Moonlight Cinema Review
Moonlight Cinema is an outdoor movie experience that everyone can enjoy, even the dog!
We visited the Moonlight Cinema Brisbane, hosted at Roma Street Gardens.
I had a terrific time, but I can definitely assist you in making your visit even better!
Some key tips for making your night out at the outdoor cinema a memorable one:
(Scroll down to the very bottom for a fast summary of tips, with no explanations)
Tickets & Seating
When purchasing tickets, I highly recommend paying the extra to get into the center.
General admission tickets are fine if it is a quiet night or if you arrive nice and early to snag the best sitting area.
I recommend either sitting down the front or on the back two rows, especially if you are a family of tall people. This will ensure you can see, and others can see too!
This is an Honest Review If you get stuck on the far right, or left. You will have VERY poor visibility of the screen. (Roma Street Amptihteatre venue)
Families, Arrive Early! Roma Street Venue:
There is a small playground right near the entrance gates.
Be kind to yourself and let the kids burn off some energy before you find a seat.
You may even want to go for a stroll in the parklands before the movie starts.
Comfort & Relaxation
Take pillows and a blanket, especially if you have kids.
Some Moonlight Cinema venues have beanbag seating, I still recommend a small cushion and a blanket.
Roma Street Moonlight Cinema venue has Amphitheater seating with grass and concrete base.
The grass is thick and lush, but the concrete back is not ideal for 2 hours of sitting.
We took a blanket and rolled up our hooded jumpers for pillows.
PACK BUG REPELLANT – There are some venues where you will need it.
Our visit did not get too crowded, so we were able to lay down and spread out.
Pillows are for hire! If you don’t want to lug pillows on your trip, for $5, you can hire one.
There are fold-out chairs available as well depending on the type of ticket you have.
Food & Drink
Moonlight Cinema venues all differ with food and drink rules, depending on location.
When you order hot food, you get to take a really BIG number back to your seat
Staff will deliver your food. (The kids thought this was very entertaining)
Roma Street Moonlight Cinema is BYO Food
We brought along soft drinks, chocolates, and lollies in a large esky.
For families, I recommend having dinner before arriving as you may find the options underwhelming.
Crowds were small, so It was completely understandable that dinner options were limited to a handful of menu items.
There is a bar available and light snacks. It was perfect for us and the hot food options were more than what is offered at a regular cinema.
Check your nearest venue for BYO rules.
The Outdoor Experience
Outdoor cinemas are NOT to be compared with the standard cinema you might be used to.
Embrace the open-air experience. Yes, you can hear birdlife and soft chattering.
You can also feel a sense of community.
There’s a high level of acceptance when a baby has an occasional cry, or the kids need to go for a second toilet trip.
The ambiance is beautiful. The Roma Street Moonlight Cinema sits against the gorgeous backdrop of the city lights on one side, the lush parklands on the other.
You won’t feel your seat rumble from the Dolby surround sound.
You WILL feel the cool breeze on your face, the feel of the lush grass between your toes and if you like…a glass of bubbly!
The venue has all of the regular comforts such as toilets, snack bar, and helpful staff.
Getting There
The Moonlight Cinema venues vary and locations are supplied on the Website. Check out the FAQ for additional details related to your venue.
The Roma Street Parklands venue is located close to the CBD. Convenient 9 hour parking is available. This is metered until 7pm.
Going Home
Most evening movies start at 7.15pm so can finish as late as 9.30 pm.
The Roma Street Parklands are well lit, so you will enjoy your stroll back to the car park.
QUICK GUIDE TO THE MOONLIGHT CINEMAS
- Purchase Gold Grass tickets OR Arrive early to get the best general admission seating
- Take a blanket AND a pillow – You will need it
- Pack Bug Repellant, This saved us from being bitten by midgies
- Check BYO rules for your venue, Bring your own snacks
- Let the kids burn off energy in the park before you arrive
- Enjoy the movie!