How do you transform a non-believer(of Disney)?

[Disneian]

Stemming from the : Does you spouse love Disney thread:

How do you transform a non-believer(of Disney) into a Disneyaholic?

For instance: my fiance is not a huge fan of WDW and has only been to WDW once - and only to MK and Epcot. How can I tailor our trip to maximize his enjoyment? How can I turn him into a Disneyaholic?

 

[Connor002]

Brainwashing.
Although it is a much more difficult project than much science fiction would make you believe.

 

[justducky78]

I don't know that you can "turn someone into" a disneyholic, but you can certainly try... I do believe everyone is a kid-at-heart, sometimes it's just hiding in there somewhere.

What does he normally like to do - is he a foodie, does he loves sports or what do you remember that he liked about his last trip there with you?

If you plan on going back to WDW with him soon, just take it slow, don't shove it down his throat - take time to relax.

Whether or not he turns into a huge Disneyholic doesn't really matter - if he loves you, he'll do it for you, because YOU love it so much. If over time he becomes a big fan, that's just a bonus!

 

[daverube]

Three words. Dole Whip Float.

 

[Debbie]

Three words. Dole Whip Float.

A trip to WDW must include things that tantalize him.

 

[metscool]

You bring them there a lot and then tell them about this website.

 

[SallyShine]

My husband has two problems. 1). He hates crowds 2.) He doesn't like standing in line. That being said, we have high school age kids so we can't come down during the off season. I try to utilize the fp as much as possible. Also, I make adr's to reduce wait times at restaurants. And most importantly, we make sure he does something he wants to do, like play golf. One last thing, make sure to schedule in some relaxation time. It really helps.

 

[DisneyBride94]

My husband never set foot in Disney World until he was on our honeymoon. Thta was a magical trip for us...and he's been a Disney Freak ever since.

He'd been to Disney Land a couple of times as a child (he's from Oregon)... so he had some expectations regarding Magic Kingdom... but he'd never stayed at Disney Resort before...and I think that went a long way towards completely submerging him in the magic.

When your fiance went before...did he stay off property? It is my sincere belief that staying on property makes a huge difference in your enjoyment of hte parks... If you stay off property... you loose a lot.

On our honeymoon we stayed at POFQ... and DH was just blown away by the grounds and lush landscaping... He'd never really been on a real vacation... never stayed in a hotel for more than a night or two... so I guess that was probably what really put him over the edge...

Also...it was our honeymoon...so we had a little extra spending money on hand... and we made sure to have some nice dinners that normally we coudln't have afforded at that time in our lives...

We went to Pleasure Island and fell in love with the Comdey Club and the Adventurers Club...and also the Jazz Company (no longer there, replaced by Raglan Road).

We just soaked Disney up...and enjoyed the experience of sharing it together... I think Disney is a whole different experience when you share it with someone you love...

We enjoy it now with our three children (2, 4 and 6) and love seeing their reaction to everything...but we'd go even if we didn't have kids... We look forward to spending our time there together. It's just a magical place....

Make sure you introduce him to some of the little known pleasures of the park... maybe take him for a hair cut at Harmony Barbershop... rent one of those little boats over on Seven Seas Lagoon... take him to Tyhpoon Lagoon--I mean--who can't enjoy riding around on the lazy river raft ride at Castaway Cay?

Make him a treasure hunt for the different parks... plan a special meal some place he'd like... Get lots of photos of the two of you together... make him a scrapbook afterwards...

I think he'll find it a whole new world with you. (Sorry, too cheesey??):hurl:

 

[Horizons78]

Fire works well.

In a pinch a sword, hammer or other blunt object works equally well.




Seriously though, with some of my friends I have bought their ticket so there was no expense involved with going. That has worked most of the time.

 

[Yoop33]

I have actually noticed one attraction inparticular has made people into regular Disney goes. This attraction is Mickey's Philharmagic. I think it is because it has what most people relate to disney world in the attraction. MOVIES!! Everyone has seen a Disney movie and of course have seen Alladin, Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast. So everyone can relate to this. The 3D, the smells, and the little kids laughing their heads off as they reach for the objects will do it everytime. Try that next time!!

 

[cmatt]

Well i have to say apart from pixar and a few key 2d anime's (lion king, alladdin, etc) im not really a fan *persay* of disney. I prefer the more extreme rides and would happily ride instead of the meet and greets and the shows. I see a few of the 2d anime's as moving art as i do some asian anime (the better stuff ) which includes what disney promote and supply in the states - studio ghibli (spirited away, howels moving castle....)

Flip side of that is that mrs cmatt LOVES the parks, and thats why i go, you dont HAVE to be a disney holic to enjoy the parks.... That said sometimes people just hate theme parks.... but as long as one of you likes going and the other doesnt spoil it for you - just drag him along and make him pay for everything

I see that there are a few tours of the parks now that you could book - pehaps he would be more interested in the behind the scenes and a glimpse at the logistics associated with biggest resort in the planet for holiday makes?

 

[LaserCool]

Use WDW as it was INTENDED to be used...as a resort. If you give them the opportunity, you can be really pampered and made to feel special by the staff.

If you take some time to learn how the park works, you get to see a whole different side that the day-tripping family on 4th of July weekend will never see.

 

[frankieandsean]

It was easy for my fiance to turn me into a disneyphile. I went once when I was in 7th grade, back in 1990, and went back last year so I didn't remember anything (I still thought 20,000 Leagues was open! ) We had two days during my fall break from college so we went in late October. I think that had a lot to do with it, we had no wait whatsoever for rides! It was great. We went to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Epcot was by far my favorite park. (this might have something to do with me being a Discovery Channel and National Geographic channel freak!) She knew all the good rides and the perfect times to go to them, she was also a great guide through the showcase. She also never rushed me and allowed me to take in the sights at my own pace. The other thing on a lark was MNSSHP. That was fantastic, just seeing all those people in those elaborate costumes was enjoyable and sometimes hilarious! Those are just some of the things that helped me along and in fact, we are going to Disney for our honeymoon in, you guessed it, October! I cannot wait, it is going to be awesome, even if there are lines! 67 days left, yay! :wave: Kind Regards, Sean and Frankie

 

[figment1985]

Three words. Dole Whip Float.

NOW this person knows what they are talking about! lol!


My boyfriend was not a huge disney fan like me, and what you have to do is find something at WDW that they would be very interested in. My bf loves auto technology, so at the perfect time- Test Track at Epcot was opened and he loved it. The innovations at Epcot have him wanting to go back, and the World Showcase there really reels him in because he doesn't want to travel across the world- so he can just drive to WDW and experience a taste of part of the world!!!

 

[barnum42]

You can't make anyone be something they are determined not to be. But give them enough rope and they may do it themselves.

I'm not a total immersed Disney nut - but I love the parks. Always have since I dreamed of going there as a child. Never had the opportunity to go until I was an adult and could pay my own way and made my first solo trip.

Best bet is to go and let them explore the place for themselves and find what floats their boat. Chances are they are not aware that there is more to Disney World than the castle, characters and screaming brats.

It worked for my Mother. I took her over and she went thinking "Well, I'll enjoy seeing children's faces". She was blown away by it all and has made three additional trips there.

 

[Master Yoda]

You will need 3 things.

Chair, duct tape and the WDW trip planning DVD.

:lol:

 

[Nemo14]

You will need 3 things.

Chair, duct tape and the WDW trip planning DVD.

:lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[ClemsonTigger]

There are those who are determined to dislike Disney and those that are just not familiar (in the unconverted ranks). For those that want to dis it, I don't waste my time trying to "convert" them...let them wallow in their ignorance. For those that just don't know WDW, as others have said, take it slow, start the vacation light on the parks and more into other resort activities. Ease in, leaving a visit to MK until later, so that they see it is just a bit more than "the castle".

There is more than enough great dining, there is golf, massage, boating, parasailing, fishing. Then you can go into shows like Cirque and in park shows with everything from Off Kilter, Mo Rockin, Mulch, Sweat and Shears for some good rock music, British Invasion is they enjoy the Beatles, to acrobats, living statues, Streetmosphere actors and the like.

Then you can start to introduce the parks proper and follow where their interest directs. Again, you can't try to jam it all in, just give a taste.

 

[bgraham34]

I think taking them during Christmas Time is they like Christmas is a great way of turning someone to the good side.

 

[Figment76]

I'm taking my DBF for the Food and Wine Festival. His last trip was before 1982, and he's been a Disney magic unbeliever ever since. I've asked him to give it another shot since it's been so long since his last trip, and, as he's a food and wine lover, I thought this would be a good way to break him back in gently. I'm not planning on bringing him anywhere near MK as I don't want to hit him over the head with it (I'm staying longer than he is, so I'll have time to do what I want once he's gone). I haven't been going on and on about the trip. I've been trying to find out what sort of rides he might like. Just generally working on catering to him this trip. It's sounding like we'll be spending some time in AK as he likes rollercoasters and "spider rides" - EE and Primeval Whirl, here we come! But hopefully, this will all go well. I'm so nervous he's just going to hate it all.