THE MAGIC OF GOING TO THE MOVIES
When I was growing up, going to the movies was a magical experience for me. My dad managed a movie theater in Virginia and it was the best thing in the world! The smell of the popcorn, the bright lights of the concession stand, the slurpees/frosties and being able to run down the hallway to watch the next new movie that came out. The experience was so memorable to me that I have always wanted to bring a similar experience to my children. There’s still something so magical about being in a theater watching a movie on the large screen and there’s little to no distractions around you.
When I found out that you could rent a theater for a birthday party this past year, it was like my childhood came back. Getting to relive the excitement of going to the movie theater with our friends and family to celebrate my boy's birthdays was very exciting and it gave them a sense of what I did when I was growing up.
WHAT THEATRE DOES BIRTHDAY PARTIES?
Horizon Cinemas at Marley Station Mall was the clear choice to have their birthday parties (one in April and one in May) because their movie theater is not overly huge (perfect to be able to find everyone) and it’s at a very affordable price! In April, my first time having a birthday party there, we got to see the new “Sonic the HedgeHog” movie for my 5 year old and in May we were able to see the new “Dr. Strange” for my 10 year old.
THE STAFF
One of the best parts about the experience was the staff, they made it so memorable and so easy for me during both parties. Each time I brought cupcakes for the party and they were able to put them in their fridge until after the movie. Then, they made getting the kids packs for all party members easy for me by keeping track of each pack I needed and writing them down so I could pay at the end. The kids pack included a small drink, small bag of popcorn and a candy airhead. This simple gesture made everything go so much smoother, because I was able to stay at the front and when guests showed up to make sure each kid got what they needed and directed them to the theater. Each time I needed a pack, they wrote it down and served it right up! Another option they had available was making all of the kids packs at once and bringing them into the theater, but I found this option worked better so everyone could get their cups and pick their drinks before going into the theater. The staff was very kind and helpful during this process and made gathering everyone and sending them down to the theater completely easy and relaxing. (Relaxing for a birthday party?....... Who would have thought!)
THE THEATRE ROOM
The movie experience itself was phenomenal. If you have never rented out a theater before, it is absolutely worth your time. The theater has about 35 or so recliners, which was perfect for our crew. Everyone was able to get the seat that they wanted and if we had more people come, there were extra seats in front of the recliners. Everyone in our crew had a parent or guardian with them, so anyone who came was able to enjoy their time at the party as well! The movie came on, the lights dimmed, and it was fantastic because you knew everyone who was there and there was not the uncomfortableness or nervousness of sitting near someone you do not know. Everyone was there for the party and it made the atmosphere lighter and calmer, as we could tell by the amount of laughter coming from the kids (and adults) during the movie.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE MOVIE?
After the movie we had an extra 30 minutes in the theater itself to sing Happy Birthday, open presents and eat cupcakes. Everyone was able to walk around the theater and talk during this time as well. Due to restrictions a party room was not available, but to be honest, I thought staying in one location for the entirety of the party worked out well! The kids were able to run around, they weren’t confined to a table and to a seat, and the adults were able to mingle as they wanted. It was a win-win for everyone!
ABOVE AND BEYOND!
One of the coolest things that happened during the party in April was that they had someone dressed up as Sonic the Hedgehog going around the theater as the movies let out! One of the staff members asked at the end of the movie if we wanted Sonic to come and take pictures with the kids and suddenly we got our own personal Sonic the Hedgehog saying Happy Birthday and taking pictures! Seeing Sonic really made my son’s day super special and he is still talking about meeting Sonic from his birthday party 2 months later!
WHAT IS THE PROCESS TO BOOK A PARTY?
Setting up the parties was also a very easy experience. I went online to Horizon Cinemas website for Marley Station and filled out a form for what kind of event I wanted to have.
OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE:
-Private Events
-Catering
WHAT MOVIES CAN YOU SEE?
-Any Current Movie Playing in Theaters
THE COST
The prices are the following:
$199 for up to 30 people, which includes rental fee and admission only
$249 for 31-40 people
$299 for 41-50 people
$349 or more 51+
WHAT'S NEXT?
Once you fill out the form, the party coordinator will get in touch with you via email within 24-48 hours and you reserve the theater and the time available. Then you call the theater and make your payment for the reservation and that’s it! The process was super simple and easy!
FINAL THOUGHTS
At the end of the day, both my boys and our family and friends had a great experience at the Horizon Cinemas Marley Station. The staff and the management of the facility were very easy to work with and our guests had nothing but great things to say about the whole experience. If you haven’t been to this theater before, especially for a party, you should absolutely check it out. I think you will love it as much as we have and will continue to enjoy!
