Whether you are a local to Southern California, or planning a vacation to Southern California, there are plenty of things to see and do in the Anaheim area. During a recent trip to Anaheim, my family and I had the opportunity to experience an interactive dinner theater show called Pirates Dinner Adventure and we loved it! My family and I received complimentary tickets in exchange for a Pirates Dinner Adventure review but as always all opinions are my own. If you’re looking for family friendly near Anaheim, California, then you’ll definitely want to put the Pirates Dinner Adventure on your list!

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Pirates Dinner Adventure Review: Family Friendly Entertainment Near Anaheim

When my family and I travel to Anaheim, our primary focus is Disneyland. However, during our last trip to Anaheim, we decided to try something completely different. We stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge nearby in Garden Grove and during one of our nights there, we decided to see an interactive, pirates-themed dinner theater show called Pirates Dinner Adventure. And I’m so glad that we did! It’s highly entertaining, from start to finish. There’s not only singing and dancing, but there are also action sequences, and acrobatics! I’ve seen several performances in Las Vegas, and the quality is similar to what you would see in a Vegas show. So get ready to set sail and walk the plank - here’s a Pirate Dinner Adventure Review! Eye patches are optional 😉

Location of Pirates Dinner Adventure

Pirates Dinner Adventure is located in Buena Park, California, which is minutes away from Anaheim. As a result, it’s conveniently located near two major theme parks, Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm. It took us approximately 15 minutes to arrive to the theater from our hotel, the Great Wolf Lodge. There is plenty of parking, but you’ll want to arrive early (more about that below). It’s also literally within walking distance of Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City, making it convenient for those spending the day at either of those two places.

Pirates Dinner Adventure Seating

Seating at Pirates Dinner Adventure is similar to stadium-style seating. The main stage is a replica of a pirate ship, with ropes and bridges. Many of the pirates swing around the pirate ship, thanks to the ropes, and it’s fun to see the action taking place on the pirate ship. Guests are assigned sections based on different colors. And the different sections have different Pirates to cheer for. For example, my family and I were assigned to the yellow section and as a result, we cheered for the yellow Pirate.

Also, when you book your reservation, you are given the option of upgrading your seats. I do recommend upgrading to at least the Captain Seating - we sat in the third row, and had a great view of the pirate ship and the action. Those with Captain Seating are also provided with a souvenir pirate bandanna and a beaded necklace. It’s a great way to gear up for the main event, and also fun souvenirs to bring home!

Pirates Dinner Adventure Showtime and Prices

There are several showtimes available for the Pirates Dinner Adventure throughout the week. There are also different shows throughout the year, including holiday themed shows. We were able to see the Legend of the Loch Ness Monster and I highly recommend it. If you’re wondering if the Loch Ness Monster makes makes an appearance, you’ll have to see it to find out!

In the meantime, you can click here to see showtimes and prices for Pirates Dinner Adventure. We attended the show on a Friday night, and check-in started 90 minutes prior to showtime. I recommend checking in early. The line for check-in can get long, and there are appetizers available to sample while waiting for the show to begin. Also, some of the performers come out on stage as a precursor to the main event. So this is one show that you don’t want to be late for!

Pirates Dinner Adventure Menu

A three course meal is available during the main performance. Guests can either choose vegetable soup or house salad as a starter and the main entree consists of roasted chicken, shrimp and vegetable skewers, mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables. However, there are other choices available for those who have a special diet. And dessert is also available for those who have a sweet tooth! Children aren’t left out either. There’s a kids menu available which includes favorites like chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. My 5 year old son finished most of his meal for once! To see the menu in further detail, click here.

Audience Participation at Pirates Dinner Adventure

One of things that my family loves about the Pirates Dinner Adventure is the audience participation. Some of the guests (adults and children) are asked to come aboard the pirate ship as prisoners. Even my family was able to participate - my son was delighted when my husband was chosen as one of the participants! The audience is able to cheer for the good guys and gals, and boo the villains. Before the show began, I wondered if my son would get scared during the show. However, he loves the action scenes and didn’t find it scary at all. As always, though, keep in mind your child’s personality when making a decision if he/she is ready to attend the show.

Pirates Dinner Adventure Coupons and Discounts

My family’s only regret is that we waited so long to see the Pirates Dinner Adventure, especially since we are always in the area when we visit Disneyland. We hope to see other performances now that we’ve realized what we’ve been missing out on! With regard to ticket prices, always check online to see if there are coupons or discounts available, especially on Groupon. I’ve booked several activities through Groupon and right now, there is a groupon available for Pirates Dinner Adventure. You’ll want to check the Pirates Dinner Adventure website by clicking here to see if there are any special discounts. For example, there is a military discount available for members of the military and their family.

The Pirates Dinner Adventure has something for everyone - pirates, singing, dancing, fight scenes, romance, royalty, and yes, even acrobatics! One of my favorite scenes involved two of the characters, the green pirate (cue the Peter Pan references!) and the Golden Gypsy!

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