Movie theater - drinks and snacks

[Amii]

I would be willing to bet that if you asked your local theater if you could bring in those items, they would let you. You cannot buy them there, so it isn't like you are taking a sale away from their concession stand. At the three theaters that we've used regularly in the last year (one in VA, one in TX and one in WA), the manager has been happy to allow us to bring in carrots, fruit slices, dry cereal/trail mix, string cheese, etc. I simply call and explain that I have young children that are not allowed to eat lots of sweets. The managers are always impressed that I would bother to call instead of trying to sneak things in, and I just tell them I'd love to be able to purchase those things in their concession stand, but until that is an option I appreciate their help.

I set a good example for my kids, they learn to be good citizens, I get to feed them healthy snacks and we get to pass along our preferences to the theater.

A long time ago I talked asked the manager if we could bring in food and explained why. He said he couldn't let food in because he would have to let everyone bring food in. I suggested that the theatre allow outside food and charge a fee for it. I would be glad to pay a fee or pay high prices for good food.

 

[pandora174]

We used to sneak in some snacks but it became a hassle. Now with the combos & I always get a free small popcorn we buy from the the tickets from the theater & I use my Regal card for freebies.

We just went to see Jogi & spent $19, got a free small popcorn, a kid's combo for DS, a mini hot dog with medium soda for DH & I to share + a welch's fruit snack for DS. Not bad & DS is at an age that he can "read' the sign about no outside food

We go often & we all love to snack & watch a movie ! DS even asked for a play doh movie snack toy for Christmas this year

 

[soonerfan2008]

A long time ago I talked asked the manager if we could bring in food and explained why. He said he couldn't let food in because he would have to let everyone bring food in. I suggested that the theatre allow outside food and charge a fee for it. I would be glad to pay a fee or pay high prices for good food.

One of the theaters we used said that they always allow exceptions for special dietary needs or allergies. In our case, it isn't an explicit need, just the way we eat (like other posters--minimally processed, healthy options with treats sparingly). The manager classified my request under that heading even though I did not present it as such.

Maybe we've just gotten lucky with managers that understand I am not asking to bring in candy just because they charge a premium for it, but I genuinely do not feed my kids any of the stuff they have. I can honestly say if the theater would not do that, we would either find another movie theater or have our snacks outside the theater if we did choose to go.

 

[a1tinkfans]

We buy the popcorn (which is popped elsewhere and shipped in large plastic bags by the way They pop VERY little for the "scent"
We generally buy the Diet soda for the dh and I to share
We buy the Freezee (the frozen slush stuff) whenever they have coke for the ds, if he joins us.
(by the way at AMC loews the large popcorn and drink are free refills, so some people by 1 of each and ask for Xtra cups and use them for sharing the drink and popcorn , my friend does it every time, they are okay with it at the theater apparently
We buy the tix and throw out our own trash (it amazes me how people leave it all over the place, including the floor, just gross IMHO!)
We really like LOEWS and we use their theater exclusively. Joined their moviewatcher club and get a free ticket and free drink or snack fairly often. We watch a lot of movies and enjoy it. We "sometimes" buy other snack stuff Pretzels or m & m's. I will sometimes bring a bottle of water as theres are always freezing (and kill my teeth), otherwise I'd buy that too.
Its expensive, but what isn't these days, but its also enjoyable. (mostly)........... but every once in a while

 

[jodifla]

My husband and I buy a popcorn and drink combo to share, and we get our son the kids' combo. We have a local chain that offers food deals if you sign up for their club, so we did.

I can do without candy, but if I just HAD to have some, that's the one thing I'd likely bring in from elsewhere.

ALthough I agree that many theaters totally price gouge these days on food, that is where they get the bulk of their money. If you want your local theater to stay open, buy the food there.

 

[SaraJayne]

We buy the popcorn (which is popped elsewhere and shipped in large plastic bags by the way They pop VERY little for the "scent"
We generally buy the Diet soda for the dh and I to share
We buy the Freezee (the frozen slush stuff) whenever they have coke for the ds, if he joins us.
(by the way at AMC loews the large popcorn and drink are free refills, so some people by 1 of each and ask for Xtra cups and use them for sharing the drink and popcorn , my friend does it every time, they are okay with it at the theater apparently
We buy the tix and throw out our own trash (it amazes me how people leave it all over the place, including the floor, just gross IMHO!)
We really like LOEWS and we use their theater exclusively. Joined their moviewatcher club and get a free ticket and free drink or snack fairly often. We watch a lot of movies and enjoy it. We "sometimes" buy other snack stuff Pretzels or m & m's. I will sometimes bring a bottle of water as theres are always freezing (and kill my teeth), otherwise I'd buy that too.
Its expensive, but what isn't these days, but its also enjoyable. (mostly)........... but every once in a while

Our theater popcorn is popped right at the concession stand.

 

[ICF]

Our theater popcorn is popped right at the concession stand.

I worked in a couple of different ones for 4 years or so and it was popped on site....100% of it.

However, generally speaking....that isn't "butter" they're putting on your popcorn.

 

[jodifla]

Our theater popcorn is popped right at the concession stand.

I worked in a theater...we popped each and every bit of it. If we had leftover, we did bag it and use it the next day however, while we were popping a fresh batch. Then we mixed together the older and newer stuff.

 

[dreamin_disney]

In the past we use to buy 1 large soda and 1 large popcorn(you get one free refill on both)
dh also had to have his nacho and sometimes a pretzel.

NOw when we do go we budget. I'm a movie theater popcorn addict-movie popcorn is the best!
Now we just get 1large drink and popcorn and share between the 3 of us me,dh and dd12

we have a movie card that allows us to win free popcorn, soda, candy or tickets so thats fun.

If we want candy then we buy it from the .99 store

If prices were more affordable we would not sneak in stuff but why pay the $3-$4 for candy when i can get it for .99 ok i know i'll get flamed for that one-lol!

 

[iheartdisney]

We don't sneak, but we only go to one, maybe two movies a year.
The theater here also has the free refills on popcorn and drinks, so we buy one drink for the adults and one drink for the kids (no way am i drinking popcorn backwash!) and we buy one big bucket of popcorn. Then we bring either paper bags or disney popcorn buckets from home and distribute the popcorn, so we don't have to pass the bucket back and forth, and get a fresh bucket before the previews are over.

 

[bigmama67]

Well, DD is only 2 and can't have popcorn yet, but she wants to do everything her big brother does. That being the case, we usually bring in juice boxes, candy, and veggie booty in her diaper bag. If we buy anything, we will get DS one of those "Kids Pack" snack boxes (I think it's about $6) that gives him a small popcorn, small drink, and fruit snacks. When we do that, I have to divert my DD from it.

DH is on a low-cholesterol diet now and I'm trying not to gain any more back since I've been yo-yo-ing lately (but DH has MUCH more self-control than I do!) I recently noticed Five Below has small boxes of candy for $1 so I may cave in and get some of those...but the last movie we went to was TANGLED and I don't know when we'll go again.

I'm a bit bummed that there's nothing of interest to see on Christmas Day (we celebrate Hanukkah so we're chilling now!)

 

[Rantybaby]

I have taken full meals. I carry an oversize bag w/ my food on the bottom. An extra bag like from the mall. With girly stuff on top. I always hope a GUY is taking tickets.

I would frequent AMC theatres in Los Angeles. I'm with their moviewatchers club. I get points for watching movies. At 10-20-40-50-70-80 points I get free popcorn or soda. At 30-60-90 points I get a FREE movie ticket. AT 100 points a FREE nite at the movie: tix-popcorn and soda included.

 

[Kirby]

I've done both, bought theater food and brought my own in. And sometimes I don't eat or drink a thing during the movie. It all depends on what time I go to the movies, how much money I have to spend and what kind of mood I am in. I also get e-mail coupons from our local cinema that I use.

 

[GinnyEmma]

I figure that their business their rules. If I want to use their facility I should keep up my side of the bargain. We usually get popcorn. It is one if our junk food splurges.

 

[descovy]

We rarely snack at the theatre. In fact, it seems strange that even frugal, penny pinchers INSIST on candy, pop, popcorn to see a movie at a theatre.

I can survive 2 hours without a hoard of candy between meals. I can watch a movie at home and not feel the urge to stuff my face.

So what makes watching a movie in a theatre an event where mass amounts of junk food MUST be eaten... and the only options are buy it or sneak it in?

Why not watch a movie ... no junk food required!

That said, when I do crave a snack... I buy it at the theatre. I will not sneak it in. My kids are watching me. I teach them to obey rules, and therefore I should do the same.

I have to admit, I when dd's scout leader snuck in popcorn for the whole troop at a movie the troop went to see.

I mean, really... "I will do my best to be honest and fair... respect myself and others... respect authority... etc... "

 

[williamson_ja]

DS10 and I just went to see Tron 3D over the weekend. At $21 for tickets, you better believe the snacks came from home. Its no wonder that we don't go more often than we do. We enjoyed our pretzel rods and swedish fish while soaking up the latest bit of Disney eye candy.

Are you saying that it costs $21 PER PERSON to get into a 3-D movie where you live? Holy cow! We live in a small town. We just got the 3-D equipment at our theater about 2 months ago. It costs us $7 for the movie and an extra $1 for the 3D glasses. They do allow you to keep your glasses for using next time (which we did) so you only have to pay for those once and can see multiple 3-D movies with them.

As for the sneaking stuff into the theaters... we used to when we lived in a big city. Stuff was just too expensive for a large family. The theater here is so reasonably priced, we buy everything there. I have been trying to eat healthier lately and did sneak a box of blackberries to snack on during the last movie we saw. I figured that they are never going to offer healthy snacks, so it's not like I'm buying from their competition. I liked being able to snack on something healthy while the rest of my family ate popcorn and candy.