The Drive In experience, the outdoor cinema in the United States – Road trip in Florida #4

When we spent a day at Hollywood Studios in Orlando, we passed a restaurant that replicates the American Drive In experience: the famous open-air movie theaters where you can watch a screening while sitting in your own car

The wait was too long for us to eat in this restaurant but it gave us the idea to try to live this typically American experience in a much more authentic way by going to a real drive-in

The drive-in is a true symbol of the American way of life and in particular of their adoration for cars. These open-air cinemas had their heyday in the 1960s. They are gradually disappearing: there were 4,000 of them in 1960, ten times fewer today.

By chance, we find one on the way to our road trip in Florida: the Ocala drive-in (in the city of Ocala as its name suggests).

This drive-in has two screens that show two different movies at the same time. By paying an entrance fee, you can watch two films. The first one is shown at 8:30 pm and the second one right afterwards

The rate is therefore particularly competitive since it is $6 ($3 for children vs. $15 for a traditional cinema). Two recent films can be viewed. The drive-in being a movie theater like all the others

We arrive on the scene a few minutes before the beginning of the film. You have to pass to the left or to the right of the box office depending on the film you want to watch

The price is per person and not per vehicle. In the 1950s, the less fortunate didn’t hesitate to free ride by stashing children in the trunk while they went through the ticket office

The employee gives us a flyer with the program, the instructions and the menu of available food. It is recommended to consume on site to help the cinema maintain attractive prices.

The parking spaces aren’t numbered, you can park wherever you want. One hesitates a little on the good strategy to employ: the front of the car in front of the screen? Or on the contrary the trunk facing the screen? It is finally this second option that we choose

We get out of the car to go buy some food. We go out with a huge pizza (we chose the smallest size), a huge box of popcorn (the choice of the “big” was ambitious, we didn’t even eat half of it) as well as two sodas “small” size (at least 50 cl)

By joining our car, we observe the different techniques chosen by our neighbors

Some people watch the film without leaving their car, with the front of the car facing the screen. The car is turned on during the whole session to be able to benefit from the air-conditioning..

Others settle in the trunk, the interest of the huge pickup makes sense since there is room for the whole family

Still others are perfectly equipped and take out their folding seats

Concerning the sound, if you choose to watch the movie outside your car, speakers broadcast a very correct audio

If you are watching the movie from inside your car, just turn on the radio, because the drive-in broadcasts the sound of the movie via FM frequency

If necessary, a portable radio can be requested

The option trunk of the car + sound of the speakers suits us very well, we enjoy the film and we leave at the end of the first session. We are very tired and the program of the next day is very busy

In the end, if it may seem strange to us who don’t have the drive-in culture, I think it’s very cool. Watching a movie outdoors in the summer is much more enjoyable than in a closed room. No awkward promiscuity with neighbors elbowing each other, everyone has their own space. If the movie is a turnip, you can talk or do other things without disturbing anyone. It is also ideal for those who have children and who are afraid to disturb in conventional theaters.

In any case, it is an experience to be lived without hesitation if you have the opportunity to do so during your stay in the United States

This article is part of our series of Road Trip in FloridaYou can find all other travel books here:

• 3 days in the Keys (USA) : Snorkeling in Key West, Dream beaches – Road trip in Florida #1
• Wild dolphins in Naples, The Ringling, Siesta Key Beach, Dali Museum (USA) – Road trip in Florida #2
• Ginnie Spring, Rainbow Spring (USA) – Road trip in Florida #3
• The Drive In experience, the outdoor cinema in the United States – Road trip in Florida #4
• [Practical Guide] Disney parks in Orlando (USA) : Top Attractions, where to stay, Fast Pass : Road trip in Florida #5
• Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando (USA) : Our favorite theme park – Road trip in Florida #6
• Kennedy Space Center, Hollywood Beach – Road trip in Florida #7
• Attend a rocket launch at Cape Canaveral (USA) – Road trip in Florida #8