Dating Advice For A Disney Fan

PurpleHaze

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jul 10, 2019
Im not sure if this is the right place or not to post this but I'm an adult, solo, and a Disney Fan. So let me ask this question. Last night I go out on a first date with an attractive lady I was introduced to. Overall, I've had better first dates and worst. I think we got along well and had many things in common, and did I say she was attractive. Anyway, we were talking about how COVID has disrupted plans to take vacations recently and I mentioned that Im supposed to be taking a trip soon but am considering canceling it. Just for backstory, I was signed up to run the Wine and Dine half marathon the first weekend in November. I havent canceled my reservation yet but am considering it based on just not feeling entirely pumped up about it. So naturally she asked where, and I said Orlando, Im supposed to be going to Disney World. Her reponse... You're voluntarily going to Disney World. I explained about the race and she said the one time she had been it was during the food and wine festival. That was pretty much all of the Disney conversation. So again, nice evening and we said we would try to get together again soon. When I got home and saw my AP magnet on my fridge it really struck me, this could be a problem. Now, Im not a die hard Disney guy. I do enjoy the parks and enjoy doing the Run Disney Events and would love to visit Disneyland someday. I dont think this attitude of hers is a deal breaker but I dont want to be "ashamed of my interest either. Am I making too much of this? What do you good people think?
 
I definitely agree that you should never feel like you are ashamed of or have to sweep under the rug your interests, or hobbies, or your idea of fun. I do know couples where one was very into Disney - the other one wasn't, but was eventually converted. So that could happen. I also know couples who can not share that one's interest so they do their separate things and make that work. With all this said - I mean it is just a date - not a guarantee of forever just yet. But I think you do need to feel way more comfortable about your interests with someone before you do consider them for "forever". Best of luck to you!
 
Honestly, if you connected in other ways, I wouldn't put too much thought into it.

As another big Disney fan, single and dating, I've found disqualifying people you like otherwise because they lack a shared interest is VERY limiting. It's not that I don't want a partner who I have things in common with, I would love to meet someone who wants to go to Disney Parks with me, and go to Comic Con, and watch all my favorite movies. But I also have friends and family for those things. I'd rather the person be kind, and thoughtful and make me laugh.

As long as they don't actively prevent me from pursuing my interests, or insist on coming along and complain the whole time (I have an ex that was that) I don't think it should be a disqualifier, in my experience.
 
I think the key here is if you get that second date. If you do, then she didn't think too poorly of it and was maybe just surprised. In my experience though it does rub people the wrong way, so it's certianly a possibility. Don't put too much emphasis on it as long as she doesn't make it into a bit negative. If she does, well, then she's probably not right for you.
 


Disney trips are not everyday. It's more important what you do on a day by day basis. It's too early to make any determinations, here.

If you decide to have a family someday that could change her mind about going to Disney. It's a great family vacation destination.

Some people get sick doing rides. You wouldn't want anyone getting sick. It may not be a Disney thing but a ride thing.

You have to ask yourself if she checked all the right boxes on everything else could you live with her not going to Disney? That would not be a deal breaker for me.

There are a lot of marathons available besides those at Disney. Expand your horizons.
 
My wife never went to any Disney park until I took her to Disneyland Paris on our Honeymoon. She likes it now, although not as much as I do. When we have vacations, we do both Disney and non-Disney so we worked it out quite well
 


Congrats about signing up for the event! That’s really cool :)

Everyone deserves a shot. I’ve actually converted many people who were ambivalent about Disney parks into true fans. Sometimes people originally didn’t have the best experiences, and you can create new ones together. But then again if someone made me feel abnormal or weird for liking Disney / theme parks, they probably wouldn’t be someone I’d be excited to hang with.

I will say though, though it’s not mandatory to share all interests, it’s definitely fun to be with people who are at least open and willing to try new things / go new places at least once.
 
Im not sure if this is the right place or not to post this but I'm an adult, solo, and a Disney Fan. So let me ask this question. Last night I go out on a first date with an attractive lady I was introduced to. Overall, I've had better first dates and worst. I think we got along well and had many things in common, and did I say she was attractive. Anyway, we were talking about how COVID has disrupted plans to take vacations recently and I mentioned that Im supposed to be taking a trip soon but am considering canceling it. Just for backstory, I was signed up to run the Wine and Dine half marathon the first weekend in November. I havent canceled my reservation yet but am considering it based on just not feeling entirely pumped up about it. So naturally she asked where, and I said Orlando, Im supposed to be going to Disney World. Her reponse... You're voluntarily going to Disney World. I explained about the race and she said the one time she had been it was during the food and wine festival. That was pretty much all of the Disney conversation. So again, nice evening and we said we would try to get together again soon. When I got home and saw my AP magnet on my fridge it really struck me, this could be a problem. Now, Im not a die hard Disney guy. I do enjoy the parks and enjoy doing the Run Disney Events and would love to visit Disneyland someday. I dont think this attitude of hers is a deal breaker but I dont want to be "ashamed of my interest either. Am I making too much of this? What do you good people think?
I don't think she was freaked out that you are disney fan. I think she was freaked out that you are going to Disney World during a pandemic. Some people don't feel comfortable going to theme parks at this time. I would just let her know you think that Disney does a great job cleaning and following CDC guidelines.
 
I started to post then, stopped and went back and re-read the whole post over...

Twice you stated how attractive she is... so that make's me wonder are you looking at the date from WOW, I have this really pretty girl going out with me... and you also said that it wasn't a blow your sock off date it was just mediocre, somewhere in the middle... So looking at it, if she wasn't so attractive, and the date was the same ... would you go out with her again?

Would you consider her friend material? I think that people have to be start out as friends.

Disney for me is an important part of my life, and I love having my DH with me... He liked Disney when we met, once we went together he was like wow there is so much more than just the rides... he loves it now... We are AP holders, and Locals so Disney is a big part of our everyday life... We still travel other places... and enjoy lots of things together... If you feel like that you would have to hide your love of Disney, or if someone was dismiss something that you really like... then move on...

DH and I are best friends, partners, completely each others soul mates...... Together until the End...
 
Im not sure if this is the right place or not to post this but I'm an adult, solo, and a Disney Fan. So let me ask this question. Last night I go out on a first date with an attractive lady I was introduced to. Overall, I've had better first dates and worst. I think we got along well and had many things in common, and did I say she was attractive. Anyway, we were talking about how COVID has disrupted plans to take vacations recently and I mentioned that Im supposed to be taking a trip soon but am considering canceling it. Just for backstory, I was signed up to run the Wine and Dine half marathon the first weekend in November. I havent canceled my reservation yet but am considering it based on just not feeling entirely pumped up about it. So naturally she asked where, and I said Orlando, Im supposed to be going to Disney World. Her reponse... You're voluntarily going to Disney World. I explained about the race and she said the one time she had been it was during the food and wine festival. That was pretty much all of the Disney conversation. So again, nice evening and we said we would try to get together again soon. When I got home and saw my AP magnet on my fridge it really struck me, this could be a problem. Now, Im not a die hard Disney guy. I do enjoy the parks and enjoy doing the Run Disney Events and would love to visit Disneyland someday. I dont think this attitude of hers is a deal breaker but I dont want to be "ashamed of my interest either. Am I making too much of this? What do you good people think?

In all fairness, we are all mind reading which is not always accurate. Consider her background for a moment. Perhaps she was raised to believe Disney is for kids only. Maybe she had a bad experience. It could honestly be that she meant it in a harmless manner (though nonetheless it's still disrespectful). Haven't you ever said anything you later regretted especially because someone else took it a way you didn't intend it?
I would directly confront her on your next date and ask if your love of Disney is an issue. For all you know she could laugh it off and honestly say "well isn't it for kids?" And then you could politely explain to her why it's not just for kids and all the fun things you like to do there. There's lots of couples on the Disboards with partners who aren't into Disney as much and some success stories where they took their partner to Disney as an adult and all of a sudden they drank the Disney kool-aid and it changed their perspective on the matter.
Now with that said, if she still reacts negatively and isn't willing to try to understand or possibly compromise with you on possible Disney trips (if you get that far with her), I would say it's best to find another fish in the sea. No one should have to hide their true selves or passions for others. Good luck.
 
So yeah, I guess I do owe you guys a follow up. FWIW, I did follow everyones responses as they came up, and appreciate the advice and input. I just never got around to posting again. So yeah, after that first date her and I did continue to text and did agree to a second date. While I admit that I was probably making too much of the disney situation, and I would enjoy getting to know her a bit better, I wasn't over the top excited about a second date. So at the end of the day, she said she was cutting back how much she was going out given that the COVID cases around here were climbing and would feel more comfortable once things settled down. I said I understoond and we stayed in touch a little while after that but even that fizzled. I have to say Im ok with the way things worked out.

In other news I did end up pushing my November trip back a month and will be at WDW next week so certainly looking forward to that.
 
Here is my take on this. I once was dating a lady that was not against WDW but, really didn't want to go that much. She was having back problems, which generally wasn't a problem for me, but it did limit the things we could do together at WDW. It really bothered me because at the time a very large part of my life was Disney. My children had all grown, recently married and my wife (long story here) had left for greener pastures, so to speak. I was getting counseling at the time to get my head straightened out and I spoke to my councilor about my thoughts that I was going to have to break up with her because we were going to have a problem with going to my favorite place. The councilor suggested that I wait a little bit when I was in a better mental place.

Two days latter, while at work carrying some stuff down a long flight of stairs, I missed the final step and landed on my right knee on a concrete floor with no way to break my fall. Although no bones were broken, mysteriously, my knee cap had managed to pop up severing completely my Quad Muscle on my right leg. I had surgery and was unable to attend WDW again for almost a year before my leg started to work anywhere near normal. A very good example of Karma at work. I found out that there was more to life then worrying about thinking everyone should feel the same way as I do. But, we were just dating at the time. I really still couldn't see past the fact that she didn't like the place Her idea of a good time were casino's, something that bored me to tears. Obviously I never won much. So getting to know someone and perhaps asking them to give it a try again might win the day, or it might not. Whether or not there is a future for long term relationship will be a personal decision when it becomes necessary.

EDIT: I see that you were posting around the same time that I was writing this. I'm glad you gave it another try, at least. But, it turned out that the problem fixed itself. Have good time.
 

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