Bring your own movie snacks?i

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I go to the theater in the mall. I always go to the candy store for some of the sugared grapefruit candies. Those I sneak in, but I buy the popcorn there because I love it, and a Cherry Coke because it's one of the few places I can get it from the fountain.

 

[hereyago]

I am a snack sneaker. There is a dollar store nearby that has a bigger movie candy selection. I don't eat popcorn and the last time I ate a hot dog, I got sick.

 

[autumnpalm]

I bring my own snacks, usually a piece of fruit (banana) and a KIND bar or some nuts/trail mix. The theater we go to doesn't sell any healthy options and I actually emailed management a year or two back to check if it was okay to bring in healthy alternatives that aren't sold at the concession stand. They said they were fine with it so I don't feel any guilt.

If I do want something that is sold at the theater, then I will buy it there (e.g., water bottle or frozen yogurt).

 

[worm761]

One of the reasons we rarely go to the movies is the ridiculous prices. DH took DS to see World War Z and spent $60 for just the two of them. All four of us went to a matinee to see Frozen and it was $50. That is just too much money for a few hours in uncomfortable seats. We don't sneak in candy and do buy popcorn to share.

 

[Disneylover99]

I always bring in my own bottled water and candy if I want it. But I always buy the popcorn if I feel like eating popcorn.

 

[Meriweather]

We only bring in sugar free candy or Atkins bars.

Our theater has free cups of ice water, cups for soda you buy once a year and then can refill for $1.50 and we get free medium popcorn with the purchase of gift cards....so we just always buy those. I think I have about 20 popcorn vouchers because we don't always get one.

 

[cluvsdisney]

There are signs on the doors to the theaters I go to which say no outside food or drinks permitted so yes it is wrong. But it must not be something they care to enforce since they don't.

 

[JVL1018]

If I remember to stop at CVS beforehand, I'll buy candy. If not, I do buy it at the movie theater for my kids. But it grates to pay so much more. I always buy popcorn and soda there for them.

We went to the movies Thursday after school. It was $33.50 for the tickets. 2 kid, 1 adult.

I had spent $3 on 3 boxes of candy at CVS. I happened to have a small bottle of Diet Pepsi at home, so I brought that for myself.
My son was like Mom, don't be one of those people..

I did buy each of them a soda and we all shared a popcorn. Paid for small for all of them, upgraded for no extra charge to mediums bc I have my AMC Stubs card.
I believe the popcorn and 2 sodas was $17.

 

[sk!mom]

I think bringing in water is fine as you might be uncomfortable without it and it's unreasonable for the theater to charge $4 for a bottle of water. Anything more than that, I would not bring in. We try not to snack as a general rule so we rarely buy or want theater snacks. I just never bought them when my kids were little so they didn't expect them. We would normally stop for ice cream after. DD17 still usually does that with her friends.

 

[lizabu]

It's not allowed but not strictly enforced. I remember years ago seeing someone getting caught and they asked them to throw their snacks in the garbage but I think it's loosened up a bit since then. I typically buy these movie passes from Costco that come with a drink and popcorn but I have brought Twizzlers in with me. It's $1.50 at the dollar store and $5 for exactly the same size bag. I've gone to family movie matinees. As soon as the lights go out you hear a dozen cans of pop being opened. I think with the outrageous prices many people bring their own snacks.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I would have no problems bringing in food/drink. We tend to go to the movies AFTER dinner, so we aren't hungry by the time we get to the theater.

 

[Sabeking]

I will buy popcorn but usually bring the rest.

We have an older theatre that sells specialty coffees, lattes, wine and pastries. We love that place!!!!

 

[FLSarah]

As soon as the lights go out you hear a dozen cans of pop being opened.

That always makes me laugh.

 

[Diznygrl]

The prices of movie tickets are bad enough by themselves, so I have no problem if people want to sneak in snacks regardless of the theater's policy. I realize they make most of their money on concessions, but really the prices are just beyond outrageous. I've never done it myself because I don't really like to snack at the movies anyway. If I eat, then I'm thirsty and need to drink. If I drink then I will very likely have to go to the bathroom and I absolutely hate getting up in the middle of a movie. I don't want to miss anything.

Generally I dislike going to the movies though. These days I'd much rather just wait to rent/stream a movie in the comfort of my own home without dealing with other annoying movie patrons. And if I have to pee, there's a pause button.

 

[ICF]

I worked at a theater for a # of years in HS / College -- unless times have changes, the workers REALLY dont care....and the last thing any of them want is to have confrontation with someone over it.

In 3 years working....I turned away 1 person.....and he showed up carrying a Pizza Hut box that he has his and buddy were planning on eating in the movie. That was just a bit too much.....

As a general rule, if we couldnt see you bring it in --- we didnt care.

 

[MIGrandma]

Generally I dislike going to the movies though. These days I'd much rather just wait to rent/stream a movie in the comfort of my own home without dealing with other annoying movie patrons. And if I have to pee, there's a pause button.

We go to see a movie in a theater maybe 2-3 times a year, if that.

People are just too annoying anymore with their talking out loud, bringing kids that are too young to be quiet and sit still, cell phones, etc. etc. It's just more enjoyable to watch a movie at home where we don't have to put up with all that.

That said, if a movie theater posts signs saying "no outside food" (and I do think ours has those signs) then yes, it's wrong to sneak food in. As a couple other PP's said, the theater doesn't make their money from the actual movie, it's the concessions they sell. So if more and more people start sneaking in their own snacks it wouldn't surprise me if some theaters had to close because they weren't making enough to pay their employees, and pay for heat and utilities, etc.

If we do go to a movie we always buy a popcorn/soda combo, but rarely any candy. I've bought cotton candy occasionally.

 

[MSLRAC]

The prices of movie tickets are bad enough by themselves, so I have no problem if people want to sneak in snacks regardless of the theater's policy. I realize they make most of their money on concessions, but really the prices are just beyond outrageous. I've never done it myself because I don't really like to snack at the movies anyway. If I eat, then I'm thirsty and need to drink. If I drink then I will very likely have to go to the bathroom and I absolutely hate getting up in the middle of a movie. I don't want to miss anything. Generally I dislike going to the movies though. These days I'd much rather just wait to rent/stream a movie in the comfort of my own home without dealing with other annoying movie patrons. And if I have to pee, there's a pause button.

I agree about theater concession prices being outrageous. When we went to see The Lego Movie, we spent more on a stale bag of popcorn, a pack of Dibs, and a drink than it cost us to get in. DH even made the comment that the movies were the only place on earth that could make the food at WDW seem reasonably priced.

 

[ThisIsJason]

I don't care if people do it. Standard movie theater food is way to much. A theater here closed up a few years ago, as soon as the lights went out you could hear popping of cans, not 2 minutes later management would be in escorting you out the door. People learned quick not to take stuff in. Would they do anything about people talking or being on phones? No. Outside food? You bet. One of the managers couldn't figure out why the chain had it closed (other than the chain filing for bankruptcy).

I love that Alamo Drafhouse went into its place. Sure the food is more, but it is real food. Pizza, burgers, salads, booze. Spend $40 (with a small tip for the runner) just on food (burgers and fries) and drinks (cokes) last night for my wife and myself. Would have spent $18, at another chain just on 2 large Pepsi's and 1 large popcorn, and would have go and get my own refill and missed part of the movie.

 

[Sparkly]

I always take in drinks and small snacks when going to the cinema. Food prices are ridiculous! £8.50 for a drink and popcorn when I can get a bottle of cola and a bag of popcorn for £2 at Poundland nearby? No thanks!

 

[disneychrista]

Got to have movie theater popcorn when we go to the movies.