Vampirates 2023 Review - Buena Park, CA



VAMPIRATES 2023 REVIEW - BUENA PARK, CA



It’s been a while since we have revisited Vampirates. They are back to pillage and plunder and steal the show with a brand new storyline and it was exciting. The experience this time felt longer, you got more bang for your buck and there was more audience participation and interaction than the previous couple of years.


The skeleton of the show remains consistent to prior years, with a variety of action packed stunts and well-choreographed sequences that synced with whatever music was playing overhead. We noticed a slight dip in the length of each stunt sequence. However, the newly added storyline felt lengthier than previous years and that made up for the shortening of the stunt sequences. As with previous shows, “challenges” are issued to see which pirate is victorious and gets what he wants. These “challenges” are mini games of skill that may involve audience participation and at the very minimum each section can cheer for their respective pirate. Of course, there are also battle scenes and acrobatic sequences on top of all this.


With Captain Sebastian the Black being the main antagonist still, Vampirates introduced a larger role with the Siren, who’s dilemma of choice could be the thing that determines whether good or evil wins this trip. We sat down expecting a similar show that will be slightly modified and it turned out to be a completely new storyline. After the introductory music increased and the house lights dimmed; we soon realized this was going to be a fresh new show after seeing the introduction of new characters. With non-stop action and surprises this year, it was hard to excuse ourselves for any bathroom breaks as we knew we would miss something had we missed a few minutes of the show. There’s no telling who would be victorious and who would turn against who. We also liked the mention of Halloween by a new character, the Queen, that this is All Hallow’s Eve; something they never brought up in previous years. With such a fresh storyline, this show should continue to be entertaining for newbies and return customers for a while.


In conclusion, this is perhaps the most family friendly Halloween show to ring in the season. Though it could get loud during certain sequences of simulated gun fire; the show for the most part was PG and filled with comedic sequences. We liked the mention of All Hallow’s Eve during the show as it sort of officially made this a Halloween Event, compared to the lack of mention from the previous seasons. A new food option of pork tenderloins is now available on top of the ¼ chicken plate. There are new vegetarian options as well. The only caution we have to warn you with is that our seating arrangements were a bit tight, especially with our media equipment. Even without the camera, we were average sized persons and it was a struggle finding space to eat and to get out of our seats. You may want to request a seat higher up that is away from others. Don’t forget to stay for photo-ops with the cast & crew immediately following the conclusion of the show. A premium meet and greet professional photo is available as well.


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https://piratesdinneradventureca.com/vampirates/



Vampirates 2019 Review - Buena Park, CA



Vampirates 2019 Review - Buena Park, CA



Our 3rd time as spectators at Vampirates Dinner Adventure, we felt it had gotten better this time. Though the summary on the website didn’t change; the story is slightly modified compared to previous years. Did we appreciate the change? Definitely. Since we are avid Vampirates fans for the third year in a row, the story could feel dull since we’ve seen it. Even though we would gladly sit through the same story, it really takes the fun out of it when you already know the twists and the ending. Therefore, with his year’s change, we felt it rejuvenated the show and kept it fresh. The difference is significant enough to warrant another visit to the show!


It is highly suggested to arrive at least 30 minutes early to take advantage of the passed hors d'oeuvres and cash bar with seasonal spirits and elixirs. Of course, we urge you to not just go for the food and drinks but mainly for the pre-show. During the pre-show, the performance sets up the stage and plot so that the audience is aware of the cause and effect for the main character’s actions throughout the show.


Katherine Erikson, a Vampire Huntress who has been protecting the town, is on a quest to avenge her father’s death. She believed her father Capt. Sebastian Black was taken and murdered by the Vampire King and his blood thirsty vampires. To even the odds, she entrusts her helpful sidekick Freddy, along with her secret weapon: A Magical Mermaid.


That is, until she gets betrayed by someone in her camp and now the plan has gone awry. As Katherine battles on throughout the show, the performance is full of twists both in the beginning and towards the end. Each chapter in the story line is either paired with an entertaining skit, physical challenge of the mightiest, or good ‘ole fight. The gravity-defying stunts, high-fly acts, and beautifully choreographed fight sequences make this a main staple of the Halloween season. This is truly a show with something for everyone.


Similar to previous seasons, the storyline is fit for the entire family and for an all ages audience. There’s comedy, there’s action, and of course also some drama. Vampirates is a dining experience thrill ride where you don’t have to move at all. We will gladly set sail again for future seasons.


With a run-time of about 80 minutes, this is basically a live-action thriller with food. If you were to watch a movie in theatres with food nowadays, that one ticket may cost you up to $80 or $90 easily. With theatrical performances in L.A. going for as much as $75 to $100, Vampirates is a fraction of that PLUS it comes with dinner. Parking is also complimentary. For $32, you can use our exclusive promo code: V-HAUNTLET19. This code is good for any show Monday-Thursday during the month of October. With this code Adults will be $32 plus tax and fees and children will be $28 plus tax and fees. Reservations are required for all of our shows and can be made online at https://piratesdinneradventureca.com/calendar/ or by calling (866) 439-2469.


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https://piratesdinneradventureca.com/vampirates/



VAMPIRATES dinner adventure 2018 - buena park, ca


Vampirates We've never seen a show where a Pirate is also a Vampire. Hence we sailed down to orange county to brave the stormy seas to see how exactly it looks. In the very end, it did not disappoint. The dinner and show were both fangtastistic. Guests are urged to arrive 1.5 hours prior to showtime, even though the seats are assigned. Early arrival allows you to enjoy the seasonal decorations inside, complimentary passed hors d'oeuvres, access to the bar and most importantly the pre-show 30 minutes ahead of showtime.


The Pre-Show is a MUST-SEE as it is a direct prelude of what's to come and it will give the audience a better grasp of the story later on in the actual show. Without giving away too much; it explains how a trio of Vampire Hunters (Katherine, Jacob, and Freddy) are at war with these blood sucking Vampirates. The best part, guests get to enjoy all this in the large bar area while sipping specialty themed drinks. Each party is categorized by color, each color corresponds to our Vampirate leader that we follow onto the ship as the show draws to a close. We are all now Privateers.


The stage is a magnificient pirate ship facade on an actual body of water. Once seated, the Vampirate for each color warmed up the crowd by getting the audience involved or cracking jokes. The server behind you takes your order during this time while we wait for the show to start. The lights dim, and the speaker plays the iconic Vampire record “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” by Bach; which indicates that it is showtime.


Freddy, a “ex” Vampire Hunter from the pre-show, opens up with a Pirate hymm. Then the previous characters from the pre-show, which supposedly took place at a “Masquerade Ball”, reappeared to jumpstart the story. Freddy continues his Pirate hmm and introduces the rest of the Vampirates. The Vampirates warm up their respective sections and get the audience involved. A reason why there are colored sections was so the Vampirates can compete against each other through games that require acrobatic stunts and valiant sword fights on top of audience participation. About 20 minutes later into the show, Captain Sebastian Black was introduced. The Vampire Hunters appear again along with the rest of the crew on deck and all hell breaks loose. The battle however was not over here, since both sides seemed to escape from each other.


Much like an actual drama, there were a variety of small story lines that take place with each character which eventually leads to the finale. It is a tale of good vs. evil beautifully done through high-flying acts, acrobatic stunts, swift aerial movements, choreographed sword battles and fights, audience participation, and some modern-themed comedy and innuendo. Though the main characters at the forefront between good and evil are the Vampire Hunters and the Vampirates; the supporting cast member by the name of Saxon was easily the star of the show. Saxon is the Purple Vampirate and also the smallest one on deck. He had the most stage time of all because of the way he jests and the witty quips back and forth between him and the Captain, who boasts a more serious persona but eventually also won the audience over.


We won't tell you how it ends, but in the climax and the final action scene of this story the Vampire Hunters take on the entire crew of Vampirates and their Captain. The ending was pleasant and something we can see an actual produced drama on TV or the big screen. As fans of horror and a participant vampire fan-dom, we enjoyed the final scene as the stage fades into the afterlife. It surprised us, in a good way.


Vampirates is a great event for An All Ages Audience. It is quite impressive the amount of action, stunts, song and dance routines, and level of talent that is packed into this 90 minute show; a little north of 100 if you include the pre-show which is a must. Though we've yet to experience the normal Pirates show, from what we've heard from the guests on the day we attended; “Vampirates” is a lot better and highly worth it. We again look forward to Sailing these Stormy Sanguine Seas. Guests can use promo code: “V-HAUNTLET18 ” for discounted tickets. https://piratesdinneradventureca.com/vampirates/

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