How to keep husband happy at WDW?

Jacquellie

Jacquellie

Member
My husband doesn't want to go to disney. He's too serious and political - he's somehow against it because it's big business and fake. He has never been. he sees pics and i know he just sees mickey mouse and thinks its all just for kids. I ADORE Disney and am desperate to go back. I think it's really romantic and imagine us with our wee baby girl at AKL, relaxing, eating and having fun. Anyone got advice for pleasing a grumpy old stick in the mud? I actually think his problems are deep seated - I think he's somehow afraid of letting go and also guilty because no one he knows can afford to do something so fancy. We can't really, we live in Scotland, but I'm saving up like mad.
 
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Jacquellie

Jacquellie

Member
Original Poster
JCtheparrothead said:
I have the same issue coming up with a very good friend of mine that is coming down with his son (first time) and his wife (second time). And then there is us (499th time...I wish). He is a cynic, straight shooter, uptight, and a list of other issues and I took his visit as a challenge. The thing I find with all the people the come visit us for the first time n WDW is that overwhelming them does not help. You love the world because you have been there before but don't make their first time their last. Commando assault on the disney parks is fun...don't do that with a first timer (unless they beg you by the third day). Everyone on here is right. What does he like to do on other vacations. Let him help plan and get him involved and it will help out. Don't go to magic kingdom on Christmas Day and stay away from small world until the 4 th or 5 th day and you should be alright.

As for me well I have an uphill battle. My buddy's wife told him he was coming whether he likes it or not. I know that he has a fun side and I will use the best weapon i can get a hold of to pull that out of him....seven dwarves and their sharp pic axes. No really it's beer. And booze. But mostly beer.

Good luck on unleashing the inner child. We all have it in us, sometimes it just needs to be released again.
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So wise. You're right actually. I've been planning all these things to entertain him and really, I know easy does it will work better - great point, I want him to want to return. Good luck with your own case study! Hope you let s know how that goes! X
 
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BigDave

BigDave

Active Member
UMMM...well...I REALLLLYYY shouldnt comment on this post.
But there are plenty of adult things to do that are not childish. Some amazing resorts to stay at (AK Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, etc) that are very adult-ish and not too many screaming kids running around. Great dinning options in the parks (EPCOT) and resorts (GF, Poly, etc). Fishing, golf, pools, boating, etc. Depends on what he likes.

Show him that old Disney World commercial where the Big Guy doesnt want to go to Disney and at the end he is running around with mouseears on...
 
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Gojira ゴジラ

Gojira ゴジラ

Well-Known Member
I did not have a chance to read all the replies but maybe you want to try something light first, maybe start with a Disney Cruise.

My coworker's husband did not like Disney, I encouraged her to get him on a Disney Cruise first which they did last March. Her husband loves it and is thinking of booking a sea+land trip for next year.
 
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Jacquellie

Jacquellie

Member
Original Poster
Mukta said:
Tell us about him and what he likes to do with his free time and on vacation. We can give you lots of ideas.[/mlAl"


So Very kind of you to try to help. Well, here goes - he's not easy.
His likes/interests:
Fancy restaurants - spicy food, maple syrup, veggie food, cakes.
Coffee fanatic - especially with yummy cake in the afternoon.
Live music - folk, Celtic, 1970s, Bruce Springsteen, dancing with his missus!
Boats, sailing
Saunas and steam rooms
Gentle cycling - especially if he could put our toddler on the back.
Cinema
The Aristocats (because our daughter does)
Singing - karaoke
Talking politics while propping up a bar!
He's Irish, from Belfast, and a poet - and that's mainly what he's all about - he likes to read poetry and goes to poetry readings at home.
The odd single malt whisky
Chocolate
The stars
Jack Bauer and 24!
Christina Aguilera
Anything that makes our daughter light up - she'll be 2 or just turned 3 when we get there.
Sleeping - this is a big issue, we both work nightshift and have a baby with no family or childcare around so we are both very sleep deprived. If I could somehow make this stress free and relaxing - with some babysitting thrown in to give us a break - I think that would work, using the sage advice offered here. But I also want to have fun!
Also, want to win him over to idea of disney - I liked another suggestion of showing him old advert for disney.
It's a hearts ad minds thing.

What he feels uncomfortable with:
Poshness and formality
Being railroaded or rushed, pushed, hassled
Thrill rides
Heat and traipsing about
Feeling like he's being brainwashed
Fearing I'VE been brainwashed
Unreality - scares him, insists on blunt truth, including not deluding our daughter, eg about Santa
"Rich people"
Golf ("rich people's thing")
Being told what to do - rejects advice.
"Stepford land"
Corporate-ness, capitalism

His major beef about WDW is that it's in America and he's never been to the States but would love to visit New York, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco. He thinks it's a waste to cross the Atlantic and not see anything else (obviously, he doesn't understand the scale and variety of WDW - he thinks he's going to a play park for a fortnight - he knows NOTHING about it)
He's trying to hijack it by saying "if we're going all that way we should catch an internal flight to NYC for a few days".
I've got this image of two weeks of luxury chill time plus entertainment - a real holiday - not packing and unpacking and sitting in planes and cars.

Any thoughts much appreciated. Xx
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Mukta

Mukta

Well-Known Member
Celtic music: There is a fun band that plays in Epcot called Off Kilter. You two can dance and enjoy the bagpipes.

Restaurants - The food quality is best at the signature places like Citricos and Jiko, but I fear that he may find them a bit stuffy for his taste. I would recommend Sanaa and Marrakesh for spicy, non-stuffy eating.

The hotels around the Boardwalk/Beach Club hotels have surrey bikes you can rent. You can put your daughter in the back of those.

They also have boat rentals in that area.

There is a dueling piano bar called Jellyrolls. If you get a Disney sitter for the night, you two can go (21 and over only) and sing along to great music. The deluxe hotels have a babysitting service.

You can meet Marie from the Aristocats in the France pavilion in Epcot.

Go in September or February for the lowest crowds and better prices. If he doesn't have to wait in lines, he will like it more.

Buy a copy of the unofficial guide and read it yourself to see what else might appeal to him. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unofficial-...ds=unofficial+guide+to+walt+disney+world+2014
 
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Mr Toad

Mr Toad

Well-Known Member
I do not envy you in the least. Trying to get someone to like something they do not like is a tall order indeed. World Showcase and parts of Future World may appeal to him. Don't be surprised if he still doesn't like Disney.
 
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Joshua&CalebDad

Joshua&CalebDad

Well-Known Member
You guys are making this way too complicated. Just ask your husband to bend over and pull the stick out of his you know what!

In all seriousness and I might make some people mad but that's okay; Disney is meant for people who know how to let loose and get in touch with their inner child. The more child like the person can be, the better time they will have, whether it be in the parks or doing some other activities at the resort.

My wife wasn't all that thrilled about staying onsite and going to Disney prior to our first family trip with our boys 3 years ago. 3 years later and we will have done 3 week long trips (1 each year) and we are set for a Disney Cruise next year. I wasn't overly worried about her to begin with because I knew that she loved to play with our boys and would get down to their level (childlike), she just didn't understand the draw to Disney. Once we did our first trip, she was sold and has even stated to many of our friends that she doesn't understand why some people refuse to go or refuse to stay onsite for that matter. She loves being fully immersed by it all.

If your husband knows how to let loose and be a kid when its time he'll do great, if not, good luck but he may never crack. Don't mean to be the "Debbie Downer" but I just want to make sure that you know that some people, no matter how hard you try, will never be into the Disney magic. I wish you and your family the best of luck.
 
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dreamfinder

dreamfinder

Well-Known Member
Jacquellie said:
What he feels uncomfortable with:
Poshness and formality
Being railroaded or rushed, pushed, hassled
Thrill rides
Heat and traipsing about
Feeling like he's being brainwashed
Fearing I'VE been brainwashed
Unreality - scares him, insists on blunt truth, including not deluding our daughter, eg about Santa
"Rich people"
Golf ("rich people's thing")
Being told what to do - rejects advice.
"Stepford land"
Corporate-ness, capitalism
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Well, as long as you don't stay at the Grand Floridian, or eat at Victoria & Alberts, Citricos, or Narcoosees, then you should be fine RE the poshness. Plenty of slower non-thrill rides, especially good for your daughter as well. Going during the slower season of maybe September, or early December can help with crowds, pushing and heat (and December you can see Christmas decor!) As far as corporate and capitalism, maybe try camping at Fort Wilderness?
 
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smk

smk

Well-Known Member
I am so happy to say that I am married to a WDW nut, a perfect match for me. Our daughter over heard our conversation about our upcoming trip and basically called him out as being a secret WDW fan. I think it may have been the first time she really heard him excited about going, all the other times he has said he is going for me, so I have a good vacation. That is all show, he is really the one that drives the WDW train, even now down to planning what days to be in what parks. I don't even do that! He is even planning where he wants to eat and we NEVER do that!

I hope to OP finds a way to get her family at least once to WDW, it will works it's magic on her family and then they can plan trips again and again and again, just like the rest of us nuts.
 
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real mad hatter

real mad hatter

Well-Known Member
Mr Toad said:
I do not envy you in the least. Trying to get someone to like something they do not like is a tall order indeed. World Showcase and parts of Future World may appeal to him. Don't be surprised if he still doesn't like Disney.
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Sorry..But I disagree..If he's never been,how does he know he won't like it..When my little darling asked me in 2004..I wasn't exactly jumping over the moon,especially when I saw how much it was going to cost us..A bit like food,you don't know if you'll like it till you taste it..Thats what happened to me..Now WDW is my favourite meal.:hungry: I'd have it for breakfast,lunch,dinner,and supper.:happy:
 
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experiment624

experiment624

Well-Known Member
I converted my ex-fiancé. We stayed at Wilderness Lodge which dazed him at first sight. On the first full day we went to MK, I thought the magic would grab him, and while it was a nice experience his response was, "eh, I could do this once every ten years." Then on the second day, we went to AK, and he said, "I could come back here in five years." Then on the third day at HS he said, "A good place to visit every other year, maybe." Then at EPCOT on the fourth day, having a frosty beer he said, "I would do this again next year!" and then....I took him golfing at one of the gorgeous courses at WDW and he said, "WHEN ARE WE COMING BACK?" He was hooked. He learned that Disney wasn't just the Magic Kingdom Park as some confuse it to be, but realized, it is a whole world. We went back to MK on the sixth day, where he became child-like and he finally found the magic. Sure golfing helped him relax too.
 
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Poofiesdream

Poofiesdream

Well-Known Member
My husband would never go to Disney! He goes because he knows it makes me happy. He would rather stay home and sleep in front of the TV on the recliner. He will admit once he gets there he has a good time. I try to plan things I know he will like. Staying at the resort he likes, and eating where he likes. I also plan no park days to just relax around the resort and pool. What really helped was this year I bought him a scooter that fits in our trunk of the car. No more worries of getting a painful knee or back from all the walking! He now doesn't dread the trip so much!
 
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