Disney Magic

[guyinmichigan]

First time poster on here...

My wife just said, "what exactly is the magic?"

I am 100% Disney, with hopefully three disney kids following in my footsteps, but can't understand why the wife doesn't get it.

For the others out there...

1) Is there any chance of my spouse 'getting it'?

2) What can I say or do to help her 'get it'?

by the way... she thinks "Wishes" is just a good fireworks show.

Leaving in 45 days, so i have a couple more weeks for the switch.

 

[3_disprincesses]

If she has never been, maybe she will understand when you get there! I couldn't even tell you a real reason why I went on my 1st trip back in 1998 - just seemed like a fun trip I guess. But our 1st night during SpectroMagic when Cinderella rode by in her carriage...I found out what the "Magic" is. I still get tears when I see the princesses and get ALL excited when I see MICKEY!!! I'm sure she'll come around.

 

[guyinmichigan]

this will be our 3rd trip with the kids in the last 5 years.. so she has been there/done that...

I suggested a trip with just the two of us when the kids graduate and... well, that's a no. if fact our oldest dd is 10 and she thinks she is getting to old for the park!

I'm dealing with a tough cookie here... help appreciated!

 

[scrump]

LOL. I would like to know this, too, as I also have a non-Disney spouse. I give him credit for being super tolerant of my habit, but he never would've done 3 trips in 5 years. That's why I am saving our family trip for when DS is old enough to remember.

I'm interested in hearing other responses!

 

[claytonj20]

Unfortunately...the Magic does pass some by. I dont understand it, but it does. I think I "get it" because I grew up in the 70's and 80's. That was a good time for Disney, with it being on Network TV every sunday and Disneyland was a mythical place that I had only seen on TV and growing up...I honestly dont think I met anyone who had actually been there till my late teens.

 

[sunnyday123]

Wow....DW and DD sound like they don't "get it!!!" Poor you!!


Seriously, I think people just get it or they don't. Last year we went and met up with my Mom and Step-father. Around 5pm ( after not getting to the park till around 10:30am-ish) they wanted to go back to their room to relax. And they were done for the day.

DD and I are more commando types and go from early morning till late at night. She's actually worse than I am! Of course, I have pictures of her passed out cold on a table at Pop-because she HAD to have cheese fries every night, but to us, it's fun!

Good luck converting them!

 

[Zandy595]

If she's "been there done that" and hasn't experienced the magic, she may just be one of those people who doesn't get it. I have a few of them in my extended family. I don't think DH really gets it either, but he goes along with my plans. Maybe all of us who do get it have more child in us than those who don't.

 

[guyinmichigan]

my words were confusing.. (i'm new here)

wife said "dd (10) is probably getting to old"... so far dd (10), dd (8), and ds(5) are still on my side.

my apologies for the confusion.... carry on!

 

[TunaSled]

Maybe all of us who do get it have more child in us than those who don't.

I think you may have stumbled upon the root of the problem at hand. We all know Disney is not just for children. If it is, I never want to grow up... all things Disney are for everyone. Some people, however, make it that way in their heads and just cannot get around it. They permanize the Disney=kids equation. That is the code which must be cracked.

 

[All American]

From "Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination"

Whether in his movies or in his theme parks, Disney always promised a fantasy in which one could exercise the privileges of childhood--privileges he never abandoned in his own life.

When I read that sentence, I thought "That's it!!!"---exercising the privileges of childhood---that, to me, is Disney Magic in a nutshell.

 

[DanMedix]

Ya know, I thought the magic would get past my DW, but it really sunk in for her when she saw WDW through our childrens' eyes. That totally helped us in many ways. Perhaps consider some special things that would make your kids light up with the magic? I dunno what your kids would like, but it's worth some investigation for you to see if you can go this route....it'll be a win-win for all of you.

 

[mrs_noopie]

Well hello and welcome Mr. Average Joe from Michigan!

I don't think I'm really the right one to offer advice, cuz DH gets that it's totally magical for me and DD, but I'm not at all convinced he feels the magic himself... it's why I've taken DD several times without him, and he seems to like it fine that way...

I honestly don't understand why anyone wouldn't feel the magic? Perhaps their shoes are too tight or their hearts are too small?

I'm not convinced you can change anyone's thinking before they arrive, just have to hope the magical moments hit them once they are in WDW.

About to take DH on his second trip with DD (we've been 3 other times without him). His first/last trip just wore him out, I'm being very careful this time to have a good balance of DD-oriented park time plus lots of relax time and good eating.

Sending some fairy dust your way!

 

[sunnyday123]

my words were confusing.. (i'm new here)

wife said "dd (10) is probably getting to old"... so far dd (10), dd (8), and ds(5) are still on my side.

my apologies for the confusion.... carry on!

ahhhhh...no problems!! and welcome!! I think you should take them to the BBB and have the fairy godmothers do their hair!!

 

[topmonkeygirl]

My DH kind of gets it, but not totally. We don't have kids, and don't plan on having any either, we're in our 40's. We've been together for 7 years and have been married for almost 4. We went on a delayed Honeymoon last Oct. to the World, his first trip there ever, and he liked some parts and was totally bored with others.
I made ADRS for the CP on our first morning and told him we were having breakfast with Pooh and friends. He said "Oh some guy in a bear costume." Well we got there and got settled in with breakfast and coffee then here comes Pooh, he loved it. He was looking around and making sure the next character was going to come to our table to get pictures. So you just never know how someone is going to react to 'The Magic" until you get there. He tells me all the time he's going to take me to Disney and leave me I say good, I'll marry Mickey, and we'll live happily ever after. I'm a total Disney freak!!!!!! Good luck, hopefully she get bit by the Magic Bug.

 

[tigger51276]

this will be our 3rd trip with the kids in the last 5 years.. so she has been there/done that...

I suggested a trip with just the two of us when the kids graduate and... well, that's a no. if fact our oldest dd is 10 and she thinks she is getting to old for the park!

I'm dealing with a tough cookie here... help appreciated!

Honestly if she's been before and just still doesn't understand the "magic" she probably never will. I for one don't understand not understanding the "magic" either and am in the same boat as my husband. I met my husband a couple years ago and brought him along on my DD's 4th birthday trip and while he said it wasn't horrible, it's not something he could do every year or even every other. We now have a DD1 together and I have decided that since he doesn't like it, he doesn't have to go and I will take them on my own. Even when they are all grown up I will still continue to go to Disney with them, family, friends...anyone who wants to go because I know what the "magic" is and I don't believe I'll ever stop believing!

 

[ZeroToHero]

I too, had a Disney humbug.... DBF just didn't get it. His family aren't big Disney people, they did MK and AK in 2007, and that's it. I took him in August, and the first night, he said "I get it now..."

Sometimes people never get it, and for others, there are things that just make it click. Watching the MK opening ceremony on Youtube gets me emotional.... Wishes and Illuminations too.

I hope one day she'll click, but until then, keep trying! There's so much to do there, she can never be "bored" by it, even if she's not a Disney fan.

 

[Sora1978]

I go with my wife and step daughter about every year. The DSD and I love it, but to my wife it is "just another amusement park". The trick for us was to make sure to fit in enough non-disney stuff that she liked doing. So now we always stay at the deluxe resorts, make ADRs at some of the signature restaurants, and spend more time outside the parks. I think it is all about finding the right balance, and now she is growing to like it more every time we go. Good luck!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

For the others out there...

1) Is there any chance of my spouse 'getting it'?
DH didn't "get" it until we were there... despite the crowds and the weather, he's hooked for life.

2) What can I say or do to help her 'get it'?
I think once she sees how your kids are reacting it will change her view on things. You CAN'T not be drawn into the Magic the first time a kid sees Mickey (or any other favorite character). For me, it is always looking down Main street.

Are you pelting her with Disney movies yet? DH thought I was a nut for showing only Disney flicks up to the time of travel. I would sit there in the evenings and throw out interesting facts about the World... especially focusing on how much the Imagineers put into everything. (Like "Go FSU" on Splash Mountain, listening for the ambient sounds down Main St., the MK that we see is actually the 2nd story, etc) Does she like to search for stuff? Try turning her on to hidden Mickeys. If your kids are old enough, why not make it into a contest (whoever found the most could get a special treat at the end of your trip).

Best of luck!

 

[Millermom0606]

O man I was SO afraid my DH wouldn't 'get it'. He doesn't get very excited about ANYTHING, even having children!!!

The whole time leading up to our trip he was like 'you're nuts you know that?" because I kept reading guides and reading off the Dis LOL

Dude, we didn't even make it INTO HS our first day, he was standing at the turnstyle (after we walked through I guess) listening to the music and looking around. He stops, sighs, you could see his whole body relax and he goes 'I love it! and I TOTALLY get it!'

It took everything I had not to start bawling like a baby LOL

As we were pulling out of the AKL parking lot he goes 'so when can we come back??'

I really hope you can figure out something with your wife.... maybe let her have a spa day while you all do the park one day?? Just a thought......

 

[MinniesYooHoo]

It's like the Opera. If you love it, you will always love it. If you only like it, you can learn to appreciate it but it will never become a part of you!. I always tell people that ask me why we go so much (To them, it's a "once in a lifetime" trip. WHATEVER), "If I have to explain it, you will never understand!". I also grew up in the 70's in Orlando. My father was in the Navy. When we moved from Orlando, we moved to southern California. So for my brother and I it was ALWAYS trips to Disneyworld or Disneyland. So everytime we go now, it's like returning to my childhood. My Daughter is 4. We will be returning this year again for her third trip. I just want to give her the same magical memories I was lucky enough to expierience!!