Anyone else dealt with this?

[mbcissell]

My family have been Disney lovers since I was a baby. I am married to a man who has NEVER been to Disney......EVER! I can't blame him, he is one of 13 kids, so growing up, they just didn't have the cash for such trips. Anyway, we are going on a Disney vacation this September, and of course, I'm bouncing off the walls! We are taking my parents, and our 2 kids DS4, and DD(who will be 11 months at time of trip.) I think I talk about it every day. But whenever I start to talk about it, DH(or, soon to be Disney Husband ) rolls his eyes.He just doesn't get it. He just walked into the room, looked at my computer, and said "The Disboards AGAIN??" Has anyone else ever taken a first timer with them? I am finding it difficult to really convey to him just how special Disney is. I find myself constantly harassing DS to talk about Disney, even though he was only 2 the first time he went. At least he remembers some things.

 

[Tink3Belle]

You may have to deal with it until he experiences it for the first time.
You can't get it til go go there sometimes.
I took my husband to Disney land in California and wanted to take him to Florida and he said It isn't that great then I took him to Florida and he couldn't believe the difference and he got into it and even was like a pro after a day or two. Have Hope!

 

[kbuckley]

My DH is exactly the same. I have only been once and it was years ago but I still remember how much fun we had. Also when reading the boards everything just sounds so exciting but he just rolls his eyes too when I get on. When we go in January I'm sure he'll "get it" then!

 

[njdisneyfreak]

My family have been Disney lovers since I was a baby. I am married to a man who has NEVER been to Disney......EVER! I can't blame him, he is one of 13 kids, so growing up, they just didn't have the cash for such trips. Anyway, we are going on a Disney vacation this September, and of course, I'm bouncing off the walls! We are taking my parents, and our 2 kids DS4, and DD(who will be 11 months at time of trip.) I think I talk about it every day. But whenever I start to talk about it, DH(or, soon to be Disney Husband ) rolls his eyes.He just doesn't get it. He just walked into the room, looked at my computer, and said "The Disboards AGAIN??" Has anyone else ever taken a first timer with them? I am finding it difficult to really convey to him just how special Disney is. I find myself constantly harassing DS to talk about Disney, even though he was only 2 the first time he went. At least he remembers some things.

I was in an almost identical situation. Our first trip was in 2002. My DH is one of seven and their family also didn't have that sort of money, either. That first trip only took place because he knew how much I wanted to go, having gone a number of times growing up and being a total Disney freak. I talk in my sleep, and apparently I talked about wanting to go to Disney so much, that my DH just couldn't take it anymore. He would act the same way as your DH when he thought I was going overboard with the Disney talk, though he tried to understand.

I felt frustrated and went through that phase where I tried to convince him to get more excited, but to no avail.

It wasn't until we arrived, and actually it was on our ride into WDW and he caught a glimpse of the castle, that the whole magic of WDW hit him. From that point on, he was soooooooooo hooked! He has joined me in my Disney madness every since. As you can see down below, we have gone on two trips already and will be going in December for our anniversary and the holidays. He loves Disney now. In fact, on our trip last July, he was the one who suggested we go this upcoming December!

So give your DH time. Don't try to hit over the head with Disney just yet, because honestly, if he hasn't gone before, I can see how it would be hard to understand the hype. Like my DH once thought, he probably thinks that it's just a place for kids and doesn't realize how much adults can enjoy it or how the place has a way of making you feel like a kid yourself.

September will be here before you know it. I'm sure it will all work out and he will come around. It just might not happen till your DH is actually there.

Let me know how it turns out.

 

[DisneyMomFanatic]

Beth,

Yes, I have been with a first timer. I was engaged at the time and my fiance had never been to WDW. He wasn't sure he would have a good time because it was a kids place. He was wrong and admitted so. I want to go every year and he finally understands why I love going over and over. WE know what we are gonna get with disney. They have a standard and we know what it is and like it. This will be my 14th trip and we as couple will be having our 10th trip together. I think I have convinced him, and now my kids can help with that convincing!

 

[smylie1]

This past January was DH and my first trip to WDW. I am a researcher/planner/list maker, so I was reading the Official and Unofficial Guides, Mousplanet, Intercot, Disboards, anything I could find. DH just wanted to know when we were going and if I had printed off directions. And yeah...I know that eye roll all too well.

WELL... I just made reservations for next January. He actually sat beside me at the computer to decide on a resort, was "explaining" the DP to some friends of ours who are going for the first time, and I actually caught him reading my Guide!

I have a feeling there will be many WDW trips in our future!

 

[Accentuate+]

You're probably stuck with his attitude until he actually goes there.

My current Disney traveling companions are a friend of mine and her son. Our first trip together was their first trip ever.

She liked the idea of a vacation but was skeptical about the Disney part. Quotes from her before we went:
"The rides will be okay but I don't know how you think we'll spend so much time there"
"I've always hated Mickey Mouse"
"No characters better come up and mess with me"


We had barely cleared the train station in MK on our first day when we saw Mickey and Minnie in the middle of the street and Goofy, Baloo, Pinocchio, Cruella off to various sides. My friend grabbed my camera and was GONE. Her son and I sat on a bench and hoped she'd find us. She showed up about 20 minutes later, completely out of breath with pics of all the characters she could find and said, "They've got me."

Took her to Crystal Palace. Life, limb and lunch were in danger when she vaulted from her seat to hug and dance with Eeyore!

I busted her singing the Mickey Mouse Show theme song.

She cried as we left EPCOT on the last night and said, "you know, Mickey's not so bad"

This fall will be our third trip and I think she's more excited than I or her child are.

I think conversions like this happen daily! Hang in there!

 

[pixdust]

I feel your pain. I took my DS in 2005 for the first time. DH was not working at the time and said he couldn't go because he needed to find a job. Called us the first night and said he had torn out the kitchen. Came home to the refrigerator in the living room, and I guess that was new job. Funny thing, I was paying for the whole thing and he didn't have to contribute $$. In 2006 planned 2nd trip with DS. DH not working again, (carpenter between jobs) Said he couldn't go, had to look for work. We come home, no job. He comes right out and says he has no desire to go. When he was younger his mother used to drop him off at Disneyland as a form of babysitting. I guess he didn't have the fondest memories of that. I keep telling him, being dropped off is much different than going with loved ones, esp when you have the opportunity to see the joy on your child's face. I planned trip 3, and invited step-daughter, granddaughter and step-daughter's boyfriend. I told DH, he had to go with us at least once. And this would be the first time we have all had a "real" family vacation. Kept asking him, finally told him, I couldn't wait any longer. I was booking him, and if he decided again not to go, he owed me for the non-refundable plane ticket. So far so good. He even had some picks for ADR's. I have told him, that you find your own magic and sometimes you have to make your own magic. WDW isn't all about commercialism, long lines and Hot humid Florida. It is being with your family and enjoying the beauty and childlike wonder that Disney has to offer. I am convinced if he relaxes and allows him self to have a good time, he will. It isn't some sort of punishment to stand in a line to do something fun. I keep hoping that tons of pixie dust will continue to fall on DH and on all others who are determined that they will not have a good time and they will be the ones who do not want to go home they have had such a good time.

 

[Jrabbit910]

i know exactly how you feel. I took my husband there for his suprise 30th birthday trip, he didnt find out where he was going until we were at the airport and when I told him where we were going he was sooooo Disappointed (I even have it on tape to prove it!) anyway, he never wanted to go there EVER and me being a disney nut needs to go so I thought that the only way of getting him there was to surprise him. When we got there I started to see a little smile... by the end of the trip he was wearing his ears and surprised me for my 30th there the following year. He is now officially a WDW lover.... not a crazy one like me but in due time I will get him there!

Just let your husband experience the magic and I truley believe he also will fall in love w/ the mouse!

 

[DisneyGuess]

My DF, (DH once we get there!! ) is the same way.
He'll come in and look at me on the computer and roll his eyes.
He just doesn't get it yet, but he will, I have faith!

 

[smylie1]

All you need is trust and a little bit of pixie dust! -Peter Pan

 

[M 'n C]

Is he maybe holding back his excitement?? My bf and I went last Sept and he was practically a first timer as he had only been to MK in Disneyland once as a child and then to WDW with our company for a conference which left very limited time to go to the parks. He was very frustrating to deal with since I booked out trip last May and then planned and planned. He refused to get excited until the week before we left. We had a blast once we got there and are going back next year.

 

[katmattsmom]

My DH was the same way, I was bouncing off the walls waiting to go and he'd never been there, didn't understand the excitement of going and taking our kids for the 1st time. BUT by the end of the trip, he was converted

 

[Unregistered]

Sometimes they're betting not going in with expectations. We love all the parks, but better to have him totally love it than go "what's the hype?". Not that I think he'll ever say that.

 

[storzo]

My DH never went and I took him and DS and he hated it. Weird but true. The lines, the heat, etc., etc., everything. I got him to admit to a few things he liked but overall it was definately not his thing. Now when we go, he'll do EPCOT for some beers of the world and MK for POTC and the water parks are a hit with him. Other than that he hangs at the pool or sets up a dive and we go to the parks. It works for us and none of us are grumpy or bringing the others down. Keep an alternate plan in mind for something he might like to do in case the parks don't do it for him.

 

[themudd4]

My DH had never been there until we had taken our then DD2. Now he is as big of an Disney Freak as I am...I can't hardly wait till I surprise him with our upcoming trip this Oct.
Anyway, he will come around once he gets there and sees the world through your eyes...not to mention your kids. You will see it in a new light yourself if you have not been with your own kids.
Have a great time planning and playing!