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

[decker96]

When I brought up going to Disney the 1st time with our kids my husband looked at me like I was nuts! He had only been once in high school when his band marched there and then a one-day trip with me to Epcot when we were visiting my grandparents near Orlando. DD would be 5 and DS 2 for the trip and he thought they were too young, it would be too much of a hassle to go back to the hotel for naps, they wouldn't really appreciate it and DS2 would never remember the trip that was going to be really expensive, etc. I persisted, though and we went. I wouldn't say he was magically transformed, but he did have fun, especially watching the kids' reactions to everything. When I started planning the next trip, (about 10 months after the first was over) he did roll his eyes and said again?, but HE was the one that insisted we stay at a monorail resort this time and HE was the one that said we should go longer this time. Only 5 days instead of 4, but it's a start. His only condition was that our newest addition, DD#2, be two years old. So, we have to wait until 2005.
But he does ask a couple times a week if there's anything new on the boards, says nothing when I buy yet ANOTHER guidebook and actually tells people we are going back again. I give him one more trip and he'll be hooked!!

 

[daisylove]

My DH (and I still love him) (brace yourself) ...hates WDW.

His attitude is that he is just "feeding $ to the mouse"

The only time he softens this stance is when pixie dust hits our Dd5. When he sees her thrilled or speechless or laughing her head off then he softens. Could be because we live in Fla nad have been soooo much (never enough) but he just does not want to go. We have AP s for the family which to me means go go go as many timesa s yo can in a year because hey we already have the tix. But to him means that during the one trip a year (if that) he agrees to go on we don't have to worry about leaving or switching parks and do commando style.

Well we have just agreed to let DD be the guide for next (near)future trips. I don't want her to lose the magic and he does not want to go at all so when she asks again we will then talk about planning one (dying to get the good sept rates but I will wait for her). How grown up is that of me!

 

[TwingleMum]

My DH is as into Disney as I am. We have 3 boys under 3 who have all been to WDW. My oldest DS has been 2x. We are planning a trip in 2005 and my DH and 3 yr old have signs of different rides and attractions they want to do on our kitchen wall . Which we call Disney Central. My DS and DH also talk about all the resorts we'll stay at. My DS can also recite the HAunted Mansion speech word for word. Which is very strange because I wouldn't let him on it because the twins were infants and I thought he was too little at the time. I didn't want him to be so scared he'd never go on it again. But he is obsessed with it. My DH talks about the first time we went to WDW (both of us have never been and he surprised me with a trip for a Christmas present). Well, we were in Toon Town waiting to meet Mickey and this cute little blonde girl around 6 yrs old was behind us in line. When we got to see Mickey her face just lit up and you'd think she saw Jesus. My DH turned to me with tears in his eyes and said that reaction was priceless and her parents must feel like a million bucks. He still talks about that little girl and the magic of WDW.

 

[ellenmiele]

My DH was transformed after the first day of our first trip (I had been many times and was already, I'll admit it, addicted). We've since been back for two more trips since his first -- both times palnned on the very day we came back! -- and we are now looking at purchasing DVC. Before his transformation I think the problem was that he just didn't "get it". We live near a Six Flags park and I think that was how he thought of WDW. Despite all of my attempts to convince him of the true magic of WDW he just couldn't understand until he experienced it for himself -- and then he was hooked!! But I will admit that I am still the fanatical WDW trip planner of the family -- or so I thought. I didn't think he'd ever even been on these boards until a few days ago when I found him reading posts about DCL -- hmmmm, sounds like a plan for our next trip!!!
So you and your son just wait and see.....WDW magic is a powerful thing!

 

[WishingOnAStar]

ellenmiele, I think you said it perfectly! I keep telling my dh, "you just don't get it- WDW is not like Six Flags (we have season passes) or Hershey. You can't appreciate how amazing it is." He just at me and walks away.
He's also grumbling about not getting a relaxing vacation this year. He'll get over it!

I just know once he steps foot on Disney property and sees the looks on our kids' faces, he'll be hooked! I'm sure your dh will be the same way!

 

[Pluto4Pres]

My Brother and SIL say that they don't like WDW. I think it's because they've gone there without a plan. Sure - stay off site - (no Disney magic) show up in the main parking lot at 11am - get herded like cattle through the front gate - look at all the people lined up for 2-3 hour waits - pay $3 for a bottle of water. If I did it like them, I'd hate it too.

HMF - You're on the right track. Just make sure he's standing in the right places to get sprinkled with pixie dust and you'll have him hooked.

Good luck!

 

[dansyr]

My dbf wants nothing to do with the trip until we land in florida. He complains about how much money we're spending, how he has to take time off from work and such. As soon as we get there he is the biggest kid in the world. They even had him paint a cookie for his birthday at the princess breakfast....yes, he even enjoys the princess breakfast once he is there.

He also used to fight me about all the planning.....telling me we should just play it by ear. That is until...I planned a dinner for us at cali grill , got us a window seat and watched the fireworks. it was truly magical. Now he say....just point me in the right direction.

I even sent him an e-mail at work today telling him to break out the flip flops. That he was officially in Disney flip flop training. (this occured from a situation where he slowed me down on our way to the coveted breakfast in cinderella's castle and I thought we were going to mis our ps.)

Hakuna Matata.....no worries...the magic will hit him eventually.

 

[KevinM]

I did NOT want to go to WDW this past December. I thought:
1) Too expensive
2)DD4 was too young to remember anything
3)A park is a park, whether you are in Orlando, FL or Buckwheat, Kansas
4)BORING

As already posted above, seeing your child's eyes light up when she sees Cinderella's castle for the first time makes everything worth it. To be honest, I don't know who had more fun, me or her.
We are returning this Dec. for 8 nights and again in Feb for 5 nights. I am completely addicted. I've done all the planning and saved hundreds with tips from these boards.
Trust me, your husband will love it. If he doesn't, I'll go!

 

[Skylarr29]

Before my first trip with my dbf he had only been once before for his high school grad nite so he had only been to mk and didn't know that much. He wanted to go and thought it was gonna be fun of course but he never ever expected to get hooked. We spent 2 days off site for a quick weekend and then on the way back he said "why don't we plan a longer trip and do more" So the planning began and my obsession worsened. He is now just as crazy as I am and he skips and sings disney songs. He even plays an areo smith song in his car to remind him of rockin rollercoaster( by the way he was mortified of rollercoasters before this and now it's his fave). Now I better not even mention going for less than a week and a half trip. I thought maybe he would want to vacation somewhere else but it was unheard of. He gets all gitty and excited as our trips near. He made me promise not to tell any of his friends though about the way he acts when he is there

 

[scrump]

Reading all these posts gives me hope. My BF is Disney neutral - last time he went was when he was a kid, and "can take it or leave it." He's very open to the possibility of going, but wouldn't make the effort himself, and still sort of hems and haws when I try and pin him down for a date to go.

Since he's at least open to the idea of going, I've instinctively felt like pushing him to go would be a bad idea. But I really can't wait to go, since I just FEEL that he'll love it too. And just like somebody posted earlier, it's at least once a day that I think of Disney and let it occupy my mind and time. I even daydream about going on certain rides with him and going to certain restaurants.

 

[The Sweetness]

As far as I can tell, most of the *big strong men* turn into larger versions of what their 5-10y old selves must have been. But doesnt that happen to us *ladies* as well?

 

[tci1212]

My Husband does not like going to Disney. He has only gone around 3 times in the last 12 yrs. I usually go 2 times a yr.I take the kids with me on most trips but occasionally I go with all adults and then my husband watches the kids for the week. He has the attitude " been there done that". My attitude" been there done that and going back"!

 

[Tasha+Scott]

I love Florida (I spent a large portion of my childhood there) so I of course love Disney! DH and I have been married almost 5 yrs. now and I have been several times since we got married. He, on the other hand, has not gone w/me until last month. I always go w/my mom and sometimes my brother, b/c DH has had to work. Last month I was finally able to plan a trip where DH and I could go, just the 2 of us. I was a little disappointed at first. He did not help me plan at all and told me flat out that he could not care less about some guy dressed in a Mickey suit.
I was really afraid he would not have a good time. He is not into thrill rides but I threw on US and IOA just for him b/c I knew he would love Spiderman and MIB. (Which he did!)
However, when we actually got to WDW, he had a blast. He didn't like Epcot. And he thought MGM and AK were just OK. But he loved MK. We went 3 days in a row, plus did an E-night.
Does he love Mickey Mouse now? Does he have the Mickey magic feeling? Sorry. NOPE. He will never care about the characters the way I do. Of course, we don't have kids, so maybe if one day we do have kids and he sees their reactions to MM, his reaction will change as well. But for now, at least he loves MK. That is more than I was expecting so I am satisfied.
BTW, good move adding IOA. I love that park too, b/c I am like your hubby. I love the thrill rides. DH doesn't and he still loved IOA. You can't go wrong either way. They have stuff for everybody.

 

[HauntedMansionFreak]

<b>Trust me, your husband will love it. If he doesn't, I'll go!</b>

Kevin, that was just too funny...lol


At least now I know that I'm not alone in feeling the way I feel. There is hope afterall!

I am sooooo gonna take lots and lots of pics of him smiling, grinning, and acting like a kid. Whether he admits to liking the park or not - He's too much of a kid to not have a good time.

He did tell me tonight that he wanted me to find him some of those mouse-ear hats that people wear. To me - thats a sign...lol

 

[kathymc]

I had been a couple of times before DH and I went (his first time) I was always a disney nut and he just always said he just didn't get it. He was having fun but not really getting into the whole deal. One night while watching the parade (I think it was Spectro) with my niece - he saw the look of complete happiness and awe on my nieces face as the characters were all coming over to her and he turned to me and said - I finally get it.

He doesn't turn into a 5 year old like I do, but he does enjoy himself and let himself be a little sillier than normal. I had told him when we got married that we had to go at least every other year (which we have) and it was his idea last year to join DVC!

good luck!

 

[D L and K's Mom]

Well, my hubby is a Disney FREAK and I love it. We have Disney screen savers, licence plates, dishes, ties, posters, golf head covers, a whole bathroom devoted to Mickey, underwear(oops maybe I am giving a few to many details) He started visiting "The World" when he was in college and has loved it ever since. We went to Disney for our honeymoon and we have gone on every vacation we have ever had to "The World" as he calls it. I know he just loves it there, the whole thing, how it runs, how it looks etc. I guess I am lucky because he loves it so much. I still have to do all the planning for the trips but I enjoy watching his face more than the kids when we are there. My DD who is 13 burst into laughter last trip while we were on the monorail. I asked her what was so funny and she pointed to my hubby. I turned and there was DH staring into space, glazed eyes, smiling ear to ear mouthing the "monorail rules" along with the announcement. He even kept going when they said them in spanish!!!!!That is one of my best Disney memories!! Maybe if DH went on a behind the scenes tour? Maybe he would enjoy seeing "how the place runs. . DH says it is fantastic. Good luck converting him!!! the Magic gets better when you have kids, watching them is just the best!

 

[The Sweetness]

I bet about 70% of the posters here or their DH's have a pair of tigger or mickey boxers laying around

 

[DVC-Don]

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?

Yes there is hope for you. Our first family trip to WDW was in early 1995 and I did not want to be on a plane with a 2 & 3 yo just to go to an amusement park. My wife planned on taking a SiL of hers if I refused. Well I went and had the best damned time of my life. Now I surf Disney boards every chance I get. It was my idea to buy into DVC and my idea to get AP's just to cram more days into WDW. I will have made 3 WDW trips by the end of this year. (Went with a BiL for a guys only trip this past Jan.)

 

[kbkids]

My DH is slowly coming around. We've been so many times that I've lost count, some with him, some without. This past Christmas, he said he wanted a Mickey Mouse sweatshirt.
. . . . . Baby Steps!

 

[dreamscometrue47]

DH and I have been to WDW at least 15 times in the 26 yrs we are married, with and without kids. The only time he refused to go (and refused is really harsh; he had just started a new job and was having some health issues) was this past April. He knows how much the kids and I LOVE everything Disney and he's ok with that; he just asks that I don't make him go back with us every trip. He has a great time when he's there, but does have a bit of that "been there, done that" attitude, but also says he will gladly go in a couple of years to see the new attractions/shows, etc. that he's missed out on. He also says that he did feel a little bad about not experiencing Wishes for the first time with us, not going to Boma's with us for the first time, etc. So maybe next trip he'll be ready!!

He has not been blessed like the rest of us with the Disney Magic, but he's still a wonderful guy as he totally understands my obsession!