Disney without our children

[dreamer03]

So my hubby is very anti Disney. I think that is because he has never experienced the World. So I was thinking, would it be wrong if we went without our kids as a jump start to his love for Disney? I dont want to go on a trip with him having a foul attitude for Disney in front of our kids. I am hoping to take him in January 2010 and them in December 2010 if he enjoys it. Is that selfish?

 

[mjkacmom]

Let me first say that I love going away without the kids - just got back from a 2 night trip to a B & B. However, I couldn't enjoy WDW without them - I think I enjoy watching them get all excited over everything more than anything disney has to offer me. I've been to WDW many times without kids (as a child, and a few times before I got married), and nothing compares to seeing it through their eyes.

 

[Perditamarie]

Well, I think he would be most inspired to like Disney by watching his children's amazement and absolute fun.

If he continues to really not like Disney after your trip, you may have a hard time getting him back for the kids.

Also, I think it would be really hard for the kids to wait while they watch you two go off for a "trial trip". Do you usually do trial vacations?

If he is really not interested in going to Disney, plan a trip w/o him and maybe your mom/sibling/friend can join you.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

First let me say that DH and I went to WDW for 4 nights, 5 days in March without kids and had a great time!!

But, as another poster said, if you want him to fall in love with the world I think it's most likely to happen by him seeing through the childrens eyes. The wonder, amazement and magic with kids is priceless.

Perhaps maybe you should take the kids and kind of ease him into it. You could do an easy relaxing day in each park, no rushing, no commando park touring, just a stroll through the parks. Take lots of visits to the pool etc, maybe spend a day or 2 at the beach etc.

My hubby wasn't the biggest disney fan in the world before our 05 trip. After that trip, when I began planning our 06 trip he kept saying "we aren't going to Disney World every year!"

At some point during that 06 trip he began to "get it!" Now he's his own little disney addict, all be it very quietly. It was even his idea to buy DVC!!! I still can't get over that!!

WDW without the kiddos was a completely different experience. I could totally see someone who isn't a disney person HATING it without kids! Think of all the lines. crying, screaming kids, exhausted, rude parents, getting hit in the ankles by countless strollers If he doesn't go into with the right attitude it could turn into a disaster.

We went 4 times with the kids before our no kids trip in March. We knew what we want to do, where we wanted to eat and all the more grown up things we wanted to do before hand. A lot of that came from the experiences we had with the kids. We really had a great time and we'll definitely do it again!

Good luck! I hope your DH ends up being a coverted Disney Addict too!

 

[2binak]

DH and I went to WDW by ourselves many times before we had DD and once after we had her. We did take her when she was 8 months old and it was sooooo amazing to see her reactions to everything - it was a totally different experience! I agree with the pp's who have said that your DH may enjoy it by seeing it through his kids' eyes.

Remember, it's everyone's vacation, not just for the kids'. I would plan a few things you know DH would enjoy. WDW is not just about the parks and rides. The resorts can be very enjoyable, relaxing & romantic and some of the best restaurants are at the resorts.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

So my hubby is very anti Disney. I think that is because he has never experienced the World. So I was thinking, would it be wrong if we went without our kids as a jump start to his love for Disney? I dont want to go on a trip with him having a foul attitude for Disney in front of our kids. I am hoping to take him in January 2010 and them in December 2010 if he enjoys it. Is that selfish?

First I think it sounds like a nice idea. However I wouldn't want to go without my kids, but you have to be okay with it. If you are then I say to go for it.

I have to be honest though, why would a parent be so negative spending time doing something their children will enjoy? Sorry but before I planned a separate trip so he could try to like it I would tell my DH that it really stinks that he behaves that way and it is mean to his family. That is JMHO of course. I get that WDW is not for everyone. I just think that sometimes it wouldn't kill people to suck it up and try to enjoy the other things about the trip like their own child lost in the excitement of it. Just something to think about.

 

[ms_missy66]

Not selfish a bit! I'm jealous and would LOVE LOVE LOVE to go to WDW without my kiddos one day.

 

[dzneelvr]

My DH was probably in the same boat as yours many years ago prior to our first trip...all he could think of was Mickey Mouse and lot's of Money being spentWhat changed his mind was my cost effective planning (we did then and continue to now do WDW on a budget) and DS and DD's total enjoyment of everything I hate to say it, but if DH is going to like WDW, it will be WITH his kids, not without IMO

 

[powellrj]

It really would depend on how old the kids are and what they would be doing while you are gone.

If they are really young like infant or toddlers and they would be spoiled at grandma or if they were older teens like in high school I might do it, but if they are in the prime Disney years like between 3 -14 or so, No I wouldn't leave them at home.

 

[JUJU814]

Not selfish a bit! I'm jealous and would LOVE LOVE LOVE to go to WDW without my kiddos one day.

Me too!!!! We're here right now at Disney with our kids and having a blast! BUT I soooooo want to get my hubby alone down here maybe during food and wine? I would love to have a few days here just the two of us.

We do everything with our kids as a family while on family vacations, but love to do getaways alone.

I'm still hoping to turn him into a Disney lover one day!

Julie

 

[Wendybird55]

Just to play a bit of Devils Advocate here - or to look from the other side.

What if you take your husband alone and he DOESN'T fall in love with Disney? I know it's impossible to think, but it may happen - stranger things have.
In that case he may not want to go again and your kids will not only be out a trip to Disney, but they would know mom and dad went and they didn't.

And even if he doesn't like it, but decides to go back for the kids, his attitude may be worse than taking him for the first time as he already has an opinion.

Hey, we parents do many things we don't particularly enjoy because we know it's something our kids will enjoy. Go as a family and let your husband enjoy the magic with his kids. Regardless of what he thinks or feels about Disney he'll probably make it the best trip he can for your kids.

THEN...when he falls in love with Disney, you can take your "Adult-only" trip knowing you will return again with the kids.

 

[cassandrap83]

Why would you take someone who hates Disney to Disney to see if they like it? lol

If I was going to force my husband to go to Disney, it would be for my kids, and I would most definitely not take him on an alone trip. How are you going to go to Disney with kids of Disney age and not take them? thats just wrong!

 

[Jill in Chicago]

You have a couple of different issues going on here.

First off I would address the issue that your husband does not want to go to Disney. Find out exactly why. He may honestly not know why he doesn't like the sound of Disney.

Is it the crowds he fears? Sharing a pool with lots of kids? The anticipation of rushing around? The fear of having a schedule? He doesn't want to be "surrounded" by Disney characters? (Does he understand you actually have to seek out the characters?)

Once you really nail down what it is he doesn't want, then you can address those specific issues.

For example, we did go to Disney as a family and stayed at Wilderness Lodge. Though we all had fun, my husband did not want to do it again. He explained that the kids at the pool drove him bonkers, and he hated the rush, rush, rush. He did like how I "worked" the parks with fast passes and arriving at rope drop.

So, we rented a home. It was only 10 minutes from Animal Kingdom. Every day we came back to the house around 3:00 and had cocktails in our own pool, had a bedroom to ourselves, and a promise from me I would not be a tyrant about touring. We also went during food and wine festival, and made sure he and I went to that one night by ourselves. That did it. He had such a good time, he and I are going back alone in 7 weeks. On our trip alone we will take off 3 days from Disney and just stay at the house and hang out in the pool. It's a compromise that works for us.

Bottom line this may not be his vacation. I really would not suggest the two of you going together first to try and win him over.

 

[dreamer03]

Why would you take someone who hates Disney to Disney to see if they like it? lol

If I was going to force my husband to go to Disney, it would be for my kids, and I would most definitely not take him on an alone trip. How are you going to go to Disney with kids of Disney age and not take them? thats just wrong!

For your information, I want to take him so he can experience all that he has missed. He has never been able to do anything like this. I would like to go without the kids so he can try a nice realxing trip with just me and no screaming kids atfive oclock. Waht gives you the right to tell me that I am wrong? I was asking for the what to dos not attitudes!

 

[williamson_ja]

My hubby also hates Disney.... or should I say hated disney until our WDW trip last year. We had been to Disneyland several times. He hated it. Still does. Disneyworld was different for him. He loved staying on property at a good resort. We stayed at POR. He loved how quiet and peaceful it was at the end of the day. He loved taking the boat ride to DDT. He loved NOT having to drive everywhere. MY dh is the type that always ends up lost, not wanting to ask for directions, and saying words that are well..... questionable at best. He liked hopping on the buses and just letting somebody else figure out where to go. lol. He's actually excited about our trip this time!! We did take the kids for our first trip. BUT I agree with the poster that said you should figure out WHY he doesn't like Disney and work on those things.

What my dh hated- what we did to help solve it.

paying too much for food/souvies/ etc.- We went during FREE DINING. He loved getting a $180 bill for our family of 6 and making it go away. lol

getting lost every trip- we used the disney transportation and ME. Loved it!

No relaxation time- we took time out every day right after lunch for swimming, naps, etc.

feeling like everything was focused on the kids- we spent lots of time at Epcot doing more adult activities and had some nice sit down meals geared more towards adults.

He had a great time on our last trip and is looking forward to our trip in a couple of weeks. He even invited his parents to come with us and experience WDW for themselves.

Hope that helped

 

[Snow Shoe]

My wife and I have gone several times by our selves;no kids invited. We loved it. As parents, we need time to our selves as well with the family. It allowed us to go at our own pace spending time at things we wanted to see or do, eat at places normally we wouldn't have with the kids, and just have fun together! We didn't call home because it was "our time together" smd we knew that the grandparents were doing just fine. One last thing, don't feel gulity about leaving the kids behind, mom's and dad's need their time alone away from their kids, just as the kids need time without them.

 

[Mickeyfollowers]

I see nothing wrong going without the kids. We are DVC members and go every September with the kids then when we can DH and I try to go in Jan. by ourselves. Our stays run from Sat. to Sat. Crowds are usually low in Sept and Jan and we are able to take our time and do everything we want at a relaxing pace. If we can't do something at the time we know we can try again another day. We go to every park twice durning our stay, go to a water park, and do Disney Quest. When it is just DH and I, it is so nice not having to worry about having to get kids ready, fed, and bathed.

 

[bellebud]

I don't know many men who would be swayed to like disney by going w/out their kids. The heat, the lines for everything, the screaming kids, the strollers, the "themed" rides as opposed to an amusement parks rides (yes, there are a handful of those rides, but disney is more a theme park than an amusement park).

I'd just try to convince him to you both taking the kids, then plan, plan, plan, and plan some more. And not meaning going commando touring - but just the opposite. Make some adr's for a few sit downs (my dh LOVES yachtsman steakhouse at the beach/yachtclub resort). *plan* for your downtime. Plan which counter service places have food everyone will enjoy (check the menus before you go) so you don't have cranky kids saying they don't want to eat anything from this or that place. Plan on which days/which parks, get on the important rides first, know exactly where you're going in each park (no wandering around grabbing a map when you get there) - you'll have a long line to wait in by the time you get there if you don't plan a bit first. Plan to use fastpass. Plan to swim/rest everyday for a few hours, or take a day or 2 off, relaxing at your resort. there's golf if your dh likes that, there's the richard petty race track (and experiences), segway tours, etc.

The more planning you do beforehand, the more relaxing your vacation will be, and hopefully the more he'll enjoy it. Good luck!

 

[kehlyrsmom]

My husband's first trip was on our honeymoon we went the middle of May many years ago - the lines were not bad nor the weather then. I had been two time previously with my parents once as a small child and another after I was out of High school.

Our First trip with our kids was in 06 when our kids were 5 & 6 and to see the expression on their faces when they meet their first character is priceless. This year will be our 4th trip in a row since then. Last year it was especially sweet because mulan gave our son (7) a kiss on the cheek and he had that look of a young man who was never going to wash his cheek again.

I would love to do a trip with my husband without the kids maybe a long weekend our 20th anniversary is in a couple of years so maybe then. If your husband is anti Disney then I would personally wait and go on a family vacation if you can maybe plan it for one of the slower times of year (if you can take the kids out of school) so that the lines are not as long.

My sister-in-law is anti Disney her and my brother took their kids their for a day while on a family vacation and they only spent about 4 hours total in the park. We on the other hand are Dinsey fanatics - we even have talked a little about a DVC. We will see.

 

[mjkacmom]

My wife and I have gone several times by our selves;no kids invited. We loved it. As parents, we need time to our selves as well with the family. It allowed us to go at our own pace spending time at things we wanted to see or do, eat at places normally we wouldn't have with the kids, and just have fun together! We didn't call home because it was "our time together" smd we knew that the grandparents were doing just fine. One last thing, don't feel gulity about leaving the kids behind, mom's and dad's need their time alone away from their kids, just as the kids need time without them.

I think it's very important to go away without the kids, but if the OP's DH isn't into Disney, I really don't think this is the ideal adult vacation. My DH tolerates Disney. I took him once when we were just dating, and he's was okay with it, but had no desire to go back. However, when we take the kids, he loves it, because he sees it through their eyes. Now that we have kids, he would be miserable being in WDW without them - actually, as much as he loves to go away without the kids, he wouldn't agree to this, because without the kids, he'd much rather go somewhere else.