I like to go to the movies. My problem is that most theater concessions do not sell a single thing that I can eat on my plan. I can't bring myself to sneak food in. It feels dishonest to me.
I would love to see a theater concession sell fruit. I would even agree to pay a fee to bring in my own snack. Sadly, I am too much in the minority to have any clout.
It is a real temptation for me to sit with my family who are all eating popcorn and whatnot and have nothing of my own. I usually fail. Back in my pre-return-to-church days, I used to sneak in an orange and eat it and I was never tempted much by the popcorn and candy.
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"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
I've "snuck" in pizza, soda, cookies, all kinds of stuff... and I've seen tons of wrappers from places other than the theater in the garbages. But, we live in kind of a small town, so maybe it's different...? I don't think they care.
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Life is tough but it's tougher if you're stupid. -John Wayne
"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
Actually, hic, I think there's a drive-in out in Parma.
When it comes to concessions, I don't necessarily feel dishonest, but when it comes down to it that's just about the only way local theaters make money. So I feel a little bad.
But I've never understood the 'need' for people to get concessions when they go to movies. It's only about 2 hours, I can certainly go without food for that long, esp. at those exorbitant prices. I guess it's all in how we were raised, and I was raised without theater concessions.
Where's Parma? Never heard of it. I located one in Caldwell... Terrace drive-in. It appears to be a second run movie place. Blah.
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"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
I agree with Dyany. We never buy concessions when we go to the movies. It's an unnecessary expense that turns an expensive family activity into an exorbitant one.
We sneak in all sorts of stuff to the theatre. My brother once snuck in a barbeque grill and started grilling hotdogs... broke out the condiments and everything...
Okay maybe that's an exaggeration... he may have just brought cold sandwiches, but he had like a fully catered meal, including a gallon of milk with him...
So like... I guess in Logan they don't frisk you very well, cuz everyone has a diaperbag or two...
--Ray
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
We just never go to the movies in our house. It costs a fortune just to get in. We've never snuck food in though. I don't think it has ever occurred to us. We will break down and buy popcorn sometimes, because well, going to the movies isn't going to the movies without popcorn. If not, we just don't buy anything.
Incidentally, we drove by a drive-in movie theater on our little mini-vacation last weekend. It was even playing new movies. It made me sigh because I loved going to the drive-in when I was a kid. In fact, I had been to that particular theater myself many,many years ago. Drive in theaters are quickly becoming a thing of the past. A popular drive-in theater that Cat and I both grew up around after several years turned into an x-rated theater. Wouldn't that be a pretty picture if your yard happened to be nearby.
We would always take out own snacks to the theatre (diaper-bags are great for that.)
Then, one day, when the kid was 5, we went on the spur of the moment and didn't have a bag for the strawberry milk and red vines we picked up at the grocery store. We kept telling out son to put the drink in his cargo pants and he kept saying "It's ok. I can carry the bag."
Finally we had to explain that we were sneaking the stuff in. That moment felt more uncomfortable than anything I have ever done. My sons first lesson in dishonesty.
So I quit. There might occasionally be some Jr. Mints in my purse that I don't clean out but we either pay up or don't eat. Water, I will take. But I don't sneak it. I will often take an empty bottle and fill it once inside. (I have had some try to stop that but in the end - they give in)
We are lucky that we have a theatre fairly close that has 16 screens plus an IMAX surrounded by a whole food court and all the food is allowed in the theatres, with cute little trays that stick in your seats cupholder. They also don't seem to care if you bring something with you because they aren't really competing for your appetite. They are selling lots and lots of food. They also have the best popcorn in the state - the only one with real, not salty flavored oil-type product, but real butter.
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"My days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle."
IF we go to the movies (even just hubby and I we usually try and eat first (at home)... Occasionally we buy a popcorn /drink combo at the movie (there is generally a free refill on the drink) and we share... But that makes a date to a movie with snacks over $25 just for the 2 of us... and that is a LOT for us to spend on a date... We try and keep our date night budget to $75 a month... Divided by 4-5 weeks a month that is only $15-20 a week (and our Netflix subscription comes out of that entertain budget too so that is one week already that we have to go out on the cheap)... IF we go to a movie we simply go some place really cheap the next week (a park w/subs... or we just "park" somewhere...) For YEARS we could not afford to go ANYWHERE that cost us money... Now we have some freedom and our kids are mostly grown... I really don't feel bad about budgeting funds now for us to have dates weekly, but we still are pretty careful with our entertainment money. I am a cheapskate when it comes to dates... Not to mention we like to do things that give us a chance to "talk"... So we often go to a restaurant and get a couple appetizers/drinks (again, mine would be water) and visit...
Neither of us are big sugar eaters so if we do go to the movies we do not buy candy so again, not reason to feel we would need to sneak it in... We have asked our kids not to take food in because we think it is not the right thing to do... nevertheless I don't drill them... They are all old enough now that it is between them and the Lord, still they know how we feel... and raised them.
Personally I take a bottle of water into the movies when we do go, every time (more than likely it is filtered water that came from my fridge in a refillable lexan bottle, but even if it is a disposable bottle we refill bottles at least a couple times at our house even on those Costco .5 liter cheapies...) I do not sneak the water into the theater... I carry it in my hand. I have NEVER been asked to leave it outside. Because of my disease and kidney issues I have to moderate my fluid very carefully, so if a theater wanted to push this issue I would push back... I believe in being honest, but. I am not purchasing my water elsewhere... so to me, that is not dishonest.
Took the family friday night to the drive in theater and saw Ratatoulli. The kids had a blast. Just set out the lawn chairs and had the radio going in the car. Popped up some microwave popcorn and took some other snacks from home. It was packed. I love these places because they are so easy on the pocket book. It is also nice with a new baby because noise isn't as much a factor. The new Harry Potter movie will probably play there in a few weeks and we can't wait!!!
For YEARS we could not afford to go ANYWHERE that cost us money... Now we have some freedom and our kids are mostly grown... I really don't feel bad about budgeting funds now for us to have dates weekly, but we still are pretty careful with our entertainment money. I am a cheapskate when it comes to dates... Not to mention we like to do things that give us a chance to "talk"... So we often go to a restaurant and get a couple appetizers/drinks (again, mine would be water) and visit...
