See a Movie Onboard or No?

[inkkognito]

We saw "The Incredibles" on our Wonder trip this weekend (AWESOME movie, by the way, although I still like "Lilo and Stitch" a bit better). Taking the time to see a movie made me wonder:
Do you think it's worth the time to see movies on board, or would you rather be doing something else that you couldn't do back home?
My husband and I are usually of the opinion that we'd rather do "cruise stuff," but sometimes if it's a very new movie, we are swayed (he also saw "National Treasure" on this trip). Just curious about what the rest of you think: Movies or other activities?
Barb

 

[disneyholic family]

On our first cruise (when we had the great good fortune of cruising with you and Tony), we saw a special screening of Lilo and Stitch in the Walt Disney Theatre (it had just recently been released)..
we very much enjoyed that....(we came back early to the ship on nassau day so that we could make the screening)...

that's the only movie we've managed to see, mainly because the screening times conflict with other activities....
in fact, we don't understand why they don't screen movies late late at night, for night owls like me....i would have loved to go to the movies in the middle of the night...
also, i found it strange that they didn't show movies during the "downtimes" during the day (when there really wasn't much else to do on the ship)....

 

[GenieDana]

Why not a movie?

You can also eat at home
sleep at home
swim in your pool at home
sit in your hot tub at home

on Disney...A movie IS a cruise activity.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Our Nov. 11th 3 night cruise featured presentations of "The Incredibles" and we tried to fit it into our schedule, but we couldn't. Our tablemates enjoyed it so much they went to see it twice!

So, we're not against going to the movies on board, and we've seen "Forrest Gump" and "Titanic" for the first time while on cruises!

Bobbi

 

[westjones]

We LOVE going to the movies on board, and we can't always do that at home. At least not the non G or PG movies. We have never used babysitters to go to movies (at the cost of a sitter to the price of an evening movie, and frankly it just isn't worth it to us).

On board, DH and I can actually go to a "grown up" movie, just the two of us! It is WONDERFUL!

Then sometimes we take the kids to see a movie for the second time. One that we saw already at home, and they loved it and want to see it again, but we won't pay to go for a second time at home.

Actually the movie theater is one of our favorite perks on the ship!

DJ

 

[disneybride96]

Like westjones, we cannot often get to the movies at home. We had seen Pirates of the Carribean several times on DVD, but never on the big screen. It was awesome! I've also watched Nemo, Cold Mountain & The Alamo while on board.....well worth the time IMHO.

 

[minivan3]

Does this cost to do? If not, I would definitely say see a movie on the cruise, in fact, we may put that into our plans. With a family of five, going to the movies is quite a cost. So, if it were included in the cruise packaging, it would definitely be worth it.
Did someone say they saw "Titanic" on a cruise??? Whew, that would make me nervous!!

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

My son and I were going to skip the juggler on the four night Wonder to see a movie, thinking we've seen jugglers before. My wife said we can always rent the movie. My son and I are glad she talked us into skipping the movie, the guy was great.

If it's a choice between seeing a movie or doing something we'll never have a chance to do unless we're on the cruise, I'll probably skip the movie. Every time a movie was showing that we were interested in; it conflicted with something else.

 

[crisi]

It depends on what else there is to do.

Its easy to postpone a movie you can see easily at home if there is something you'd rather be doing. But if there isn't anything you'd rather do - why not go to a movie? And the "free" childcare is great. But I wouldn't book a cruise just to see a movie.

Personally, I don't understand people who do the spa onboard. I can do it much cheaper at home, have a regular massuse, can make a phone call to get an appointment anytime it fits in my schedule and don't waste cruise time getting a massage. But, to each their own. Certainly there are plenty of people who the spa is an important part of their cruise.

 

[Verandah Man]

One of the first things our DD 14 did when we got on the ship this past August was to go over the movie list and circle the movies and what day she wanted to see them. Either my DW, my mom, or I would make it a point to go with DD so she wouldn't have to watch a movie alone. We have enjoyed watching many movies onboard during the two cruises we have been on. I just look at it as part of the cruise activities.

 

[bbowers]

DH and I have no desire to see the live shows again next cruise, but we would like to take in a movie. But, the next cruise is the DVC special, and the entertainment may be different, so we shall see if we get to or not. We did watch The Alamo in our room one afternoon as we fell asleep in a nap.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

Actually, we purposely did not take our kids to see it yet so we can see it on the 12/4 Magic. They are looking forward to it and it saves us around $50.

 

[MarkRG]

I have an even better answer, where around home are you going to be able to enjoy a new release movie in a setting like the WD theater(or even the BV theater)? No place around me, I can assure you. All the ones around here now are these plain muliplex box things. I'm sure a lot of you know exactly what I'm talking about too.

 

[lbgraves]

We enjoyed going to the movies around 3pm so that if the kids weren't ready to go to sleep they would be relaxing and possibly napping during the movie so that they had energy for dinner & the club or show afterwards. DH took DD to Pirates one afternoon when I met with the DIS ladies on the cruise while DS was at the club. We also went to see Nemo on the movie night since we didn't want the kids to see Brother Bear without screening it first. We had heard too many people saying that it was too violent for their kids so I wanted to see for myself first so it was nice to have another option.

We are also waiting until our 12/4 cruise to see The Incredibles to make it special. I am hoping to see National Treasure too.

 

[TootyJane]

We rarely go to the movies at home so I love having the opportunity to see them on a cruise.

 

[floridaminnie]

It's a treat for us and we usually get at least one movie in if not more.

 

[smchan]

I enjoy the movies on board. Considering it costs me well over $50-$60 to see one at home by the time I either hire a sitter or take the kids, I feel I'm getting good value out of my cruise fare with activities like free, first-run movies.

Sam
PS Welcome back.

 

[WDWDennis]

I too am waiting until our 12/4 magic cruise too see National Treasure!! I have beey really looking forward to this movie, but it will be extra special too see it onboard!!

Of course, my wife and I just LOVE going to movies and we also usually squeeze in at least one on our WDW trips. You see for us at home, going to a movie is like a mini vacation. No phones, no nothing! Then, in 2 hours, its back to the real world. Well, when we see a movie at Downtown Disney, we walk out and were STILL on vacation! I just can't get enough!!

 

[two-foxes]

I am definately in the minority....I wouldn't dream of seeing a movie on the Ship....unless it was a "big release", something like the Incredibles, Pirates or something that I would try to go on opening day at home. There is too much other stuff to do!

And another thing, perhaps my 5'10" frame has me in the minority again, but I thought the BV Theater on board (I did go see the movie about the Magic in drydock!) has the most uncomfortable seats! My knees were hitting the chair in front of me, and I wasn't even slouching in my chair for once! To sit through a 2 hour movie in that uncomfortable of a chair would be on my bottom list of fun things....I can do that in the airplane home! Is it just me, or is it because I was sitting in the last row?

 

[logan1_2000]

I think it all depends on what the alternatives are. Have you already cruised and seen the live show in the Walt Disney Theater? Is it "down time" for other members of your travelling party? Have you already gotten your daily limit of sun and anymore will burn you? Or like me, has everyone you are travelling with fallen asleep by 10 or 10:30 and going to the piano bar alone got tired two cruises ago, so grabbing a slice or two of pizza and heading to a late movie is a nice way to relax. And like others I often don't get out to the movies at home. But as mentioned above--yes, the seats were uncomfortable, and I am a 6 footer, but not any taller than that. I would not skip Disney Dreams or even Hercules, but I would skip Who Wants To Be a Mouseketeer.