Anybody out there have a "Grumpy" spouse?

[lindajo]

Was wondering if anyone else was in the same boat as me. I LOVE WDW, DH tolerates it at best. We now have 2 boys, DS4 and DS6, so we have to go for them.(At least that's the way I feel!) Actually, DH does enjoy watching the boys have fun, and he goes on most of the rides(except the spinning, "Puke" rides, as he calls them), but I know that he thinks they could have the same fun at the local park's playground.

I guess I have painted a bad picture of him.. Of course I love him, and wouldn't change a thing about him. (well, maybe just this one thing.) But if there is anyone else in the same situation, what do you do to make the trip more "fun" for dear old dad???

 

[maggiew]

Here's my grumpy DH ...

He complains continuously as I am planning (Why can't we stay in a $29.95 hotel??, etc.) but when he goes he has fun. I even overheard him once tell a friend on the phone about how much fun he has at Disney!!!

Maggie

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Oooh, my DH is crazy about WDW...the only time he ever complains is when he feels we should branch out to Europe for vacation...but I usually win those arguments. Our trip to Europe consisted of sleeping on a friend's couch and me getting very ill because of the jet lag lack of sleep. I just haul that out as Exhibit A.

My DH:

My dad, however is a "Grumpy". REFUSES to stay on-site, gets sick eating anywhere and everywhere (doesn't matter how nice and upscale the restaurant is), never learned to swim because of bad ear problems (so no pool or water park) and would rather watch sports than do anything. My advice is to let him know what is available to do (eg. not just the parks, golfing, etc.) and let him do what he wants to do. For example, my DH and I are planning another trip to WDW next year (on-site!) with my parents. So far, my dad wants no part of the water parks or Animal Kingdom (he hates animals also ) So we are going to let him do his own thing when we are visiting those parks. He can go to ESPN or golf or do whatever. I'll just be sure to do the research and make sure he knows everything available to him

 

[motaei]

OH! OH! I have one of those!!!! He is not excited about Disney at all. But he does love having fun with the kids & taking a much needed family vacation. However, he complains EVERY time I even mention time I put into the planning. If he new about these boards, he would kill me!!!

This next trip, we are actually tagging along on one of business trips. So I asked him if there was anything he did NOT want to do when we got there (so we could do it on the days he was at the convention) and his answer was was "no". He just wants to be with his family (when he's not at the convention) and enjoy his family time. I know that WDW is NOT on his top 10 list (or top 100 for that matter), but he knows that the rest of us want to go, so even though he may be "Grumpy", he's actually quite the Sweetheart!

 

[tjmw2727]

YES, yes and yes. My two dd's (now 7 and 9) and I go all the time without DH (DD). Between the vacation issue and the lack of love for the parks it just makes sense for us to jus do our girls only trips and not have to drag him through the parks. That said he will usually oblidge us once a year or every other year. This is his year off and in a week or so we go to clearwater beach with "maybe" a trip to BGT - . That said we went girls only in August, November and Feburary athough he joined us in Nov for two days and it was PAINFUL for him LOL.

Thinking about a May trip due to teacher conferences....huummmm

Tj

 

[MzEeyore]

My solution is to leave him at home. lol He doesn't "get" Disney so instead of listening to endless complaints and the bored sighs, I leave him at home. My daughter and I have a great time without himtoo lol. I usually take my mom with me instead and I personally would rather have someone there with me that wants to be there instead of dragging around someone who doesn't want to be there. My daughter and I go to Disney for a week and the same week my husband goes on a golfing trip with his buddies so we both are where we love to be and we both have a great time. Then we swap stories and pictures when we get home.
Joanie

 

[Mercy]

Well, mine is semi-Grumpy. He really enjoys our trips to WDW, but he always so stressed about all the money... and we all know a WDW vacation is not cheap!

He always asks me, "How much is all this costing?" And I usually just kind of blow him off and tell him I have everything under control, don't worry, etc.

He is also not one to want to talk about it all the time, you know, just tell him when and where

That's why I'm so happy I have you guys to talk to!!!

 

[TZMOM]

I don't have a Grumpy spouse (anymore - I let him go years ago - kinda like The Donald - "You're fired"), but I DO have a grumpy Dad. I'm taking my parents to WDW next year since none of us are getting any younger. I know my Mom has wanted to go the past two times DS & I went, but my Dad wouldn't go for it. He'd been a few times when we lived down there & that was enough for him. Well, I've gotten the comments ' "What'd do - win the lotto? You'll never be able to afford it.", etc.

My Mom & I have decided that if he starts "acting up", she'll room and hang out with us and we'll meet him on the plane home. If he wants to be negative, he can - just not with us.

Here's to a great trip for all of us with or without our "Grumpys"

 

[KevinFSU]

My wife loves Disney as much as me and the kids. She's just Grumpy........

She reads these boards as well, so if she sees this, I'm probably in for a bruising. hehe

 

[KerriL]

I have a grumpy hubby too. And I leave him at home also. Our kids are older now so it is not difficult to go without him.
We miss him while we are away, but don't miss him getting aggravated(sp) by the crowds, rude people, humidity etc...
We've done a 3nt Wonder cruise and 2 week long stays without him.
Kerri

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I have a semi-grumpy husband. He loves Disney and has a ball when we get there, but he doesn't get into the planning and is sick of hearing me talk about it and the boards. He's another one who keeps saying how much is this all costing, but when I gave him the option of switching from GF to POR this vacation he didn't want to give up the convenience of the monorail. And this was supposed to be a US/IOA vacation only (because it was so much lt was less expensive and we have a long vacation planned for July 2005) he was the one who ultimately decided that we couldn't be that close to Disney and not go. I know when we get there he'll forget how much it cost and only enjoy watching the kids and getting our share of the magic. If I was smart I wouldn't talk about the planning so much but I get so caught up in I can't help it and most of my friends and family think I'm nuts when it comes to Disney anyway.
'

 

[Mish]

ME, I have a Grumpy husband, He says why Disney again? But when we get there he turns into a little child. He says he does it for me and DS (5) but I know deep down inside he has a great time. We have changed it to going every other year so we can do something he likes the other year. Michelle

 

[chaoscent]

DH says, he has done Disney. We went there on our Honeymoon in 2000 and he did all the parks with me. we now have an agreement, he will go with me as long as he doesn't have to go to the parks. He wants to stay on grounds and he will go to EPCOT once so we can eat in Canada. But that's it. he is looking foward to the next trip as we are staying in WL. He likes searching the grounds with his camera for wild life and snakes. i like going to the parks. So we have a great time doing our own thing. Since we are taking nieces/nephews with us this time, he did agree to get a 5 day pass (we are staying 8 days) as long as he can change his mind and not go to the park if he doesn't want to. he figures that the pass should carry him through this trip and the next. LOL
I also have to compromise by throwing in a trip other than Disney every other year. I can live with that.
So i guess i really can't call him grumpy, but i wish he shared my love of Disney.
Penny aka chaos cent

 

[Castillo Mom]

Add one more to the grumpy list! Actually, my husband loves Disneyland and we've been there many times. He had been complaining about all of the planning and DISing I've been doing for our first ever WDW vacation. I've been plotting and scheming for the last almost 2 years. I think maybe he didn't believe we'd actually make it, but as we get closer to August, I can tell he's getting excited and is more willing to engage in conversation about the trip. I know that deep down inside he can't wait!

 

[leighe]

Mercy - OMG - we must be married to the same man! I pay for our trips in monthly incriments so he never really knows how much. He always has fun once we get there, but the getting there can be such a pain! He has absolutely no idea how much we paid a night at AKL!

I always try to make sure we do a few things he really likes. (HDDR is one - which cracks me up!)

 

[paulamom]

I have one of those. Last night he told me he hopes this is the last vacation for a while. (On his behalf Id given him a list of chores like bringing up the suitcases and picking up travel documents) HEHE
Yet when he gets there I'll have to remind him he's got three children because he won't be able to get on the rides fast enough. He's the biggest kid of all.

I think you just have to get them away from that work atmosphere to let the real men we married come out.

Have fun and don't worry.
As the CM's keep telling me I'm sure this is going to be a magical trip.

 

[Selket]

Yes - there must be several of us married to the same man! How does he afford all of us? No wonder he is grumpy! My DH would be happy to see WDW slide off into the bottom of the sea. His idea of the perfect vacation is to go to
Wisconsin and visit his friends there and family nearby. I certainly don't mind doing that - and we do it every few years - but it isn't a real vacation to me. I will be happy to leave him at home as the kids get older and I can handle them better myself. It is no fun dragging a wet blanket around. Don't get me started!

 

[EmmasGrammy]

Hey, I just realized OUR husband is a polygomist (sp?) That big Grump is married to me too!!!

Dh HATES the planning, budgeting and packing but he loves to act like a big kid once we are there!! He won't let me share any of the neat info I glean from these boards. In fact if I mention DIS boards once more he has threatened to revoke my computer privileges!! MEANY!!!!

So I just come and visit here, absorbing all the info I can and plan away. I think this part is lots of fun.


Some mornings I wake up grumpy, other mornings I just let HIM sleep!!! LOL!!!

 

[Tedmom]

Adding another Grumpy DH here. My solution is to let him hang around the hotel where he can catch up on his napping, reading and pool lounging while DD and I do the parks. We usually then have dinner at the resort. The only park he will go to and be only semi-grumpy is Epcot, so he goes there for part of the day and we get him a single day ticket. Saves money and my sanity.

 

[aesalsa]

Originally posted by Mercy
Well, mine is semi-Grumpy. He really enjoys our trips to WDW, but he always so stressed about all the money... and we all know a WDW vacation is not cheap!

He always asks me, "How much is all this costing?" And I usually just kind of blow him off and tell him I have everything under control, don't worry, etc.

He is also not one to want to talk about it all the time, you know, just tell him when and where

That's why I'm so happy I have you guys to talk to!!!

Ditto here, MERCY!! He loves it when we get there, but he gets irritated when he hears ANYTHING about the planning aspect. For example, I'd like to book now for our OCT trip, but he insists that we wait (a $$$ issue). And I just LOVE talking about or reading about Disney--it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside . I am so glad I have you guys who are willing to listen to a fellow Disney-holic !