Florida Guide > Dining
Arabian Nights – a dinner show
Colourful, beautiful costumes, handsome horses, enjoyable family entertainment, a pleasurable evening – just a few words to describe our visit to Arabian Nights.
As frequent visitors to Orlando I wanted to take my family for an evening out which wouldn’t be too expensive. We’re not horse people but we do appreciate their beauty.
Booking was easy using www.park-tickets.com. With the tickets you are given details and a telephone number to ring to book a specific night. We chose the 8pm show on a Thursday evening. During the call we were asked if we’d like to be VIPs. This would cost an additional $11 each - my initial thoughts were not to and then I quickly changed my mind as I thought our daughters would enjoy the experience of being VIPs – it doesn’t happen too often to us!!
Parking was easy and we walked up to the entrance to the VIP booth where we were given our badges, collected our complimentary souvenir calendars, free drinks voucher and a token to show where our seats were – as VIPs were had centre seats in the front row.
Entering the building there was an Arabian Belly Dancer and at the side a bar area with a lounge for VIPs. It did take 20minutes to queue for our drink but we were not in a rush. The free drinks voucher gave you a small Budweiser, a coke or blush wine. My daughters on see the various ‘crush drinks’ decided they’d like one of these with a souvenir glass and I wasn’t keen on sweet wine so chose a more expensive wine – however it was a huge glass. Two to three European wine glasses in one! For these it did cost us an additional $16 with the vouchers giving $2 off per drink.
Around 8pm were were called through to the Arena where the horses and riders were waiting to meet us. The costumes were amazing – beautiful colours, sparkling. The riders where happy to answer questions, sign the calendars whilst the horses were fine looking, striking and enjoyed being stroked. There was plenty of time to meet them all in a calm, quiet atmosphere. This experience is something my daughters have described to their family and friends many times.
We then took our seats before the other guests came in totally filling the arena seats. At our tables were bowls of salad and a menu to choose from: prime rib of beef, chicken breast tenders, chopped steak and vegetable lasagne, all served with mixed vegetables, bread roll and butter. Desert was a piece of the ‘Princess’ sponge wedding cake. Throughout the meal there was plenty of house beer, wine and coke. My husband and I chose the rib of beef which was very tender; my youngest daughter enjoyed her chopped steak – my oldest chose the vegetable lasagne which she didn’t enjoy as much as the rest of us. There service was good and the food a good standard for mass catering. If you’re expecting a cordon blue meal you will be disappointed.
While you’re eating the show unfolds. You’re introduced to a young girl who ‘comes of age’ and is told she is a princess…and she meets and marries her prince.
There are acts containing acrobatics and fire hoops for the riders to jump through, a comedy sketch with an older man with his companion horse (very well done and amusing), displays of horsemanship, a ‘unicorn’, There is a fun chariot race where you choose your chariot and cheer whilst they race – yes – our side won!
When the show finishes all the horses are let onto the arena to run free. Again the riders come out to meet the guests and seemed to talk for ages – infact we left them still talking to guests. We just enjoyed seeing the horses in the Arena. We had a thoroughly delightful family evening which we all enjoyed. The show had a very friendly feel and we felt it was good value for money.
When I told my youngest daughter I was going to write this article she asked if she could go again….that speaks for itself, doesn’t it?
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