Drive-In Movies, An Insider's Guide

One of my all-time favorite things to do, is go see a movie at the drive-in.   Luckily, for us, there is one only 45-minutes away.  I've been going to the 99W Drive-In in Newberg, Oregon since I was in high school.  Other than the 99W theater, the only other drive-in experience I remember was when I was a little kid.  My dad, sister, and brother all piled into his Nash Metropolitan convertible and parked at a drive-in in SE Portland.  We bundled up with blankets and watched Ghostbusters.  It is one of my fondest memories and maybe that is why I am always so excited to visit the drive-in.

Ghostbusters was my first drive-in movie experience.

My brother, sister, and dad posing with the Nash Metropolitan.

My sister, brother, and me in the metro.

Last weekend, my husband and I decided to take our boys to see a movie at the drive-in.  My oldest son, Everett, went to the drive-in when his brother, Pierce, was just a baby.  So, it would be our first whole-family drive-in experience and to say I was excited would be a colossal understatement.  I was stoked to share this experience with both of my boys and Everett was excited to show Pierce the ropes.

My husband, getting all our blankets in order.

All bundled up and ready for the show!

My boys and me waiting for How to Train your Dragon 2.

The 99W Drive-In opened in August of 1953.  The 99W Drive-In can accommodate 275-300 cars.  The theater shows a double-feature every Thursday-Sunday during the summer.  They have an intermission between films, so patrons can stock up at the snack bar.  Other than a couple screen replacements due to storms, the drive-in has not had any major renovations.

In 2013, the 99W Drive-In won Honda's Project Drive-In Contest, which upgraded their pictures from film to digital.  Without this contest, the drive-in would have had to foot the $80,000 bill for this required upgrade.  (Thank you Honda and voters.)   After the contest, Honda promptly upgraded the theater to digital and drive-in was able to resume business as usual without even a hiccup.

Read more about the Honda contest HERE.  (Photo Credit:  kgw.com)

Drive-in movies are a rare treat.  Currently, there are only two drive-in theaters in Oregon.   Check out drive-ins.com to see if there's a drive-in near you.  If there's one close by, pack up the car and give it a go.

To have a successful drive-in movie experience, there are a few things you need to keep in mind...

BEFORE YOU GO...

• Check the Weather:  The best seat is under the stars.  Back a tarp, just in case the weather changes.  (We have to be prepared for everything in Oregon.)  Pack a ton of blankets and layers to stay warm during the film.
• Review the Drive-In Rules:  Many theaters allow food and most theaters will not allow alcohol (duh).  We were shocked to discover that our local drive-in allows pets, as long as they are leashed.  Our dog, Charlie, was excited to join in on our adventure.  
• Call Ahead:  Many theaters sell out during the summer months.  Call ahead to see how early you should arrive.  At our drive-in theater, we try to arrive between 7:00-7:30PM to get a good spot.
• Pack a Picnic:  The gate opens at our local theater a couple hours before dusk, so there's plenty of time to eat and play before settling in under your blankets.  If the drive-in rules allow, pack a picnic of food and drink for dinner.  Finger food items are usually easy to pack and eat.  If we fail to pack anything else, we would be fine as long as we had our one essential item - a giant thermos full of coffee.  You can just buy dinner at the snack bar, but we usually just buy our movie snacks there.  It's a win win - we save money and support the business.  
• Other Essentials:  Blankets, pillows, lawn chairs, an AM/FM radio, bug spray, PJs for the little ones (they'll probably fall asleep), etc.

WHILE WAITING FOR THE SHOW...

• Entertainment Essentials:  Bring a football, Frisbee, or a deck of cards to keep you entertained while waiting for the sun to go down.  Don't forget a battery powered AM/FM radio, so you can actually hear the movie.  We got the Ion Block Rockers for Christmas this year and were so excited to put it to use. (Update:  This speaker was perfect for the drive-in.  Great sound.)
• Support the Snack Bar:  If you didn't pack a picnic (or even if you did), go support the snack bar.  Drive-in theaters do not make much from ticket sales, so most of their revenue is from the snack bar.

DURING THE SHOW...

• Best Seat in the House:  If you have a car, bring the lawn chairs.  If you have a truck, sit in the bed.  We load our truck with all the extra blankets and pillows that we can find.  Drive-in theaters usually don't allow people to sit on the ground, for safety reasons, so be prepared. 
• Enjoy your Experience:  Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

AFTER THE SHOW...

• Clean-Up:  Make sure you clean up your area before heading home.
• Manners, Manners, Manners:  Let the employees know that you had a great time.
• Drive safely:  Drink the rest of your coffee (if you have any left) and drive safely home. 

  I hope you're feeling prepared to experience the drive-in for the first time (or for the first time in a long time) and that the drive-in becomes a new summer must for you and yours.  Have fun!

Be sure to share your experience and/or add additional tips in the comments.