Atlantis

[LuvTDL]

Hi there!
I got a postcard a few weeks ago about Atlantis playing at the El Capitan theater.

Any of you going?

And.. if you're going.. are you going for regular admission or VIP admission?

[dgthx]

I'm going. I'm not gonna get the VIP though. I did that for the original Toy Story a few years back. It wasn't worth it.

[JeffG]

I am going and I always get the VIP seats. I don't like sitting off to the side in movie theaters and the VIP tickets are the only way to get seats that I would personally consider to be acceptable.

When you think about it, $20 for a reserved seat, popcorn, and a softdrink isn't really unreasonable at all relative to today's movie theater prices. I actually think that the non-VIP tickets are more of a rip-off considering that it is next to impossible to get a decent viewing angle.

-Jeff

[adriennek]

oooh, I'm disagreeing with Jeff... Sorry, Jeff....

I've seen Mary Poppins, Toy Story 2, and Bug's Life, all from the general admission seats at El Cap. I personally, would not pay for the VIP tickets. You have to ask yourself: Is $9 for a bucket of popcorn, a soda, and a potentially more center seat worth it? (there are seats that are "gen admin" that are just a couple of feet from the VIP seats.)

If you have a child, the price difference is $11-- would your child eat all the popcorn?

If you have 20 friends who want to go with you, the price difference goes to $13! (Hey, with the internet and message board communities, this is not hard to do-- I saw both TS2 and BL with groups of 20+ so we could get discount tix....)

As far as "no waiting in line" is concerned-- it's more like: you wait in a different line that goes in first.

I still think that the experience at El Cap is fun, but I'm not a big fan of the VIP option.

Adrienne K

[JeffG]

One thing I should have noted in my message is that they have >significantly< expanded the size of the VIP sections for the last couple releases. The non-VIP seats are now pretty much just the extreme sides of the theater. I did see "A Bugs Life" and "Toy Story 2" in the non-VIP sections and was able to get seats that were ok. The seats I had for both of those shows would now be in the VIP section. I wouldn't be that surprised if they eventually eliminate the non-VIP tickets altogether. They seem to be moving in that direction.

Another important consideration is that "Atlantis" is a scope film. A centered seat is going to be more important for this film than it has been for most of the previous Disney animated releases.

I do agree that the prices for the VIP seats can get pretty high, particularly for families with children. I admit that I may get some flack for this, but I'm not sure that is such a bad thing. Seeing a film at the El Capitan is really a premium experience and I'm not really sure it is the best place to take small children to see a film, even if it is a Disney animated release.

-Jeff

[adriennek]

Originally posted by JeffG

I do agree that the prices for the VIP seats can get pretty high, particularly for families with children. I admit that I may get some flack for this, but I'm not sure that is such a bad thing. Seeing a film at the El Capitan is really a premium experience and I'm not really sure it is the best place to take small children to see a film, even if it is a Disney animated release.

Jeff, you won't get flack from me on that one...

I agree on this point and have said so in my original review of the Mary Poppin's sing along. I think that the 'value' of taking a young child to El Cap to see a movie will vary from family to family.

I took Matthew to Bug's Life at El Cap-- but he was like 3 months old so he was free and slept through the movie.

That is so unfortunate, IMO, that they've expanded the VIP section. The experience at El Cap is fun, but for us to drive up to LA is more than a 2-3 hour experience, more than the price of the tickets... Well, I guess I'm again not their target audience....

I really hope I'm not the only parent starting to feel priced out of the Disney Market.... Hmmmm, that gives me an idea for a thread....

Adrienne K