Starlite Drive-In Theatre — Local services in Monroe Township

Long time Drive-In fan, first time Starlite customer... Experience was great if you could look past the unorganized chaos, un-yielding lines, and atrocious customer service.

My family was very exited going in; parking locations were not perfect but there is always that risk with a drive-in theater. The real trouble came when you tried to use the restroom or order food. Now I understand the world is upside down with new covid regulations, but a little guidance on customer expectations would be nice... each side of the concession stand had a line, one for placing orders and another for online orders. Cool, but you have no idea what line you are in until you reach the window only to be turned away...

So we did the logical thing after, we decided to order online and just head back to pick it up. It was relatively easy to order online and I was given a 45 minute wait time (8:34). Sounds good, bit later then expected but wouldnt be to far into the first film so I was alright with it. I Showed up to the pick up location 10 minutes early (8:20) to find a line of 50+ people waiting for their orders. Figured the line should go fast right? Everyone is there to pick up an order they did online so their food should be ready...Nope.

I truly feel bad for the cars that paid money and thought they snagged good seats near the screen and the grub... the only view they got was of hundreds of butts standing in line. DO NOT PARK NEAR THE CONSESSION STAND

Back to my experience, as we were waiting in line it became clear that alot of people infront of us were just placing their orders as they waited in line (even though ours was placed over 30 minutes prior to getting in line). Over an hour later we finally reached the front of the line (9:30) and found what I believe to be the source of the problem. Instead of filling and distributing orders as they were placed, they were just collecting the names of those next in line and filling their orders. So there was just a mob of people shouting out their names and having their orders filled on the spot despite the fact that there were supposed to be designated pick up times. Finaly got my name out there and it took them awhile to find my order in the system, then I was instructed that they were just filling it NOW...waited another 10 minutes for 2 bags of popcorn and a Pepsi.

BIGGEST ISSUE: When ever we tried to ask a question or request to be directed to the right line we were met with confrontation and rudeness, and we were not alone. We watched someone flat out get hit by a door to the kitchen, 100% did not look like a door, while waiting for the restroom. The poor lady was blindsided and instead of apologizing, the worker scolded her and told her it was a fire hazard to wait near the bathroom door and to get outside....Again I understand these workers were probably under staffed and over whelmed but it takes just as long to give a polite response as it does to bark out a rude one.

Got back to my car just in time to see the last 20 minutes of the first movie before we decided just to head home. I considered looking for a refund but was afraid to see the length of that line.

Its a different time in the world and I can respect the need for patience as businesses adjust. I feel for the workers that were busting their backs trying to make things work. But this is no way to run a business. Tickets are purchased online, you already know the even is sold out, plan accordingly, and control the process. I have seen similar setups manage larger numbers in a more efficient manner.

I see alot of positive reviews and hope this was just an off night. If you read this post and still head out, I hope you have a great time because the drive-in can be a wonderful experience. But after this, I will not be returning to the...

Just had an encounter last night with the manager who was rude from the beginning with us. (This info is for context) We had been going to starlight for years always parked in the same spot he has even told us we could park by the orange post in front many of times. So last night we did what we do all the time park next to the orange post we got there at 7 mind you for the dino thing. Had been there for 2 hours and we had been in our car many of times. 10 minutes before the movie starts and the place is packed he comes and tells us we need to move, which we were like fine kinda sucks cause the whole place is packed to tell us but whatever we were able to find a spot. Also everytime we have gone to the drive in we have had our car running our lights aren't ever on and nobody in the 8 yrs we have been going has ever said anything. An hour into the movie by this time it's close to 11 the same manager comes to our car and demands we turn our car off. I try to talk to him and explain why I'm confused to this (which i understand things can change but i just wanted to get an understanding) the manager essentially said this is how its always been nothing has changed and if we dont like it we can leave. I ask about a refund he then says no you can't have one. My husband says fine tells him to move from our car cause he was getting out to put our son in his carseat the man barely backs up from our care arguing with my husband cause we said we are leaving and we will make sure to complain about you. The manager proceeds to yell at my husband saying he doesn't care and curses at him which I curse back not to yell at my husband and then he curses at me almost reaching his hand in our car and my husband yells at him, which he then threaten to call the cops, I told him to call the cops and to keep talking cause I wanted to record him and then he just yells at us that we are democrats and are stupid for whatever reason.. I'm assuming he doesn't like democrats. I've come to learn this is normal behavior for him apparently. I definitely feel like the manager discriminates...

It makes me really upset to have to leave such a poor review on one of my favorite places. I’ve had a lot of great memories at Starlite over the years, but the changes made create for a not so good experience.

It was way over capacity. They let in way too many vehicles. It makes it difficult to leave, difficult to see the screen, from these new added spots to fit more cars, and the concession lines insanely long.

The concession food is great. There’s a ton of food options and the price of food is pretty fair considering it’s what keeps places like these going; however, there’s way too many food items for how many people you let in the facility. It took a little over an hour to stand in line and order food. And another hour to receive the food. I missed a majority of the first movie simply waiting in line. To put a time frame on this, I was in line at 8:10, did not place an order to around 9:30 and waited on food until 10:20. The current system to order and receive food needs a serious rework, it’s not efficient at all, causes orders being skipped and missed. I felt extremely bad for the staff who were trying their best and under a lot of stress due to how many people were ordering and waiting.

It did not seem like there were enough people to enforce hatches being lifted all the way up. Usually you have a tie down that keeps the hatch from going entirely above the car. But there were a few vehicles missed. I’d have someone give the tie downs while they’re at the beginning and let them know.

To have a better experience than I had, I recommend bringing your own food so you won’t have to wait in an extremely long line and arrive before 6:30. Even with the amount of people, the staff were still extremely nice and trying their best. Once the concessions and capacity are reworked, I can see this going back to being a 5 star drive-in.

I’m willing to give Starlite another chance in the future to update...