Ocean Center — Attraction in Daytona Beach

Jeff Dunham 1/9/2025 EDIT The General Manager contacted, me after my email was received. It is nice to know that this venue cares about its guests enough to reach out and offer a solution for our unpleasant experience.

The parking and traffic situation was disastrous. After waiting in traffic to get into the parking lot, we heard someone on a radio state that the parking lot was full. This was not conveyed to the ladies taking money for admission into the parking lot. There were at least 3 cars that were allowed to enter only to drive back around and tell the ladies that there were no more spots available. This caused a bottleneck at the entrance because the exit lane was being used for entry. The traffic was so bad, people were getting frustrated and this added to the frustration. We were then told that we had to back out of the parking lot and go around the block to the parking garage. When I asked an employee if there was for sure spots available, his response was “there should be”. So back into traffic we went. Around the corner to the parking garage. Once again we had to sit and wait for traffic entering the parking garage. By this time, it was time that the show was to begin. By the time we got to the top level of the garage, walked down the stairs to street level, it was 30 minutes past the start of the show. Adding to our anxiety that we already had after dealing with the traffic. Come to find out, not only was there a big show at your venue, but there was another large show at the Peabody. I can’t believe that 2 large events were scheduled on the same evening. By the time we got inside the venue, the show had already began. The house lights were turned off, making it difficult to see the numbers in the isles and making it nearly impossible to see the numbers on the seats. Luckily, the show started later than scheduled, but not late enough to get everyone in the venue and in their seats. We missed about 20 minutes of the beginning of the show, and I know there were many more people later than that. I feel that the whole ordeal could have been avoided by communicating with the other venue, to avoid double booking 2...

I am not sure what that building is for . We went for graduation. The seats are so low and so close together that your knees are at a constant 60 degree bend and so are your ankles., You can't stretch even a bit . So unless you are a 7 your old they are not for you . The metal in those seats are just sticking out ,the arm rests don't work , the steps are short so you have to be careful how you step. The doors , well what can I say , who ever designed it didn't know what the heck they were doing . The doors are tiny and positioned away from parking lots , no shade of any kind , few palm trees wouldn't hurt we are in Florida after all ! All in all the building isn't a user friendly . Let's discuss the latest , now Jeff Dunham is world known and he came to perform at Daytona. People drive HOURS to see him . No fault of Jeff , but the even was the most screwed up I've ever been . We left 2 hrs before she show time , and all that time we spend in a line to be able to park , where were the cops you ask that were supposed to be there to direct traffic , well who knows maybe nearest crispy cream . ONE attendant to collect the $15 for parking out of ALL CARS , that was the hold up . Finally we parked , walked in to a building and we're presented with metal detectors, I guess that's ok . Now I already wrote about the crappy seats so we will pass on that . The gift shop : because of all the traffic and parking disaster ,many people were still coming in during the performance so not many had the time to look in to the make shift "gift shop" that ran out of the "gifts" , but good news you can buy them on his website ! Now about the quality of dolls ,well the county fair balloon pop prizes comes to mind , most of the show was ok about 3/4 was pushing the merchandise. All in all for the price we paid I guess it was ok , not the best in anyway I've heard better from him , they didn't even prep the stage for the performance , I guess saving money was the key here , just curtains and as usual...

we were there for the trump town hall yesterday at ocean center. i am uncertain whether it was the fault of the ocean center staff or trump's planners, but...i will say it was a chaotic situation regarding entering the arena. many were forced to wait outside the venue in the heat even though doors "opened" 3 hours prior to his scheduled 3pm appearance. attendees were not allowed to use any of the center's restroom facilities until entering the actual arena. people waited in line for over 2 hours and were not allowed to use the restrooms???? once the arena doors opened, arena staff instructed additional lines to form to allow more people in to the center. this caused mass confusion. people that waited over 2 hours to enter the arena were then forced to allow the newly formed lines of people to interlace. so, people who were once at the front of the line lost their turn due to the staff's instructions to form new lines. this caused a great deal over- crowding, leaving me to feel as if i was a cow going to slaughter. and it just keeps getting better... there were only 4 metal detectors to screen the entire crowd estimated at 12, 000 attendees. after waiting over 2 hours in line and rushing to the restrooms, which were now overcrowded due to lack of use of facilities for the last 2 hours, people were forced to sit only on one side of the arena-behind the stage. several security staff explained the front stage side of the arena would open only after the back stage side was filled to capacity. meanwhile, the food vendors were also understaffed, appeared to be short of food items, and rude to customers. overall, my experience at the ocean center proved to be an...