(UPDATED 10/21/17) A friend and I recently went to the movies at the Cinemark Century Arden 14 & XD movie theater on Ethan Way (Howe Bout Arden). It was the first time I had been there since it opened on December 1, 2016 – and I was impressed.
Like many long-time residents of Sacramento I had a soft place in my heart for the old “domes” – but all things must pass and let’s face it – the new theater is a BIG improvement.
Movie theaters have been faced for years with declining ticket sales – and they have been upping their game to make theater going more attractive. I think it is working – as far as I am personally concerned.
We had no problem finding parking near the theater. It was, however, pre-game on Super Bowl Sunday – so we speculated that may have had something to do with our luck. What has been your experience with parking at that theater?
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We had purchased tickets and assigned seats in advance. It seems to me that you are really taking a chance these days if you wait until you show up at a movie theater to reserve your seat – especially if the movie is newly opened and hugely popular.
The advantage of having advance tickets, of course, is that you can arrive shortly before the start of the movie knowing that your seat is waiting for you.
The box office is inside the theater so you don’t have to stand outside in inclement weather to purchase your ticket if you go that route.
As we had brunch prior to arriving at the theater we were neither hungry nor thirsty – but I did take a quick look around the concession area. If you have sampled the food and/or drink at Century Arden 14 & XD please share your observations as to quality, variety and/or price.
The concession area seemed to me to be quite roomy and the array of food and drink offerings much larger than an average movie theater. In addition to the usual popcorn, hot dogs, candy and soft drinks you could choose to have a Starbucks coffee, cold draft beer, a glass of wine or one of several varieties of frozen cocktails. As for food choices, I noticed the availability of individual pizza’s and ice cream, among other offerings. There is also seating at tables and high-backed benches in the concession area where you can eat and/or wait for your movie in comfort.
As we walked from the concession area to the theater where our movie was showing we passed a “party room”. What a great idea for a child’s birthday party – cake and ice cream in the party room prior to or after a movie.
Among the biggest draws at the new theater are the electric-powered, oversized luxury loungers with cup-holders and footrests. Very comfy indeed!
You can adjust the lounger position with the push of a button. The oversized width of the loungers provides you with more “personal space” which I greatly appreciated. Equally as nice – even with the loungers in recline mode fellow movie patrons can enter and exit the aisle easily without the necessity for you to move.
The oversized loungers and the ample space in the aisles and rows mean that the number of seats in each theater is limited – another reason to consider reserving seats in advance. Each of the 14 theaters features luxury loungers.
It goes without saying – but I will say it anyway – the large wall-to-wall movie screen and the sound system were awesome.
I also look forward to the re-opening of the movie theaters in what was formerly the Sacramento downtown mall. I understand that they will be similarly upgraded.
(UPDATED 10/21/17) Century Arden 14 & XD Theater was voted #1 in Sacramento Magazine’s 2017 Best of Sacramento survey in the category Movie Theater.
Comments on Century Arden 14 & XD Movie Theater?
Questions:
- If you have been to the new Century Arden 14 & XD movie theater – what would you add to my description? Do you have any comments on parking and/or concessions?
- Any comments to share on other theaters you have patronized with similar upgrades in the Sacramento area?
- Do you see yourself going out to the movies more often to take advantage of the screen size, sound system, concessions and luxury seating?
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I HATE the new seats, i.e., the oversize loungers. As if we’re not lazy enough already! I want to sit upright while watching a movie, not lie down. Yet the seats are so deep (from front to back) that when I (a 5′ 6″ tall woman) put my feet on the floor, I couldn’t get my lower back to reach the back of the seat, and the front edge of the seat cushion pressed into the back of my calves causing my legs to fall asleep. Not everyone wants to recline for 2+ hours. They should have a choice of seats. But they don’t give the people who prefer to sit upright any alternative.
BTW, when I was at the theatre, as an FYI, I expressed my dissatisfaction about the seats to several employees and they were astounded to hear that someone wasn’t absolutely thrilled to be able to recline while watching a movie. News flash! People are not all the same. Give us a choice. Even the old Barcalounger in your (or your mom’s old) living room gives you the option to sit or recline. Don’t pigeonhole us into a single solution, like these oversize, uncomfortable seats do.
Thanks for sharing your opinion Mary.