So I drove 50 miles to see Equestria Girls..

Update: 6/23: This story has a HAPPY END!
 
(This post is here so I have something to link to instead of having to explain it over and over to lots of different people.)
 
It’s the closest theater to me showing Equestria Girls, and today’s the first day they were showing it (6/22). It’s only shown once, at 10am. Since it’s 50 miles away, I had to leave around 8am to get there early to make sure I got a good seat. I was worried about bringing my Derpy backpack, but everyone liked it. While I was getting my ticket a little girl screamed “DERPY!” and I let her hold it for a little while. Moms, dads, kids, even two uniformed Navy guys commented on it. “Is that Derpy Hooves? Man that’s awesome.” A 10 year old girl offered me a brohoof. Seriously.  

 
I got there early enough to get the exact seat I wanted; the theater only opens at 9, so the parking lot was pretty vacant at 9:30. There were about 10 guys outside with furry tails and MLP shirts and stuff, so that assuaged my fear of being the only non-parent adult in a room full of kids. But in fact by 10am the room was almost packed and only about half of the people in there were kids.
 
Around 10 there was an advertisement/animation thing for Equestria Girls, and there were little girls in the audience going “ooo Pinkie Pie!” and such. Then, the screen changed to a DishNetwork error screen about having no satellite connection. Someone in the audience commented “Hah, it’s just like the screen I get at home.” After about 5 minutes the screen changed to some sort of DishNetwork homepage which had different movies available, and the guy working the thing put the selector on “The Exorcist II”, or something like that, which made everyone in the audience laugh. After a few more minutes, the screen went blank and the lights dimmed.
 
Then the speakers actually started making cricket noises for a while. Still a blank screen. People were still coming in to find empty seats and running to the concession stands, so with my cellphone off I wasn’t sure exactly what time it was.
 
**= *

After about 10 more minutes, two theater employees came in.

*“Everyone! Hi, everyone, your attention please.”*

Everyone in the room: !https://derpicdn.net/media/W1siZiIsIjIwMTMvMDIvMTEvMDRfMTBfMzlfNTk4XzIzOTgxM19fVU5PUFRfX3NhZmVfZzFfZ3VzdHlfbWFrZXVwX21ha2VvdmVyX2xpY2tldHlfc3BsaXRfY2xvd25fYWZyb19oZWFydF90aHJvYl9nYXNwX3B1ZmZfNTExNGE3NTZhNGM3MmRhMGZmMDAwODUwLmpwZy5qcGciXSxbInAiLCJ0aHVtYiIsIjE1MHgxNTAiXV0/239813__150x150.JPG!

*“I am afraid I have some bad news…”*

Everyone in the room: !https://derpicdn.net/media/W1siZiIsIjIwMTIvMTAvMjkvMDRfMjlfMTNfODUzXzEzNTQ4M19fVU5PUFRfX3NhZmVfcmVhY3Rpb25faW1hZ2VfYXJ0aXN0X2Vnb3BoaWxpYWNfY2Fycm90X2Nha2Vfc2xpY2Vfb2ZfcG9ueV9saWZlIl0sWyJwIiwidGh1bWIiLCIxNTB4MTUwIl1d/135483__150x150.png!

*“We are having some technical difficulties….”*

Everyone in the room: !https://derpicdn.net/media/W1siZiIsIjIwMTIvMTEvMTcvMTdfMDNfMjZfNTM3XzE1NDkxN19fVU5PUFRfXyJdLFsicCIsInJlc2l6ZV9naWYiLCIxNTB4MTUwIl1d/154917__150x150.gif!

*”…we will not be able to show My Little Pony: Equestria Girls today. I am so sorry..”*

The Bronies: !https://derpicdn.net/media/W1siZiIsIjIwMTIvMTIvMDcvMTVfMTZfNThfODc4XzE3NTE2NF9fVU5PUFRfX3NhZmVfYW5pbWF0ZWRfdHJpeGllX21hZ2ljX2R1ZWxfcmFnZV9yYWdlX2ZhY2UiXSxbInAiLCJyZXNpemVfZ2lmIiwiMTUweDE1MCJdXQ/175164__150x150.gif!
The Kids and Parents: !https://derpicdn.net/media/W1siZiIsIjIwMTIvMTIvMjQvMTVfMTRfMTlfMTdfMTkyMzgwX19VTk9QVF9fc2FmZV9waW5raWVfcGllX2FuaW1hdGVkX2hhcHB5X3dvbmRlcmJvbHRzX2FjYWRlbXlfY3J5Il0sWyJwIiwicmVzaXplX2dpZiIsIjE1MHgxNTAiXV0/192380__150x150.gif!
The Pegasisters: !https://derpicdn.net/media/W1siZiIsIjIwMTMvMDQvMjEvMjJfNTBfMjRfMTA1XzMwNDgxMl9fVU5PUFRfX3NhZmVfYW5pbWF0ZWRfZ2lsZGEuZ2lmIl0sWyJwIiwicmVzaXplX2dpZiIsIjE1MHgxNTAiXV0/304812__150x150.gif!
Me: !https://derpicdn.net/media/W1siZiIsIjIwMTMvMDIvMDQvMjBfNDFfNThfMzg4XzIzMzU5NF9fVU5PUFRfX3NhZmVfZGVycHlfaG9vdmVzX2FydGlzdF90aGF0c2dyb3Rlc3F1ZS5wbmcucG5nIl0sWyJwIiwidGh1bWIiLCIxNTB4MTUwIl1d/233594__150x150.png!

*= **
 
Apparently, the hard drive for the projector for our room did not have Equestria Girls on it, when it should have. They could have re-downloaded it in about 2 hours, but since Equestria Girls was only being shown ONCE today, it would have collided with another movie scheduled for that room. When I turned my phone back on, it was 10:30, so I had been sitting in the theater for an hour and I didn’t even get to see the movie. u_u Heck, I didn’t even get to see any previews for other movies! Just the trivia/public service announcement stuff.
 
The worst part is that Equestria Girls is supposed to be showing tomorrow as well. At 10am. However, they could not guarantee that it would be available– we are supposed to call them at 9am when they open to see if the movie will be available tomorrow morning. The problem is that since I live 50 miles away, I have to leave around 8am to get there on time, which means by 9am I will have already driven for an hour before I even find out if I have to turn around and come home. : /
 
I do plan to try again tomorrow but I am feeling pretty crummy right now =_=

Wow, that really sucks… Sorry to hear that.

Be grateful you were spared from the mediocrity. If you really can’t wait for a DVD rip, there will surely be crappy cam leaks soon.  
Why people choose to support this is well beyond my realm of understanding. But I for one am voting with my wallet. I’ve seen the first 30 minutes, I’ve seen the last 13 minutes. I don’t need to see any more, and I won’t be spending a single cent on EqG- merch, books, comics, tickets, DVDs or anything else.  
Long live My Little PONY!

Thank you for sharing this. I’ve enjoyed reading and even felt disappointed myself that you hadn’t got to watch the movie.
 
I don’t think watching Equestria Girls and drawing a bit of attention is worth a 100-mile drive, but that’s just my opinion. And I haven’t gone to the movies for about 10 years (I wonder if it looks different nowadays).

@Background Pony  
This is what Hasbro thought we wanted. Remember that companies don’t just give up one thing, they often cut the whole line since they assume interest waned.
 
But this fandom is founded on piracy, so it doesn’t really matter.

Consider yourself lucky.

@shyflutter  

 
Oh I’m sure it’s not worth it, but the nice thing about being an adult is that you can do what you want! :D (Not like I have anything better to do anyway…) And like 5 people, mostly parents, asked me where I got the Derpy backpack and what other kinds were available and etc. I probably sent welovefine a ton of customers. XD Plus it was fun seeing how diverse the group was. The only thing missing was grandparents. I saw a few ~10 year old bronies too!
 
I was worried about a negative reception from parents, but they were all really cool. And letting the kids play with Derpy was treat.
 
Mostly I just want to see the movie so I don’t have to hide from spoilers for the next 6 weeks. So if I decide to go tomorrow and it’s a bust, I’ll just write if off and come home and play some more Diablo 3. Speaking of which, I have a Demon Hunter to level. >:O

Neat story. :)

@sirvancelot  
Good luck then.

Jesus, the haters are RELENTLESS.
 
OP, I do hope you’ll be able to see the movie because it’s great. Really. I was lucky enough to have the movie in EVERY theatres in both Laval and Montréal. However, it was only last Saturday (missed it) and THIS Saturday at 11:30AM. I knew at the last second when and where the movie was playing. So, have a copy/pasta from a shit filled thread:
 
AUUUUGGGHHHH!!!! All theatres in my city will show the movie AT THE EXACT SAME TIME AND ONLY ONE TIME. This Saturday at 11:30. I must meet a guy at 12:00 to buy something and I can only contact him through some forum…  
I’m so screwed… ;;
 
But then…
 
YEAAAAH!
 
MADE IT!
 
I could contact my seller to postpone the meeting in the afternoon and I was able to see Equestria Girls! I had to take the taxi to go to the theatre quickly. Still, EG was worth the 22$ total. Amazing movie, entertaining through, with lots of bronie shout-outs everywhere! If you ever have the chance to go see the movie, stick until the very end of the ending credits for a surprize!
 
By the way, there were only just around 5 tiny little girls for around 25 bronies (roughly between 13 and 40yo.)
 
Once again, go see Equestria Girls if you can. The movie IS A BLAST!  
Also, I could buy in the afternoon a shiny Buster Optimus Prime for just 70$ in my meet-up. So, I could see the movie AND didnt miss out on my toy. Sweeeeeet.
 
Some funny notes. Even if the movie was only available in English, most people in the room were speaking French. Also, everyone applaud and cheered Equestria Girls.
 
If/when they make a EG spinoff series, I’ll be a follower for sure.  
Haters gonna hate.

Pensacola theater?

@Kanrabat  

 
That’s great. The French dub of the is really good, so I’m sure that helped a lot. XD My friend worked in a toy store in Montreal for a long time, almost a literal hole in the wall. The place was TINY. I forgot the place’s name but it was very popular for such a small store. She’d get people coming in making $200+ orders for Transformers figurines and such on a regular basis. We had a running joke that her neighbor businesses were trying to fatten her up because they’d keep giving her free food on her lunch breaks.
 
If they do show the movie today I’ll let people know to stay past the credits!
 
@Background Pony  

 
Yup. If they show the movie today, I’ll be the four-eyed dork with the Derpy backpack.

@Itsthinking  
This is what Hasbro thought little girls wanted. At least that’s what I’m told after I say I don’t like EqG; concept, movie or toys.
 
And ive been hearing the word “hater” be tossed around a pot lately. But just because someone doesn’t like the same thing you do does not make one a “hater”. Just someone with different tastes than you.

@sirvancelot
 
Unfortunately, a Canadian French dub of the show was never made. We have to deal with the French dub from France. I know for you English speaking people it may not make any difference, but just imagine your favorite pastel colored equines with a strong BRITISH accent and way of speaking. That’s why when me, my sis and my 12yo neice watch ponies, I just put on the original english version and I translate on the fly. We all prefer the original voices because in French everyPony sound roughly the same. Even Apple Bloom have a womanly voice! Beside, the French dubs are hard to find on the net in watchable quality.
 
Oh well, maybe one day, we will have a great quality Canadian French dub. A dub that will have a reasonable budjet and some effort put into it.  
I can always dream… sigh…

@Kanrabat  

 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOi3StWmG7A  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPbhQwjiRps

I am back from actually seeing the movie this time! Yes! I called the theater while on the Pensacola bridge and got an affirmative, so I was in high spirits on the rest of the drive.  

 
It was raining off and on on the way there, but luckily it wasn’t raining at the theater. I saw a couple of the parents I had met yesterday, but the theater actually ran Equestria Girls in two different rooms this time; yesterday they only ran it in one. They seemed to send families to one room and bronies to my room, but I think they did this because they were surprised by the turnout yesterday and didn’t think they could fit us all in one room.
 
So my room was mostly full of bronies and pegasisters, but there were a couple of kids. When I sat down I put my Derpy backpack in the seat next to me, so people could see her better. One guy and his little sister (10ish?) came in the room and as soon as she saw Derpy she said “OMG! DERPY! DERPY DERPY DERPY!!! I WANNA SIT NEXT TO DERPY!”  

 
So she did, and her brother asked if he could take a picture of them together, and I said sure. He passed Derpy around to another kid and took a picture of Derpy with him too (his “non-brony brother” he called him!) and we put Derpy back in her seat. The girl was very loud and excited, and I was worried she was going to be that way through the movie as well but luckily during the movie she was very well behaved. But I noticed all through the movie that the girl kept slowly moving Derpy closer and closer to her so she could hug her. It was very cute.  

 
A couple of the people there had signs with the url gulfcoastbronies.com, which just redirects to their facebook page. I’m not a member, I didn’t know about the group before hearing about it there. After the movie they stuck around to talk and take pictures, but I thought my camera had died so I left. Turns out my camera was just being derpy.u_u
 

 
So, how was the movie itself? Well, when we first saw the rumored images and heard the basic idea of the movie, ponies turning into humans and going to high school, like most of you I didn’t think it was a very good idea. Especially with some of the later rumored artworks.  

 
With only speculation and rumors, the idea got a lot of hate, and for the most part it was deserved. People were scared about what this might mean for the future.  

 
So I went into this expecting something that was just mediocre, or something that was clearly targeting a different audience than Friendship is Magic fans. How did it go?
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
I recommend seeing the movie if you can!  
http://www.screenvision.com/cinema-events/my-little-pony-equestria-girls/ has a list of theaters by state which are showing it. Some having showings later this month, others have showings in July. The bluray/DVDs come out August 6th, I think? So you could wait. But I think you’ll have a blast watching it at the theater. It probably wasn’t worth driving 200 miles in my case, but I’m still really glad I saw it. I think you will be, too. It was like watching a 70 minute episode of the show on the big screen. Everyone left with a smile on their faces.  

@Itsthinking  
My solution: Get everyone to ignore the movie and buy the larger talking ponies instead. Even if the personalities aren’t completely right, they’re still the best quality offerings.  
I certainly won’t buy any blinds myself, ‘gambling’ shit is annoying enough when spending fake money. let someone else fuck up and I will just buy the zecoras and gildas direct.

@sirvancelot  
Good to hear that.

@Niggoslav_Krawczyk  
You realize there are lists out there that show you exactly what is in the bag, right? You really don’t think that a major corporation would have no way of tracking how many toys of each kind they make, do you?
 
And what do you want people to do? Go to a toy store and rip the toy out of a target audience member’s hands?

I live near Pensacola and I know people who went. I heard about this before reading the thread. Haha

@Kanrabat  
I want to hear Twist as a scouser. OI NUTTAH
 
 
@Itsthinking  
I don’t trust big corporations to do anything but go bankrupt these days. And they can’t even do that right (thanks OBailout). Not sure why that’s relevant anyway since it doesn’t pertain to the randomness of blind bags.
 
And I’ve done worse. I have no qualms about policing others’ children when they can’t do it themselves. I basically already do that anyway as part of my jobs.

@Niggoslav_Krawczyk  
Blindbags aren’t random to the company that makes them. They know exactly how many of each they make.
 
So they want a toy and their parents want to buy it for them. Who cares? It’s their decision.

@sirvancelot
 
I’m glad this time, everything went well and you liked the movie.
 
I really liked the movie myself and I’m looking forward for a spinoff series. Why? Despite the haters, EG was GREAT and it’s a way to have twice the ponies if a EG series is shown along the regular MLP FIM season.

@Itsthinking  
I’ve been on this planet long enough to know some people shouldn’t be allowed to make their own decisions. And about 70% of those wind up in leadership positions unfortunately.

@Kanrabat  
But it’s not “twice the ponies” it’s “twice the characters”. Humans are not ponies, despite what otherkin OCs say. No, you’re not a pony born and trapped in a human body, and Twilight Sparkle is not your Twaifu.