Cinema Party - Saturday morning or afternoon?

[Victoria43]

DD soon to be 7 wants a cinema trip with friends on her birthday. I am happy to accommodate this, but being the control freak that I am find I am struggling with the logistics!

Cinema listings will not be published until the week before, but I need to send out invitations and commit (at least) to morning or afternoon. I can firm up times nearer the date. Do I take the risk that there will be something suitable for them to watch (i.e. a 'U' rated film) in the afternoon and opt for that, ergo avoiding the myriad sports activities people usually commit to on Saturday mornings, or should I force parents to bring their little lovelies to a morning screening as I know that there will at least be a 'Movies for Juniors' showing even if there is no 'big' release?

We will then take the dc to the restaurant next to the cinema for lunch/dinner after the film, with parents collecting their darlings from there.

Any thoughts? What time of day would you prefer to be child free for 4 hours or so?

I don't know why I am finding this so difficult!!

[frugalfuzzpig]

I was wondering exactly the same thing! DD will also be 7 and would like a cinema party but it's hard to know what the timings will be.

If you're seeing a new film though, there should be several screenings throughout the day if it's a big cinema.

I know our local (huge cineworld) does a proper cinema party 'package' but I don't know if that gives you any more info on the exact time of screening.

[frugalfuzzpig]

The problem with the Movies for Juniors thing is that it seems to always be movies that are already out on DVD. So there may well be guests who already have the film at home.

Roughly when is her birthday? If it's near a school holiday I'd have thought there'd be something.

[hillyhilly]

Afternoon, saturday mornings are busy for most people

[Gladvent]

Morning. But we don't do anything on Saturdays except for parties (which seem to be every week lately!)

[afromom]

Mornings are always difficult for us, due to sports teams (as you have already mentioned), however they are much cheaper with the movies for juniors.

I wouldn't worry too much about the others having seen the films already as if they are anything like my DS and his friends they seem to be quite happy to watch the same thing over and over again!

We went to see the Lego movie on Sunday which was fab! There was an advert about the fairy pirate which is due out over the next couple of weeks, might be good for a group of girls? (DS (9) wasn't keen )

[frugalfuzzpig]

Glad to read that afromom we are planning to see the lego movie in half term :)

DD's birthday isn't til June, no idea what films will be out then!

[AlwaysaLittleBitTired]

Thanks ladies. (sorry for confusing change of nickname!)

Birthday is 4 weeks before Easter, so I'm a little concerned that there might be a dry spell in children's films at that time.