Can't make him understand!

[MindyLuvsMickey]

As a young girl, I remember Disney World being my favorite place in the entire world. My parents always found a way to take a trip every couple of years, despite not having much money. It was never an issue, because the memories we created were much more valuable.

Now that I'm an adult and a mother, I want to be able to do the same for my son. DH knows that I'm a nut when it comes to Disney, and he does his best to accomodate me on my whims. We've take DS twice now, not yet 3 yrs old, and I'm planning another trip for before DS enters kindergarten.

The problem is that DH doesn't understand why we need to go again. I've explained time and time again that DS will only be young once and that Disney is a place that will create fantastic memories. I'm sure that there are other vacation desitinations, but none so fantastic for a little one.

Any way to get DH on board?

Our last two trips, although we had a good time, were overshadowed by the number of people that accompanied us. We've never gone as "just the 3 of us". I'm looking forward to a trip with just Us and hope that it unclouds his vision.

 

[Bob P]

It's a tough one. Some people "get" Disney, some don't. Here's a current thread from over on the Disney for Families board that may help you.


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1406189

 

[karenell]

A trip with just the three of you will allow you both to focus on each other and your son--and THAT's what creates all those wonderful memories! Great idea!

 

[mirthmaiden]

My ex and I never agreed on any kind of travel, much less Disney. I always had to practically drag him kicking and screaming. But once we'd get where we were going, and he would see our kids having so much fun, he'd finally relax and enjoy himself. It was just such an ordeal getting to that point. And it isn't like he didn't know what a travel nut I am before we got married!

Anyway, it sounds like your DH is at least willing to try, even if he's not on the same excitement wavelength as you are. I would suggest doing as much research as you can and trying to find some special types of activities that will really highlight your time together as a family - things off the beaten path, so to speak. Spend time at the pool during the day when it isn't overflowing with tired people coming back from the parks. Do a character meal. It's hard to focus on the quality time when you're fighting for your life to get through crowds and make it to the next show/ride/meal, etc. And, is there something in particular that he wants to do? I know I can be a control freak sometimes when it comes to planning, and I forget that other people sometimes have different priorities than I do.

Good luck and enjoy your trip

 

[LISAMWDW]

My new husband is also not the disney nut I am but he does seem getting more open to it. Just this week, it was his idea to go for a long weekend w/out kids. He wants to golf and go to Epcot. It's a comprising balance we all have to find.

I think it would be awesome for you three to go by yourselves! I hope you can accomplish it, it not this year, next year. The memories would last a lifetime! I personally don't like group/extended family vacations. I prefer just "us". It's time that we need to spend together that sometimes in the normal course of life: work, school, kids sports, etc. that makes it hard to find quality time.

Good luck!

 

[5disneyfreaks]

My DH wasn't much of a Disney nut either, but now is a different story. We were able to go during Value Season and ther just wasn't much of a crowd, and he really got to enjoy Disney. A couple weeks after that we went to Buch Gardens for his birthday, and his words, "I really miss Disney. I like it so much more than this." We always go on Pirates. Yes, the whole family loves it, but it is DH favorite. He picks out a lot of places to eat. I try to keep him involved, and it makes a difference. In fact, he was in Korea for a year (in the AF) and kept talking Disney up. Now we live in Tampa and one of his friends and his wife are going to visit, and we are going to Disney.
I guess what I am trying to say is have him help, if nothing more than on where to eat. It just might help.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Way back when, 1977, we went to WDW as much as possible, just because our children, 1- got in free, 2-slept in cribs, 3-not big rooms were needed. As the children grew, our trips became more expensive, had to purchase them tickets and food issues. As the years progressed and our salaries increased, trips came closer together. Now that the children are married and on their own, its just me and the wife and its alot easier just the two of us. I keep telling me kids, go when you're young and the kids are infants, as they grown its anything times the number of children you have which brings the expense of Disney way up.

Just the wife and I now and our deluxe stays are cheap, we get AP's and stay over 10 nights and hit Disney twice a year. Most of peoples cost is in the travel, a five day trip is not enough time but the travel expense is the same, we take 2, 10-12 night stays a year to get value out of our AP's and even told wife how about one stay per year 20 nights, only one cost to travel. Think you couldn't pry us out to go home.

 

[Priorityonecb]

Welllll...my husband will *tell you he's not a Disney fan. However, last week we removed some large outdoor toys from the backyard leaving behind patches of dead grass. Later in the evening, dh was standing at an upstairs window and remarked "Look at that...we have a hidden mickey of dead grass!" Hmmm??? What was that honey??? Only a true Disney fan would find a hidden mickey in Colorado!

We are going back in December, and I know dh is looking forward to the trip! He doesn't really "get" my obsession with the DIS...and he shakes his head when he finds me reading the Unofficial Guide cover to cover a year in advance of a trip...but he puts up with me!

 

[perkinselectric]

My oldest DS is 14 and a budding rock star, I got it late, my DW dragged me there for the 1st time @ 39, 2 trips later I'm hooked, I understand as a parent that in a couple of years ,mabey this year , he will not want to be hanging out with his cool dad, but his friends instead. So with that in mind I will take what I can get right now. You can only see the majic in there eyes for only so long.


Good luck and GOD bless.... Mike P

 

[eliza61]

A trip with just the three of you will allow you both to focus on each other and your son--and THAT's what creates all those wonderful memories! Great idea!

Ok, I'm going to play devils advocate. She can't make wonderful family memories without going to Disney? My dh is like that and we take turns, every once in a while he picks the vacation spot (and we always have a fabulous time) then we're back at the mouseworld.

 

[karenell]

She can't make wonderful family memories without going to Disney?

Of course they can make wonderful memories anywhere. But the OP said:

Our last two trips, although we had a good time, were overshadowed by the number of people that accompanied us. We've never gone as "just the 3 of us". I'm looking forward to a trip with just Us and hope that it unclouds his vision.

I was simply reaffirming the idea that her DH's WDW memories might be better if they didn't have an entourage.

Personally, I've done the mass-production, four-generation trip myself and found that my attention was so distracted worrying about my MIL and my mother that I didn't have time to spend with my own kids and grandkids. If that had been my only experience with Disney, I'm not sure I would have ever gone back.

Fortunately I was a veteran then and knew that the experience had nothing to do with the locale. Since then, we've learned to scale back on the number of people we invite at one time.

 

[mirthmaiden]

Personally, I've done the mass-production, four-generation trip myself and found that my attention was so distracted worrying about my MIL and my mother that I didn't have time to spend with my own kids and grandkids. If that had been my only experience with Disney, I'm not sure I would have ever gone back.

Absolutely true. This probably makes me a horrible person in the eyes of many, but my parents live about 50 miles from WDW and I actually considered not telling them we're going for 9 days in August because of this very thing. Although we could've saved a ton of money staying with them, I want it to just be the family and not having to deal with all the clashing of different expectations, dividing time between vacation and visiting with them, etc. (We see them several times a year, so it's not like we won't see them again soon, Lord willing).

I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to have some quality *alone* family time.

 

[eliza61]

Oh, I misunderstood. I definitely know first hand that disney is different when you are with your immediate loved ones. I did a family reunion (18 people) last August and while it was great, I do enjoy more the times when it is just me and "my men" but the op said.

The problem is that DH doesn't understand why we need to go again. I've explained time and time again that DS will only be young once and that Disney is a place that will create fantastic memories. I'm sure that there are other vacation desitinations, but none so fantastic for a little one.

Any way to get DH on board?

So I took this to mean, he really doesn't want to go back again. Which is very much like my Dh. Every other year or two is fine for him, while I could go 2 or 3 times a year.

 

[Priorityonecb]

Ohhhh...did the OP mean Disney and only Disney as vacation destinations? I want to clarify then...we do many other trips a year besides Disney. In 2006 we did Disney, New York, Mt. Rushmore and DC. If we *only did Disney....yes...then dh would not be a happy camper and I wouldn't blame him for that at all! Now that we are moving within driving distance, I think we'll do Disney once a year for a long weekend...but we have many other places we want to see and do as well.

 

[hannah03]

My husband doesn't get it either and if it weren't for Hannah telling him that she wants to go see Mickey and the princess, we'd probably not be going.

My son (13) doesn't really get it either but we watched that special on WDW last night and he really perked up when he saw how large the parks and rides are

I think they will both **GET IT** and hopefully love it Oh and we plan on switching off on vacations, since we get 2 a year

 

[BubblPopElectrc]

Do you have a credit card?

Book it for you and your son, and then see how he feels.

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

A miracle of all miracles has occurred. I'm not sure if the stars in my favor or what.

Dh and I were talking last night and I told him, yet again, that DS will only be little once. As he grows older, he probably will not want to do the Disney thing as much, so Carpe Diem! I specifiically asked him if it's that he doesn't like Disney World I asked him if he would rather I take him (DS) on my own. To my surprise, he said "NO Way! If you're going, I'm going. He said he actually enjoys going and is looking forward to going again

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He just said that he can't understand why I want to go every other weekend? LOL What's up with that?

Our plan is to eventually retire to Florida. DH would like to to teach at his Alma Mater in Daytona and I'm going to DISNEY WORLD!! I told him we'd still be staying on the property, to which he replied "Yes, dear!"


Looks like he's officially on board for planning our next trip in Dec, 2008!

 

[Adam1217]

congratulations on that, I just took my girlfriend last september and she fell in love with it and cannot wait to go this september!!! But what she doesn't know is this trip will be in her heart for the rest of her life!!! Because she will become my fiance then!!!!!!

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

Awwww . . . . how sweet are you. You're going to be creating another Disney-monster.

Congratulations!