Converting a DH?

[JJsmama]

I was just reading the "gotta clean my ears out" thread and decided to start a new one on converting a reluctant dh to be a WDW enthusiast.

Mine is of the reluctant type and I am planning a trip for May 2005, to which he reluctantly agrees. Thing is, I want to convert him. Any suggestions?

We were just there in in November with our ds 3 & 5. It was sooo crowded in the MK that it really was exhausting. We stayed in All stars which seems a long way out and the food court thing did not help relax my stressed out dh.

This time I am planning to save up and stay at either Contemporary or Wild. Lodge so that we and the boys can go back to the room easier during the day and come back out at night, plus have some more restaurant options that don't include the bus. I also plan to lower my expectations and perhaps just do MK and in the early mornings, then let dh and boys hit the pool and beach and I can go back to park or not in the afternoon.

Does this sound like a good conversion plan? What has worked for your reluctant significant others?

P.S. another thing that really stressed him is that he is a healthy eater and we found it REALLY hard to find anything that wasn't fried or pre-packaged in MK. Any suggestions where we should look?

 

[EEyorelover22]

My DH is a convert. The man never saw Peter Pan as a kid for goodness sake. He now loves WDW. I can top anything that your DH thinks about healthy eating. The man is a fanatic!!! He has not had candy in nearly two years. I am really not sure how he survives. My life without chocolate would be like life without Disney. He does go wacko at Cheesecake Factory I must say. Although that would mean he had two pieces while we were there. He worked out 3-4 times while we were there.

I can tell you from personal experience that moving from CBR to AKL converted him. Our first trip in 01 he didn't enjoy as much. We went in June of 03 and it was his idea to go back this June. The food options for him at AKL were much better. He could eat good food and still feel okay. He loved the fitness center at the resort and the thing that he loved the most were the beds.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I hit enter and wasn't done...opps!

I don't really have any suggestions for MK except that I am going to make a PS for Crystal Palace though for he and my DS 12. DS didn't like that there was nothing to eat for real food till nearly 11. They both don't care that much for MK after the last trip. I think this will help. They have omelets there. DH did bring some protein bars with us the last time that wouldn't melt. Triplex bars. They served him very well. Other good ones are U-turn, Joy-ride, Detour and One-way, but they would melt if it's really hot when you go.

I think moving up to a deluxe will help convert him. I was successful and I didn't even plan for it to happen. I was just going to plan trips for myself and DD and the boys could do something else.

I let him help plan the action too. His schedule was low key. One thing that really got on his nerves was the Extra Magic Hours. He said he wasn't racing around the entire vacation. I told him he didn't have to go with DD and I. He didn't. They went the slow pace. He and DS usually got there and we were waiting with us though. They didn't rush, we did. He was right about that, but that's just my Triple A personality.

We also had our first day around the hotel after arrival, slow first morning with breakfast at the resort and then mid morning went to the parks and then the last day was a hang around the hotel day as well.

 

[Kallison]

My Dh also enjoyed our trips at the Deluxes better than the Mods. He likes being close to the action. Other than that, I just try and plan a sit down PS because he has to be fed on a regular basis - so annoying. He likes to sit and relax for at least one meal. Can you stock up on healthy snacks and bring a cooler? If you want to enjoy pool and down time you might want to think about the Beach Club, he loved the pool there. Other than that, he said he is sick and tired of Disney after our last trip. The oldest 13 year old agreed with him. I said fine - myself and youngest DD will go alone in a few years. I have told him, you might be sick of Disney but I am not and will continue to go with or without you. I went with him in October to a conference and had two whole days by myself in the Parks. I had a BLAST.

 

[JJsmama]

Thanks for the tips. Your DH sounds similar to mine.

Maybe the food at WL or Contemp. will be similar to the good food at AKL.

We were impressed with the fresh fruit stand at AK, but we probably won't go back there since we were all disappointed.

He always has fruit and cereal in the hotel room so breakfast is fine and at dinner, one can usally find something not too unhealthy.

But Lunch in MK is really challenging.

 

[thumpersfriend]

My DH only wants to go to DW if we stay at Fort Wilderness and rent the golf carts. We have been there 5 times with our kids who are grown now. I want to go next year but is there a chance I could convert him to another hotel? Was thinking of POR or the Poly. He likes the cabins because of the food situation and he hates fast food(I love it.) Anyone got any suggestions for this problem.

 

[EEyorelover22]

Maybe a sit down lunch PS at the castle or Crystal Palace. Check out the restuarant board. I have never done those though. The food at MK was a major issue for both DH and DS last time. Eating ice cream and sweets is good enough for me, but not them.

I feel your pain!!

 

[JJsmama]

Thumpersfriend,

There is a great thread on the Budget board about good things to eat in your room without cooking. Check it out.

For us, it is mostly a problem at lunchtime when we are in the MK.

Avoiding fast food at breakfast is a snap with just a cooler in your room. We have little kids who wake up hungry so we always have yogurt, cereal, milk, juice, fruit, bagels and cream cheese in there.

 

[kaseyC]

Have you considered renting pts from a DVC owner for a 1 bdroom Villa. He might like the extra space - more room to relax. You could look into BWV or BCV to be walking distance to Epcot or the WLV to be just a boat ride away from MK.

 

[hulabird]

Sometimes I think men just don't want to admit that they love Disney, to some of them Disney is for kids and women, so to admit to liking this sort of thing is hard on their male ego. My DH is one of these, but yet every year we go and he has more fun than anyone! This year, my sister and I were planning on just taking my nieces, and just have a "girls" vacation in WDW and leave the hubbies home. Well, my DH came to me and said he wanted to come too. When he saw that we were seriously making plans that didn't include him, he had a total about face and wanted to be included. But will he admit that he loves Disney? Probably not, but I can see it as he is laughing and smiling when we stop in and see the Bear in the Big Blue House or ride on Dumbo for the hundreth time.

 

[thumpersfriend]

I like the idea of having breakfast items in the room. My DH likes to take his time in the morning and has to have his coffee. Do you think he would convert better if we stayed at a delux or a moderate? He loves to go to TL & BB and relax too. Do you think a resort pool would be enough for him?

 

[EEyorelover22]

I think being at a Deluxe will help. DH and DS spend loads and loads of time at Disney Quest and TL. They love TL. They go to the extra magic hour and are there for about 1.5-2 (if that) hours and they are gone. They try to hit a breakfast at Boma and then go to Quest and TL. It is a slow moving vacation for them. One of the best mornings for them was at AK. They did Breakfastosaurus before opening and then did Dino and Bug's Life and left. They went to the resort and then went to TL.

You know that commerical for the Disney Cruise where the DH has a list of things to do? That's my DH. He laughed so hard when he saw that.

Some wouldn't agree with the way that we do Disney as we aren't together most of the day. We meet up for dinner. DD is nutso about characters, DS isn't. DH and DS took in movies last summer. I friend of mine went nuts!! That's what they wanted to do and they didn't feel like they were missing anything.

 

[Crazy Kanga]

To answer the op's question about eating healthy in MK, Pinochios Village Haus has salads and a great turkey sandwich on whole wheat.

 

[JJsmama]

Kanga,
Thanks so much! Dh will be so pleased! I'm writing it down in my little notebook.

 

[thumpersfriend]

Maybe you are right with a delux, we spend alot of time driving everywhere when we are at FW because of the buses, but it would be nice just to hang out by the pool if it is themed nicely.Also would be nice to be on the monorail or closer to the other parks. Without the kids this time, I would love to just eat in a nice restaurant and not have to cook meals, been there done that. Even por sounds nice with the boatride to DD. My DH does like to just relax, I like to plan and go but maybe if I was in a different resort I might like to slow down too.

 

[leighe]

I converted my DH on our last trip. It was his first ever and he agreed to it with a kind of "I know you really love this place, so I'm going to go and get it over with" attitude. I made sure we did lots of stuff that I thought he would be interested in - we went to WWoS and watched the Tampa Bay Bucs training camp. He loved the Hoop Dee Do Review. I think an above poster was right - he loves Disney now but won't admit it. I think he's excited about our spring break trip, but if I ask him about he says something like, "I just want you to have a good time." I know he's into it though b/c he hates to spend money and it was his idea to stay at a deluxe this time - last time it was CBR. I pitched this trip to him as an "Atlanta Braves spring training trip" so it seemed more oriented towards him having a good time too. I think some men have a such a hard time admitting when they like anything!

 

[Selket]

I've been trying to convert DH for 10 years with no luck. I've stayed off property and on and it didn't matter. The past trip we stayed at the AKL in a savannah view room and it didn't matter. The problem is that certainly the deluxe hotels are nicer which he likes (who wouldn't?) but they cost more money. His big thing is money so it doesn't matter whether I go cheap or expensive he doesn't care for it! If your DH doesn't like WDW because of the expense then making it more expensive may not work

The last trip he really enjoyed the eride nights. I have just accepted that there is no pleasing him with WDW (which I love) so I try to enjoy it with the kids and let him make his own happiness

 

[thumpersfriend]

I couldn't believe when I asked myDH if there was anything special he would like to do as you have suggested.He actually said that I can plan what I like because he thinks I do such a good job. Only thing he wants to to is see La Nouba again, he said he really enjoyed that and he wants to see a couple of movies at DD. Here I thought he didn't enjoy anything. So you all were right , they just don't want us to know how much fun they really have. So I guess there is hope for our guys afterall.

 

[MelessaG]

I agree that a hotel closer to 'the action' and taking things at a slower pace should help. I'm a little embarrassed to admit this, but we drove away from WDW after our first trip with me in tears because my DH's insistence on sleeping in and skipping "little shows" like Fantasmic caused me to miss out on a lot of things I had my heart set on doing. (it was my first trip ever and I had looked forward to it since I was 10) He felt bad about that and promised to "try harder" next time. So far, he has been true to his word. On our most recent trip, I made a point of not dragging him around all day, and he got up earlier so we could accomplish more at the parks and leave earlier in the day. This time, he actually chose the Contemporary for us without cringing at the price and I deliberately scheduled two days where we don't go to the parks at all. I think compromise begins the conversion and the enthusiasm of the wife and kids eventually brings them around too.

 

[BambiTamby]

hmmmm....I had to convert my DH, also.
He's loves the deluxes because of the workout facilities, better restaurants, (he hates fast food) and
then there's that four-letter word......GOLF.

Booked a tee time the second trip, and the man became putty in my hands.

That, and he loves to train, so getting him a Length of stay health club pass works, too!

Sending Pixie Dust your way, sweetie!~*~*~*~*~*~*~
And, MelessaG...they DO make us cry sometimes!