A Question about husbands and Disney......

[HauntedMansionFreak]

Hello Board,

Fairly new here and absolutely LOVE reading these boards. I want to say that I'm addicted but will hold back until I see someone else's admittance first...lol

I am planning a trip to MK,EPCOT,MGM,AK, & IOA for next month. I have had the utmost moments of glee in planning this trip. I have been 3 previous times although never been to IOA or AK. I think I let the planning phase engulf me at times which makes my family think that perhaps I need medication.

My 10 y/o son and I have had a blast talking about things we'll do, attractions we'll ride and things we'll buy. Honestly, we are like TWO 10 y/r olds. (I'm 30, BTW). I have had sooooo much fun with this.

Now, on the other hand, my darling, darling hubby qho has also never been isn't quite as thrilled. He swears that the power of the Mouse will not and can not affect him (although I think he really is just saying that). I thought that too before my 1st trip and then I seen Mickey - and cried. I literally cried!

I actually added on the trip to IOA just for hubby. Me nor my son care for thrill rides but hubby does and I wanted to make sure he had a great time too. We have 2 other friends going that he can ride the rides with.

I guess I'm just wondering if any of you ladies have ever seen a transformation in your guy's once you got to Disney? Was he 'all man' before the trip and then 'all mouse' once he got there? I'm really hoping this will happen for me. I mean. I know he will have a good time - but I want him to FEEL the MAGIC (ok, have I lost it now?). I'm not basing my vacation on this as I know that my son will have a wonderful time and I will enjoy seeing him experience this........but there is this little part of me.......that wants to see the Mouse in my husbands eyes......it's out first vacation together.

Any tips on what I can do or comments on similar experiences you have had would be most appreciated. I think the reason he feels this way is because Disney doesn't have many Thrill rides. I keep trying to explain that he doesn't need to have the mindset of going there for a Thrill - he needs to go for the feeling. Of course, he says ...lol....that there is no difference.

Now, I'm reminded of why I love him so much!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

My DH didn't transform as much as he stopped fighting my trip planning.

Even he couldn't deny how magical our December trip was. When I asked if he could schedule in another, he said "Well see" instead of "Are you crazy" .

It helps now that are DD's are 6 and 5. Taking them as small toddlers wasn't an easy task and they grown so much in the parks.

So yes, Disney can work its magic.!!


Have a great trip!!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

My DH doesn't get involved in the planning at all. He actually doesn't even want to hear about it. Now that we're really close (2 more days) he's getting excited. Once we're at Disney he's like a kid again and we have a wonderful time. I just accept that he doesn't like to plan but he always thanks me for the all the work planning our trip once we get there. I think it's just a "guy" thing.

 

[Miss Park Avenue]

My DH is like that, I secretly wish he was more like my dad, who IS "Clark Griswald" when it comes to Disney. My hubby's big line about Disney is "I can take it or leave it."

I let him think that. Truth is, he's into it more than he cares to admit. One trip he wanted a Mickey Mouse watch in the worst way. 195 big ones for a watch with a Mickey on it. If we were in the local department store I would have told him to forget it. But I said, "Sure, as long as you admit you are a Disney Freak just like the rest of us!

And when we are talking with friends or others and they bring up how they'd like to try Disney, he always has tons of advice to give them. "You've got to try this...." and stuff like that.

Oh yeah...you can take it or leave it. Give me a break!

Sometimes, you've just got to let them think they are cool.

 

[tevagirl]

The first 10 trips I took to WDW were without DH. I took the kids and went with a girlfriend and her DD. Every year I would tell DH how much I thought he would love it and would ask him to please go. Finally he conceded and went. Big mistake. He's hooked. But...let me tell you about his first trip with us. All the years when it was just me and the kids.... I never lost any of them. DH's first trip on the other hand...... Gone for 5 hours!
While I sit on Main Street with 3 kids waiting for him to show back up (which is where we lost him) ....he's in MGM filming the blasted toy story parade! I had to teach him the "park rules". He learned them pretty quickly after that !

 

[jimmytammy]

I am a father of two and DH to TammyNC in case you run across her on the forums. My first trip didnt really hit me til we got back home. We started looking at the pictures and WHAM, we start planning the next trip. Now I am hooked. At some point in my everyday life, something about Disney occupies my time.

I will suggest to just let the Disney magic happen. If it gets your husband then it will. Get him to MK on Space, Splash and Big Thunder Mts. Then to MGM on TOT and RNR.

Epcot, TT and MS. AK, Dionosaur and Kali River.

There are plenty of "thrill" rides at WDW, but there are lots of other great things there also. And your DH will probably enjoy them once he does them.

And dont forget to let him meet Mickey and Goofy and the other classic characters. This gets the magic flowing through a lot of guys veins.

Good luck!

 

[Miss Park Avenue]

I wanted to add too that sometimes seeing their kids brings the magic to them too!

 

[my3princes]

...but my dh is a Disney Addict too. He never fights me on any WDW trips that I plan. He is always asking me "anything new on the board?" though he has never actually logged on himself. He will strike up a conversation with anyone about Disney. My entire family loves it and could not imagine vacationing anywhere else. We have both always loved amusement parks in general and are thrill junkies, but bringing our boys for the first time at ages 2 1/2 and 6 months and seeing Disney through their eyes hooked us both. I hope that you dh has the same reaction. Nothing is as powerful as the amazement in a young childs eyes. It truely is magic.

 

[SnackyStacky]

So a sexist attitude exists on the DIS as well?!

Seriously, I'm a guy and I'm hooked as much as any of you ladies.

Don't force anything on your husband. If he doesn't want to hear about the planning, then don't talk to him about it. Come here and chat with all the Disney nuts on these boards.

When he gets there, the Disney magic will take over.

 

[HauntedMansionFreak]

<i>Seriously, I'm a guy and I'm hooked as much as any of you ladies. </i>

Now THATS what I'm talking about!

 

[slp87]

I grew up going to WDW/DL and that was always our favorite vacation spot. I think my DH was so sick of hearing about it that he was not going to be won over. Our first trip went fine, but he wasn't sold. The next trip went better and our last one was the best. I've learned not to push him, if he doesn't want to go to the Princess breakfast with us, that's okay. And there are times that he's ready to go back to the room and DD (10) and I want to do more, so he goes his way, we go ours. He did make some comments during this last trip that I think let it slip that he's slowly getting won over.

 

[Simba's Mom]

After dragging DH with me several times, I just finally gave up and went by myself. Found I really enjoyed it, but then DH decided he must be missing something and goes again. But he's not too excited about the parks. So I go twice a year-once with DH, where we more relax and vacation, maybe don't go to the parks as much. Then I go the other time by myself, where I'm in the parks from open to close. This system makes both of us happy. And DH looks forward to his yearly trip to WDW now.

 

[matjef9091]

Ok, I admit it, my DBF is not "thrilled" with disney either. Where are all the disney crazed men when I was looking for a man in my life?

 

[Nickunited]

As long as he does not force him self not to have a good time, he will have a great time. Just ask him to try and have a great time. As long as he tries - the great time will not be far behind.

 

[wannabebelle]

I think seeing it through your child's eyes will help. I am a Disney addict. I was in high school, and then I did WDW College Program and that just sent me over the edge. My husband went once with me before we got married and then once after we got married.

He went to humor me and did not really enjoy it. He never complained, but I knew it wasn't his thing.

However, in January, we took our five-year-old niece. That changed it for him.

It has both helped and hurt my situation. He is now more than willing to go back BUT only if we take my niece. I would really like to do an adult trip next December, but he thinks it would "not be very magical" without Catlin. Oh well, if I have to take her, I guess I'll endure the torture -- I say that sarcastically. She's as much into the Disney magic as I am. I've done a fantastic job with her, even if I do say so myself!

 

[dlaushey]

I'm the crazed DH and do all the planning. Don't get me wrong my DW loves to go and has a great time. In fact when I mentioned getting AP's for Christmas last year she was all for it. She still wanted to get them even after we found out she was expecting and would be for 1/2 the time of our AP's. We managed to get 9 park days (breakeven) in the 1st 2 months after activation. and have since gotten in another 6. Btw, we live in Atlanta and it is only a +- 7 hour drive with DD's 6 & 8. We have a Labor day (4 park days) trip planned which will be our first with DS (11 weeks at time of visit). She lets me plan which parks to visit which days. However as far as the rides we have been so many times lately that we have our routine down for each park. Although it will change this time since DD6 might make the height for SpM! and DS will be on his 1st trip. I do make all the PS's and Hotel Reservations (Priceline.com - if you are looking for a cheap way to just visit the parks I highly suggest PL and using BiddingForTravel.com). We stayed for 5 nights over Spring Break for only $120! I too can talk for hours on Disney and many folks at work and home are always asking me how to plan for it!

 

[chicknoodle99]

My husband is a prime example of this. I have been to Disney many times before we met..and he had only been there once as a child. When I finally talked him into going for the first time he was a bit aprehensive (sp). Kept saying that Mickey just wants to collect our money and thats it..its for kids..etc..etc..etc.

WELL, we had a wonderful trip and he actually said he enjoyed himself. We have been together six years and have gone to Disney each year and a cruise once....he loves it just as much as I do...

He never could understand what the "magic" was for me and now that we go often he sure sees it too...Disney is truly the happiest place on earth to both of us..

So, dont lose hope...he may come around yet!

Have fun!

 

[bridgettesmom]

Well, we have been many times. My husband went to USF in Tampa, so, in his college days he spent many days in Disney. Whenever I plan a trip, he does not show any excitement. Sometimes, he evens ask why are we going again . In his eyes, we should be spending all our vacations enriching our cultural knowledge and visit other continents ie. Europe, Asia, etc. Which we do, at least, once a year. I just tell him that we work hard and we need to do "fun" vacations as well and when we go to Disney, we get to relax and really enjoy ourselves

The moment we go thru the welcome sign at WDW, he gets this gigantic smile on his face and he really gets is his "Disney mood" and on a couple of trips we have even added days, once we are there and extend our vacation .

Tip... Since, I join this board I have learned how to save $$$. Everytime we save $$ on anything I let DH knows and he gets very excited . I keep adding things to do on our itinerary and instead of saying I added this and is costing us that. I say, I added this and we are saving X amount of $$

 

[Missy1961]

My sister is lucky--her husband loves Disney as much as she & I do--in fact, he made the PS phone calls!

 

[da disney fans]

I had my heart set on honeymooning at the World (I've been a Disney freak since I was an infant, literally), and my DH had never been. He was convinced that it wouldn't be romantic enough, or that we were too old to enjoy it (we were 24 and 23 at the time, btw). But, being the sport he is, he went along with it...

AND HE LOVED IT.

He loved it so much that he started talking about our next trip while we were still there! The moment we got home from our honeymoon, he came to Disboards and registered! :lol: Now, we're planning a WDW vow renewal, because DH and I can't think of a more perfect place to have one.

Hopefully your DH will come around like mine did! Good luck!