Movie theater - drinks and snacks

[Iwant2BAprincess]

I bring in the candy but we get the drinks there and popcorn if the kids want it. Afterall weren't Vera Bradley bags designed to accomadate this-

 

[Suz D]

We buy drinks and popcorn but bring in candy. We rarely go to the movie, it's a big treat for us and we LOVE the popcorn.

The only time we smuggled a drink in it was a disaster. We brought rootbeer for our 7 year old in one of those cups that has a straw in it and you can flip the lid closed when you aren't using it. I put the rootbeer in, shut the lid and put it in my purse. When we opened the lid after the movie started, the pressure had built up so much that it was a fountain of rootbeer that drenched the lady behind us.

I put two brown lunch sacks in my purse and then we buy a large popcorn for the whole family. I put some in the bags for our two girls and then DH and I hold hands over the big bucket

 

[snowywhite89]

Our theater has a sign on each door that says no outside food or drink. I'll either purchase snacks from the concession stand or not snack during the movie.

ITA


We buy a popcorn and soda for DH and I to share. If we bring others with us they get their own popcorn and soda.

 

[luvdisney00]

I bring in water bottles but buy popcorn. Sometimes I'll bring candy if we have it at home and the kids want it. The theater we go to is in the mall and I've never seen anyone stopped for bringing in cups or food from the food court. They don't hide them, just carry them in.

 

[amwhitaker]

I don't buy anything if it's just me going. If my husband is going, he has to have pop and popcorn, so we buy that. But he also likes candy, so we take our own.

I signed up for the Cinemark emails for our theater and they recently started sending coupons for food purchases. I think the theater owners are aware that people are trying to save money by bringing in their own stuff, so it looks like they are trying at least to save you a little money with the coupons.

We usually grab a bite to eat after a movie, so I really don't like to spoil my appetite with junk food.

 

[secretpantssam]

I sneak in soda and candy but I usually buy popcorn. I just love it! It never tastes as good as it does at the theater!

 

[Pakey]

I bring in water but only because theirs is so cold and I like my water at room temperature.

We do buy sodas for everyone else, candy, popcorn, etc. Concession sales are the only way to keep the theaters in business.

 

[Danemom]

We buy drinks and popcorn but bring our own candy. But usually we don't buy anything. I know they need to make a profit on the food, but IMO the markup is ridiculous and greedy.
Actually, like a lot of families, we rarely go to the movies anymore because the cost is so out of control.

 

[pigletto]

Just an interesting side note...
Our theater is in a mall. Directly accross from the entrance where you buy tickets is a large department store. Right in the very front of the store.. in view of the ticket counter, is a section with movie sized candy and treats and a sign that says "Don't forget your movie snacks". It is also in view of the sign at the theater that says "No outside food or drink allowed!"

I always found that strange.

 

[effervescent]

We always buy popcorn and soda. We don't have candy every time but if we do it's brought from home. Our local theater doesn't have any candy that we like.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

We usually sneak in candy and soda (big purses and deep coat pockets are fantastic!) but I loooooove movie theater popcorn.

Carmike started a deal with buckets a few years ago with the Indiana Jones & the Crystal Skull movie. Upgrade a large popcorn to the bucket for a buck or two. For the rest of that year AND the next, bring the bucket back in for a 50 cent refill. This was a gallon or so bucket so this was a fantastic deal. Once that bucket deal expired, they had a Jonas Brothers bucket with refills for $1. For 2010, it was buy the bucket (it was filled at purchase) for $15 and refills until 12/31/10 are $2.50. It's a bigger bucket than before but it's kind of nearing my "deal" threshold.

 

[momof1princess]

i bring my own bottle of water (as a gastric bypass patient, i am NEVER without a bottle of water) but we buy sodas and popcorn at the theater for DH and DD. our theater offers free soda and popcorn refills, so it's not too bad a deal.

 

[mrodgers]

I carry a 12 volt car battery and have a 12v to 110v DC/AC converter. So, I bring my small microwave as well and a bag or 2 of microwave popcorn.....

 

[kkwis2]

I think the whole movie theater experience is terrible - from outrageous ticket prices to outrageous prices on food to outrageously loud speaker systems. I am one of those people who HATES movie theaters. We just don't go - so I guess, no, I don't sneak stuff in. I choose to not give them my money at all.

 

[dhuba]

I carry a 12 volt car battery and have a 12v to 110v DC/AC converter. So, I bring my small microwave as well and a bag or 2 of microwave popcorn.....

 

[bookgirl]

Yes I usually have my bottle of water in my purse or jacket. I dislike $4 sodas LOL. If I have the boys I will often just let them buy candy that they like outside and bring it in but sometimes we just get it there. As far as popcorn, well movie theatre popcorn has an appeal all it's own and I never bring in my own popcorn.

 

[*love*2*shop]

we buy the popcorn because there is Nothing like Movie Theater popcorn....
But because muy kids dont drink soda, we bring them JuiceBoxes to drink...if that runs out , they can have water.....we dont buy or bring candy-lord only knows my kids dont need ANY candy

 

[VAfamily1998]

We don't see movies in the theater. The last movie I saw in theater was "Marley and Me" (so about 2 years ago?) with a few girlfriends. I bought a soda and some candy and was shocked at the price!

The last time our whole family (2 adults, 4 kids) went to a movie in the theater together, was to see "Over the Hedge" in the summer of 2006! And back then, 2 of our kids were still young enough that they got in free!

 

[rubato]

I'm one of those weirdos who wants my son to only eat healthy food. Poor child. So, I sneak in microwave, light popcorn. We buy bottles of water there, even though I'd rather just buy ice water. I have been known to sneak in Subway (had a big purse that day). It's not about the money. We go to the movies so little that I could justify it (maybe 2 or 3 times a year). I just don't want my family to eat all that sugar and fat. There is not one healthy option available at the movies. Even if the popcorn doesn't have added butter, it's cooked in oil.

 

[disneymom3]

Sometimes we bring in drinks that we buy in the mall right outside of the theater. We don't sneak them though, we just carry them in. No one ever says anything.

Or, I use coupons when they are available and save a ton! For example, here's a Regal coupon for a free small drink with the purchase of any size popcorn:

http://www.regmovies.com/REGFlix_DrinkCoupon.aspx

If you go to the movies on Tuesdays, Regal has small popcorn for $1.00, but you can upgrade to a medium for another dollar or upgrade to a large for two dollars. So, you can get a large popcorn for $3 and then use the free drink coupon to get a small drink or you can do the same thing with the drink: Pay another dollar to get a medium or pay $2 for a large.

Therefore, you can get a large popcorn AND a large drink for only $5.00!

You have to be a Regal crown club member, but the membership is free and totally worth it because you get free movie coupons and free drink or popcorn coupons that you can also upgrade to a large for the extra buck or two.

Thanks for posting that. We have a Regal cinema near here and a friend of mine who is a sweeepstakes queen often wins tickets aand takes me with her. With this, I can treat her to some popcorn!