First Time in a Movie Theater

Updated on September 28, 2009
A.A. asks from Strongsville, OH
14 answers

I was thinking of taking my 3 year old son to see the Toy Story double feature. He has never been to the movies before and I thought this would be a great one to start with since he loves watching the Toy Story movies at home. The only problem is that the movies are going to be in 3D. Has anyone had experience with a little one watching a 3D movie? I don't want to scare him into never wanting to go back!

Thank you!

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So What Happened?

Thanks for the great advice everyone! We took him to the movies today and he loved it! He sat through both of them with no problem. He didn't wear his glasses the whole time,but he did want to wear them to bed tonight. :) The only thing he did not like was that some of the previews seemed a little 'scary' to him.

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C.B.

answers from Cleveland on

Hi A.,
I just took my 3yr old to see cloudy w/ a chance of meatballs today in 3d and he sat fine through the whole movie. The glasses are a lil big so he was messing with them not to bad though. I have also taken him to 2 other 3d movies and he was never scared. That don't make them 3d enough to the point it would be scary for a child. I bet he will be fine take him!
C.

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K.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

I took my daughter to see the Spongebob 3D motion ride at Kings Island. Since she isn't quite tall enough, she just had to sit in the motionless seat and use the glasses. She was scared, and said she didn't want to go back. I don't think they quite understand it at this age. My nephew, who is 4 was also there, and he was ok with it. I would suggest just a regular movie, and also not a double feature. But, I do agree, you know your son best!

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R.R.

answers from Mansfield on

I just took my son to see cloudy with a chance of meatballs( he will be 3 on Oct 16) he wouldn't sit still much less wear the glasses.

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P.N.

answers from Cincinnati on

A.,

My son was 4 when he saw his first 3D movie (at Disney World). It did frighten him - both the muppet movie and the one with Donald Duck. But, those are really 4D, with squirting water and such. He's 6 now, and we saw Up in 3D recently. He enjoyed it, but he did take the glasses off half way through. He just didn't want to wear them any more. He's the same with sun glasses.

Good luck!
P.

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D.F.

answers from Cleveland on

My daughter, who is 4, went to the movies with my MIL about 1 month ago. It was a kids 3D movie. She couldn't keep the 3D glasses on herself because they only come in one size fits all! And this was a kids movie!! So needless to say, she saw the whole movie blurry. If you do take him to see a 3D movie, try to find out if the movie theater carries smaller 3D glasses, or try to find some yourself. This is something we didn't think about ahead of time.

D.S.

answers from Columbus on

Hi A.,
You know your son better than anyone, but on my experience (my son is now 5), he can take only one movie at a time and when I took him for a 3D (twice already), halfway through the movies he takes the glasses off and prefers to watch the rest of it with like that, even if it isn´t clear. He´s not afraid, because at the beggining he really likes it, I just think its unconfortable for him to use the glasses for the lenght of the movie.
Good luck!

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T.C.

answers from Steubenville on

hi A., i don't think the 3D will bother him much, he mite end up just not wearing the glasses, my little boy takes them off (he is 5), glasses are alil big for lil faces. Just be prepared for him not wanting to sit thru out the whole movie. a double feature is long.GL and have fun :)

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J.H.

answers from Toledo on

My sister took my 4 year old son to see Ice Age in 3D and he also saw Up in 3D. It was cool but he really was not that into it. He was not scared by any means but didn't LOVE it. I think Toy Story would be cool but that could be LOOOONG for a 3 year old to sit through a double feature.

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K.A.

answers from Indianapolis on

My son was three when he saw his first movie in the theater, Finding Nemo. He did okay and said he liked it but he did complain about it being loud. He also had a hard time making it through the entire movie. He said a couple times that he wanted to leave. He definitely wouldn't have made it through a double feature.
He was five when he saw his first 3D movie (Muppet Vision at Disney World) and he didn't make it through the whole thing. At nine years old, he still doesn't really care for 3D movies. He may be better off at a regular one (the Muppet one had water and other real effects) but he has no interest in them whatsoever.
Just one Mom's experience. And my son is kindof a wuss about things! But definitely be prepared to leave at any point.
Good luck!

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N.L.

answers from Columbus on

Didn't really look at your other responses, but suggest you take some little snacks for him to eat, and a toy or stuffed animal for him to play with if the movie becomes too long and he begins to be disinterested, or not wanting to sit that long. I have taken my son to movies since the day he was born. :-D Even the ones that might have scared him a little, I would just let him know that it is NOT real, it's just actors and a story. I can't think of anything in Toy Story that would scare him since he has already seen the movies. And now-a-days sometimes you can see the movies fine without the glasses on as well. I probably wouldn't make the first movie a 3-D movie, because it isn't the norm, but who knows, he might think it "totally awsome!" Have Fun!

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T.T.

answers from Cleveland on

Try to rent or purchase a dvd movie that is in 3D at home so that you can watch it at home first. Then explain to your son that this is how Toy Story would look too. Maybe even take a tour of the movie theater so he can see that it is just a big television screen. That might help.

Good Luck

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H.C.

answers from Indianapolis on

I think 3 is a great age to start, but I would try a shorter movie first, not a double feature. My son was almost 3 when we tried to watch the first movie and he made it through an hour! I know Toy Story is not the longest movie, but two of them may be a little much to sit through all of it. Good luck!

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T.F.

answers from Cincinnati on

My kids were each 3 when they had their first theater experiences. They did fine with that. We have watched 3D things at home and we ALL get bored with wearing the glasses. I know it's different in a theater but I do think overall kids don't like to have sunglasses, etc. on their faces for very long.

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D.K.

answers from Indianapolis on

They AREN'T scarry! The biggest problem you'll have is making sure the glasses will stay on this head! ICE AGE III is the BEST ever!!! I think he'd really enjoy that one, too!!

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