This past weekend, we were invited to try something new – something we have never done before…
Attend Monster Jam in Tampa, Florida.
That’s right – I have never been to Monster Jam. I mean, why would I? It’s not Disney. But, in the interest of life, we decided to broaden our horizons and attend a non-Disney event. (If I really wanted to look for some Disney aspect in this, the fun people at Feld Entertainment put on this show. They are the people who produce events like Disney on Ice and Marvel Universe Live. If you want to consider that…lol)
My Neurotic Disney Kid(NDK), who is all princess and fun, has been into Hot Wheels lately. Her older brother recently bestowed upon her his collection from when he was little, so the whole car thing is new and interesting to her. When I mentioned attending Monster Jam, her first impression was, “Why would we go to this? It sounds dirty.” Seriously. I really thought she would have been on board from the beginning. We looked up a few videos from previous shows, and she was curious. We decided to attend and have some fun.
The Florida weather had been great, until the morning of the show. This was a stadium show, so completely outdoors. The day was cloudy and cold. We packed up our warmest jackets, scarves, gloves and blankets and headed out to brave the cold for this new experience! As an outdoors show, this is a con to the event – it goes on rain or shine. Lucky for us, it did not rain. Because of the weather, we elected to skip the Pit Party.
The trucks participate in different competitions, and the audience gets to participate in the judging! With your smartphone, you go to the judging site and cast your vote for each individual truck. This interactive experience really adds to the excitement of the show. We were so excited when the truck we thought should win, won!
Overall, we had a great time at the show! It was NDK’s first ever stadium event. There is something special about stadium events. The enthusiasm from the crowd always adds to the fun. Monster Jam is, without a doubt, a family-friendly show for all ages. The announcers for the show keep the action alive with commentary, talking to drivers and local sponsors. It was neat to watch the bulldozers set up different courses and help trucks right-side up, almost like a ‘behind-the-scenes’ moment. NDK was also really excited to see so many women drivers! Girl power was represented in the bright colored trucks. It was fun to see a hot-pink truck in the mix of the others. My personal favorite was the Black Pearl (see what I did there? Gotta look for something Disney-ish wherever I go!), with Scooby-Doo a close second. Who couldn’t be a fan of a truck that looked exactly like everyone’s favorite great dane!
There are a few things to consider when attending Monster Jam. Because this was a stadium event, there were no over-powering fumes (you did smell them as trucks drove by, but nothing lingering), and noise was loud, but not deafening. If this event had been indoors, I feel that ear protection would be a necessity. These trucks are LOUD. We are definitely looking forward to seeing Monster Jam again, and attending the Pit Party, because now NDK wants her pictures with the Scooby-Doo and Hot Wheels trucks.
Orlando, your chance to see Monster Jam is THIS WEEKEND! Tickets are still available for the Saturday, January 20th event at Camping World Stadium. And the Pit Passes are available, too! Be sure to get in on all of the fun. Click here for all of the information regarding the Orlando show and how you can see a few of the trucks before the show this weekend! **Pro Tip: be sure to leave PLENTY of time to get to the stadium and figure parking out before you go. If you have never attended a stadium event, be sure to check out stadium rules and regulations (Camping World Policies & Regulations).
What is Monster Jam?
Monster Jam® is adrenaline-charged family entertainment providing jaw-dropping displays and gravity-defying feats that promise to always leave fans entertained. Monster Jam events feature some of the most recognizable trucks in the world including Grave Digger®, Max-D, El Toro Loco® and many more. World-class drivers push these perfectly-engineered Monster Jam trucks to their limits in Freestyle, “2-Wheel Skills” and Racing competitions that will put families on the edge of their seats and leave them craving more of this unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable event!
What does the Pit Pass include?
The Monster Jam Pit Party, which will take place on Saturday, January 20, from 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM, provides unprecedented access to the Monster Jam trucks and drivers. This unique experience in the world of motorsports gives fans access to see the trucks up close, take pictures, meet the drivers and get their autographs. New in 2018, the Pit Party Early Access Pass is available to every fan who purchases a ticket to the event. The pass provides early entry into the Pit Party from 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM and serves as the regular Pit Party pass from 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM. Monster Jam drivers will depart from the Pit Party at 5 PM. The Pit Party Early Access Pass must be accompanied by an event ticket, and quantities are limited.
What can we expect to see at Monster Jam Orlando?
Monster Jam will be performing at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, January 20, 2018. Gates open at 5 PM, and opening ceremonies and racing start at 7 PM. The event will feature 14 trucks and drivers vying to be the Orlando champion, including: Grave Digger®; Max-D; El Toro Loco®; Monster Mutt Dalmatian; Monster Energy Mutant; and many more. (Trucks/drivers subject to change without notice.)
How can we attend Monster Jam in Orlando?
Tickets and Pit Party Passes are available at the Amway Center Box office in advance, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at 800-745-3000. Same day event ticket and pit pass required for entry to pit party. All seats reserved. Subject to facility fee, plus convenience and handling charges. Camping World Stadium is located at 1610 W. Church Street, Orlando, FL 32805.
How do we attend Monster Jam in another location?
For more information on a Monster Jam, please log onto www.MonsterJam.com or follow via social channels below:
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/MonsterJam
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/MonsterJam
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/MonsterJamLive
- YouTube: www.youtube.com/MonsterJamLiveAbout
Disclosure: I received tickets to attend Monster Jam in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.
A Disney blooded, crafty, fun-lovin’ wife/mom/organizer/planner, etc who is obsessed with all things Disney 🙂 Maria grew up with the Magic Kingdom and has loved watching WDW evolve into what it is today. A firm believer in the Power of Pixie Dust, she is the owner of The Disney Driven Life – A Community for Neurotic Disney People & a d.i.y. crafty blog, Carousel of Projects – create~inspire~share.
