Expensive cinema trip ruined

[ExpensiveCinema]

I feel really bad posting this but I can’t discuss this in real life as I will feel guilty but I’m really upset so can people please not attack me!

We are really struggling financially at the moment and I am well into my overdraft and have credit card debts. It was my son’s birthday this week and he wanted to go cinema so we went yesterday and it was very expensive: £48 just on tickets for family of 4 - regular seats not even premium! Food cost around £21. (I know I could have saved this money and got my own but he really wanted the little boxes you get there), £8 parking for the time we were there. We haven’t been to the cinema for over 3 or 4 years so this was a treat.

we sat behind a family with what looked like a 12 or 13 year old boy (not too sure but looked this age) and he was making lots of noise which I ignored as kids obviously can’t stay quiet. I heard someone telling them to be quiet which the mum really loudly shouted “HE’S GOT SEN NEEDS!!”. He continued shouting throughout the entire film and then 10 minutes into it he started kicking my chair really hard! He was sat right behind me. I ignored it for a while then asked my youngest if I could sit in his seat and he could sit in my lap which we did. I could still feel the kicking as it was vibrating into my seat. I turned around and asked the family if he could please stop as it’s giving me a headache. They ignored me and I asked again and was told he’s got needs. My son (birthday boy) was upset as he couldn’t watch the film as they were right behind us. The rest of the family were equally loud talking like they’re at home! We left around 40 minutes into the movie as my son was upset.

I totally feel for any mum with a SEN child but this family did NOTHING to stop him impacting others. I feel guilty spending so much money for my son not to enjoy it. In hindsight we could have gone bowling which would have cost less. I’m interested in what others would have done? Would you grin and bear it as he had needs or say something? I’m glad we left as the atmosphere was really horrible there. Is there any way I could get my money back for the tickets? I know they probably won’t refund food or parking. I feel so unlucky that we were right infront of them and I know they impacted others too but this was supposed to be a treat and not an everyday experience for us.

Sounds like the mum is well aware of how her son behaves and doesnt give a shiny shit how that impacts anyone else. I too would have spoken to a member of staff.

Thank you for this because I’ve honestly never heard of it!
We only have a Cineworld in my town. Potentially the nearest Vue cinema is in the nearest city but a good 45 mins/hour away.
My daughter always loves a large popcorn and it’s extortionate! We don’t go very often though, so it’s all part of the treat.

There was an instance at my local cinema where someone complained about someone making noise, and then was viciously attacked by the noisy person outside the cinema at the end of the showing. I now would absolutely be reticent to complain during the screening for my own safety, so I have some sympathy with not complaining at the time.

Too close, too loud....

Sorry to hear this happened. Really tough when you don’t have much spare money and treats are ruined.

I think you ideally would have complained at the time to staff as it would have given the opportunity for them to sort it.

Just because someone has additional needs it doesn’t mean that other people’s experience can be ruined. I would get in touch with the cinema and explain and see if they can offer a refund or perhaps tickets for another day.

We're the other way round - we have a Vue in town and nearest Cineworld is at a retail park about 30 mins drive away depending on traffic (free parking though). The Cineworld has a wider choice of screens, a proper Imax and one of those 4D auditoriums with rumbling seats (haven't tried the latter). We sometimes make a day of it at the mall, shopping, lunch and cinema - usually if I have a week off work and there's a rainy day to fill. There's also an Everyman we can get to in a nearby city - 40 min train journey - that has individual reclining seats, it's on my list to try that some time.

I wouldn’t have left, that all sounds a bit unnecessarily dramatic and it’s not the cinemas fault you didn’t try to resolve it at the time. They can’t see now that you didn’t see the film, you have no proof at all.

I’d have moved seats if no staff available. If no seats I’d have gone and found someone. You do sound a bit wet @ExpensiveCinema

SEN is understandable but equally their needs don’t trump yours and they sound like idiots. They should’ve been removed for being disruptive.

That sounds really sh*t
I have SEN DC and would have removed them or not gone if i knew they couldnt cope or gone to a relaxed scteening that some cinemas do which is for young kids and people with learning difficulities.
Are you sure you didnt book into one of those screenings?
They are usually 10am ish.
Its worth complaining but i think to get a refund you should have complained at the time before you left but i get what a tricky situation it was and you had a lot of expectation, expense, and it was special occasion which made it so much worse. Im so sorry.
If you have a vue cinema near you i can give you my code for 2 free tickets valid sunday -thursday if you dm me.

Would have spoken to the people at the cinema to get a refund

If you are ever in a similar situation in future, remind yourself that the cinema staff are being paid to ensure all customers have a good experience. You don't have to be rude or aggressive just speak as you would want to be spoken to. If you don't tell them something is wrong, they can't fix it. It is also really good to model for your DC how to make a complaint if goods or services are inadequate.

I would have gone and got a staff member -l have done this in the past with bad behaviour. The seat kicking thing is the worst. Good on you for asking them to stop and l don’t see why you should move as you weren’t the disruptive ones

I would have moved seats, the staff wouldn’t even notice as the film had already started and if they said anything I would have explained why we moved.

You’ve got to be more assertive, all these are mine :

Child who’d already seen it providing a running commentary in a Spider-Man movie - vouchers

Actual baby crying during Thor - refund

Kid kicking chairs in BFG - refund

Take no shit @ExpensiveCinema lesson learned

This is exactly why I refuse to go to the cinema - always some noisy selfish person ruining it. Hell truly is other people!

I would have complained to the manager and told them to stop kicking my seat or moved if I could

also would have taken my own snacks in to save money

I have sympathy for any parent whose child is difficult or does not behave. Providing they are doing something to reduce or stop it. Which was not the case here.

I would have complained to the duty manager too.

What shit parents. They should be ashamed of themselves using their child's SEN as an excuse to be lazy and selfish.

Sorry to hear of this experience, on your son’s birthday trip to the cinema too

Think you should’ve had gone to speak with a staff member when it was happening, sounds like everyone else’s cinema experience was being disrupted too especially your family’s as you were seated in front of them

You poor thing.

You have needs too and so does your son and they are not any the less important than this woman and her son.

You were entitled to sit and watch a film in comfort.

If one person is ruining the experience of others, then it is down to that one person-in this case his mum-to stop that by either using methods she knows will work or, if they fail, by getting up and leaving. She is not entitled to spoil the experience of others.

You are not in the wrong here.

You asked politely and met an ignorant response.

Next time, when your polite request is treated like this, stand up, turn around and shout it straight at her. It will only take a moment, your confidence only has to last a moment.

Then, if that doesn't result in some considerate behaviour, go to the staff, explain and tell them that you will be moving to the Premium Seats.

Today, call the cinema or better still go, go in and explain. It's quite possible that a member of staff saw you leave early.

You are entitled to be upset, don't feel guilty about that.

Also- take your own snacks! (Discretely)
Most cinema visits with my kids, we bring our own

There are special screenings for kids who have needs that might impact others, and the fact the rest of the family didn't give a flying one about talking shows it was just an excuse not to work on his behaviour. You are not being unreasonable and im sorry such an expensive treat was affected like that.

Out of interest, is he talking about the film or other things? My daughter has a friend like that.

You need to pick your time to go. Check online how many seats have been booked for each screening - at a multiplex there are always quieter slots. We saw 'Avatar' (not the one that's just been released, the one before that) about a week after it came out and found a 3D screening on the biggest screen with only four other people - it was a Sunday morning.

Our Cineworld is relatively new because they relocated it to a new refurbished mall and while it has multiple screens, I don’t think it has the fancy ones like 4d! Not sure if there’s an Imax one in the city. I don’t even know what that is to be honest lol.
Have never heard of the other one you mentioned!
It would seem that we’re a bit restricted here! 😁

This 100%