DH doesn't want to go to WDW--

[run4me]

We are going the end of Aug. I'm thinking of taking an extra 3 days and finding other things that DH would like to do. No amusement parks. An y suggestions? I'm hoping this will make it a better vacation for him.

 

[cgcruz]

I'd say divorce. And right on time for your vacation!

 

[isla bonita]

Mine isn't coming with me and the kids in Sept.

I look at is as his loss.

He probably looks as it as a little peice of heaven.

 

[Lisa P.]

My DH is not a big theme park fan either. So we make sure to include some things that are more fun for him too. Renting a sailboat is his favorite and some of the Disney resort marinas have them, as well as other kinds of boats - mini fast boats, pontoons for cruising or fishing, canoes at the campground. You don't have to stay there to visit and rent from those marinas. My DH also enjoys dinner shows and restaurant dinners just with me ("date night") along with long walks together through the resorts, even though he likes family dinners with our kids too.

The Orlando area has many other fun offerings - golf courses, tennis courts, museums (the Orlando Science Center is very good), airboat rides, sky diving, horseback riding, swimming/snorkling with dolphins, canoeing at a state park, day trips to the beach. So a question to consider is what might he like to do on a vacation somewhere else and see if you can put a spin on it, providing something similar in Orlando.

 

[chobie]

We are going the end of Aug. I'm thinking of taking an extra 3 days and finding other things that DH would like to do. No amusement parks. An y suggestions? I'm hoping this will make it a better vacation for him.

Can you give him some off times while at the park? Like let him go back to the hotel for a swim or something? Will you have a car with you? If so you could go to Daytona beach or Kennedy Space Center for the day. What does he like to do?

 

[Ruth B]

We always do some non-them park days.
What about Kennedy space centre.
This year we are doing a adventure day that involves a boat trip, nature reserve and swimming with manitees...........
There are lots of other tour out there that doesn't involve parks

 

[SusanDK]

What would be his ideal vacation? What does he like to do in his spare time?

There have been lots of good suggestions here, but it would help if we knew what interested him.

Kennedy Space Center is very interesting if he likes that kind of thing. If he is a beach person, a day at one of the Gulf Coast or Atlantic Coast beaches would make a nice relaxing day out.

There are a lot of golf courses in the area, as well as mini-golf.

How many kids do you have and what ages -- is there a way for you to get out together for an evening, just the two of you? Depending on whether this is an option, you could go to a concert at House of Blues or Hard Rock Live if he is a music buff, or spend an evening at Jelly Rolls with the Dueling Pianos. Or if he likes fine dining, have a romantic dinner for just the two of you.

Susan

 

[snowbunny]

Leave him at home, that's what I do. He's happier and we're happier not having to worry about whether he is having a good time.

 

[dani blaski]

We are going the end of Aug. I'm thinking of taking an extra 3 days and finding other things that DH would like to do. No amusement parks. An y suggestions? I'm hoping this will make it a better vacation for him.

My DH is not really a Disney Hubby at all. But he loves golf and really enjoyed the WDW golf course we went to on a winter weekend vacation in 2005. Better weather than at home, and we did a KTTK tour. He liked the engineering aspects to Disney and the back stories to the attractions. I can probably get two more WDW vacations out of him in our life--and each one has to be totally unique and different from any other. So I have my challenges.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

I think it would really help if he would identify what he would like to do, versus the fact that he does not enjoy the parks. For instance, is he wanting time alone with just you? Then get a sitter, or use one of the babysitting centers, and go out just the two of you. Does he hate the "go, go, go" of park touring? Then give him one day where everyone sleeps in and goes to a park late. Does he want some alone time? Then how about golf, sitting by the resort pool with an adult beverage, rent a sailboat... The most important thing for your DH to do is to figure out, on his own, what he wants from this vacation. You are very sweet to be brainstorming ideas, but more than likely you'll come up with some unique things to do and he'll still be unhappy. You will already be concentrating on keeping the kids happy, keeping him happy too will be exhausting.

 

[MARCIAKAZ]

Has he ever been to WDW before? DH and I went the first time in August 2004 with our three kids. Neither of us was hugely excited about it. We planned it because our oldest would be graduating high school the next year, and we figured it to be the "classic" family vacation, so we went. Well, now we are both huge fans! I am the one who wears it on my sleeve...his is more of a secret love...who knew?!?

 

[spiceycat]

here are 207 things to do in Orlando - some include the theme parks - but lots don't

http://www.orlandoinfo.com/articles.cfm?content=-<+&S7U)"N52WY!@9W

if he likes golf - then he should LOVE WDW.

more places to golf in the surrounding area
http://www.orlandoinfo.com/golf/

have you consider doing the WDW tours?
these have an engineering aspect. of course he would need to go to the parks for them
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tours.htm

 

[run4me]

Everyone thank you for your tips. DH had decided that DD and I will go alone and he will take DD on a road trip to Grand C anyon this summer. DD gets the best of both and next year we will work on something for everyone.

 

[Vivianne]

If he likes airplanes, he'll like this place....

www.fantasyofflight.com

Last year, we did Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion. We stayed 2 days at each park. Great trip.

 

[spiceycat]

Everyone thank you for your tips. DH had decided that DD and I will go alone and he will take DD on a road trip to Grand C anyon this summer. DD gets the best of both and next year we will work on something for everyone.

disney world and the Grand Canyon - hope she is ready for the jealous school mates.

okay now she needs to go to the beach to make it complete.

 

[Mainebound]

Mine isn't coming with me and the kids in Sept.

I look at is as his loss.

He probably looks as it as a little peice of heaven.

LOL! My DH did not come with us in March. Although my mother and HIS parents did, LOL! He was busy finishing a book project and wasn't all that enthused for a 5th annual trip. We missed him but still had a great time. I think he did like having the house to himself, actually.

And you know what? He's already planning our trip for NEXT March. I say it was worth it to give him a "year off" just to see him so enthusiastic for 2008!

 

[isla bonita]

You betcha

He will appreciate us when we return for an hour at least

 

[winniethepoohsmom]

My DH is not a big disney fan, we've taken 4 trips and have another one coming up in august, which he agreed to because of the free dining. Don't get wrong he has a good time while we are there but he does'nt want quite as much of a hustle bustle kind of vaca. he needs some down time to relax. We are staying at a hotel that has watercraft rentals and bike rentals which I think he will really enjoy, I thought we would go mini golfing because we have'nt done that at disney yet and spend less time in the parks than we usually do and enjoy the pool more. We're renting a car and planning a day at the beach possibly cocoa beach. Dh has mentioned doing universal for a change so I'm hoping to get in another trip to disney by going to universal on that trip as well and I thought he might like the Richard Petty driving experience with of course some relax time in between. I've also thought of splitting up a trip and doing a few days in orlando and a few days at the coast. And although I'm not really interested in the Kennedy Space center I would'nt have a problem with DH and DS taking a ride there for the day. DH would die if he knew I was planning all this in my head already. He does'nt Christmas shop till a couple days before Christmas never mind plan trips so far ahead time. We also spend our first and last day at the pool so we're not to tired when we start out in the parks and when we leave to go home. Sorry so long, you can see I also put a lot of thought into stretching our disney trips. Good Luck, Linda

 

[Joel110]

I can understand people prefering a relaxing vacation over a Disney vacation, especially to get some down time from a hard work schedule and to not have the "I need a vacation from my vacation" feeling, but I'm surprised that some would rather stay home while their spouse and kids went to Disney. If a Disney vacation was an annual expectation, I could understand the resistance, but it would be something I think everyone would want to experience with their kids every few years as they grow up. Even if I didn't enjoy Disney itself, my enjoyment would be derived from my DDs. I guess my best comparison is that I hate dance recitals, but I still go for my DDs.

Whatever provides the kids the best experience should be first though, so if I knew my spouse would drag her feet and fight every minute of the day, she should definately stay home. However, women have a lot of control over us guys, and guys have been known to give in when the DWs provide some extra attention .

 

[snowbunny]

I think the OP and her DH came up with a great solution. Everybody's happy, and their DD gets two great trips.