Aloma Cinema Grill

Let me start by saying that I love the concept of Aloma Cinema Grill, and we were certainly excited to attend our second children's birthday party there today...it's just that two of their rude employees/managers really spoiled the show.



First, the birthday party was suddenly moved to a half an hour ahead from the original scheduled time just a day in advance. (The reason being so that they could squeeze in another show prior to the party.) So, as children and parents arrived, they were told to wait in the hallway for 30 minutes before we could think about going in to the theatre. This left the birthday hosts unable to set up or prepare the room with decorations, and around 25 8 year olds trying their best to wait patiently with nothing to do. Then, a male manager bursts out of the theatre, yells at the kids and parents that we are being too loud and then threatens to make us all leave or have to wait outside in the heat. Mind you, ALOMA CINEMA GRILL CHANGED THE TIME OF THE VENUE JUST A DAY IN ADVANCE and suddenly we are all being reprimanded like children by a clearly angry and frustrated male manager. I will say that my mouth almost dropped that this angry male was actually yelling at a hallway of innocent 8 year olds and their parents! Then, after the movie ends, my friend throwing the party conscientiously rushes the kids to serve the cake and cupcakes, (although apparently, the agreement had been that they would do cupcakes prior to the movie which was then changed by management and not by her) and then two minutes later, a clearly agitated female manager storms out into the theatre yelling at her that we need to leave immediately so they can clean up for their next party. She also gesticulates at the confetti which was used to decorate the tables complaining that they would now need to clean it up. The poor wait staff seemed frustrated and embarrassed, and at one point, I started helping them to clean up... I felt so badly for them. The female manager then goes on to angrily discuss the fact that she believed that my friend had not properly tipped servers and all of her yelling is being handled in front of myself, another parent as well as my 9 year old daughter who told me she was afraid of the "mean lady at the movie theatre." The level of unprofessionalism was appalling and her tone and manner were not only condescending but quite frankly, bordering on abusive.



How a place like this can continue to operate doing children's parties in an upscale area such as Winter Park is beyond me. The parties are not cheap, as they make you purchase their God- awful cupcakes and then they nickel and dime you on everything and then expect a fat tip on top of doing nothing for the party. '



On a positive note, the kids really enjoyed the movie, the popcorn is great, and it's a really cute venue for a party, however....



My advice to management and the "Board of Directors": read the book called "Hey I'm the Customer," and then understand that you need to take a closer look at the folks running your place. I, for one, will never step foot there again, unless my friend is offered an apology and a year's worth of free movie tickets at the very least. ;)

This theater is great in theory with the food and service. HOWEVER, this is not the case!! the wait staff is CONSTANTLY interrupting the movie to get you to pay. then when check is paid the are coming back to clear your food and drinks! There was still at least 25 min left of my movie. not some where I will go again.

MANY PROBLEMS HERE.



First we took our kids to see the Avengers there for a 12:45PM lunch show.



The sound was so loud that my kids were cringing and had their fingers in their ears. People were complaining to the wait staff who kept saying - "it's only the previews” the movie wouldn't be that loud. Well it drove people from the room who asked for the manager. After the main movie came on it was still deafening (and I like loud movies and music!) I finally went out and asked for the manager myself. She told me "they have a machine that tells them if it’s too loud and - it’s not" When I pressed her on this, she then owned up to the fact that this movie's sound track was not made for their sound system and if she made the explosions and music softer you couldn't hear the dialog.



Anyway - it was her attitude that got me the most - it was clearly "FU" I'm the manager and what I say goes.



In fact when I first walked out there the manger was already speaking to a young woman saying she couldn't stand it in there and she would e glad to pay for her food she ordered and leave when she got it and ate it. She wanted her money back so she could go see the movie in a theater with a modern sound system. The manager told her she could not eat it in at a table in the theater, if she got her money back - she would have to eat it in the hallway on the floor! Can you believe that????. If this girl was trying to scam them (and this is how the manager was treating her) I'll eat my hat.



We got part of our food in reasonable time, but after 40 minutes we asked about our pizza. We were told, they were having trouble with the oven and it would be another 25 minutes. Things break, and that can't be helped - but it was just insult to injury give all that was going on.



So after a ton of people complained - they finally turned it down - and though it was still the loudest I’ve ever heard it in a theater (as we go a lot) I at least didn't think we would permanently damage our hearing any more - it was just unpleasant during the action scenes. And let me repeat: I like my action movies loud - but this was literally hearing damage range.



So know this before you go:



- They apparently have an out of date sound system that can't deal with action movie sound tracks



- The management is defensive and hostile to customers - who are only be trying to help and make the experience better (or at least tolerable)



- If the oven is on the fritz - expect to wait an hour or more for pizza.



I've learned my lesson - I will not be seeing anything that depends on a decent sound track here again.



Not recommended vs. the many other more modern theaters in the area. Too bad since I like the movie and food idea, it’s just poorly executed here.

AVOID THIS THEATER. This is the worst theater to watch a movie. I have a better experience at a $1 movie theater with sticky floors and bad food. This theater was not designed for viewing movies. If your neck isn t aching after ruining the film, the clean up crew will definitely ruin the best film by turning all the lights on and clanging the dishes before the movie is over. When I complained the last time, the manager was rude and smug and just want the customers to pay up and leave so he can make more money faster. I use to like going to this theater, but it is getting worse. They should not be allowed to show movies here with that management. They are disrespectful to both movie goer, movie maker and the movie distributors. STAY AWAY!

We have gone to Aloma Cinema for years and now with the recent remodel, it is even better! Great atmosphere, good food & service. Try it and you will become a regular, like us!

Why aren't the movies listed in the newspapers any longer. It is hard to find movies and times they are played?

While visiting in Orlando we decided to go to see a movie and with going to a different one, you sometimes worry what it will be like, but we were very pleased with the theatre. Well kept and very nice.