Sneaking treats into the movie theater

[Vivianne]

I too carry a large purse, all the time, but it sure helps at the movies. On occasion we will get the movie popcorn (never drink), if we go with the kids. But one of our DDs gets violenly ill from the artificial stuff in the theater popcorn and personally I prefer air popped or 98% fat free microwave with my Kernel Seasons brought from home, and it doesn't hurt that it saves a lotof money!

Huh, I'm one of the ones that bought popcorn and I thought as long as there wasn't a fly in the popcorn case...I was safe. Maybe I fixed it, I took V8's to work with me this week...

 

[irisesareblue]

I always buy a kids' pack at our local movie theatre - it's got a small (child-sized) drink (how can anyone drink a huge soda fountain drink and get througha 2 hour movie without spending all night in the rest room is my question anyways), a small popcorn (probably too many calories in that artificial palm-kernel oil butter flavored stuff even with this small amount) and a regular-sized chocolate bar or bag of M&M or Smarties. Hubby is a choc-o-holic so he eats the candy, I eat the popcorn and we share the drink. All for under $7.00. I've never been asked from the staff about where the kid is, so I guess I'm kinda within the rules.....

 

[jordansmomma]

I do realize that the theater makes most of its money on the concession sales, BUT the prices are crazy. I will buy a large popcorn for all of us to share but if the kids want candy or water or a drink they can bring that from home.

 

[Kiddeokee]

Our theatre has the best burger & fries in town. Gotta get it each time we go to the movies. Hubby gets the Pizza.

 

[SandrA9810]

We don't even carry a purse, but we still bring in snacks and cans of sodas. Yay cargo army pants. Kari showed me this. We generally see movies at the 75 cent theater. While it's a great price to see a movie, I'm not paying full movie theater price for pop corn, 8$ for popcorn and a soda. And we never finish the popcorn.

Now if we see a movie at AMC, through work I can get 7$ tickets, and small soda or popcorn for 3$. If I want a larger one, I pay the difference at the counter.
I did this when we saw Harry Potter, and I'll probably do it when book 7 is released as well. Other than that, we'll make the drive to the cheap theater to see something. We usually see 2 movies, so in between we go across the street to the red brick oven and share a small pizza for 6$.

 

[shelly3girls]

We always buy a large popcorn to share. Our theatre supplies small white bags and a dixie cup to share the popcorn and encourages you to get refills. I refuse to buy water bottles (especially at $4.50/bottle) b/c of all of the waste. We use refillable bottles at home and always bring one to the theatre with no problem. We have found that even places that say no outside food or drink usually allow sports bottles of water. I have been known to allow DD to bring one or two bite size candies left over from Halloween but that is more b/c I don't want her eating a mega size box of candy.

 

[crazelion]

I don't usually buy popcorn. Unless it really a movie want to see. Me and Mom share the price of the popcorn. I know slip drink in the movie theater at times. I don't eat at the theaters anymore.

Than again I work at the baseball park nothing beats freshly pop corn with lots a butter. I have known to stick hands out get fresh when done popping. I am addict to it. Then again they don't let make popcorn anymore.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

It has been awhile since we had a thread on this, but I am feeling sassy, and in light of AMC theater's new policy to ban outside food in their theaters, I thought it was time to renew our discussion of this budget-related topic. Movie theaters are losing revenue and more are joining the ranks of banning outside food. So, the question is will a ban keep you from bringing food from home? Is a $15 popcorn/pop combo in your budget or will it keep you from realizing your WDW trip dreams? Do you care? (Note: if not, simply exit this thread now).

Let the discussion begin. Eating popcorn and Dots from home while reading and responding to this thread is totally encouraged and NOT banned.

One more tid bit to get the creative juices flowing...The below was posted at MSN Money today. Do not consider my posting the below to mean I am in agreement with the contents contained herein, however I will admit to them making me smile.

"In light of the new (banning) policy, Fat City wanted to offer guidance for novices considering sneaking food into the movies.

Do sneak in anything sealed (candy up the sleeves of your shirt is one possibility), a wrapped sandwich (in the front pocket of a hoodie sweatshirt), or contained in a ziploc bag (popcorn is a good filler).

Do not sneak in anything that could leak (open containers), makes your pockets or purse suspiciously lumpy (20 oz. sodas don't fit inside of anything), has a strong odor (tuna fish), makes excessive noise (crinkly bag, aluminum wrapper, potato chips), is patently obvious (a sack from Burger King), or could leave you sitting with a lap full of cheese and hot sauce (Taco Bell).

It is not for Fat City to decide whether you should actually sneak anything inside of the theater. Ultimately, that is a question for your conscience and jacket to decide."

This bolded part made me think of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer snuck a Cappuccino into the movies in the front of his pants. Of course it spilled, and he sued the company and won free Cappuccinos for life. He walked around jumping at everything.


OK, I will admit. I bring a larger purse and stop at Target or Dollar Tree to buy boxes of movie candy. The popcorn HAS to be movie popcorn, and I buy a refillable large and we share. I even bring in plastic popcorn containers and fill them so no fighting over who holds the popcorn. And I have found that sharing a large drink works out best. So 2 out of 3 things we buy there, doesn't make me feel bad at all to take the candy in. I would never buy it there, so they lose nothing by me bringing my own.

 

[akcire]

Not only do I not buy movie theater concession, they don't really sell anything I can eat (long story); but I take my refillable water bottle to the concession stand and get it filled with ice and cold water.

The first time I asked a kid to do it he was kind of suspicious, but now they see me doing it for any movies we attend(the manager does it for me too).

 

[DOOM1001]

I do appreciate AMC having $6 movies before noon as I've been going to the movies more lately than I've ever gone.However I don't think I remember the last time I went at night and paid the $10-$11 or whatever they're charging,it's either $6 before noon or $8 matinee for us.As far as buying food at the concession stand,sorry we just don't do it,we'll go somewhere for lunch before or after the movie and spend less than a drink and a popcorn would cost at the movie theater.I do bring in candy to the theaters occasionally but we won't bring in drinks.

 

[ksumn1]

I gotta have movie theatre popcorn. We usually get a medium popcorn and soft drink combo, ask for light ice and share. Dh drinks alot so I usually bring in a couple of extra unopened 20 ounce drinks. Otherwise, the drink cup will be empty before the opening scene comes on!! We never buy candy at the movies. We head downstairs to the Dollar Tree and get Raisinets and gummy bears. Since our local movie theater is at the mall, we always have a bag or two to use to sneak stuff in. It's crazy how much it costs. We also try to eat beforehand so we're not really that hungry.

Oh, here's a tip. Wendy's side salad containers are perfect small popcorn plates. Just wash it out after you eat your salad and save it. One of the local preschools in the area asks for donations of salad plates (about 20) and they use them on their summer movie field trips.

 

[design_mom]

We stopped bringing things in because when our first child got old enough to read the prominent "please no outside food or drinks" signs at the theater we suddenly realized that we were setting a bad example.
Now, we eat before the movie. Sometimes we buy a box of candy or a bag of popcorn to share.

The sign on the door would make me feel too guilty to sneak stuff in. I'm a rule-follower, what can I say.

We eat before the movie, too. We generally take the kids out to a restaurant of their choice prior to the movie and skip the concession stand all together. After reading the "box of movie popcorn = 3 big macs" stat, I'm feeling less guilty about the happy meals we buy the kids in lieu of popcorn!

 

[karensi]

Just want to know, how will they enfore this rule?
Will they be going through your purse/patting you down

Seriously, do you think that they will really try to enfore this? If so, I guess they will go through your purse ?????

Karen

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't understand how Walgreen's can charge $1 for their movie candy and I'm sure make some sort of profit yet theaters charge $2.50+.

Walgreens sells thousands of items. The movie theater sells a couple of dozen candies, tops.

The theater is physically larger and costs more to operate - heat/air-conditioning, lights, energy... It very likely employs more people than any single Walgreens. They have more personnel assigned just to clean the restrooms than Walgreens. The theater has a larger parking lot to maintain.

They pay a LOT for the right to show each movie; I'm relatively certain (but too sleepy to search) they have to pay the studio or distributor per ticket sold, in addition to the "commission". That's the wrong word, I know.

Anyway - when did it become mandatory to eat/drink during the two hours or so the movie is playing? If the theater has a "no outside food or drink" rule, don't bring your own stuff or don't patronize that theater.

 

[irish dancer]

Just want to know, how will they enfore this rule?
Will they be going through your purse/patting you down

Seriously, do you think that they will really try to enfore this? If so, I guess they will go through your purse ?????

Karen

Was at our local theater a few months ago and the family next to DS and I had various outside drinks and a theater employee came and confiscated them. Annoyed me only because the movie had started and it was distracting.

 

[samshane]

I admit - we hit the dollar store for candy before we go... I have 3 kids who can't agree on anything to share so it's cheaper. We always get a popcorn and drinks in the theater though.

 

[pipersmom]

We used to sneak stuff in as teens, as a rule of thumb though, it's smartest to wait until about 5 minutes into the actual feature before you whip the food/drinks out..the ushers aren't paying as much attention then. Nowadays my daughter and I might go the theater to see a movie 2x a yr, and part of the treat is the popcorn & drinks. It just isn't in the budget to go more often than that, even without buying concessions.

 

[espana94]

Was at our local theater a few months ago and the family next to DS and I had various outside drinks and a theater employee came and confiscated them. Annoyed me only because the movie had started and it was distracting.

What theatre was that? (So I know which one to avoid.) I'm assuming somewhere in the western 'burbs.

 

[mainegal]

A restaurant I can see, but movie theater? They make their money off of movies-snacks are just side action gravy

Actually, the greatest profit to the theater is indeed from the consession stand. They don't get that great a cut from ticket sales. But the snacks, loads of profit!

 

[Kat77]

I'm a rule follower and buy from concessions. I can not bear teaching my kids to break the rules If it were only DH and I, I might tell a different story
AMC provides courtesy cups and we use them to share. We buy the combo-two drinks and large popcorn with free refill. Split drinks between us (six!) and share the popcorn. Movie theater popcorn gives me a weird headache so I try not to eat it myself...