"Voy a (infinitive)" vs. Future tense

[satchrocks]

In English, the phrase "I will eat" seems to carry more definitive force than "I am going to eat." Does the same apply in Spanish?

For example, if someone were to ask my my plans for the night (in Spanish, of course:p) and I were to respond, which would be more acceptable?

"Voy a comer, entonces voy a ir al cine"

or

"Yo comeré, entonces iré al cine."

[chileno]

In English, the phrase "I will eat" seems to carry more definitive force than "I am going to eat." Does the same apply in Spanish?

For example, if someone were to ask my my plans for the night (in Spanish, of course:p) and I were to respond, which would be more acceptable?

"Voy a comer, entonces voy a ir al cine"

or

"Yo comeré, entonces iré al cine."

It is like I explain to my students, both language.

"Will" is more direct, whereas "going to" seems to go the long way. :)

Although, I think pretty much the same as you, I think both forms are equally good, other than the perception that "will" is more direct and forceful.

Both forms in both languages convey exactly the same thing.

[hermit]

Just right...

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I don't see any difference between "voy a" and the verb conjugated in future tense.
In Mexico, people tend to use more colloquially "voy a" but both are equally valid and both mean the same.

[wafflestomp]

From my understanding it's pretty much the same usage in English and Spanish.

What sounds more natural in English? We are going to go to the movie theater or We will go to the movie theater? Obviously the first.... Vamos a ir al cine, from what I have understood, sounds more natural and normal than "Iremos al cine" but then something like this "We are going to find your parents" and "We will find your parents" the latter sounds better. In Spanish, it would be "Vamos a encontrar a tus padres" and "Encontraremos a tus padres".. from what I have read and studied as well as what I've heard from speakers the ir a sounds better in MOST situations but it has it's times where it would sound weird.

[CrOtALiTo]

Voy a comer.
Iré a comer

Comere.

They are an examples, I can give you as a hint.