Quick Verdict
Tournament of Kings is the better choice if you want a bigger, louder, more memorable family show. It combines dinner, medieval theming, horses, knights, crowd cheering, arena staging, and special effects into one of the most kid-friendly spectacle experiences in Las Vegas.
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is the better pick if you want something lighter, shorter, gentler, and easier to fit into the daytime. It is built around trained rescue animals, clown-style comedy, simple tricks, and a more wholesome family-show format.
Both can work for families, but they serve very different trip needs.
Best overall family spectacle: Tournament of Kings
Best daytime family show: Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
Best for dinner included: Tournament of Kings
Best for animal lovers: Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
Best for big kid energy: Tournament of Kings
Best for younger children who prefer gentle comedy: Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
Best if you are staying near Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, New York-New York, MGM Grand, or Park MGM: Tournament of Kings
Best if you are staying near Planet Hollywood, Paris, Horseshoe, The Cosmopolitan, Bellagio, or ARIA: Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
The Short Answer
If you are choosing between Tournament of Kings and Popovich Comedy Pet Theater, book Tournament of Kings if you want the stronger overall family-show experience.
Tournament of Kings feels more like a complete Vegas family event because it includes dinner, live horses, jousting, sword fighting, cheering sections, arena seating, and a clear medieval theme. It is a better fit if you want your kids to feel like they went to a big show rather than just watched a simple performance.
Book Popovich Comedy Pet Theater if you want an easier, gentler daytime show. Popovich is better if your group loves animals, wants something less intense, or needs a family-friendly activity that does not dominate the whole evening.
Bottom line: Tournament of Kings is the big dinner-show spectacle. Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is the lighter daytime animal-comedy show.
Tournament of Kings vs Popovich Comedy Pet Theater Comparison
| Category | Tournament of Kings | Popovich Comedy Pet Theater |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Families wanting dinner + spectacle | Families wanting animals + light comedy |
| Overall recommendation | Better family event | Better daytime add-on |
| Location | Excalibur | V Theater at Miracle Mile Shops / Planet Hollywood |
| Style | Medieval dinner show, knights, horses, arena action | Pet comedy show, rescued animals, clown-style humor |
| Tone | Loud, interactive, energetic, themed | Gentle, cute, light, wholesome |
| Dinner included | Yes | No |
| Better for young kids | Strong if they like action/noise | Usually gentler |
| Better for animal lovers | Horses are part of the show | Usually yes |
| Better for spectacle | Yes | No |
| Better for daytime plans | Usually no | Yes |
| Better for evening plans | Yes | Sometimes, but more daytime-oriented |
Choose Tournament of Kings If…
Choose Tournament of Kings if you want a full family-friendly dinner-show experience.
Tournament of Kings takes place in a 900-seat theater-in-the-round arena at Excalibur and is adapted from the tale of King Arthur. The show includes knights, horses, special effects, pyrotechnics, and a dinner guests eat with their hands.
Book Tournament of Kings if you want:
- Dinner included with the show
- Knights, horses, jousting, and sword fighting
- A loud, energetic arena atmosphere
- A medieval theme that is easy for kids to understand
- Stronger spectacle than a small showroom show
- A south Strip location at Excalibur
- A family-friendly evening plan that feels like a main event
Tournament of Kings is especially strong if you want the show itself to anchor the night. It works well when you do not want to separately plan dinner and entertainment.
Best fit: families with kids who like action, first-time Vegas family visitors, Excalibur / Luxor / Mandalay Bay / New York-New York guests, and travelers who want a big themed family dinner show.
Choose Popovich Comedy Pet Theater If…
Choose Popovich Comedy Pet Theater if you want a lighter, gentler family show built around animals and simple comedy.
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is performed at V Theater inside Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood and features more than 30 pets, including cats, dogs, parrots, and a miniature horse. The official V Theater listing says the performing pets were rescued from animal shelters.
Book Popovich Comedy Pet Theater if you want:
- A daytime-friendly family show
- Trained rescue animals
- Light comedy and simple tricks
- A gentler alternative to loud spectacle shows
- A central Strip / Planet Hollywood location
- Something shorter and easier to fit between other plans
- A wholesome show for animal-loving kids
Popovich is especially strong if your kids love animals or if your family wants a lower-pressure show that does not take over the evening.
Best fit: animal lovers, younger children, families wanting a daytime show, Planet Hollywood / Paris / Horseshoe / The Cosmopolitan / Bellagio guests, and visitors who want something sweet, simple, and easy.
Which Show Is Better for Families?
Tournament of Kings is usually the better overall family show.
It feels bigger, more memorable, and more like a complete Vegas event. The dinner-show format also solves two problems at once: food and entertainment.
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is still family-friendly, but it feels more like a lighter activity than a full night out.
Family pick: Tournament of Kings for the full event; Popovich for a lighter daytime activity.
Which Show Is Better for Younger Kids?
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater may be better for younger kids who prefer animals, gentle comedy, and a calmer show.
Tournament of Kings is more exciting, but it is also louder and more intense. Kids who love knights, horses, battles, and cheering will likely enjoy it. Kids who are sensitive to noise or stage action may do better with Popovich.
Younger-kid pick: Popovich for gentle animal comedy; Tournament of Kings for kids who like action.
Which Show Is Better for Dinner?
Tournament of Kings is the clear pick for dinner.
Tournament of Kings is specifically built as a dinner show, while Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is a standalone family performance. If you want a show that covers dinner and entertainment together, choose Tournament of Kings.
Dinner pick: Tournament of Kings
Which Show Is Better for Animal Lovers?
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is usually better for animal lovers.
Tournament of Kings includes horses as part of the spectacle, but Popovich is built around animals as the main attraction. The show features rescued pets and makes animal tricks and comedy the core of the experience.
Animal-lover pick: Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
Which Show Has Better Spectacle?
Tournament of Kings has much stronger spectacle.
Tournament of Kings uses an arena format, horses, knights, jousting, sword fighting, pyrotechnics, and audience cheering. Popovich is smaller, lighter, and more intimate.
Spectacle pick: Tournament of Kings
Which Show Has the Better Location?
It depends where you are staying.
Tournament of Kings performs at Excalibur, making it convenient for Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, New York-New York, MGM Grand, Park MGM, and south Strip guests.
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater performs at V Theater inside Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, making it convenient for Planet Hollywood, Paris, Horseshoe, The Cosmopolitan, Bellagio, ARIA, and MGM Grand guests.
Location pick: Tournament of Kings for south Strip; Popovich for central Strip.
Ticket Buying Advice
Do not choose only by the cheapest ticket.
For Tournament of Kings, remember that the ticket includes more than a show: it also includes the dinner-show format, arena staging, and a more complete family event. If your kids love action, it can justify paying more than a smaller family show.
For Popovich Comedy Pet Theater, the value is different. It is usually better as a lighter daytime add-on rather than the headline event of the trip. If prices are close, choose it because your kids love animals — not because it will feel as big as Tournament of Kings.
Simple ticket rule:
If you want dinner and a full family spectacle, book Tournament of Kings.
If you want a lighter animal-comedy show, book Popovich Comedy Pet Theater.
Honest Downsides
Reasons to Skip Tournament of Kings
Skip Tournament of Kings if your kids dislike loud shows, staged battles, pyrotechnics, or intense crowd energy.
It is intentionally big, noisy, and interactive. That is part of the appeal, but it can be too much for sensitive children or families who want something calmer.
You may also want to skip it if your family already has dinner plans or if you do not want a full evening built around one show.
Reasons to Skip Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
Skip Popovich Comedy Pet Theater if you want a big Vegas spectacle.
Popovich is cute, family-friendly, and easy to enjoy, but it is not designed to compete with a large dinner show. If your family wants knights, horses, arena action, lighting, pyrotechnics, and a stronger “wow” factor, Tournament of Kings is the better fit.
You may also want to skip it if your kids are not especially interested in animals or simple comedy.
Final Recommendation
Most families choosing between Tournament of Kings and Popovich Comedy Pet Theater should book Tournament of Kings if they want the stronger overall family event.
Tournament of Kings is the better fit if you want dinner, spectacle, knights, horses, cheering, and a memorable evening show.
Book Popovich Comedy Pet Theater instead if your family wants something lighter and gentler. Popovich is the better fit for animal-loving kids, daytime plans, and families who want a smaller, sweeter show without loud arena-style intensity.
Our pick: Tournament of Kings for a complete family dinner show. Popovich Comedy Pet Theater for gentle daytime animal comedy.
Still comparing your options? See our guide to the best shows in Las Vegas for more top picks by show type, traveler style, and overall value.
FAQs
Is Tournament of Kings better than Popovich Comedy Pet Theater?
Tournament of Kings is better if you want dinner, spectacle, knights, horses, and a full family evening show. Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is better if you want a lighter daytime show with rescued animals and gentle comedy.
Which show should I see first, Tournament of Kings or Popovich Comedy Pet Theater?
See Tournament of Kings first if you want the more memorable family event. See Popovich Comedy Pet Theater first if your family specifically wants a gentle animal-comedy show.
Is Tournament of Kings worth seeing?
Yes, Tournament of Kings is worth seeing if your family wants a medieval dinner show with knights, horses, arena action, crowd cheering, and an easy-to-understand theme.
Is Popovich Comedy Pet Theater worth seeing?
Yes, Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is worth seeing if your kids love animals and your family wants a wholesome, lighter show with comedy, tricks, and rescued pets.
Which show is better for young kids?
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is usually better for younger kids who prefer gentle animal comedy. Tournament of Kings is better for kids who enjoy action, cheering, horses, and medieval battles.
Which show includes dinner?
Tournament of Kings includes dinner. Popovich Comedy Pet Theater does not.
Which show has more animals?
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater has more animals and is built around pet tricks and comedy. Tournament of Kings includes horses, but they are part of a larger medieval show.
Which show has better production value?
Tournament of Kings has stronger production value, with arena staging, costumes, horses, jousting, sword fighting, special effects, and pyrotechnics.
Which show has the better location?
Tournament of Kings is better for south Strip guests near Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, New York-New York, MGM Grand, or Park MGM. Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is better for central Strip guests near Planet Hollywood, Paris, Horseshoe, The Cosmopolitan, Bellagio, or ARIA.
Should I book Tournament of Kings or Popovich Comedy Pet Theater if I only have time for one?
Book Tournament of Kings if you want a bigger family dinner-show experience. Book Popovich Comedy Pet Theater if your family wants a lighter, gentler animal-comedy show.