Attention Lords and Ladies! If you have a fan of knights, princesses, horses, or castles at home, a trip to Medieval Times is a worthy journey.
In one section of Arundel Mills Mall storefronts are replaced by a castle. Upon entering the castle, each patron is welcomed as a member of the realm 
with a crown before being seated in the large arena. Where you are assigned to sit determines which of the six knights in the tournament you will root for throughout the show. From the first moments of the show’s opening there are special effects and a grand display of horsemanship.
The King and Princess make a grand entry and officially start the tournament. From then on, there is non-stop action for two hours with knights engaging in competition, a plot twist when a masked man from a rival kingdom comes to demand the hand of the princess in marriage, a falcon that flies into the audience, and horses that gallop, bow, trot, and even dance. Knights play to the crowd and even throw flowers to some lucky Ladies. The audience is encouraged to cheer loudly for their knight throughout the show.
My children, ages 6.5 and 3.5 both had a great time. Although I wasn’t sure we would find the show enjoyable for the entire two hours, both the children and adults in our party were glued to the action the entire time. My children were on the younger side of the children we saw in attendance and from the list of birthdays read aloud by the Princess, I knew there were several 10 to 12 year olds in the audience as well as some teenagers. Although the plot of the show can be hard to follow at times for children, there is so much action that it really doesn’t matter if you pay attention to the plot or not. My son’s favorite part was the jousting and “war” with the rival from another kingdom at the end. My daughter loved 
the portions of the show that were focused on the horses and anything having to do with the Princess.
Seats are arranged like those in a theater so that everyone faces the arena to get a good view of the action. Throughout it all, serfs serve a large meal of tomato soup, garlic bread, chicken, a spare rib, and apple turnovers (gluten-free/vegetarian meals are also available). Beverages offered are Pepsi, water, iced tea, and coffee. Alcohol is available for an additional cost. Meals are eaten utensil-free but there are napkins and wet wipes available to help keep clean.
Medieval Times opens 75 minutes before show time. Before the show, you can explore the “castle” which largely consists of several gift shops and a bar. There are also opportunities to have several photos taken (for an additional fee) in costume or with the King or Princess. For $2.00 per person you can visit the Dungeon, which is filled with torture devices. We did not visit this area as I had heard it was not good for young children.
Unless you are planning on buying souvenirs or having more than one photo taken, we recommend arriving a 1/2 hour in advance. Seating is first come, first served. However, the first row is reserved for upgraded package seating and even the view from the back row is great so you will still have a great view even if you arrive just before show time. Be aware that parking at Arundel Mills, although free, can be a challenge so allot enough time to search for parking and to walk through the large parking lot.
There are changing tables and boosters are available. Strollers are also permitted in the castle and there is room to leave strollers in the arena. For kids that may need to get up and move a little there is some open space behind the last row of seats where kids can stretch their legs without missing the action. There are no breaks in the show so you may have to leave the arena briefly for a bathroom break.
Standard admission is $58.95 for adults and $36.95 for children. The cost includes a four-course set menu meal and non-alcoholic beverages. Tip is not included so be sure to have some cash to leave for your server. There are three options to upgrade raging from an additional $10.00 to $16.00 per person, that include features such as upgraded seating, a personalized announcement made by the Princess, a behind the scenes DVD, a cheering banner, and birthday cake. FYI: There is a “Summer Knights” special currently running. Use code SKWEB and all seats are $35. This offers is valid through July 31, 2014.
So head out for an adventure and be taken far, far away to a land where kids imaginations will soar.
Photos by Jamie Davis Smith.
Enter to Win!
Enter to win a family four-pack of tickets good for entry into Medieval Times – Baltimore Castle. This giveaway is open to US residents ages 18 years and up and will end on Saturday, July 12, 2014 at 11:59pm. One will be randomly selected from all eligible entries on Sunday, July 13, 2014 and notified shortly thereafter. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to claim their prize.
