How I Survived 11 Days at WDW with a Disney-Resistant Husband **2/20 THE END **

[oboedm]

Signing onto your TR! Your kids are so cute and I love all your pictures! Can't wait to hear more!

 

[cdotla]

Hi cdotla - I happened upon your thread and the title drew me in - I, too, have a Disney-Resistant Husband who sounds like he could be brothers with your DH. After three trips (two short ones without kids, one longer one with kids in 2007) he had decided that there is no reason to ever go back. I don't think he will hold to it - the kids will see to that - but we certainly aren't planning annual trips or buying into DVC anytime soon. I feel your pain while reading about his impatience with the lines and the chaos at the character meals and shows. My DH is the same way - hates crowds and lines - and also doesn't like the amount of money that Disney costs (even though I spend hours finding bargains, planning trips at slow times of the year and planning itineraries to avoid lines). Anyway, I definitely want to read your Childless Mommies TR because I am heading down to Food and Wine in November with several girlfriends to celebrate our 40th birthdays! I hate to say it, but without DH, it will be a much easier trip.

How exciting!!! I am sure you will have a fabulous time travelling with girlfriends for F&W! It is such a different experience doing Disney without the kids. There will likely be a number of moments when you see other families with kids your kids' ages and wish they were there with you. But personally, I experienced many more moments of sheer happiness to be able to eat, drink, shop, drink, tour, listen to music, drink, lay poolside, drink, ect without them.

I loved your update! Looks like a great day at the beach and spent with family .

Thanks Nichole! It was a great day!

What a fun, but sad update!

I love the Florida beach and it is worth the 2 hour drive each way. Much as I love the pool...it is not the same as playing in the surf. Just the sound of the surf relaxes me. Your pictures made me wish we had a beach day scheduled!

Those rays are something else! I actually just ordered some special sunscreen for our trip as it is so much more intense there I'm upgrading what we are using all around for better protection. I am glad at least the kids didn't get burned but ouch for you and Chris.

It sounds like a lovely day and evening all around.

How very very sad about Chris's aunt.

Thanks Cynthia!

I think in our haste to ensure that the kids weren't burning, Chris and I forgot about ourselves. Plus, there is always that thought...I tan, not burn....that I let slip into my mind, sometimes underestimating the amount of sunscreen that I need.

Big lesson learned this trip...it is so not worth it! I love a tan, but I literally can't stand seeing burn on my skin, or anyone else's for that matter. I think it took at least 3-4 days for my redness to go away. So again...big lesson learned!

The West Coast beaches are awesome, we always spend a week on the west coast either before or after our trips to the world!

Glad you had a good day at the beach, seems like it was well worth the drive! I saw some new sunscreen at Shoppers Drug Mart that is SPF 100!!! I will have to try it next time as I always burn in Florida!

Looking forward to your next update!

Wow! SPF 100??!!!

Not sure about that...I do like a little color going onto my skin...but, I will be using at least an SPF30 from now on!

looks like a nice day at the beach, despite the long drive there & the late arrivals !

Your DH's cousin's house looks so much like my parents' house in Bradenton FL!


Emma x

Thanks Emma! I didn't know your parents' house was in Bradenton. Great place! Close to beaches AND awesome shopping!

I started reading your TR because we're staying at the Beach Club next March, but since then I've come to realize that we have a couple of things in common! We also have two kids (DD14 and DS12) and are Canadian (live in the Prairies now, but DH was born and raised in Charlottetown). In fact, we're traveling to the Maritimes next month to visit with friends and family on PEI and two of DH's sisters in Halifax.

Anyway, I'm thoroughly enjoying your TR! Thanks for the time and effort that goes into each "episode".

So glad you are reading! And yes we do have a few things in common.

Hope you have a fantastic trip to the Maritimes next month. We have been having absolutely fantastic weather here lately! Hopefully it will stick around for your trip!

 

[cdotla]

I love this trip report and every trip report you have written here on the DIS!

You really do have a way with words. Are you familiar with the mega-successful blogger, The Pioneer Woman? I love reading her stuff, too, and you remind me of her. You keep things real and are just so open and honest. I can identify with you and the things you go through.

It makes me feel good to read your trip reports--it's like someone understands my world! Thank you for sharing!

I can't wait to read more!

WOW! Thank you so much! What an amazing compliment!

I actually used to read the Pioneer Woman quite a lot, but haven't been over there in a long time. I will have to check her out again!

Thank you so much for posting - your comments really mean a lot!

I'm so sorry to hear about your MIL's sister! You are so right - life is so short and you never know when the last time you spoke or saw someone might indeed be your last.

Your children are so adorable - you all are a beautiful family! I have to agree with you that I don't understand why your husband doesn't seem to enjoy Disney as much as you when he is there but raves about it to friends and family! I think it may be the long lines - my late husband was like that (he never had been to WDW - he passed away at a Kissimmee motel on our first journey there in December 1994). I remember saying to him that he will encounter crowds and lines and was worried how he would handle it. Two of my sons are like that and one of those is my youngest son who will be going on his first trip to WDW this year. Will be interesting to see how he enjoys it...

So sorry to hear about your late husband's passing. That must have been so difficult for that to have happened on your way to a vacation - how terrible!

Hopefully your son will enjoy his 1st visit this year! Get him prepared for the crowds, and then, hopefully let the Disney Magic do it's work!

Gosh Trish, I remember in your PTR when your plans for this day got changed what a bummer it was to give up Teppan Edo. the concept that you would drive 2 hours to meet local family at the beach only to have them show up hours later is simply foreign to me! However, it does look like you had a wonderful time at the beach and enjoyed the company of the cousins once they arrived!

How nice the kids got to meet and spend time together! But so sorry about the family's loss.

Hey Katie! The wait on the beach initially wasn't that bad - we were having a lot of fun hanging out ourselves on the beach. But by the end, we were definitely wondering what was going on.

Chris and I have decided though that the next time we make plans to meet the cousins, we will meet them at their place, or they can come to ours. No way are we going someone like a beach, or restaurant, and waiting for them.

Looks like you had fun at the beach, even though you were waiting for company the whole time! I have been known to be late, but never THAT late!

And dinner sounds great too...how sweet of them to have a cake and a present!

I'm so sorry to hear about your MIL's sister. My dad died of cancer (one year after finding out he had it, 6 weeks after being told they thought they got it all) at 63, 6 weeks before my daughter was born on what would have been his 64th birthday. So I am reminded every day of how short life is. (Poor death reminder DD! Obviously, it's not her fault, but it is very unfortunate. ) Life is short.

So sorry to hear about your Dad's passing. And even sorrier he did not get to see your daughter. Chris' Dad passed away around the time Katie was born too...however, we were lucky that he did get to hold her as a newborn baby just before he passed on.

Life really is too short, isn't it?

Sounds like you guys had a really nice day with family!! I love the Gulf coast-- and your cousin's house/pool is beautiful!

Yes, it was a great day! And both of Chris' cousin's homes was beautiful. What I liked best about it was that it was in a beautiful residential area where all the homes were meticulously maintained and gorgeous, and there was so much activity of the street. Kids and men out playing basketball, women jogging and walking, and a really nice warm community feel.

We met about 8-10 neighbours who were out and about just in the couple hours we were there, and they were all so nice and friendly. They kept calling the group of us "The Canadians" and tried to recruit my husband & I to move down.

Ok, I have just started reading your report, and let me just say that I am floored by your daughters b-day party! If you don't do this for a living, you totally should! Everything looked awesome!!

Thanks so much for posting, and Welcome!

And thank you for the nice comments about my daughter's party! I really enjoyed putting it together!

The beach looks lovely!!!
Sorry about your loss.

Amanda

Thanks Amanda!

 

[cdotla]

Yeah! Leave him behind, tell him that you will mail him a post card and that you will bring him back a souvenir.

My DW is a resister when it comes to the athletic club and taking the family swimming and enjoying the day. She goes sometimes, but not a whole lot. I take DS1 & DS2 and we go, just the 3 of us. I wish she would go more often with us, but I go anyway to get the kids out the house and to hang out and have some fun. DW likes WDW and loves being there, but she is not a fanatic like I am. She is fine with going once every 3 or 4 years, and I always tell her that I like to go once a year or once every other year at minimum; then I tell her that the kids and I are sure going to miss you, and we will bring you back a t-shirt.

You know...your post has got me to thinking. DH and the kids have expressed a couple of times that they would be interested in going camping - you know, pitching a tent, and eating by campfire. Doesn't appeal to me in the slightest! I have always flatly turned down any suggestion of joining them, joking that they can go and I will enjoy a little spa weekend at home!

However, I just had an "A Ha" moment. This might be my equivalent to Chris' WDW. While they have yet to go camping, and have only talked about it, perhaps next time the subject comes up I will shock them and agree to go.

Then again, maybe I should leave well enough alone....I could be a big liability out there at a campsite. Perhaps there are things that we are best to enjoy one-on-one with the kids.

I have to admit.....I also am married to a DISNEY-resister. Yes, it's sad, and the last THREE Disney Trips (see below) have been sans husband. I think that my insistence, without being annoying has finally paid off, since he's agreed to the 2011 trip. Granted, my parents are springing for the room (courtesy of their DVC), so that may have had something to do with it.......

Thanks so much for posting and Welcome!

So sorry to hear we have another wife of a resister to add to our numbers. However, glad to hear your husband has agreed to another trip! Hopefully staying DVC will convert him!

Signing onto your TR! Your kids are so cute and I love all your pictures! Can't wait to hear more!

Thanks so much! Great to have you along!

 

[LilAnn]

absolutely gorgeous photos as usual! Your cousin's house is beautiful too! Looks like it turned out to be a nice day after all. Thanks again for sharing all the details - the good, bad and ugly!

 

[MagicShell]

Glad to hear you got to see family, wish it could have been in WDW.

 

[kimmar067]

....I vote to put all our 'non-believers' together in a locked room so they call all stare at each other....

 

[TyRy]

Jumping in now, as I also have a DH who is a resister. He seems to be the opposite of your DH, as he complains, complains about having to go to WDW. He usually has a good time there, but then complains when we get back about money spent, time wasted etc. He's already complaining our upcoming trip will be a disaster with my parents coming along.

Can't wait to hear more about your trip.

Also wanted to say how sorry I am about Chris' Aunt. She sounds like she was a great lady.

 

[JMcDisney]

....I vote to put all our 'non-believers' together in a locked room so they call all stare at each other....

OH, that's funny!

 

[Glite]

....I vote to put all our 'non-believers' together in a locked room so they call all stare at each other....

After they are locked in the room, w'ell play dozens of family Disney vacation videos in the room, so they can see the family magic and family fun that they are missing. We play the Disney songs....wishes, If you can dream, etc.

 

[ashleighbass06]

My DBF just saw the name of this thread in my CP and laughed telling me that I should read that...I explain that I already am reading it he informed me that he wouldn't classify himself as a resister...maybe there is hope for me Now to start planning a trip to convert him

 

[DisneyBoundinDec]

....I vote to put all our 'non-believers' together in a locked room so they call all stare at each other....

After they are locked in the room, w'ell play dozens of family Disney vacation videos in the room, so they can see the family magic and family fun that they are missing. We play the Disney songs....wishes, If you can dream, etc.

 

[Glite]

My DBF just saw the name of this thread in my CP and laughed telling me that I should read that...I explain that I already am reading it he informed me that he wouldn't classify himself as a resister...maybe there is hope for me Now to start planning a trip to convert him

I enjoyed your photos. I also went when I was too.

 

[Glite]

My DBF just saw the name of this thread in my CP and laughed telling me that I should read that...I explain that I already am reading it he informed me that he wouldn't classify himself as a resister...maybe there is hope for me Now to start planning a trip to convert him

Correction to my previous post. I also went when I was 2.

 

[mdsouth]

Thank you so much for writing about your family's experiences! I truly appreciate reading about another WDW lover's experience at WDW with a resister. I am sorry your trip was dampened numerous times because of your DH's attitude.

Unfortunately, my own family trip last summer, 2009, was also dampened by my husband's attitude. We had some fun, happy times as a family to remember, but there were also lots of times he just put a wet blanet on things. He was constantly telling me that the trip was too long. We stayed 8 days. We have only gone once before as a family in 2005 and then once together before we had kids. His attitude on this trip was just a big old downer for me and the kids. So, I have vowed that the next time I go to WDW I am leaving him at home.

I can certainly understand your torn feelings about your next trip in October 2011. In ways, you would like him to be there, especially since his behavior and attitude might be a lot different with your close friends there with you. On the other hand, he might be just as annoying and a downer as usual while at WDW.

Your DH, like mine, might be a great guy, loving and lots of fun on a daily basis, but he just doesn't do well with the crowds and lines and just general chaos that a family trip brings. So, I think your idea of having him come down for just part of the trip is a good one. I also agree with having him stay behind at the resort too and just meeting up with you for evening activities.

As you have pointed out, you never know what life or death has in store for us so we should take each blessing and happy moment when we can. Hopefully, your DH will take on this attitude.

 

[cdotla]

absolutely gorgeous photos as usual! Your cousin's house is beautiful too! Looks like it turned out to be a nice day after all. Thanks again for sharing all the details - the good, bad and ugly!

Thanks! Yes, all in all, the beach day ended up being a great time!

Glad to hear you got to see family, wish it could have been in WDW.

Ironically, I think my SIL was the one who ended up minding the drive more than anyone. And she was the one who my MIL had indicated we were changing the plans for!

....I vote to put all our 'non-believers' together in a locked room so they call all stare at each other....

Jumping in now, as I also have a DH who is a resister. He seems to be the opposite of your DH, as he complains, complains about having to go to WDW. He usually has a good time there, but then complains when we get back about money spent, time wasted etc. He's already complaining our upcoming trip will be a disaster with my parents coming along.

Can't wait to hear more about your trip.

Also wanted to say how sorry I am about Chris' Aunt. She sounds like she was a great lady.

Thanks for posting and welcome! So sorry to hear that you can relate to my experiences with my resister.

My DBF just saw the name of this thread in my CP and laughed telling me that I should read that...I explain that I already am reading it he informed me that he wouldn't classify himself as a resister...maybe there is hope for me Now to start planning a trip to convert him

Well that is at least a postive sign!

Thank you so much for writing about your family's experiences! I truly appreciate reading about another WDW lover's experience at WDW with a resister. I am sorry your trip was dampened numerous times because of your DH's attitude.

Unfortunately, my own family trip last summer, 2009, was also dampened by my husband's attitude. We had some fun, happy times as a family to remember, but there were also lots of times he just put a wet blanet on things. He was constantly telling me that the trip was too long. We stayed 8 days. We have only gone once before as a family in 2005 and then once together before we had kids. His attitude on this trip was just a big old downer for me and the kids. So, I have vowed that the next time I go to WDW I am leaving him at home.

I can certainly understand your torn feelings about your next trip in October 2011. In ways, you would like him to be there, especially since his behavior and attitude might be a lot different with your close friends there with you. On the other hand, he might be just as annoying and a downer as usual while at WDW.

Your DH, like mine, might be a great guy, loving and lots of fun on a daily basis, but he just doesn't do well with the crowds and lines and just general chaos that a family trip brings. So, I think your idea of having him come down for just part of the trip is a good one. I also agree with having him stay behind at the resort too and just meeting up with you for evening activities.

As you have pointed out, you never know what life or death has in store for us so we should take each blessing and happy moment when we can. Hopefully, your DH will take on this attitude.

Thank you so much for posting, and welcome!

It really helps to know I am not alone in having a spouse whose lack of enthusiasm really puts a damper on many aspects of the trip. I hate that other people have to go through this too. But it is nice to know that we can comiserate!

 

[cdotla]

Touring Hollywood Studios

After our day in Tampa and the Beach the day before, we were all up bright and early in order to get to Hollywood Studios for Rope Drop.

For breakfast we used some snack credits to get some amazing yogurt parfaits at the Beach Club Marketplace. I wish I had taken a picture of these - they were amazing. The kids also got some cereal and bananas, and we picked up a few waters for the road.

Then we were off to the boat dock to pick up a Friendship Boat to the Studios.

About 2 seconds after I took this picture, a strong wind gust blew off my MIL's hat, which ended up falling into Crescent Lake. After we all stopped laughing, we tried to retrieve it, but couldn't reach it. Fortunately, there were some super nice CMs on the dock, and one of them went through a lot of effort to retrieve it for us. What a great moment! Disney magic in full swing!

After a quick little boat ride, we were at the Gates for the Studios. Once again, my SIL and her sons needed to purchase new days to add onto their tickets. Since my SIL wasn't sure exactly how many days they would be spending in the Parks, she decided to pay as she went each day in order to keep their options open.

Unfortunately, my SIL had been convinced the day before that we were going to be capable of eating dinner with the cousins in Tampa and still making it back to WDW in time to tour a bit of World Showcase and see Illuminations. As it turned out, we didn't make it back in time and she ended up buying 3 Adult Park Hopping tickets just for the simple privilege of attending the Princess Breakfast in Norway.

As mentioned, even though I informed my MIL and SIL that it was going to take about 2 hours to get from WDW to the Beach, I don't think they believed me until we actually got there.

So once again, my SIL was forced to shell out close to $250 to add one more day onto her 3 tickets when we reached the HS Gates. By this point she had spent $660 on WDW park tickets and had only used them to gain entrance to Epcot in order to eat breakfast with the Princesses. And even then, she still got a bill at the end of the meal.

Of course I joked with her that the value of the tickets was in actually attending the Parks, and if she attended the Parks, she may change her mind on whether it was a good value or not.

Anyway, once all the ticket business was straightened out we made our way through the bag check and turnstiles and were at the back of the crowd for the rope drop...not exactly where I was hoping to be.

However, it was nice to see my SIL's reaction to the Park once we were inside. As we were walking up Hollywood Blvd, she was duly impressed. I lost count of how many "Wow"s I heard on that walk up the Blvd to the Hat.

Of course, we were on a mission for Toy Story Fastpasses, followed by the Toy Story Stand By line. In retrospect, we should have done one or the other. I got too greedy. By the time we got through the FastPass line, the stand by line was about 20 minutes long. And even worse, we never even returned to the attraction to use the FastPasses.

However, the 20 minute wait gave my family the time to look around and enjoy the que.

No one except me and Katie had experienced Toy Story Mania. Of course, everyone loved it!

Santa brought our family the Toy Story Wi game for Christmas, which is a family favourite. So Chris and Declan were both familiar with the games even though this was their first time on the ride.

The kids each rode with one of their cousins, and Chris & I paired up. Normally at these types of shooting games Chris always beats me hands down. However, this time **I** beat him!!! And quite handily I might add. Even though I know that there are "secrets" on how to achieve a high score in the game, I wasn't that hardcore to go and look them up. So it was all talent.

I honestly forget our scores (mental note to take a picture of the screen next time) but suffice to say I was feeling pretty proud having whipped my husband's butt on this shootout.

So far, it was a great start to the day for my SIL and nephews' first introduction to a WDW Park!

After Toy Story, we ventured down Sunset Blvd to the Tower of Terror.

At first Katie didn't want to ride. She last was on the Tower on her first trip back in 2007 when she was 4 years old and did not like it at all. She has never gone on it again during her last 3 trips to WDW. Given that she was now 7 years old, and it had been 3 whole years since her last ride, I thought she might actually enjoy it now and talked her into trying it again.

Big mistake. No dramatic tears or crying, but I could tell that I had a very scared little girl sitting beside me on this ride. I realized it as we were in the elevator, riding around through the hotel in the couple of minutes leading up to the 1st drop sequence, but of course, at this point there was nothing I could do. I so wished there was a way I could have stopped the ride and gotten off with her. Those couple of moments waiting for the 1st drop, when I knew full well what was coming, were awful. I felt terrible for having encouraged her to try it again. In future, I will gladly sit this one out with Katie if she doesn't want to ride it. She won't be doing it again unless she decides she wants to. (Suprisingly, we were listening to the 4 Parks, One World CD in our car the other day and she said that when we return next year she wants to try it again. So fortunately she hasn't been permanently scarred.)

However, the person in our family who may be scarred from this ride is poor DH. After we got off the ride, Chris showed me his forearm. He had fingernail marks from Katie all up his arm. He said that she squeezed her fingers into his arm each and every drop.

Of course, Declan loved the ride. As did the cousins. My MIL and SIL were a bit freaked out by it.

Here is our ride photo. My MIL, SIL and nephews are in the top left row and my family of 4 is in the 2nd row.

After Tower of Terror, we headed over to Rock 'N' Rollercoaster. I figured this would be an attraction that my nephews would like. Since Declan wasn't big enough to ride, my MIL volunteered to sit with him as she wasn't interested in riding anyway. However, Katie was still a bit spooked from the TOT. Even though she had been looking forward to RNRC, she decided to sit this one out. As I didn't want to leave both kids with my MIL, I told the rest of the family to go ahead and I would wait with the kids.

Chris of course loves this ride, and his sister and nephews did too.

By this point it was about 10:30-10:45am. And can you believe that my SIL was done for the day??? So with that...just 3 attractions and an hour and a half under our belt...the whole family was about to walk down Hollywood Blvd, out of the Park, and head back to the resort!!!

(Continued next post)

 

[cdotla]

(Continued from last post)

At this point, I put my foot down. On our last trip in 2008 when Declan was almost 3 one of the things that we did not get to see was Lightening McQueen because he was down for a rehab. While I still intended to return to the Studios one more time before our trip was over, I wasn't taking any chances this trip. So I told DH that his family were free to head back to the resort if they wished, but that I was taking Declan to meet McQueen.

Fortunately, Chris decided to stay with us, so we bid the rest of his family goodbye, and ventured over to the Streets of America. I was so glad that we got to meet McQueen! There was practically no one ahead of us in line - we might have waited for 2-3 kids before Declan was finally able to meet McQueen and Mater! He was thrilled, as was I! We had waited a good 2 years for this meeting! And Declan was even wearing his Lightening McQueen outfit for the occasion.

And here is Katie. These are my pictures:

And the Photopass pictures:

I like mine better. However, I was kind of glad to get a couple more photopass pictures to better justify my pre-purchase of the CD. Sadly, these were the last ones for this trip.

Once we got our photos taken with McQueen & Mater, DH was ready for an exit. But it was only 11am!

With the help of Katie, on our way out of the Studios I was able to convince DH to stay for the Animation Class. This is probably Katie's favourite attraction/activity in the Studios, so I was pretty astute to mention to her on the way out of the Park that we hadn't gotten to it yet.

As it turned out, Chris actually quite enjoyed it, even though he was less than pleased to be drawing Minnie. He had voted for Stitch. (Should have known!)

Katie of course, loved it, and was even more thrilled to be drawing Minnie since she and I had the misfortune of having to draw Stitch on our last visit.

My drawing:

There was only one person in the family who didn't like the class too much:

By the time we were finished the class, it was nearing noon and Chris was done. Although we still hadn't seen my favourite attraction at the Studios (One Man's Dream), I knew I couldn't hold him there any longer.

So we headed out of the Park and onto a Friendship Boat for our Lunch reservation at LeCellier. Even though we were almost 1 1/2 hours early!

UP NEXT: Lunch in Canada...at Le Cellier!

 

[jagmom]

Next post, next post!!!!

 

[Dug-says-HI-THERE!]

I'm hanging in suspense......