Tournament of Kings Dinner and Show at Excalibur Hotel and Casino

The best part of Tournament of Kings is that you are not sitting quietly in a theater. Your section becomes a country, your side gets a king, and Merlin expects you to make enough noise to help him win. Real horses, sword fights, stunts, smoke, and fire turn dinner into a loud, playful contest.

I like the strong family appeal and the way the audience takes part instead of simply watching. I also like the tidy package: a 90-minute show, a filling medieval-style meal, and all taxes and fees included in the listed $79.60 price. The main drawback is that the food is plain banquet fare, and the chicken or vegetables may not impress diners looking for a refined meal.

Key points to know before you book

• Your seating section becomes a country: Cheer for the king assigned to your part of the arena.
• Real horses carry the action: Jousting and riding are central to the story, not just stage effects.
• Dinner comes without forks or spoons: Expect roasted hen, potatoes, corn, bread, and apple square.
• The show is loud and hands-on: Swordplay, pyrotechnics, smoke, fog, and audience shouting are part of the fun.
• Arrive early at Excalibur: Lines can look long before entry, especially for later evening performances.
• Children fit the format well: All ages are welcome, with special rules for children age 3 and younger.

Finding King Arthur’s Arena inside Excalibur

Tournament of Kings takes place in King Arthur’s Arena at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The casino floor can feel like a maze, so do not wander around looking for a castle entrance. Walk toward the center box office, take the stairs down, then turn left at the bottom. The arena is on your right.

Your mobile ticket is useful, but keep your phone ready for inspection at the entrance. Backpacks, luggage, and similar large items are not permitted inside, and all bags may be searched. Parking and valet charges are separate, so add those to your budget if you are driving.

The entry line may stretch before the doors open. That can look discouraging, but the line tends to move quickly once staff begin seating people. I would arrive with enough time to find the box office area, use the restroom, and settle in before the action starts. A late arrival is a poor way to begin a show built around audience participation.

The arena has restrooms available during the performance. Alcoholic drinks can also be ordered from your server at your assigned table or seat.

Merlin assigns your side of the story

The performance begins with Merlin, who explains the unusual seating arrangement. Each section of the arena represents a country, and each country has its own king. That simple setup gives you a job right away: cheer for your ruler.

This is not a quiet historical pageant. You will be encouraged to shout, clap, and take sides. The more seriously you play along, the more fun the format becomes. One practical warning: enthusiastic cheering can leave you hoarse by the end of the night.

King Arthur gathers the rulers of Europe for a grand banquet and a contest of knightly skill. The story then turns when the evil wizard Mordred interrupts the celebration. The friendly competition becomes a larger fight, and the kings must unite against the threat.

The plot is easy to follow, even for children. It is broad fantasy rather than a careful lesson in medieval history, which is exactly why it works for a mixed-age audience. You do not need to know Arthurian legends before arriving. Merlin explains the rules, and the action carries the rest.

Real horses, swords, and arena action

The horses are a major reason to choose this show instead of a standard stage production. Knights ride into the dirt arena, compete in displays of skill, and face one another in jousting and swordplay. The close seating makes the horses feel like part of the room rather than distant performers on a screen.

The riding is paired with choreographed combat, acting, music, and theatrical effects. Real swords are used in the staged battles, and pyrotechnics add bursts of danger and spectacle. Smoke and fog help create the medieval atmosphere, while strobe lights and loud action keep the pace moving.

The production is designed to be accessible rather than subtle. You get clear heroes, a villain, physical comedy, cheering, and a story that keeps returning to the contest between the kings. Adults who expect a serious historical drama may find it basic. I would treat it as a live action dinner show with medieval costumes, not as a museum lesson.

The enclosed arena means you sit close to the dirt floor and horses. Dust, horse exposure, smoke, fog, and strobe lighting are important considerations for anyone with allergies, asthma, respiratory conditions, or sensitivity to flashing lights. The production is described as smoke free in the sense of no cigarette smoke, but theatrical smoke and fog are part of the show.

Dinner is part of the entertainment

The meal arrives as the story unfolds, and you are expected to eat with your hands. That is not a gimmick added at the last minute. The no-utensil approach is built into the medieval theme and gives children another way to take part.

The standard meal includes:

• Roasted seasoned Cornish game hen
• Lemon pepper roasted red bliss potatoes
• Corn on the cob
• Dinner roll
• Apple square for dessert

The portions are meant to keep you fed through the performance rather than serve as a tasting menu. The potatoes, bread, and dessert help make the meal filling, while the chicken provides the main course. Food quality can vary. Some diners find the hen well seasoned and moist, while others find it dry. The vegetables may be perfectly acceptable, though not especially memorable, and the corn portions can be small.

That balance matters when you judge the price. At $79.60 per person, you are paying for a combined entertainment and dinner experience, not simply a plate of chicken. If you would happily pay for a live Las Vegas production and a casual meal separately, the package makes sense. If your main goal is an excellent dinner, the basic menu may leave you less satisfied.

The show’s meal is also less flexible than a regular restaurant meal unless you request an alternative in advance. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, kosher, and children’s meals may be available. Call the Excalibur box office at least four hours before showtime for most requests. Kosher meals require 72 hours of advance notice.

How the 90-minute schedule feels

The stated duration is about one hour and 30 minutes. That is a useful length for families because the show has enough time for a full story and meal without taking over the entire evening.

You begin with seating and drinks, then Merlin sets the rules. The banquet and riding competitions follow, leading into Mordred’s invasion and the larger battle. Dinner is served during the production, so this is not a meal before the show followed by a separate performance.

Because food service and stage action happen together, you may occasionally need to focus on both at once. That is part of the charm, but it also means you should not expect the stillness and silence of a conventional theater. The experience is noisy, social, and deliberately a little chaotic.

The final toast gives the evening a clear finish. Raising a stein to the kings is a small detail, but it completes the feeling that you have taken part in the banquet rather than merely watched one.

Is $79.60 a fair Las Vegas price?

The price includes the show ticket in the category selected at booking, the two-course dinner, taxes, fees, and handling charges. That makes the advertised total easier to understand than a ticket that adds charges at checkout.

The value depends on how you use it. For a family, the bundled format can simplify the evening. You have one venue, one meal, one scheduled production, and an activity that works for children and adults. You also avoid having to find a separate dinner after a show.

For two adults, the calculation is different. The food is straightforward, and you may find the meal less important than the performance. If you enjoy live horses, cheering, theatrical combat, and fire effects, much of the price goes toward the production and the setting.

The show receives a strong overall rating of 4.4 from 464 ratings, with repeated praise for the acting, staff, horses, audience participation, and effects. The lower marks tend to focus on simple or bland food, dry chicken, or the fact that the show feels basic. That gives you a fair picture: the evening is popular because it is fun and interactive, not because it offers sophisticated cuisine or complex drama.

Who will enjoy Tournament of Kings most?

I would recommend it most strongly to families with children who like knights, horses, castles, battles, or fantasy stories. The clear good-versus-evil plot makes it easy for young children to follow, and cheering for a king gives them a role in the action.

It also suits adults who enjoy campy Las Vegas entertainment. You do not need to bring children to have a good time. Couples and friends can enjoy the sword fights, dancing, acting, horses, and pyrotechnics, especially if they are willing to cheer along with the section.

The show may be less suitable for you if you want a quiet dinner, a gourmet menu, or a polished dramatic production. The food is intentionally basic, and the performance favors spectacle over realism. You also need to think carefully about enclosed seating near horses, dirt, dust, smoke, fog, and flashing lights.

Children age 3 and younger may attend free, but they must sit on a parent or guardian’s lap and share that adult’s meal. Children age 4 and older require a full-price ticket, their own seat, and their own dinner. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Accessible seating is available. If you need it, note the requirement when booking.

Smart planning for show night

Because entry lines can build before a performance, I would not cut your arrival close to showtime. One family arriving about 30 minutes before an evening performance found a long line, but entry moved fast once staff opened the doors. Give yourself time for the walk through Excalibur, ticket checks, seating, and a restroom stop.

Use the route to the arena rather than relying on general casino signs: center box office, stairs down, left at the bottom, arena on the right. Keep your mobile ticket easy to access, and avoid bringing luggage or a large backpack.

If you have dietary needs, make the request early. Four hours is the minimum stated notice for most special meals, and kosher food needs 72 hours. Do not assume that asking at your seat will produce an alternative.

The show is generally easy to combine with other time at Excalibur. Afterward, you can return to the casino, arcade, or the small shopping area upstairs. Parking and valet are not included, and there is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so plan your transport separately.

Free cancellation is available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book Tournament of Kings?

Book it if you want a full evening of participatory entertainment, especially for a family or a first Las Vegas visit. The combination of real horses, jousting, audience cheering, a simple meal, and pyrotechnics gives you an experience that is easy to understand and hard to confuse with an ordinary theater show.

I would be more cautious if food quality is your priority or if you dislike loud effects and close contact with animals. The dinner is practical fuel, not the reason to choose this outing. Pick it for the arena, the kings, the cheering, and the playful sense that your section has something at stake.

At $79.60, it is a reasonable bundled night when you value the show as much as the meal. Arrive early, request any special menu well ahead of time, leave large bags behind, and be ready to shout for your king.

FAQ

Where is Tournament of Kings held?

It is held in King Arthur’s Arena inside the Excalibur Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. From the hotel entrance, walk toward the center box office, take the stairs down, turn left at the bottom, and find the arena on the right.

How long does the show last?

The experience lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

What food is included?

The usual meal includes roasted seasoned Cornish game hen, lemon pepper roasted red bliss potatoes, corn on the cob, a dinner roll, and an apple square for dessert. The menu may change.

Can children attend?

Yes. All ages are welcome. Children age 3 and younger may attend free, sit on a parent or guardian’s lap, and share that adult’s meal. Children age 4 and older need a full-price ticket and their own seat and dinner. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Can special dietary meals be requested?

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, kosher, and children’s meals may be available. Contact the Excalibur box office at least four hours before showtime. Kosher meals require 72 hours of notice.

Are bags and alcohol allowed inside?

All bags may be searched, and backpacks, luggage, and similar items are not allowed in the showroom. You can order alcoholic drinks from your server at your assigned table or seat.