These are Our Medieval Times
Here I am, 43, lived most of my life in Southern California, and never been to Times. There seemed to be something wrong with that picture. And then, while out at dinner for my birthday, our dear friends brought up the idea that perhaps it was high time I went. So the wheels of adventure were set in motion. Before I knew it, they’d arrived on Saturday morning to dispatch us without haste from Poway to Buena Park. Okay, so we stopped in Anaheim first for Muzeo, which was rather impressive itself.
But back to Medieval Times. Having no clue as to how it all worked or exactly what it would be like, I found myself a wee bit overly excited about the whole thing. I couldn’t wait! I kept looking around every corner, hoping to spy the castle. And then suddenly, there it was. We saw out behind the castle a man working one of the horses. That was enough to elicit a “squeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” of delight from me. Then we turned into the parking lot and my heart began to jump and kick and off it went into full gallop. Of course that meant I was going to need to run to the bathroom at the first opportunity, but whatever. I was here. LD was here. Our friends were here! They’d made this all possible for us.
The line to get in went rather quickly and we were greeted by appropriately garbed people every step of the way…except one…I don’t know what her deal was, other than quickly forgotten. We were funneled into a line where we were given our crowns representing our allegiance to the Red & Yellow Knight, aka Lord del Font! Surely they knew I have a file on my computer called “Fontastic!” and assigned me to the realm of beautifully created letters and wingdings. Our knight’s description only confused me:
Personal champion to the Count of Perelada, the sword of this invincible soldier has raised him to fame! Defeat and regret have been the reward of the countless challengers who have offered their honor and their shield to the point of his lance.
There was nothing about creative letter making anywhere in there! Oh, what’s a distressed maiden to do? Shall I break into song? (cue music) Heeeeeeeee….AIKRZXZYZWWQT WTRXVCHQ(/music) Apparently I’m not allowed to sing in this production. Bastards. Still, I awaited the arrival of what would surely be our most handsome and brave knight. I do feel a bit foolish over the slight drooling over the first few knights who arrived. Handsome and hale they were! But how could they possibly compare to the hero we were about to meet. Out he came, riding surely and steadily on his amazing steed! And as he turned his fair face towards us (first photo), a gasp was heard from all, “It’s Him! Yes, yes! It certainly is! Oooh! He’s pretty! Strong face. Look at those strong thighs, too! My, isn’t he everything you could want in a knight and out of his armour?” Even the women amongst us agreed.
Lord Chancellor wasn’t so bad himself. Hubba hubba and all that.
The next visceral reaction came about with the Green Knight appeared. “Don Temple, the warrior of Asturius, an unquestioned master of weapons who has never been unhorsed in the joust. No mantle of peace or of serenity will ever grace his shoulders, for his temper is the Dragon’s Claw.” I immediately focused on him, forgetting to take photographs as I simply stared and occasionally wiped the drool from my chin.
Those damn bad boys of the bald variety! They distract me every time. Have no fear, m’ladies and gentlemen, for I managed to withdraw myself from the reveries just in the nick of time. I, instead, turned my attentions to the very bad acting of the princess and found myself wishing she’d been the one kidnapped instead of the prince.
I had little time to wish upon a star because the fighting in the arena before us became a magnificent frenzy of choreographic excellence…with real weapons. The sparks flying off the weapons were unbelievable, but very real. In the end, someone had to win out and it was, as it always is, good that defeated evil.
Our food, having been eaten by specially trained mice, was apparently quite good. I do recall the chicken being wonderful and the tomato bisque as inoffensive fare. The apple turnover was good, as was the piece of birthday cake we received.
Both LD and I had our names read by the Lord Chancellor’s deep and enchanting voice.
…. crickets ….
Oh, I’m supposed to wrap this up! Okay. um, sorry. My enchantment lasted longer than expected.
LD has since given up the desire to become a fighter pilot in exchange for a shot at working at Medieval Times. He has his eyes on the prize, too.
So here’s the deal. Medieval Times is a fantastic theatrical dining experience that you won’t soon forget. You are herded a bit like cattle from section to section, but it’s done rather efficiently and the only thing I’d have changed was allowing the parties to decide who they would like to be photographed with. I wanted the guy admitting us to the photo room. Forget the king! Forget the princess! I wanted the bouncer in my photo.
There weren’t enough bathrooms either, I don’t believe. I only saw two. If there were more, they were well hidden. For 1100+ patrons, you need more than two sets of facilities.
Overall a great experience and I think if I go again, I’m going with someone who doesn’t like garlic bread so I can have their piece (it goes so quickly!) as well as someone who doesn’t like their pastry (it was good).
Big, great, HUGE thanks go out to C&R for the day. It’s not one we’ll soon forget.
LOVE that last photo! Sounds like a blast and a half… couldn’t bring the Green Knight home with you, though? Tough break. He’s hot…!
Comment by Pam — 2009/06/02 @ 06:41
We have something similar here, only the jousting and stuff is outdoors during the day so that you can actually photograph it. There’s no castle really, but they’ve built a medieval village so that you can see period crafts being made (weavers, blacksmiths, sword and knife makers, the whole works!) I haven’t been out there for years, so I’ll have to go sometime this summer.
Comment by Jan — 2009/06/02 @ 09:27
I don’t know why I uploaded this few pictures, but here’s a look:
http://jlbussey.exposuremanager.com/g/camlann
Comment by Jan — 2009/06/02 @ 09:35
Their food is good isn’t it. And did you purchase a pretty princess hat with flowing streamers so you could be all fair maidenish? :princess:
We went years ago when Make a Wish sent us to Disney World. Great fun was had by all :biggrin:
Comment by patti — 2009/06/02 @ 13:35
Pass me a napkin…I’m drooling over the sexy baldy, too.
Comment by Mrs. Who — 2009/06/02 @ 19:59
Jan, we have a jousting tournament that comes through annually (I just discovered it last year, though I was in the hospital this time around). I’ll go this year. Love the photos you posted!
Patti, no princess hats for me. I’m more of a wench.
Pam & Mrs. Who, you never bring them home. They just make a mess on the carpet with all that horse poo.
Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/06/02 @ 20:15
Give me 15 minutes with LD and I’ll make a fighter jock out of him. There’s somethin to be said about going warp 10 at 500 feet upside down……ask Chowmi.
Sounds like a fun time… used to go to the jousts at Framlingham Castle, Belvior Castle,and Orford Castle (literally in my backyard on Orford, Suffolk, UK) and the Medieval Banquets in England and Germany when I lived over there. Good times, great fun, and I miss the places badly…..
Comment by p2 — 2009/06/02 @ 22:44
Medieval Times is a friggin hoot! Wish they had one close to me
Comment by rob sama — 2009/06/03 @ 13:33
p2, take all the time you need. I think LD would be a good fighter pilot and I’m pretty sure his desire to be a knight is fleeting. As for your chance to witness these fascinating events at real castles and the like, I envy you.
Sama, I think the closest MT to you is
BaltimoreNew Jersey or Toronto. Huge drive! However, should you decide to make the trip to California again, and you want to go, I volunteer to go with.Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/06/03 @ 17:19
I’ve never been either–I guess I better go before the limited bathroom situation is too much of an impediment!
Comment by Jenn @ Juggling Life — 2009/06/04 @ 22:04
you will love it! It’s so much fun. I didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I did and then…magic.
I have an extra DVD that shows part of the “tournament” and behind the scenes if you want to have a look.
Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/06/04 @ 22:10
Gaaaaaah, I am so behind on your blog, Joanie. Please forgive meeeee. :shock: No excuse other than being a scatterbrain! Working my way thru with Google Reader on my phone, so if I don’t comment much it’s because fingers are cramping. LOL
That place looks so fun! They should have pulled you from the audience and made you princess! :princess: We have a renaissance festival every year about 2 hours from us, but nothing like this – at least not that I know of.
The dude with LD is pretty darned cute, too.
Comment by GW — 2009/06/09 @ 23:43
The green knight is freaking hot and sexy…love the bad boys. I wonder if you can take them home? :devil:
Comment by christina — 2009/09/02 @ 03:16
I dunno, Christina. I didn’t ask. But, you know, you could always call and find out!
Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/09/02 @ 08:25