Birthday Cinema Trip for 12 year olds. AIBU?

[wildbhoysmama]

My DS2 was 12 yesterday and he has requested a trip to the cinema to see the new Fantastic Beasts movie with his 7 friends as his birthday trip. We are going on Fri evening ( the day of release) to the posh cinema with the luxury, recliner seats ( his request) to the 3D screening. All good so far.

The seats are £14 each. I thought I'd provide sweets and a drink ( bottle of water or softdrink) - cinema are okay with own treats- but don't want to pay for 8 sets ( 9 Inc his brother) of popcorn and ice cream.

AIBU to send a quick message to parents that this wouldn't be provided. I'm worried it seems as if it's not such a big treat after all/ I'm scrimping. It was so much easier when they were 8 and happy with a party bag!

Rather than saying 'I won't be providing ice cream/pop corn', perhaps you could say 'I'll be buying them a drink and some sweets, too' - it sort of puts a positive rather than a negative slant on it!

I took my DD and her friends for dinner, followed by the cinema for her 7th birthday and one of her friends complained vociferously that I didn't buy them a drink in the cinema, despite me having just bought them a meal and a drink. She's still a cheeky mare in high school.

You're providing drinks and sweets but not popcorn and ice cream?
I think that's fine. I wouldn't expect more.

Most people bring sweets in, you're a fool if you buy overpriced popcorn in the cinema.

Thanks. Glad to hear I'm not BU. We've had the same, Ms Vestibule, with one little bugger complaining after Frankie and Benny's and cinema trip that we weren't going on the 4D experience ride! Sheesht.

Buy sweets and popcorn beforehand and divvy up into party bag type portions of use those reusable popcorn holders you get at home bargains.
I think you're already being very generous - I certainly wouldn't expect you to provide the full works snack wise!

Tbh I think popcorn is pretty standard for a cinema trip...can you not take your own in?

When mine go, I buy a massive bag of popcorn for £1.50 and take it in my bag. When we’re at the cinema, I approach the counter and ask sweetly if I may have two smaller empty tubs so I can split the popcorn and they’re always more than happy to give them. I don’t tell any lies and it’s hardly my fault if they assume I’m talking about splitting a popcorn I bought there

Ha ha, ours was F&B too - they had half a pint of pop there, which in their little bodies was plenty. Apart from me being a tightwad, I didn't want to be running backwards and forwards to the loo with them several times, either!

Make a party bag of popcorn, sweets and drinks.

I hadn't thought of those popcorn holders from home bargains, a grand idea! I'll fill them before we go and have packs of sweets to choose from. Thanks folks I feel better now!

Yup definitely take your own. Cinemas are extortionate!