Movie theater - drinks and snacks

[DeniseinNS]

I always buy our kids passes at Costco for $9.99, it includes their admission and a drink/popcorn/chocolate bar each. I will bring drinks for my husband and myself because we drink pepsi and they only sell coke products and sometimes I will bring chips if I'm not in the mood for popcorn (they dont sell chips either). I carry them in my hand and noone has ever said anything about it and I have never noticed any signs saying outside food and drink are not allowed.

 

[PatsMom]

It must be my Catholic upbringing but it bothers my conscience to sneak in snacks or beverages when I have to walk past at least two signs saying absolutely no outside food or beverage. I don't go to the movies much so it's not a big deal to buy a container of popcorn and a bottle of water when I do go.

 

[mrsklamc]

We only go if the tickets were free, people are so inconsiderate in the theater it's much more pleasant to watch at home.

So since the tickets were free, we usually get a popcorn and soda. Normally I don't mind but the last time we spent $12 on the popcorn only to have it be stale. We won't be returning to that theater.

I have to say- I can't imagine WANTING to eat a sub in a movie theater.

 

[hpfan100]

The AMC theater I go to used to let in any outside food items and drinks. It was great! You could go next door to the restaurants and get take out to eat during your movie. Well they must have got sick of cleaning it up so they quit with that policy. However, I always take in something with me. Sometimes it's just a small piece of candy or a bottle of water. It's too hot here to not carry water and it has never been an issue.

AMC also has a free movie card. Yoiu get 2 ponts for each movie ticket bought and every ten points you get a prize. First a free drink, then a free popcorn and then both or a free ticket. Also Wednesday is free small popcorn day with moviewatcher card. I ask for AMC giftcards for holidays and usually never pay for a movie ticket and use the coupons for free snacks as needed,

Good luck sneakers and non-sneakers as well!

 

[charming23]

I always bring a bottle of water in with me. I can not stand to pay that much money for pop when I could get a 2 liter for half the price. I do however always buy popcorn or candy there.

 

[summerrluvv]

If we go to our small town theater I don't because it's $5 for a popcorn, soda and a candy. If I go to the larger chain, I bring a drink and candy and buy the overpriced popcorn there.

 

[minnie mouse]

We will sometimes bring in our own candy but always buy pop, popcorn, pretzels, and nachos...we spend way too much when we go. We do have a discount theatre in our town, $1.50 during the week and $2.00 on the weekend.

 

[soonerfan2008]

Here's what I do, and it saves us TONS!!
I squish my 5 year old into the double stroller next to her 3 year old sister because then I don't have to buy tickets for them! (Works great at Disney, too! Just coach your kids on their new ages so they can answer correctly if a cast member or theater employee ask).

Then, I make sure I carry a big bag to hold all of the sodas and bottles of juice. I pop our popcorn at home, and I put it in ziploc baggies in my bigger bag. I buy candy at the store, and I give it to the 5 year old to hide, telling her she has to sneak it in. I even show her some good places to hide it, and since she is so cute, I know the employees will just laugh if she drops it in front of them. Sometimes I carry a bag of chips and a thermos of nacho cheese, wrapped up to look like it is just a shopping bag. Put clothes from home on top in case someone checks!

So, we can go to the movies for just the price of my adult ticket!!






Seriously, what is wrong with some people? Some people actually TEACH their kids to lie and sneak food in? No wonder our schools have such an issue with unruly, entitled children. And if you have allergies, I'd just tell the theater. I take healthy snacks for my toddler, and I've asked the manager if it is ok, and he gave his consent for us to do it. It isn't like I can buy fruit slices, water mixed with juice or dry cereal at the theater, and I'm teaching my kids to follow the rules, as well as problem-solve and communicate/negotiate with others. What a concept.

If we could not afford movie snacks or thought the prices were ridiculous, we just would not go or not buy them. I certainly don't rip off Coach purses because I think their prices are insane. Why would I behave differently at the movies?

 

[Handbag Lady]

I bring in my own candy and have no problem walking past the two signs that forbid outside food. I refuse to pay candy prices when the SAME size candy is $5.95 at the movies and $1 at Walgreens.

I do buy their popcorn and soda or bottled water. My theatre has great tasting popcorn and they have the perfect-sized bottles of Pellegrino.

Our local movie theatre also does 21+ movies, which I adore. I promise I don't sneak in ANY of my own booze but I do pay their high prices at their bar. Don't tell them this, but I would even pay MORE to sit in a theatre with a guarantee that no (screaming) child will be there, too.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Put me down as a rude, thieving sinner! I buy popcorn and drinks, but bring in my own raisinettes and junior mints.

My kids are really too young for the movies, so for now I haven't worried about what I'm teaching those little unruly entitled monsters.

 

[Marionnette]

Do you sneak drinks and/or snacks into the movie theater?

I'll confess - I do. I buy popcorn there, but drinks and candy get stowed in my purse.

There are few exceptions - the historic movie theater has reasonably priced snacks (and beer!) and the theater in my small hometown. The multi-plex theaters though? They're already charging me an arm and a leg just to get in, so they don't get my snack/drink business.

Flame me if you wish!

We usually dont buy anything to eat or drink. On the rare occasion when we go to a movie, we usually have dinner before or after the movie. So no need to buy more food at the theater.

 

[KristinU]

No wonder our schools have such an issue with unruly, entitled children.

No, quite frankly I believe there are behavior problems because of ridiculously poor nutrition...I'm absolutely appalled at what consitutes breakfast and lunch at my DS's school. No wonder the kids can't control themselves - their bodies are starving for proper nutrition. But that's another thread...

When the theater starts carrying whole or nearly whole foods that are sodium-free and not created with processed junk that I can't pronounce then I will certainly start buying from the snack bar.

 

[cm8]

We buy popcorn and drinks at the theater every time.

Concessions are really what keep the theater in business (yes I know they are overpriced!).

Add to that a Frozen strawberry lemonade for me

 

[crazelion]

I don't even buy popcorn or drink in the movie anymore if pay cash for it. Now if a special occasionally now yes I will buy popcorn and drink at the theater. That is only in the summer time when I am working my extra job.

Fast Forward to now. I found out get Regal cinemas gift cards from mypoints.com and quickrewards.net than yes I am buy popcorn and drink because it is free. LOL

Like regal cinemas on facebook and get coupons for popcorn and drink for cheap.

I am only on facebook for the free stuff. LOL

 

[locolala]

We only go to the movies now about 1-2 times a month, down from every weekend before we had the baby. Now when we go we make it a date night and go out to dinner before the movie, so we generally aren't hungry by the time we're in the theatre.

 

[Styx Fan]

I worked in a movie theatre for 8 years. We didn't really have a hard policy on outside items, we draw the line at food as opposed to snacks.

A dark movie theatre, surrounded by other people is just not the place for subs, Taco Bell, McDonald's, etc. We did not sell anything but drinks, candy or popcorn at that time. I still can't believe theatre's sell hot dogs, nacho's etc. What a mess waiting to happen! Plus, fast foods tend to have strong odors that hang for a while in a theatre.

I will take snack foods into the theatre...things like Gold Fish and pretzels. Much healthier than the popcorn. When we do get popcorn, we share as the sizes are huge. I never buy the candy and almost always take in some. I will also take in a pepsi for me and a juice box for the kids. I simply cannot afford to spend that kind of money for junk. And I enjoy a little something to munch and drink. There is no way I can call that stealing. I am taking nothing from the theatre because there is no way I would just buy the stuff and pay those prices. I pay for what I do get which is the movie viewing. Am a breaking a rule? Yup. And my conscience is fine with breaking a movie theatre rule.

 

[Amii]

No, quite frankly I believe there are behavior problems because of ridiculously poor nutrition...I'm absolutely appalled at what consitutes breakfast and lunch at my DS's school. No wonder the kids can't control themselves - their bodies are starving for proper nutrition. But that's another thread...

When the theater starts carrying whole or nearly whole foods that are sodium-free and not created with processed junk that I can't pronounce then I will certainly start buying from the snack bar.

Same here. My family only eats organic (mostly raw) food and nothing processed or with chemicals. I would gladly pay a large sum of money for good food at the movies. I will not buy soda, candy and popcorn that is full of stuff that is going to slowly poison them. I would rather tell my kids that we will bring food in than have them have health problems down the line from that garbage.

Believe it or not my kids don't even like the kind of food that is served at most restaurants, movie theaters, etc. Their bodies are used to good food and the food that is served at places like that make them feel sick.

 

[soonerfan2008]

Same here. My family only eats organic (mostly raw) food and nothing processed or with chemicals. I would gladly pay a large sum of money for good food at the movies. I will not buy soda, candy and popcorn that is full of stuff that is going to slowly poison them. I would rather tell my kids that we will bring food in than have them have health problems down the line from that garbage.

Believe it or not my kids don't even like the kind of food that is served at most restaurants, movie theaters, etc. Their bodies are used to good food and the food that is served at places like that make them feel sick.

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.

 

[kayrosek]

DH and I usually get a soda to share and we buy popcorn but we bring in juice boxes, our own candy and, healthy snacks for the kids (they get some candy and popcorn but they have healthy items to munch on too.) I prefer the kids drink juice over soda and if they have raisins, fruit, or cheese they don't eat as much popcorn and stuff. The movie theatre doesn't sell healthy foods and their candy is way over priced, but if I'm bringing something in I always buy some of thier stuff too.

 

[kayrosek]

DH and I usually get a soda to share and we buy popcorn but we bring in juice boxes, our own candy and, healthy snacks for the kids (they get some candy and popcorn but they have healthy items to munch on too.) I prefer the kids drink juice over soda and if they have raisins, fruit, or cheese they don't eat as much popcorn and stuff. The movie theatre doesn't sell healthy foods and their candy is way over priced, but if I'm bringing something in I always buy some of thier stuff too.