Fox Theatre — Attraction in Atlanta

Venue: 4 stars Lounge: 4 stars Parking: 0 stars Accessibility service: 1 star

Fox theater does NOT know how to cater to the disabled and injured community. Sugar the elderly aged woman in the Lexus lounge and the food staff in the lounge deserve 5 stars. Everyone else? 1.

I have an injury where I depend on crutches while I heal. Before my event date (a concert) I called the theater to let them know of my injury.

Offense 1: They tried to charge me $23 to keep my Lexus marquee lounge access when changing my seat to a CHEAPER price. How ABLEIST. I was able to negotiate this price down to $3.75…

Offense 2: On the day of the event I arrive almost 2 hours early to the show. The lounge was not open though an email from FOX said it would be.

Offense 3: Once I notified FOX of my injury, they told me to call them 5 to 10 minutes before my arrival so they could bring a wheelchair out. There are a lot of inclines and dips and carpets and bumps that could really cause inconvenience for someone without good stability or someone using an assistive device. I called at the time that they asked and was on the phone for five minutes, but no one answered the phones. I then had to use my crutches from the parking area, find staff & remind them that I needed a wheelchair.

Offense 4: once I received the wheelchair, I was shocked to learn that I was not allowed to bring my crutches into the concert area. This make zero sense, and I wasn’t told ahead of time. This means I could not be independent that night and had to call on ushers and other staff to bring the wheelchair to my seat so I could do things such as going to the bathroom. How embarrassing, belittling, and inconvenient. Are my crutches a weapon?

Offense 5: I had to go through security again while I was using the wheelchair while being pushed by a staff member. I don’t understand why I have to go through security again. Plain stupid and a time waster.

Offense 6: there are lots of steep declines and inclines, including to and from the bathroom, and to and from the floor of the concert venue. I kept bumping into aisles zigzagging because the incline was so steep that I could not control my speed going down. The employees told me that they’re not allowed to push the wheelchair, but the venue is accessible so it is extremely difficult to navigate using a manual wheelchair without help… if I happen to have been injured, I certainly would have sued.

Offense 7: the staff and ushers were not available to help, especially while the concert was taking place. People kept standing in the aisles and rushing to the front during the show, and I wasn’t able to see because I had to sit down. I did not mind people standing up in front of their seats but standing in the walking aisle that is the pathway for the venue is a safety hazard and no one did anything about it. There were multiple times I saw the same people running up to take pictures with professional cameras, even though they were not staff, so there was no attentiveness from the staff.

Offense 8: I had to text a staff member to assist me anytime I needed to leave the concert venue, such as going to the bathroom, getting food, or getting drink to take the pain reliever for my injury. I text a staff member to bring me the wheelchair so I could go to the bathroom. It took the staff over 40 minutes to come and get me so that I could go to the bathroom. This is disgusting customer service.

Offense 9: The staff did not pay attention and left my crutches unattended after the show ended. Crutches and other temporary and permanent mobility devices are extremely expensive to replace. Literally there was no one in the concert venue near my crutches when the show had ended less than five minutes ago. I had to track someone down to return the wheelchair, but honestly, I should have kept it and rolled out with it… it would be a small penance for the service I received.

Offense 10: parking was full. The only accessible parking was $60 since they didn’t bring the wheelchair...

1/11/2023 Always fun at The Fox, but...this time was the WORST time I've ever had here. 😭

The Fox always has an event happening. I haven't been in a few years and had no clue about all the changes. I have SEVERAL complaints about my night out. 🤬

The parking lot across the street is now a hotel, the street parking is mostly blocked off, and there's tons of construction going on. Now there's security with standing metal detectors before you even enter so it makes the ticket area more crowded.

The app needs work! It doesn't work and when it did, it rerouted itself. How was I to get my tickets? There's no information on the website or instructions on what to do. I had to "skip" the line, just to ask security where to go. Late entrance to the Marquee club. There isn't any. I was late due to finding a parking spot and the long lines. No entrance after the doors are closed? That's Not right. As long as you have a ticket, you should be allowed entrance. It's also weird that they keep the drapes open. People peering in watching you eat is uncomfortable. Parking... Need I say more. Ticket prices and extra charges. Some prices are too high, even for the balcony, then they add taxes, then a service fee, plus parking and pre-ordering concessions. By the time you check out, your $89 ticket is now almost $300 or more. For a "regular, normal" person, you can't enjoy the theater or have to take out a loan just to go out and enjoy yourself. No pictures allowed anymore. I was able to get a few but it's definitely frowned upon. Someone was clearly making a video, recording the event and the only thing security did was flash their flashlight at them. 😡 No one was removed or escorted out, even though that's what the warning says.

I do recommend the Marquee club. Other than the drapes being open and paying for drinks, it's a nice treat. Good atmosphere, great service, clean and plentiful bathrooms.

The show was great but the experience was a bit disappointing this time.

Check out my page on Google maps, MCDavis1, for more info and pics or my YouTube page, GooglemapswithChristy.

2/2024 Update The Fox was better this time. Took Marta instead and saved time and money. Saw Hamilton and LOVED IT!!! The group of people around me all knew the songs so we had a giant sing a long. The mostly black cast was incredible and the Asian Washington was sexy! 😍 I did the lottery and won front row, orchestra. It was a great time with a tiny door too. Good job Fox Theater...

I recently had the chance to see "The Lion King" at The Fox Theater in Atlanta, and while the venue has a lot of charm, my overall experience was a bit underwhelming.

First, the renovations that have taken place over the years are noticeable, one crucial element feels lacking: the stage size. Coming from experiences at various Broadway shows, I was surprised by how small the stage at The Fox felt. For a production as grand as "The Lion King," I expected a majestic presentation, but instead, it felt more like a school talent show. The narrow stage limited the visual impact of many of the performances, which was disappointing.

I had seats in the main orchestra, specifically in the front third, and while the view was decent, the cramped staging made it hard to fully engage with the show. It felt like a missed opportunity for the kind of spectacle this production is known for.

Additionally, the sound quality left much to be desired. It felt as though all the speakers were concentrated in the front area, which created a flat, one-dimensional audio experience. The surround sound effect that usually enhances such a grand production was notably absent, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the music and dialogue.

Furthermore, the staffing seemed insufficient. There weren’t enough attendants to help patrons find their seats, which led to a bit of confusion and frustration as people shuffled around. Even during the performance, it would have been nice to have someone circulating to ensure the audience remained quiet and engaged.

Overall, while The Fox Theater has a storied history and often hosts fantastic Broadway shows, I’m not sure if I’ll rush back anytime soon. I hope they consider making some adjustments to the stage, sound system, and staffing for future productions to enhance the experience...