An Empowering Night At Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament

A few weeks ago, my family was so excited to receive our very own royal invitation to Medieval Times Dallas! Elisha, Elyssa, and I had previously gone to Medieval Times in Orlando, Florida for the first time and we LOVED the experience. 

We were thrilled to have the opportunity to visit the Castle in Dallas, Texas (2021 N Stemmons Frwy Dallas, TX 75207) on December 28th, so we could share the fun with the rest of our family! I was able to extend an invite to my sister, her husband, and my mom so that we could all enjoy the new show together. None of them had ever been to Medieval Times before, so it was perfect! We arrived early so we could sign in and meet our family there, and we had already booked our reservation together beforehand. We had a whole table to ourselves in the stadium, above the crowd so as to get a better view. We cheered on for the black and white knight, and though he didn’t win (he was SO close!) we had fun screaming and reacting to the fight scenes. They are a tiny bit dramatic and loud, so if you have little ones sensitive to noise or violent action, make sure to sit next to them and soothe any worries. Our whole family was impressed with the horses. They are majestic and well-trained and breathtaking to watch. My brother-in-law’s family rides horses and competes with them, so he was enthralled with the techniques and excited. We also loved the flying of the falcon – what a magnificent bird! When the knights of the court win in several challenges of the evening, Queen Maria Isabella gives them flowers to hand out to the ladies of their choice within their “kingdom.” Eliana was especially delighted to get a flower from our knight. At the end of the show, the knight who wins the tournament gets to choose a “queen of love and beauty.” This highly coveted spot goes to a random lady in the court. It didn’t go to me this time, but it’s common knowledge that I am the supreme queen of love and beauty LOL

When my oldest daughters and I went to Medieval Times previously, we enjoyed a story about a land with a King who needed a protector for their Kingdom, so the knights were challenged to battle and see who was found worthy. This narrative included a villain from a far-off land who threatened the king’s power. Of course, not to ruin it for you, but there was a happy ending. When I found out that Medieval Times incorporated a brand new story into their dinner show, I was ecstatic to find out that it involved Queen Maria Isabella, the first Queen to take the throne in Medieval Times’ 34-year history, and about time, too!

Her Majesty Doña Maria Isabella presides over a tournament of knights who gather in celebration to test their skill against one another in a series of games, jousting, and combat. And it’s jam-packed with empowerment messages for girls and women alike. The new story also brings a series of changes to the show, including:

• Two hundred new suits of armor, shields and helmets, all custom-designed and hand- made at a dedicated armory in Florida.
• More than 350 team members and 225 horses who have rehearsed new lines and fight scenes for three months while still presenting the current show.
• “Queens” undergoing an intense two months of training to become experts at riding the impressive Andalusian stallion for the new show.
• New music composed by Dr. Daniel May, the composer and jazz pianist who scored “Everest” and other films, and has worked with notables such as Sting and The Moody Blues. He directed and recorded Medieval Times’ new show composition in Kiev with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. This includes directing the choir in Ukraine with lyrics written by notable poet and choir member Solomia Gorokhivska.
• A live-action film score precisely synchronized with every element of the show, from lights to fights; jousts to jabs; the Queen’s entry to curtain closings; and more.
• A sound and light production featuring 120 hours of programming with 300 new music cues and 500 new lighting cues. Buena Park is one of several castles installing and programming a new LED lighting system that offers 256 colors versus the old 14-color system. The system is powered by 10 miles of cable and an estimated $1 million upgrade.

In the new script, the queen has taken over for her late father – she presides over a tournament to find the best knight in the land and drama ensues when a knight who has been acting dishonorably challenges her authority. This specific part (that we’ll touch on a bit later) is resonating with gender equality issues provoked by the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements. And that’s why it was a BIG hit in our family!

Over the course of the performance, the queen’s power is challenged, but each time she asserts herself as the ruling woman. Sometimes I have to assert myself too, as the “ruling woman” in my household and my business.

“If it can help empower women and we can be role models for these young women and men and show you need to respect women, then it is very fortuitous timing,” Ms. Lerner said (one of the current actresses for Queen Maria Isabella at the Dallas location). “It gives you the chills.”

Leigh Cordner directs this new show. He started rewriting it a year and a half before the #MeToo movement broke out with a host of sexual harassment accusations. Cordner made a conscious effort to give the queen a fully formed character arc that displayed her as a strong yet accessible and warm ruler whom women of all ages can look up to. And he succeeded. “The fact that a woman is sitting on the throne in our show at the same time the gender equality movement hit is a coincidence,” he said. He said that his motivation was responding to audience members who kept asking why women played nothing but princesses. 

And that’s a great point – women can be in positions of power, too! That’s a great positive message for our young girls of today. They can be strong leaders! There was also a beautiful message that great leaders are not afraid to take charge, but they can rule with grace, compassion, and empathy as well. One of my favorite lessons was that war isn’t necessary. “Leadership and chivalry know no limitations, and that includes gender,” said William Phillips, general manager of Medieval Times Atlanta. Before this change in the show, there was a princess, and though she was there, she wasn’t heard as much as the King was, in fact, a lord from a neighboring kingdom asked for the princess’s hand in marriage, and she didn’t have a say in her future: Her father responded on her behalf. I’m sure many of us can relate as well. Showing a woman in charge who is respected throughout the kingdom for her authority, leadership and incredible strength is the theme we need in a society that continually puts us down because of gender. “Where previously our female characters played in more supportive roles, we are now showing a woman fully in charge, a woman whose authority is sometimes challenged, but she quickly rises to the occasion as a strong leader, squelching opposition,” says Jon Speier, Medieval Times senior vice president and general manager.

My favorite quote in the new show is “The decision lies with the queen and queen alone. And I am queen here.” You go, girl! There were many cheers from the women of the audience at the several uplifting responses Queen Maria Isabella gave.

Her cousin, Lord Cedric, chancellor to the queen, suggested she use the tournament as a means to find a potential suitor and get married, she immediately rebuffs and reminds him of their purpose and that it won’t be necessary. I teach my daughters, that a man is not a plan, and Queen Maria Isabella clearly knows that her leadership skills aren’t defined by her relationship status. 

Want a discount on Medieval Times? I would love to extend you a very Royal Reader Savings of up to 40% off, so you can enjoy it, too. Share your thoughts in the comments below and keep the conversation going on social media with #MTFan.

Elayna is a single mom of 4, award-winning Storyteller, Story Strategist, and Student of Pain. She’s a bestselling author, internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, and 4x TEDx speaker. Founder of the Positive MOM® and creator of the S.T.O.R.Y. System: a blueprint to craft and share powerful stories that will transform your results, so you can have the wealth, opportunities, and freedom you deserve. Connect with Elayna Fernández at thepositivemom.com/keynote-speaker and follow @thepositivemom. To receive a gift from Elayna, click HERE.

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