Does Medieval Times Include Food in the Ticket Price? | Yes

Yes, Medieval Times tickets include a four-course feast, but alcohol, gratuity, upgrades, photos, and souvenirs cost extra.

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A Medieval Times ticket is mainly a dinner-and-show admission, so the meal is part of the normal experience rather than a separate restaurant charge. For anyone checking whether Medieval Times includes food in the ticket price, the short answer is yes: admission covers the live tournament, assigned arena seating, the standard four-course meal, and select nonalcoholic drinks served at your seat.

The costs that catch people are the add-ons. Adult drinks, server tips, photo packages, cake, souvenirs, seat-package upgrades, and reschedule fees are not part of the base meal inclusion. Ticket rates and package options change by castle, date, and promotion, so the safest move is to check the castle you plan to visit before comparing totals.

To compare current Medieval Times ticket options by location, start with the live ticket listings here:

Medieval Times Ticket Food: What Is Covered

Medieval Times admission covers the standard feast served during the tournament. The usual ticket does not make you buy dinner separately after you enter.

The standard meal is large enough for most guests: garlic bread, tomato bisque soup, roasted chicken, sweet buttered corn, herb-basted potato, dessert, coffee, and two rounds of select nonalcoholic beverages. The exact dessert or small side details can shift by castle or supply, so treat the menu as a set format rather than a fixed restaurant plate.

Meal fit: Children under 3 can enter free only when they sit on an adult’s lap and eat from that adult’s plate. A child who needs a seat and meal needs a child ticket.

What Food Comes With A Medieval Times Ticket?

A Medieval Times ticket comes with a four-course dinner built around soup, bread, roasted chicken, sides, dessert, coffee, and nonalcoholic drinks. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals are available by request.

Medieval Times is not a pick-your-entree restaurant. The show is timed around fast banquet service, so most guests receive the same feast while the tournament unfolds in the arena. Silverware is available on request, but the default experience is still hands-on eating.

  • Main feast: garlic bread, tomato bisque soup, roasted chicken, sweet buttered corn, herb-basted potato, dessert, coffee, and select nonalcoholic drinks.
  • Vegetarian or vegan meal: hummus with vegetables, three-bean stew with fire-roasted tomato and brown rice, and fruit or Italian ice; the vegetarian version may add pita bread and dessert.
  • Gluten-free meal: tomato bisque soup, hummus, vegetables, roasted chicken, corn, potato, and fruit or Italian ice.

Tell your server about vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or allergy needs when you are seated. Medieval Times says it gathers added dietary details when guests arrive, so early communication matters more than waiting until food is already being served.

What Costs Extra After Admission

Medieval Times admission covers dinner, but it does not cover every charge inside the castle. The biggest extras are alcoholic drinks, gratuity, photos, merchandise, cake, and package upgrades.

Gratuity is a common surprise because dinner is included but service tips are not. Medieval Times states that gratuity for servers is not part of admission, and guests can tip by cash, credit card, or mobile payment at the end of the show.

Item Included With Ticket? What To Know
Live tournament show Yes The arena show runs about 90 minutes, with jousting, sword combat, horsemanship, and falconry.
Four-course feast Yes The standard meal includes soup, bread, chicken, corn, potato, dessert, coffee, and select nonalcoholic drinks.
Vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free meal Yes, by request Guests should tell the server when seated so the alternate meal can be handled in time.
Alcoholic drinks No Beer, wine, cocktails, and specialty drinks are sold separately; valid ID is required.
Server gratuity No Medieval Times says gratuity is not part of admission, even though dinner is included.
Photos, merchandise, or toy weapons No The gift shop and photo options are optional purchases inside the castle.
Birthday cake or celebration extras No Cake by the slice and celebration add-ons can be added to some reservations.
Package upgrades Varies Upgrade features differ by castle and may include extras such as photos or preferred seating areas.

Alcohol, Tips, And Upgrades Need Their Own Budget

Alcohol, tips, and upgrades are the three areas most likely to push the final night out above the ticket total. Medieval Times lists the food and nonalcoholic drinks as part of the feast, but bar drinks and service tips sit outside admission.

The official details are clear in the Medieval Times official FAQ: guests are served a four-course banquet, the show is about 90 minutes long, and gratuity is not part of the ticket price. The ticket page also says dates, times, tickets, and promotions differ by castle, which is why one location’s checkout total should not be used for every castle.

For budgeting, separate the night into three parts:

  • Admission: show seat, feast, and select nonalcoholic drinks.
  • Optional spending: bar drinks, photos, souvenirs, celebration items, and seat-package upgrades.
  • Service cost: gratuity for the server at the end of the show.

Dietary Requests And Food Rules To Know

Medieval Times can accommodate common dietary needs, but guests need to ask for alternate meals rather than assuming the standard feast will be changed automatically. The request should be made when seated, and guests with food allergies should confirm details with staff at the castle.

Outside food and drinks are not allowed inside the castle for general visits. The practical exception is not bringing your own meal, but using the castle’s vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-support process.

Alcohol rules also differ by country. Guests must be at least 21 years old to buy alcohol in the United States and at least 19 in Canada. International guests may need a valid, unexpired passport to buy alcohol, not just a foreign driver’s license.

Ticket Price Versus Dinner Value

The value of a Medieval Times ticket makes more sense when you view it as dinner theater, not just dinner. Admission combines a seated meal, a 90-minute arena show, and themed pre-show time inside the Hall of Arms.

A family comparing Medieval Times with a normal restaurant should not compare the ticket only with the cost of chicken, soup, and dessert. The show, cast, horses, arena seating, and staged tournament are built into the price. A couple or family that only wants a quiet meal can spend less elsewhere; a group that wants a full evening without planning a second activity gets more from the ticket.

The strongest fit is a traveler who wants one easy night out, especially near a castle location such as Orlando, Buena Park, Dallas, Chicago, Myrtle Beach, Atlanta, Lyndhurst, Baltimore, Scottsdale, or Toronto. The weaker fit is a guest who wants a flexible menu, a calm dining room, or a low-cost meal with no add-ons.

The Smart Way To Buy The Right Ticket

The right Medieval Times ticket is the lowest package that gives you the seat, date, and celebration extras you actually want. Most guests do not need an upgrade unless they care about photos, cake, or a seating-package perk.

  1. Pick the castle first because showtimes, pricing, and promotions vary by location.
  2. Check the base ticket total before adding upgrades, since the meal is already part of admission.
  3. Add celebration extras only if the person being celebrated will value them.
  4. Budget separately for alcohol, tips, and souvenirs.
  5. Request alternate meals when seated, not halfway through the show.

For the current ticket set at your chosen castle, compare the available Medieval Times options here:

Verdict For Dinner, Drinks, And Add-Ons

Medieval Times includes food in the standard ticket price, so do not pay again for the basic feast unless you are buying a separate child seat, group package, or special add-on. The safe budget is ticket plus tax and fees, then extra money for alcohol, gratuity, photos, souvenirs, or celebration items.

Pick the base admission if your priority is the show and meal. Choose an upgraded package only when the added feature is something you would have bought anyway. Skip the upgrade if all you need is the tournament, the feast, and a full evening out.

References & Sources

  • Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament.“Frequently Asked Questions.”Confirms the four-course banquet, show length, ticket rules, parking notes, dietary options, alcohol age rules, and gratuity policy.