Do you sneak food into the movie theater?

[SallySkelington]

I do. The dollar store is across the street so its a lot cheaper and I carry a big purse, so it's easy to tote around. I'll buy a slushie at the theater though.

 

[sam_gordon]

We don't. Regarding the following...

I understand it's how theaters make much of their money, but it also comes down to pretty basic game theory. If they would moderate their prices, they would sell more product. Instead, they raise them to ridiculous levels, to the point where the one person buying a box of candy and a popcorn is subsidizing the entire theater and their prices drive more and more to bringing in outside food and drinks. They should refine their business model, as some are doing, and they would likely generate more revenue, but in the interim I think it is economically foolish to pay $6 for something I can buy next door for $1.

Which came first? Unreasonable prices for concessions or people sneaking stuff in?

If you have to SNEAK it in, it's wrong. If you're ok carrying it out in the open, then go for it and leave it up to the theater whether to take action or not.

 

[Julylady]

No signs at my theatre inside the mall about taking in food or drink. There is a kiosk that sells bottled water for $1 a bottle rather than $3.50 in the theatre. I put the bottled water in my purse but buy the overpriced popcorn. We always refill the popcorn bucket on our way out and munch on it over the next several days.

 

[Jedana]

I didn't want to do a poll, because I'm curious as to how many people will actually admit it.

I am ashamed, but we do! Target is in the mall where our movie theater is & we will often stop in there & buy a trail mix & a bottle of water. We will also typically buy a fountain soda at the movie snack bar. We have also been known to sneak in a sandwich on occasion (nothing stinky!)

Anyone else want to come clean??

Nope, because I like our movie theater, and if it shut down, I'd have to go to the theater at the mall.....and I HATE that mall.

 

[oneandonlytara]

Yup! Sometimes I'll buy a booster juice beforehand and bring it in. I also love movie theatre popcorn and would usually buy it, but I just spent five months suffering from gallstones and having my gallbladder removed, so I was volunforced onto a low fat/fat free diet to reduce attacks. Because of this, my eating habits have changed and I've gotten used to going the healthier route. There's a popcorn chain in the mall called Kernels that I'll get a bag of their Chicago style popcorn from rather than get the greasy (but yummy) movie theatre popcorn and bring that in. Sometimes I'll forego the Booster Juice and just get a pop at the theatre concession stand, but I mostly always have popcorn.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

We bring in candy and water. Buy soda and popcorn

 

[Handbag Lady]

Yes.

But at least I fool myself into professing that I bring in stuff they don't sell and then alleviate the guilt by buying a Peregrino.

 

[kimmar067]

....does a roast turkey count?

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Yes, I am guilty.

 

[Squirlz]

No. I can actually go two hours without eating or drinking. I know crazy huh?

 

[superme80]

I do!!!! I also buy popcorn and soda, so that helps my guilt

 

[Styx Fan]

I take things in all the time. Usually just something small like a bottle of water or a few pieces of candy. If it's really time for a snack some cheese crackers or granola bars. I am of the group that believes they have set the prices such that I usually refuse to pay it. If they made the prices closer to reasonable, I would just as soon buy something at he theatre.

I worked at a large chain movie theatre for most of the 80's and we never made outside food or drink a big deal. We would stop people from bring in meals (think fast food) because of the smell and the mess. We only sold cold drinks, popcorn and pop so that was all we felt like cleaning up. LOL!

 

[Saimaeve]

I don't. I wouldn't even really think "Oh those evil movie theaters charging too much! This will show 'em!" I guess it's sort of like how I wouldn't sneak a sandwich from home into a steakhouse.

I'm also not a huge fan of popcorn so I usually buy a soda and some candy from the concession stands. My local theater is applying for it's liquor license and also sells quite a bit of hot foods (Pizza, chicken tenders, fries, things of the sort. Not usually things I order but it's there. )

 

[LilPiglet]

Nah I don't. I only go to the movies about 3 times a year though. I don't get the candy, I just get a popcorn and soda and I am good to go.

 

[acebatonfan]

Technically, yes. Due to my diabetes, I need to keep pre-portioned fast-acting carbohydrates (glucose tablets/gel, lifesavers, small packets of sugary candy) with me at all times in the event that my blood sugar dips dangerously low. I like to buy a diet soda at the movie, but the big bags of candy my theater sells would not be effective treatment should my BG drop. There's easily 60-75g of sugar in each of those boxes when I only need 15g at the most; when I'm shaking like mad and can't think clearly there's no way I'll be able to calculate how many pieces of movie theater candy I need to bring my BG up to a certain point. At least with the stuff I bring in, I know one packet is exactly 15g of carbs and I can quickly consume it before my blood sugar drops any further.

My theater has a policy about not bringing in outside food and drink, and I'm afraid that I will be caught eventually. There was a story on the local news about a year ago where another diabetic was kicked out of a theater for bringing in hypoglycemia treatment which has me questioning whether the ADA would cover me needing to bring in outside food and drink.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Our theatres are a local chain, owned and operated by DH's former classmate from way-back-when, and doing very well, partly due to on-screen advertising before the previews begin. They have good deals on popcorn and drinks which they consider a loyalty program. Buy a t-shirt with their logo on it and you get a free medium popcorn for the rest of the calendar year every time you wear the shirt into the theatre. Bring back their large plastic cups and you get a refill for $1.50 which still gives them a profit and lures you to the concession counter where you can impulse buy other junque.

 

[usd2bmd]

Yes, We will still buy popcorn, but I have taken candy into the theater.

 

[Art 1]

Does anyone feel that it's proper to take dessert or a can of coke into a restaurant, maybe an appetizer?

 

[FINFAN]

Does anyone feel that it's proper to take dessert or a can of coke into a restaurant, maybe an appetizer?

just to yank your chain, gonna point out that food to a food restaurant is more along the lines of watching/bringing a video to a movie theater(and yes, this will now spur the cell phone debate). However, to answer your post, I will agree that it's not "proper" but, yep...I bring my own water to restaurants all the time, or possibly a LaCroix~ and it's usually in one of my WDW reusable mugs lol. I think the venues that use the name "dinner theater" cover the bases better for dissuading outside food and drink. Movie theater gives top billing to the movie itself, so folks like me feel like they are paying for the entertainment. I wish Drive-In's were still around (tho we are lucky to have one under 25 miles away)heck, they encourage you to bring as much food as you want!

 

[aprilgail]

We always buy popcorn and soda there- I know when the kids go they stop and get candy first but if I'm going we just buy it there. If it's lunchtime or dinner time then we actually do popcorn for dinner lol.