Disney for the reluctant husband

[CatandMouse]

Quick background - I have been going to Disney World since I was about 4 years old (camping at the "Quail Trail" loop at Fort Wilderness). Love it and have passed that onto my boys (ages 7 and 3). I have been at least once a year with the kids (and my sister and niece) and a few times my husband has joined us. He just doesn't really "get it". He loves how the boys have a great time but he always feels like a Disney vacation just is exhausting.

So I have a new plan for our next trip the week after Thanksgiving. I wanted to get any input though for things that might make our trip seem less crazy to him. Here's what I have so far. Tell me when I have gone too far and have pushed my husband past a Disney skeptic's limit...

Day 1 - Arrive at Fort Wilderness Cabins (back to the place of my youth, haven't stayed here in 25+ years). Only thing on the schedule tonight is Mickey's Backyard BBQ. Oh and renting a golf cart (have one reserved for the week).

Day 2 - Magic Kingdom day. Boat to MK for early entry breakfast at Crystal Palace. Have FastPass+ reserved for Tomorrowland Speedway, BTM and Splash. Going to keep trying for a BOG lunch FastPass (or else we will skip that line). Planning on heading back by 2 or 3. We have a rental car so we will be driving to the Poly for our 5:30pm Ohana ressie. Then I though a monorail ride around to see the holiday decorations at GF and Contemporary.

Day 3 - Epcot day. Morning FastPass+s for Soarin', Test Track and Character Spot. Lunch at Sunshine Season. More future world stuff then back to cabin for break. Having the car will help make going back and forth easier. Back for 4:10 CP Dinner Package at France. 6:45pm CP. 9:30 Illuminations.

Day 4 - AK day. We have an early entry bfast at Tusker House and I may cancel this -- since we will have seen Mickey at the BBQ. FastPass+ for Lion King, Safari, and Everest. Done by 2? Back for our 4pm Hoop Dee Doo. Thinking Chip and Dale Campfire might be fun that night.

Day 5 - Studios Day. Morning FastPass+ for Toy Story (so no need for mad dash to that ride!). No set morning plans. Break probably. Evening FastPass+ for ToT and then Fantasmic! I can't wait to see how the FP+ works at Fantasmic! Then check out the Osbourne lights.

Day 6 - Free Day. Yes I said Free Day! But I did reserve Teppan Edo for lunch just in case (hehe). What should we do this day??

Day 7 - Morning open. Again no park planned at this point. We have X-mas party tickets so are planning on heading to MK around 4pm.

Day 8 - Departure day. But we don't have to be ready for Magical Express pickup until 1pm.

So I have front loaded the vacation. Just to see how we all do. But maybe this isn't the right way to go about it.

Any thoughts? Anyone else traveled with a less-than-enthusiastic husband and have some good "lessons learned"?

 

[PuppyPrincess]

My husband is not a "Disney" fan either. But he does love the food at Disney We have no kids so I kind of plan my day around food, oh and while I'm at the park, might as well do some rides too He does love fireworks, so we are doing the Wishes Dessert Party this year. He doesn't get why I just got off Pirates and want to go back on. Once is good for him. So after the fourth or fifth time, he's had it. We are doing the Horse and Carriage ride around POR, then eating at Courtrights (he loves Gumbo, etc). We are staying at SSR so we are trying a couples massage. I have two free days built in. Figuring we would pick a park, not planned in advanced, and find a "snack" in the park and people watch. Just relax and enjoy the day instead of running around like we usually do. He doesn't like when I rush him. I do want a Dole Whip and some kind of yummy dessert from France on my free days. We are trying some new restaurants, as well as our must do's. I have a few FP+ reserved, but we are going to see how the week goes for us. We actually have friends whose vacation is overlapping our. We are doing a "girls night" for the MVMCP, so my husband can stay in the room and just chill that night. We will be in MK that day so I'm sure he will have his fill of Disney that day. We are doing some character meals, he does like them, believe it or not. Don't do signature meals. Like to be more casual while on vacation. 'Ohanas, oh yes. LeCellier, oh yes. So I've found if I mix some down time, some other things other than parks, some places he likes to eat, he will go with me. If not, there's always a girls trip!

Enjoy your vacation.

 

[CatandMouse]

I agree that food is the trick with my husband too!

His priorities:
1. Turkey Leg
2. Dole Whip



I have made ADR's at places where I know he will love the food. 'Ohana, Chefs de France (this will be my first time having dinner there), Teppan Edo. Crystal Palace breakfast is a tradition and my 3 year old will go crazy for Tigger (so hubby will love it just for that). And the fried chicken and ribs at Hoop Dee Doo.... yum!

 

[Bayoumama]

Mine is the same way, about being exhausted. I think it is a very good idea to leave the back end of the vacation open. Just get up that free morning and follow what he wants to do. He might like to just check out the Fort, ride horses or bikes or canoe or just chill.

 

[geckodani]

My DH is the same way! What worked well for my last trip was literally doing half days in the parks. We'd get up and swim, and I think the earliest we got anywhere was around 12:00. Hard for me to do, but we had a better trip because of it!

 

[CatandMouse]

It will be hard for me to keep from planning every minute of the trip... but I agree that leaving some "free" time is really important. We only have 2 full days in parks (the Epcot and HS days) and even then I assume we will go back for a mid-day break.

One of the reasons we are staying a the Cabins is so we can have that feeling of totally removing yourself from parks, people, etc. I have never stayed there during the holidays - excited to see all the site decorated. I think my husband will love the golf cart too. Its pretty pricy though so I keep second guessing that. Worth it?

 

[lehmaac]

Did you get your BOG lunch fast pass?