BF's never been to dis! Help! :O

[lindsayp]

Hey disers! I'm trying to plan a trip to WDW in may with my boyfriend, it's our first dis vacation together so I want it to be perfect (or close as! ) only problem is he has never been to disney world and thinks it's just for kids So i was hoping you guys could give me some advice to how to convince him it's for adults too! Another problem is he is "pooh" sized and 6"4 so he thinks he can't go on any rides I could use some reassurance here that will convince him that he can go on rides and enjoy them! Thanks disboards!!

 

[DisneydaveCT]

First, I would tell your BF that visiting WDW can be like visiting any other popular vacation destination with a variety of recreational activities. With that in mind, what does your BF like to do to relax when he is on a vacation?

Try to show him that he may be able to do some of the things he likes to do to relax while on vacation like swimming, golfing, boating, walking (LOL), along with many other fun activities.

I would also check out the photo section of the Disboards , and find him pictures of guys like him having fun at WDW . I would especially look for photos showing people like the two you enjoying WDW without kids on the trip.

Good luck in getting him to see that Disney is not just for kids.

 

[roxysmum123]

My boyfriend and I went this past May and it was his first trip too. I stressed myself out trying to make it "perfect" until I gave up about 2 weeks before and just decided to wing it. We had a blast, and he is a converted "WDW is for kids" person.

As far as being "pooh sized" goes, all the ride vehicles at Disney are pretty generous with their sizes and I have rarely heard of anyone having a problem. I would caution you though about Universal if you were planning on making a trip there. Their rides are not pooh friendly.
This is a pretty good "who's who" of WDW ride vehicles for pooh or as the author says lotso sized guests.
http://www.theinfomouse.com/blog/2011/06/20/pooh-sized-at-walt-disney-world/

 

[Karabee]

I'm in the same boat as you! I'm bringing my BF for the first time and his enthusiasm is pretty low. However, I got talking about the restaurants and the more adult rides - Soarin, Test Track, etc and he seems a bit more excited I'm making sure that we have some additional things as well - more adult restaurants and lounges to enjoy a cocktail, Food & Wine Fest, and boating. I find this offsets being surrounded by kids all day long. Have a ton of fun!!

 

[lindsayp]

Thanks all! He's into fishing, so i definitely want to hit up the marina. can anyone recommend a fishing excursion they've been on at dis and other things like that? The thing is, i sometimes feel like i'm dragging him around so i'm not planning on staying at the parks from open to close (as i would do!! ) and he doesn't like swimming so i want to find other activities he might enjoy at dis during the day. Thanks for the advice!!

 

[DisneydaveCT]

In the Recreation part of the Disboards, there is information about fishing excursions around the WDW property. I'm sure you can even find photos on this website that will show people fishing at WDW.

 

[disneygal58]

The planning DVD has a good Disney for adults section.

 

[Minniesnumberonefan]

My husband and I are both Pooh sized and he is 6'2 he has rode many rides without a problem. Even the ones we thought might be tight like space mountain, astro orbiter, and soaring.

 

[CurlyJo224]

DH and I took his brother who is Pooh sized (I think he wears a 4XL?) a few years ago. There were only maybe four rides he couldn't ride.

A couple of tips: For theater type seats, sitting on the edge and scooting back often helps. For seats with seat belts, pull the seat belt ALL the way out and fasten it. Several of the rides have test seats, and they're often in out of the way (read: discreet) places. Just ask one of the CMs at the entrance to the ride. And one thing we didn't think of with my BIL, pay attention to not only width of seats, but depth. He had some issues on some of the boats rides like IASW and Pirates where his knees were hitting the back of the seat in front of him.

As far as the kids part, everyone is different. My DH was won over after his first trip, but we take the view that everyone is a kid at Disney.

 

[SandrainNC]

I am going with my BF in February for the first time also and he has never been either. Not enthusiastic doesn't even describe it. LOL

 

[BDL]

I'm a 6' and 300+ lbs guy. And I can't remember having problems with the rides.

And as a couple of people have posted already, put a lot of emphasis on EPCOT (SOARIN', Test Track, Mission Space and the countries), MGM (Rockin' Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, the NEW Star Tours and Indiana Jones) and Animal Kingdom (Expedition Everest, Dinosaur and the safari). When I'd go down with my buddies, we'd always split 1 day with Magic Kingdom and a water park and spend the rest of the trip park hopping to the other 3 parks. But I think, if you show him 2 out of these 3 parks first, you can get at least a day and a 1/2 at MK.

On top of the EXCELLENT eatiing (I'm a huge fan of sampling EPCOT's eats), there is also the night life on the Boardwalk.

Also mentioned, was the fishing and golfing... I don't know a guy that wouldn't like the NASCAR Experience. Sure, these things might cost a little extra. But by the 3rd day, you'll probably hear him say "You know what... We should come back here again."

 

[DCTooTall]

Honestly, as others have mentioned, it's more likely a guest at Disney will have issues fitting due to their height then is their...um.... width. All things considered, There is only a small perecentage of Disney attractions that utilize restraints. Out of those, a majority use seatbelts. Then you have lap bars which are very forgiving, followed by maybe 1 or 2 rides in the entire resort which will have some sort of over-the-shoulder type restraint that is the least forgiving of a person's overall dimensions.

As for the whole "disney for kids" thing, I'd avoid having his first park experience being the Magic Kingdom. The heavy princess and family focus of the park might be enough to 'confirm' the theory he had coming into it. honestly, I'd possibly start with EPCOT since it does have a lot to do, and with the World Showcase really can project a much more mature aura than some of the other parks. Plus, if he enjoys eating or Drinking, the World Showcase can do wonders to show him some of the things he can get at Disney that he just can't get at a local park.

The fishing excursion can be fun. I did one from DTD a few years ago. For someone who enjoys fishing, it might be something nice. there is also the water sprites at the 7 seas lagoon, or Jet Skiing on Bay Lake. Resort hopping....The Boardwalk. Cirque Du Soleil.... etc. Check out the planning DVD like someone above mentioned, and you may get some ideas. Overall, Just relax and have some fun. You may be a Disney Nut, and he'll probably become one too after experiencing it if you let him relax and come into it at his own pace. Starting off with a more "mature" park would be a great way to help ease him into Disney and become more comfortable with embracing the fantasy that as a grown adult male he may not normally find himself thinking he could enjoy.