My Review of the Tournament of Kings Show

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Hello there! Welcome to my review of the Tournament of Kings in Las Vegas.

I had the chance to see the show with my friend, and it SHOCKED me. I wasn’t expecting to see “mythical beasts” or so many (fear-inducing) special effects!

So, today, I’ll rate the performance based on five criteria: venue, feast, participation, contests, and overall value.

Are you ready to find out if this production is worth seeing? Let’s do it!

What’s Tournament of Kings About?

King Arthur is hosting a tournament to celebrate his son, Prince Christopher’s return. He’s invited all of Babylon (including you, as you’re a noble guest) to meet him.

For the event, kings from different lands will compete in friendly games – with real horses! There are also other festivities like dancing, drinking, and, of course, feasting.

But things go awry when the evil Mordred shows up with his dragons and attacks the celebration.

Will the Prince and kings save Babylon from succumbing to evil? Or will Mordred and his dragons win? It’s a genuine good vs evil battle to the end!

King Arthur’s Arena

• Theme: 5/5
• Accessibility: 4/5

The Tournament takes place at King Arthur’s arena inside the Excalibur. Finding it can be tricky because it’s downstairs – in the hotel’s basement (aka “the Dungeon”) next to the arcade.

So the easiest way to get to the arena is to head to the box office on the casino level and then take the stairs down.

We had trouble finding the end of the line as it winds throughout the arcade. So, I recommend getting there at least 20-25 minutes before it starts to be closer to the front.

That way, too, you’ll have time to order any alcoholic drinks. Or purchase their cool souvenirs like the light-up swords and medieval attire.

Inside the Arena

I wouldn’t say that the arena is an elegant venue. But it does offer a medieval experience (complete with a dirt stage) that takes you back in time.

The seating is done by country, so where you sit determines the king you’ll cheer for. For instance, if you’re in Ireland, you’ll root for the King of Ireland in the tournament.

Although you’ll be seated in the stands, you’ll have a chair to sit on. They’re pretty comfortable, but most don’t pull out, as they’re at a fixed distance from your table.

This may make eating awkward for some guests. (We had to sit at the edge of our seats so we wouldn’t spill on ourselves!)

But what’s great about the arena is that each row is well-elevated above the one in front of it. So, nobody should have an obstructed view.

The Feast

• Overall tastiness: 4/5
• Free drink options: 3.5/5
• Alcoholic selection: 4.5/5

Since TOK is a dinner show, you’ll get to eat while watching the production.

It’s not a gourmet meal, but I thought it was pretty tasty, and the chicken was hot and tender. At least, that was my experience at the earlier performance.

You’ll also get a complimentary beverage with your meal. They don’t have a big selection, but you can choose from three soft drink options or pay for specialty drinks.

When we were there, they started bringing out the plates almost the minute it began – serving from the back to the front. So, if you want to eat first, sit in the back row.

Audience Involvement

• Participation: 5/5

The entire production is full of audience participation. It’s literally the most audience involvement of any show I’ve been to in Las Vegas!

You’ll first learn how to cheer in medieval style: “Huzzah!” Then, you’ll learn all about proper toasting and how to pound the tables to make as much noise as possible.

You’ll also join in on songs and sing the chorus with the maidens and monarchs.

During the tournament, you’ll get to cheer for your king – and boo the opposing countries. (All in good fun, of course!)

But if you’re in the Dragon section, you won’t have a country to root for. Instead, you’ll cheer for evil when Mordred and the Dragon Knight appear.

Tournament Competitions

• Battle scenes: 5/5
• Contest variety: 5/5

The Tournament is the best part of the show. And your task (if you’re not in Dragon) is to cheer for your king.

Based on my experience, the audience has some influence over who wins each contest.

So, if you wish to win, you must get loud!

You’ll get to see five different medieval competitions, all involving horses. The winner of each game advances to the final competition, with one king crowned the winner.

Here’s a quick summary of two of my favorite contests:

Contest #1: The Race of Horses

In this competition, the kings race through the arena on horseback to capture their flags. The first one to reach King Arthur wins.

Every country gets to participate, with two royals paired against each other in each race.

Contest #2: The Throwing of the Javelin

The throwing of the javelin is a game of exceptional skill!

While the kings ride on their horses, they must throw their spears at the Dragon target. The closest to the bullseye wins this competition.

I sat in Dragon and was somewhat offended that they were symbolically throwing a spear at us. But I thoroughly enjoyed booing all the other countries!

Overall Value

• Ticket Price: $$
• Length: 4/5
• Variety of Entertainment: 5/5

I think Tournament of Kings is one of the best value shows. Tickets typically cost between $65 to $75, depending on the country you choose.

And again, that includes dinner and a non-alcoholic beverage, too. (Most of the top Las Vegas shows cost at least that much, and you don’t get a meal with them.)

You’ll also see many different acts – including dancing, singing, horse racing, sword fighting, and hand-to-hand combat.

Additionally, there are some cool special effects that will catch you off guard!

My Rating & Review

Overall, I’d rate Tournament of Kings 4.6/5. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it! And I would definitely go back and see it again.

The whole experience was so immersive that it felt like we traveled back in time. And I LOVED how rowdy the crowd got. (Don’t worry; it’s a good kind of rowdy.)

I will say, though, that how much you participate will make or break it for you. So definitely go in willing to cheer and boo!

Below are a few of my favorite parts and what I think could be improved.

What I Liked the Best at This Las Vegas Show

The Horses

I had a great time watching the horses perform with the kings. I’ve never gotten to see a competition like that live before.

At our show, there were ten horses, and they performed for about 25 minutes.

I was so impressed by their skills, choreography, and how they remained calm with all the cheering.

But the best part was when the Dragon Knight and his horse stuck around after it was over. Guests in Dragon had the chance to meet the horse, which was a very cool experience!

I don’t know if that happens every night, but it might be an added perk of being in that section.

The Audience is Part of the Show

Despite being seated in the stands, we were not just mere spectators.

The cast often engaged with us, asking us to perform specific tasks. And there were even maiden cheerleaders in each land who encouraged our participation.

This helped increase the crowd’s energy (and rowdiness), making us an integral part of the show.

Even when eating, it felt like we were dining with King Arthur and the other regal guests.

What Could Be Improved

It’s Really Loud

With all the cheering from the crowd at TOK, it gets loud! And the sound level when the music plays and the cast speaks is also very high.

But what surprised us the most was how loud the pyrotechnics were. (I even screamed at one point because I wasn’t expecting it.)

So I highly recommend bringing some earplugs with you – both for adults and kids.

Questions About This Show

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about the production.

Is the Tournament of Kings for Adults?

On the night I went, it was mostly adults in attendance. (And everyone looked like they had a great time, too!)

But the children who were there also loved the production. They really got into it with their light-up swords and medieval gear.

Additionally, I didn’t find the performance to be overly childish. So, in my opinion, TOK is an excellent option for all age groups.

How Long Does Tournament of Kings Take?

TOK is about 85 minutes long. When I went, the announcements started at 6:00 pm, and the production began a few minutes later. It ended around 7:15 pm.

But a lot of excitement is crammed into those 85 minutes, so we definitely felt like we got our money’s worth.

Where Do You Park for the Tournament?

The Excalibur Hotel has parking for TOK attendees in their parking garage.

It’s currently $18 for up to 24 hours on Mondays through Thursdays or $23 on the weekends. (If you’re a local, you’ll get three hours free with a valid NV license.)

Other Things to Know

Here are some additional things to keep in mind based on my experience.

1. Everyone sits down in the wrong spot, including me! Look at the numbers on the table to find your seat (and not the numbers on the chairs).
2. There are no restrooms in the arena. So you’ll need to use the ones in the arcade instead. For the shortest walk, sit in Ireland, Romania, or Norway.
3. There’s only one entrance/exit (by Romania). So if you’re on the opposite side, like in France, it may take a few minutes to leave after it’s over.
4. Birthdays are announced at the show. If you’d like a mention, I recommend contacting the box office for more information.
5. Sitting in the front row may result in dust getting in your face.
6. The production uses strobes, special effects, loud sounds, and horses. If you have sensitivities to these, it might be better to pick something else.
7. The souvenir line can get long (because the merchandise is pretty cool). Get there early for the best selection.
8. Dragon = bad guys, all other countries = good guys

My Final Thoughts

Now, to answer the most pressing question: Is Tournament of Kings worth it? For me, it definitely was! I had a fantastic experience and loved being in the Excalibur arena.

So, I recommend seeing TOK if you want a rowdy, fun time – and are okay with potentially losing your voice!

But, if you prefer a more refined evening, I’d suggest skipping this one and heading to the O Theater. Or, check out Awakening at Wynn instead.

Also, if you’ve been to Medieval Times, Tournament of Kings is a similar concept. But TOK has a more exciting storyline, and I can pretty much guarantee that the Vegas crowd is way more fun! 🙂