Dixie Stampede that is kind of fun/cool and keeps you occupied before the actual show begins.

The foods are very similar. No silverware, chicken, ribs, potato, soup, pepsi, bread, apple turnover, etc. It varies just slightly from place to place. I'm sure it varies by locations as well. The chicken was better in Schaumberg IL at Medieval times than it was in Branson at the Dixie Stampede but everything else was better at the Dixie Stampede (foodwise.)

As far as horse allergies go- there are horses at both- stay away if you have have had a reaction in the past at one show or the other!

My kids liked the Medieval Times show better at ages 7 and 10 than they liked the Dixie Stampede at ages 4 and 7. (Well the older girl liked both shows equally well at both ages) My husband thought the Medieval times show was dumb and a waste of money. Especially the $11 souvenier cups of soda before the show. I can't remember if we paid for the souvenier plastic boots of soft drinks/non-alcoholic beverages during the Dixie Stampede pre-show but I seem to recall that they were included in the price (which was significantly higher anyway...so it may have been a wash in the end.)


Oh, if you go, bring your own glow necklaces for your kids- they walk around selling them.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I voted for the Times since we have been to the Dixie Stampede and hated it. Biggest waste of $100.00 plus dollars in my life. If you want a short, cheesy routine with awful food you have to eat with your hands-then the Dixie Stampede is right up your alley.

 

[ckdisney]

there is also arabian nights and the pirates dinner show that was good!! Check out ticketmania.com they have a link to the shows.
I think the dinner show link is dinnershowmania.com
My two grandsons loved the pirates.
they are 8yo and 12yo
also no horses at the pirate one
There is also the outta contrl magic show that was good too! Its in wonder works on I drive

 

[neatokimmo]

How funny, my vote made it 50/50!

I've been to both. Medieval times is jousting on horses with very little storyline. If your kinds are online gamers and like the king and queen sort of thing then take them there. You'll see a LOT of people really into it lol

Dixie is singing and dancing and they have different animals. If I had kids that were 5-12ish I'd take them there. I think they'd get a kick out of the ostriches.

Both are very cheesy but they were fun. I would not repeat Medieval but would Dixie. Plus the food is better and you get a fork to eat with

 

[SRUAlmn]

We've been to both. We went to Medieval Times in Baltimore and Dixie Stampede in Myrtle Beach. I voted for Dixie! I don't really care for the general 'theming' of either one, but we felt Dixie was a better show and the food was WAY better!!

 

[LizinSTL]

We've been to both. We went to Medieval Times in Baltimore and Dixie Stampede in Myrtle Beach. I voted for Dixie! I don't really care for the general 'theming' of either one, but we felt Dixie was a better show and the food was WAY better!!

At Dixie Stampede we had : soup, Chicken, pork, biscuit, corn on the cob, potato, apple turnover and pepsi.
At Medieval Times we had: soup, Chicken, ribs, garlic toast, potato, apple turnover, and pepsi.

The only difference was the corn, bread and pork product. Honestly, I think the food quality probably depends on the day you go and the location you visit more than which show you go to. The decision the OP has is about storyline and which she thinks her kids would prefer. I'd make any future visits based on where I could get cheaper tickets! I really think both are basically the same- just set in different times and there's singing at the Dixie Stampede.

 

[SRUAlmn]

At Dixie Stampede we had : soup, Chicken, pork, biscuit, corn on the cob, potato, apple turnover and pepsi.
At Medieval Times we had: soup, Chicken, ribs, garlic toast, potato, apple turnover, and pepsi.

The only difference was the corn, bread and pork product. Honestly, I think the food quality probably depends on the day you go and the location you visit more than which show you go to. The decision the OP has is about storyline and which she thinks her kids would prefer. I'd make any future visits based on where I could get cheaper tickets! I really think both are basically the same- just set in different times and there's singing at the Dixie Stampede.

I don't know how true to theme the ones you have been to were, but the ones we went to were very much so true to their time period. Therefore, the food at Medieval times was VERY bland and unseasoned, plus, you had to eat with your hands. The food at Dixie was more flavorful because the time period is set later when seasonings were more available for food, plus, you get silverware

 

[TenThousandVolts]

I have only been to Medevil Times- I just wanted to say I thought it was terribly violent. I guess that is to be expected but I was a little taken aback when the crowd was encouraged to cheer on one knight to murder another knight. (Luckily he escaped impalement at the last possible second) So I voted for Dixie even though I haven't been to it.

 

[LizinSTL]

I don't know how true to theme the ones you have been to were, but the ones we went to were very much so true to their time period. Therefore, the food at Medieval times was VERY bland and unseasoned, plus, you had to eat with your hands. The food at Dixie was more flavorful because the time period is set later when seasonings were more available for food, plus, you get silverware

Well, they are chains. We didn't get silverware at the Dixie Stampede in Branson. As a matter of fact, they made a big show of having everyone raise their hands and then made a joke about that being your utensils. It was the exact joke they told at Medieval Times. My youngest freaked at Dixie Stampede and I had to feed her myself. She wouldn't touch the food with her hands. eta: maybe if a location has frequent requests for utensils from all the guests, they just go ahead and offer them to everyone. I know that they don't offer them to everyone in Branson Mo at the Dixie Stampede as recently as this summer. A friend visited that location in June.

Honestly, I think you got a bad night at Medieval Times. They don't try to feed you bland food for $50/person just to keep in theme. If that were the case, you'd get wine or mead not Pepsi!

 

[sk!mom]

I would not go to either one in Orlando. Disney has too much to offer.

I've never been to Dixie Stampede but Med. Times is not up to the Disney standard in my opinion. To me Med. Times looks low budget in comparison to Disney and it's shows and the food is downright awful!

We can spend 7 to 10 days at Disney and not get in everything that we would like and we've only made it to Universal once so I would not take the time out or spend the money for either show.

 

[LizinSTL]

I would not go to either one in Orlando. Disney has too much to offer.

I've never been to Dixie Stampede but Med. Times is not up to the Disney standard in my opinion. To me Med. Times looks low budget in comparison to Disney and it's shows and the food is downright awful!

We can spend 7 to 10 days at Disney and not get in everything that we would like and we've only made it to Universal once so I would not take the time out or spend the money for either show.

I agree. The exception would be if you are eating off site anyway and doing a non-park day and got dirt cheap tickets to one of these places.


Whatever the OP decides, she can get more info directly from the websites dixiestampede.com and medievaltimes.com. If you click on the location you are interested in, you can see the menu/bill of fare, the prices and coupons available, show times, preview the show, etc.

 

[Minnie's Pal]

We are going on vacation but not to FL, to SC. But, no matter where we go, we like to mix things up a little bit. (Sometimes you may end up being disappointed, but sometimes you may be pleasantly surprised.)

And I do remember the time my parents took me as a child to Dixie Stampede in TN. So I do know what to expect, to an extent, before we spend the money. We just wanted to try something new with the kids verses doing the same old things.

I did find that I can get a better discount on Dixie Stampede, so I guess we'll try it this time. And maybe do Medieval Times on our next trip.