Taking a group to AMC theater - any ideas for saving $$

[ski_mom]

I'm taking a group of around 14-15 to an AMC theater this weekend.

Just wondering if anyone has an idea for saving and money? We are stubs members, so all of the ticket prices will go on our stubs card which will basically get us 10% back.

I called the theater to get an idea of popcorn/soda prices. Sodas - small $4.50, med $5.00 and large $5.50. Popcorn - small $5.75, Med $6.75 and large $7.75.

Also with the stubs card, you can pay the medium price for a large item. So, I was thinking of buying each kid a medium soda of their own (and getting a large one - which I think is somewhat overkill) and then buying a medium bag of popcorn (and getting a large) for 3 girls to split. One girl could hold it and then the girls on each side of her share out of the bag.

Other than that, I'm not sure how else to save anything on the trip, but everyone here is so creative with saving money that I thought I'd ask!

 

[shoney]

most theatres will give you courtesy cups so you can divide up the popcorn to each kid.

 

[disykat]

I took a group to the movies once. I bought the tickets at costco for a slightly reduced price. Honestly, popcorn etc. never even occured to me. I filled them up with pizza and soda beforehand and served them cake and ice cream after.

Until this moment it never even occured to me anyone might have expected popcorn. No one said anything. We never buy food at the movies because we're always eating before or after.

 

[mjkacmom]

I took a group to the movies once. I bought the tickets at costco for a slightly reduced price. Honestly, popcorn etc. never even occured to me. I filled them up with pizza and soda beforehand and served them cake and ice cream after.

Until this moment it never even occured to me anyone might have expected popcorn. No one said anything. We never buy food at the movies because we're always eating before or after.

We've never been to the movies and not bought popcorn (it's so yummy, and SO bad for you). I actually go to movies at mealtimes, just to try to justify the 1000 or so calories I am consuming by having it replace a meal.

OP, we get the large (our AMC offers 1 free refill), and I bring in red solo cups, and we share. I usually bring in water bottles (I'm not a soda fan). I buy our adult tickets at costco.

 

[Cindy B]

We never do food there. We usually hit up the $1 store before and get our king size bars! I can't even tell you the last time we even went to the movies.

Check groupon and living social for ticket deals. I seem to remember a offer for AMC theaters a few days ago. My local city is Philadelphia for Groupon and South Jersey for Living Social if that helps.

 

[girli565]

You could get them those kids packs that have popcorn, drink and small fruit gummies or cookies. They're like $5 and each kid would get their own.

 

[LJSquishy]

If you want each person to have their own soda, definitely purchase the Smalls & free upsize to Mediums -- my husband and I upsize to the Large and share it and never finish it.

Purchase the Medium popcorns & free upsize to Larges, and split between 6 people because remember that Larges get 1 free refill. You should have plenty to go around if you purchase 2-3.

They will give you cardboard trays if you ask to divide popcorn amongst everyone. My AMC won't give out cups but they do give you the little trays, which are better anyway in my opinion.

With the new Stubs card, is there a daily limit on what purchases will count on it? I know the old card had limits but I can't remember if there are limitations with the Stubs one since I was grandfathered in and got it free for 1 year. Definitely check on that, though.

I do also like the idea of buying each child a kid pack, though...here they are about $6 though so that may get expensive for that many people since you can't upsize and share. But realistically, if you are planning on purchasing a drink for each person, the kid pack would be the way to go. I get that when I go to movies by myself...the gummies are really yummy!

 

[JoiseyMom]

I always take the groups of the kids to the showings before noon, which by us are 6/kid, unless it is a 3D feature.

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

get the large popcorn, bring some paper lunch bags, seperate the popcorn into the paper lunch bags and then each kid will still have their own bag. the whites ones work best because they are coated, so the oil dosen't leak through the paper.

Buy the large drink, bring some plastic cups and split the drink. you can even get ones with lids and use some straws.

we do this with our own family of 5, DH takes the kids in and finds seat, I do the snacks , our kids never know that mommy and daddy aren't buying the kids pack for $5-7 each because they still get their own popcorn and drink.

I'll be doing the same thing for DD's movie b-day in a month

Have fun !

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

Buy AMC gift cards from cardpool.com at a 14% discount.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I always take the groups of the kids to the showings before noon, which by us are 6/kid, unless it is a 3D feature.

Here all shows before noon are $4 for anyone - add $3 for 3D

 

[goofyredraider]

get the large popcorn, bring some paper lunch bags, seperate the popcorn into the paper lunch bags and then each kid will still have their own bag. the whites ones work best because they are coated, so the oil dosen't leak through the paper.

^^^
This. I do this every time we go to the movies. I cut the bags down to 1/2 size (so it's easier for the kids to reach their popcorn). I also get candy at Target or Walmart first. We do buy the drinks, but the big drinks are too big for my kids (and they don't have smaller ones that are more appropriate for them)...so I bring a cup to separate it for them.
I also try to go before noon as well (cheaper).

 

[goofyredraider]

We never do food there. We usually hit up the $1 store before and get our king size bars! I can't even tell you the last time we even went to the movies.

Check groupon and living social for ticket deals. I seem to remember a offer for AMC theaters a few days ago. My local city is Philadelphia for Groupon and South Jersey for Living Social if that helps.

Yes, there was a groupon deal the other day - I can't remember what it was, though. I'm in Dallas, so it must have been nationwide.

 

[starry_solo]

Get the boxes that AMC provides (the cardboard one) if you don't get the white paper bags. Separate the large popcorn into the boxes so each girl can decide whether to add butter or not.

Since you get a free refill with the large popcorn, one large can probably feed 4-6 people

Better check with the girls as to what they want for the drinks so you can make sure to get the courtesy cups. Another idea is to get courtesy cups of ice and make sure to tell the attendant you don't want ice in the soda (they stick so much ice there, it's ridiculous. Each girl could end up with 2 of the courtesy cups and I think the large could fill up 6 cups.

Get the $1 candy from Target, $1 store or 99-cents store and bring it in

If the kids want nachos, bring in a bag (if you want to bring in outside food) and just buy the warm/hot cheese from them.

BTW, Target has yummy nachos for $2-2.50 and it's not bad. You can probably get extra cheese from them too! LOL. Pretzels are $1-2 too.

 

[Jenn]

Google amc free large drink coupon. There is a coupon available now thru late feb. You can print a bunch. I had a party of 3 the other day and we each used one with no issues.

Go before noon - for us that's a $6 price instead of $11.

 

[starry_solo]

Google amc free large drink coupon. There is a coupon available now thru late feb. You can print a bunch. I had a party of 3 the other day and we each used one with no issues.

Go before noon - for us that's a $6 price instead of $11.

Wow, have yet to find one that's good past January 2012 But this way, everyone gets a nice large drink and you only have to worry about the popcorn!

 

[dgthree]

I'm taking a group of around 14-15 to an AMC theater this weekend.

Just wondering if anyone has an idea for saving and money?

I'm jumping on the Costco bandwagon. They sell a pack of two tickets for $16. And when you redeem them at the theatre with your Stubs card, you still get credit for the purchase, or at least I did in November.

No suggestions on the other stuff, though. Sorry. =)

 

[Dizneydaz]

I too couldn't find a valid coupon for Feb.

We always go to AMC before noon, $6 each (adult or kid) . I buy the medium popcorn and get the free upgrade. We bring in our own candy and water bottles. We use the boxes to share the popcorn between the 2-4 of us.

Another thing I do is before we leave I refill my popcorn (if I didn't already-though our theater doesn't mark the box/bag as refilled once) and then I make homeade caramel corn using the popcorn, brown sugar, and caramel sauce (from Sandra Lee) So good-just as good as what the sell at Disneyland!