After months of unprecedented closures, guests can once again head on over to AMC Theatres, grab some popcorn, and settle in for a viewing of Ghostbusters on the big screen. Is it 1984 again? No, but it’s felt like decades since we last set foot inside of a movie theater, which is why we’re especially excited to be covering the grand reopening of AMC DINE-IN 24 at Disney Springs!

For today only, the theater offered special 15 cent tickets to various re-runs of popular recent films and some throwbacks, as well.

Outside, social distancing markers were set up along the queue to the ticket windows, however mobile ticketing is encouraged. While old Sonic the Hedgehog posters lined the exterior of the theater, there is an adorable Soul banner…“Coming Soon to Theaters”.

If you look closely at the windows, they’ve had ticket slots diminished to just a sliver for guests to run cards through.

Once inside, there are social distancing markers in the classic AMC red color, reminding guests to social distance.

There’s also this massive red sign pointing out that face masks are required for all guests and crew. Masks are required to stay on during the show, except when actively eating or drinking.

While the sign states masks are available for purchase, managers at the location told us that they wouldn’t be selling masks, and would instead be providing standard disposable face masks to guests for free at Guest Services, upon request.

Speaking of Guest Services, the area now has a clear plexiglass window to protect the Crew Member manning the desk.

As you enter the theater, there is a hand sanitizer dispenser, as well as a shielded podium for ticket scanning.

Next, we move on to Concessions, where there are a few notable changes. First off is a simplified menu for shorter lines and quicker service. Condiments like ketchup, relish, and butter for popcorn are available by request, as are things like napkins, lids, and straws.

Grab & Go items are still available, as are Mobile Ordering Pick-Up windows.

A-List Priority Lanes at check-out have been preserved, also with social distancing markers.

Cash is no longer accepted at the Concessions stand. If needed, guests can use cash at the ticket booth to buy an AMC card, and then they can use that to purchase concessions.

A reduced menu means only popcorn, hot dogs, and movie nachos are available as savory snacks—no pizza, chicken, or fries like the overhead sign normally advertises.

You can still grab bottles of water, bottled juices and tea, and novelty ice cream out of the self-serve fridges here.

Refills on popcorn and Coca-Cola Freestyle drinks are temporarily unavailable, and Crew Members fill up your drink or ICEE orders.

Condiment stations are either closed or roped off, but Crew Members can provide them upon request.

The entire layout of the Concession area follows a one-way traffic pattern.

Outside of each theater, you’ll find a red tub of disinfecting wipes free for guests to use on their chairs, cupholders, phones, anything they may want to disinfect before or after their movie experience.

Inside theaters with Dine-In seating arrangements, the rows themselves are already spaced 6 feet apart, so there’s no need to stagger rows. Each party is seated in its own distanced section.

Inside larger, stadium-style theaters, however, we were kind of concerned at the lack of signage or any kind of seat blocking, like we’ve seen throughout the parks. There is a bit of an honor system going on, with seats virtually blocked off when you purchase your ticket online. Every other row is available, and when a party buys their tickets, a single seat to either side of them is blocked off. Of course, this relies on people finding and sitting in the correct set of seats they purchased, which if I recall correctly, was often an issue in the past, pandemic or not.

The exact seats being used changes every showing, and every seat is sanitized using a sprayer in between showings.

In the bathrooms, not much signage was up besides this “Please wash your hands for 20 seconds” sign.

Throughout the halls of the theater, however, there’s plenty of signage, even taking up slots previously used for movie posters.

On the Dine-In side of things, In-Theatre service is temporarily unavailable. Guests must visit the Dine-In Lobby ordering station before the movie to purchase their selections. Selections will still be delivered to your seat.

A queue is set up for Dine-In ordering, complete with social distancing markers.

Here’s a look at the ordering stations, with digital and display menus available showing the limited menu.

Here, you get slightly more options, with plenty of burgers, quesadillas, sandwiches, and even nachos available.

On the snack side of things, there are wings, tots, fries, mozzarella sticks, and even chicken tenders available. You can scan a QR code for the full menu, which is available here.

As a reminder, cash is not accepted throughout the AMC.

Hand sanitizer and box of sanitized pens are available for signing receipts.

Thankfully, the MacGuffins bar is open. However, the lounge is currently closed, and there is also a limited menu here. There’s plenty of wine and beer on tap, but beyond that there’s only frozen margaritas and basic mixed drinks (one liquor and one mixer.)

Over on this side, we have a similar setup for the second Guest Services desk, with clear dividers at the desks.

Outside, updated banners show ads for Mulan, now coming to Disney+ under Premier Access starting September 4.

The photo op outside the theater (near the Orange Garage) has also been updated. It’s unknown whether Mulan will also have a theatrical release here.

So, what do you think of the new health and safety measures at AMC Theatres in Disney Springs? Will you be heading in for some throwback movies and popcorn, or going for the modified Dine-In experience? Let us know in the comments!

Jessica Figueroa