Mmkay.. Whatever floats your boat.

So has anyone been to this yet? I'm contemplating whether to see Avatar in this, Warren or drive to Tulsa...

Would love to see Avatar at the new Imax at Quail...Is it confirmed it will open the weekend of Avatar's release?

Would love to see Avatar at the new Imax at Quail...Is it confirmed it will open the weekend of Avatar's release?
I was in Quail yesterday and there big sign said Imax now open.

Would love to see Avatar at the new Imax at Quail...Is it confirmed it will open the weekend of Avatar's release?

The theater is already open. AMC's website already has showtimes for Avatar in that theater scheduled.

This was posted a few days ago on the Kansas City Star website.

AMC lays down the law: No more outside snacks (http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/1603153.html)


It’s fade-to-black for bringing your own snacks into AMC theaters.

“Not allowing guests to bring (snacks) in is consistent with many other entertainment venues, whether concerts, live theater, sporting events,” said Justin Scott, spokesman for Kansas City-based AMC Entertainment Inc.

AMC said that after reviewing its policy on concessions, it began testing the “no outside food” rule in October and is now rolling it out nationwide.

“We had always allowed guests to bring in whatever they want even though people didn’t think we did,” Scott said.

He wouldn’t elaborate on why AMC made the change, but the theater chain has seen declining revenues as people cut back their movie attendance during the recession or use cheaper and more convenient alternatives such as Netflix and Redbox.

AMC’s revenue from concessions, which makes up a big part of a theater’s profits, has also dropped.

Scott wouldn’t comment on customer response to the new policy.

On Monday at AMC’s BarryWoods 24 theaters, Julie McGohan of St. Joseph said she typically brings a candy bar but would stop if that wasn’t permitted.

Then another member of her party opened up a purse and pulled out a big box of Milk Duds.

“We’re going to have to start bringing bigger purses,” she said.

Another patron, Brigid Derby, said AMC food and drinks were too expensive and that given the economy, it was outrageous to stop customers from bringing in snacks to save some money.

But, she said, she’s still going to the movies.

“We need a little escapism and can it find in the movie experience. We’re going to keep on keeping on.”

As part of rethinking its concession policy, AMC also said it was revamping its concession menu to offer more choices and value. Its Olathe theaters feature everything from French toast to Thai coconut chicken tenders.

The National Association of Theatre Owners in Washington, D.C., declined to comment on outside food policies except to call them “company-by-company decisions.”

Dickinson Theaters in Overland Park also declined to comment on its policy.

Butch Rigby said he has a no-outside-food rule at his two area Screenland theaters and called AMC’s new policy “reasonable.”

“You are not really paying for the movie when you buy a ticket. A certain percentage goes to the studio, and then we have to pay for the double-high ceilings, the digital equipment,” he said.

“Yes, it is more expensive to buy a candy bar in a movie theater, but you are paying for the experience. We do most of our profits, if not all, on concessions. You wouldn’t take an entree into a restaurant.”

Still, he said, the two Screenlands try to be competitive on the price of their concessions, even for alcoholic beverages.

Tivoli Cinemas in Westport is surrounded by eateries and coffee shops, so it takes a “laissez faire” approach to outside food.

“My policy is: I would like for you to buy it from us, but am I going to alienate people by being strict about it?” said owner Jerry Harrington. “We don’t sell coffee, so if they want to bring it in that’s OK, or they say, ‘We just had dinner; can we bring this in?’ OK.”

“I like people and want them to like us.”

Brian Mossman, a partner in the Fine Arts Theatre Group, which owns three area theaters and has three more under development, said a no-outside-food policy is clearly posted at the ticket windows.

However, the theaters will offer to store drinks in coolers, and they let patrons take in bottled water, asking only that they take the empty bottles with them after the show.

“Sandwiches, foods, anything we don’t sell, we don’t want to pick it up later,” Mossman said.

“And everyone’s cost is going up, probably one reason (AMC) is cracking down on it.”

So will the new restrictions be more bomb or blockbuster?

“When people are used to doing something and then you try to go back and change it, it’s difficult,” Mossman said.

I'm not much for eating anything at the movies, and I'm not much for AMC in general, but I'm curious if anyone's run into this new policy at Quail Springs yet. There has been previous discussion here that there was some sort of agreement between AMC and the mall that AMC would allow outside food brought in from the food court there.

“We had always allowed guests to bring in whatever they want even though people didn’t think we did,” Scott said.

This is exactly correct. My sister worked there. I don't think it was any kind of agreement with the mall. It was just a matter of that being their policy but they didn't advertise it. I knew it was because she told me, so I walked in with Chick-fil-a in my hand on numerous occasions and no one said a thing. But obviously they weren't going to put up a big sign that says "bring in any outside food you like".

But now they have big red signs saying no outside food or drink is allowed. I don't blame them at all. That's been movie theatre policy in general for decades. I was always surprised that they didn't have it at AMC.

Somewhat surprised they stayed in business without having a lock on concessions. Although, I suspect Winchester and other drive-ins that still exist face similar issues. Difficult to police folks hitting micky D's or LJS or KFC when they are bringing their own seating and sound systems with them.

Well they didn't advertise that was their policy, so most people I think assumed they were not allowed to bring in outside food.

So has anyone been to this yet? I'm contemplating whether to see Avatar in this, Warren or drive to Tulsa...


If you're goal is to see it in IMAX, definitely go to Tulsa. The IMAX at Quail is not a "true" IMAX. The screen is hardly larger, if at all, than Quail's other larger auditoriums. In fact, I think it would probably be safe to say the Ciné Capri at Harkins and the Grand Auditoriums at the Warren are larger. That's how it looked to me when I checked it out. I didn't ask for specific specifications.

Also, you mentioned going to Warren, but they don't have an IMAX. You might know that already and were planning on going there in lieu of IMAX, but if not FYI.

Yeah I knew that, I really enjoy the look of Warren's digital screens. Is it that much better to go see a movie in IMAX? I haven't seen one yet in that format...

I don't think so, unless the movie was specifically shot for IMAX theatres. IMAX uses a different aspect ratio than most movies, so unless the movie was shot with IMAX in mind it won't fill up the whole screen. I don't believe Avatar will be formatted for IMAX, but I could be wrong.

I would probably just see it in one of the digital 3D theatres in town rather than drive out to Tulas or pay even more to see it on AMC's fake IMAX.

Let me provide a slightly different opinion. I went to see Carol this weekend in IMAX 3D at Quail. It was great. The screen is definitely larger and the sound is amazing. I will definitely do it again, though not for every movie shown in it. It's worth the extra few bucks on occasion.

If you're goal is to see it in IMAX, definitely go to Tulsa. The IMAX at Quail is not a "true" IMAX. The screen is hardly larger, if at all, than Quail's other larger auditoriums. In fact, I think it would probably be safe to say the Ciné Capri at Harkins and the Grand Auditoriums at the Warren are larger. That's how it looked to me when I checked it out. I didn't ask for specific specifications.

Also, you mentioned going to Warren, but they don't have an IMAX. You might know that already and were planning on going there in lieu of IMAX, but if not FYI.

you could not be more wrong ... the IMAX at Quail is as true as imax gets ..

IMAX at Quail is the new "Digital IMAX" that has a smaller screen than the original IMAX. Here is a picture showing the size difference. The screen at Quail is the smaller one. http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/zz1bcb112e.jpg


If by true IMAX you mean the larger screen size, you are completely wrong Bouldersooner. If you mean new Digital IMAX, then yes it is.

Not sure why IMAX decided to dilute their brand image so much. . .