Do you know a Disney Convert?

[DisneyJade]

HELP!!! Inspiring stories needed!!

I am headed to WDW with my boyfriend this January for our one-year anniversary. I, being the Disney freak that I am, have spent the last month planning like a madwoman, reading over 2000 pages worth of disney guide material and getting educated on the ins and outs of wdw, from PS's to EE. My boyfriend, on the other hand, is totally apathetic about the whole trip. He wants nothing to do with planning, doesn't care where we eat and rolls his eyes everytime I mention WDW. (mind you, I'm not bombarding him with planning stuff... he barely knows there are 4 parks!!! I merely bring up a thing or two when I need his input.) The thing is, he's 24 and maybe he thinks it's a little "uncool" to get pumped about theme parks. He also has only been to DisneyLand, and he has no comprehension of the size and scope of WDW. I know I can't get him pumped for the trip, but I'm hoping the magic will sneak up on him once we get there.

Any stories about traveling with anti-disney people who were bitten by the magic bug once they got there would really lift my spirits.

ONLY STORIES WITH HAPPY ENDINGS PLEASE!!!

Thanks!

 

[goofyernmost]

Don't worry if he goes with an open mind, he will enjoy it. It is, however, hard to convert someone that is determined not to like it.

I had some close friends that used to patiently listen to us rave about our trips to WDW and their kids really wanted to go but they both thought that it was for kids and that they wouldn't enjoy it because they were adults. They didn't want to spend that kind of money just to entertain the kids. I told them to just go and let yourself be a kid again. Relax and enjoy. They went, they loved it and have been back twice since and are planning on attending again, without the kids (grown up). One of my more successful conversions.

 

[morganmack]

My Girlfriend and I went to DisneyLand over July 4th of this summer, and we leave in about two and a half weeks for nine days in DisneyWorld. We are both 21 years old. I do not know whether or not you can get your boyfriend pumped up about DW, but I dont think there is any reason he should feel "too cool" for Disneyworld. You might approach it from the (very scary at this time in my life) standpoint that the next time the two of you get to go on a trip like this, there might be "little ones" with you. Make sure that he realizes that there are people who who die for a chance to spend a "couples only" vacation in DisneyWorld. Now, admittedly, there is a few of the things that were a little much "Disney Magic" for my tastes, but the other 99% of the trip is unbelievable. Make sure that he understnads all of the great adult only activites that are available like 5-Star dinners with wine, illuminations boat cruises, hell, there is an entire entertainment district for Adults Only. If you have done your homework, then Im sure that you know all of the adults only, or romantic couple activities that are available. Focus on those to get him psyched up, then, once you are there. He will realize that Disney is not entirely "Its a Small World" played over and over.

Have A Great Trip

Morgan

 

[kdibattista]

although he still doesn't get into the planning part, he is ALL ABOUT going to Disney - he even wanted to move down there!!!

 

[Local_Girl]

Hi DisneyJade,

My own DH was pretty apathetic too during my most frenetic planning stages (when and how long to go for, deciding on a place to stay, which restaurants to make PSs for, etc.). Now that our trip is really close (we leave next week--YEA!!) he's getting excited too and is willing to discuss some of the details. One thing that makes it a little easier (for me) is that we have 2 kids and both of us really want to make this trip wonderful for them.

My suggestion to you is to continue to plan on your own, trying VERY hard not to drive him nuts with the details--I've learned first hand from my own DH and have read many similar accounts here on the DIS that many spouses/partners are not as "crazy about WDW" as some of us are . Be sure to incorporate lots of things you know he likes into your plan (maybe extra time in a favorite park, or a day at Disney Quest).

Toughest of all, and I'm gonna have to work on this one--LOL!--is to listen to him once you're there to pick up on clues about how he's enjoying the trip or if there's something he might like to do that's not in the plan. I have a tendency to make my own commando-type plan and drag the family along, because of course, I'm the planner and know best (haha!)

Keep planning, good luck, and have a great trip!!

 

[Disneydenise]

Be warned though when he does get the Disney bug it is real hard to get rid of it. My DH never wants to go anywhere else. We have been going toDW for 18 years now and I would like to try other things. I am sure once he gets there and you start to do all the fun things you have planned he will have a wonderful time.

 

[RUDisney]

My DH's only experience with WDW, prior to me, was listening to his "too good for anything fun" sisters and mother complain about their first and only trip. He and I are NOT amusement park people, but Disney is a theme park. It's pretty hard to explain that one to someone who is not keen on amusement parks and figures that they are all from the same mold.

We went for his first time in 1997. He was 32 and hates to be the center of attention. He is rather stoic. I promised him that by the end of our trip, he'd be singing along with the piped in music, just like me. Well, it happened. I have never seen him act so carefree and happy. He was hooked on WDW after that.

We just went for our third vacation there last month and our kids' first. He loved it just as much as the first one, but didn't help plan anything. He asked me for our travel dates about two weeks before we left so he could let work know. About three days before we left, he asked where we were staying. UGH! It's not just Disney that he doesn't do any planning. I am the consummate planner and he has full faith and trust in me when it comes to that... just the same way as I have full faith and trust in him doing our taxes... I always knew I'd marry an accountant...

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[cdnmickeylover]

My DBF is a convert. I'd been lots of times before -- went every year with my son from the time he was 2 til he was 14 (he's 16 now and too cool for WDW although he might be coming around). Anyway really wanted to go this year for the 100 year celebration. Booked it for April and DBF reluctantly went -- he did none of the planning although he did patiently listen to all the plans and look at everything I showed him. The end result was that he loved it -- we stayed at CBR. He'd been once before but had never stayed onsite and said that he'd always stay onsite. Then we got a great deal and went back at the end of September (stayed at All Star Sports which we liked) -- we have a cruise booked for next October and another stay at CBR. He wants to go again in the spring.

Bottom line is that it can happen -- they can be converted -- you just have to get them there the first time. My only thing is that he doesn't do any of the planning but then he doesn't plan anything really except dinner -- he does the cooking so I can't really complain.

Good luck!

Cdnmickeylover

 

[catsrule]

DH is. Just show him where he can buy a bottle of corona for $2.00.

 

[chell]

Originally posted by Disneydenise
Be warned though when he does get the Disney bug it is real hard to get rid of it. My DH never wants to go anywhere else. We have been going toDW for 18 years now and I would like to try other things. I am sure once he gets there and you start to do all the fun things you have planned he will have a wonderful time.

I second that one!

My husband was a little apprehensive about our first trip. As the trip got closer he did get more excited. It was a good thing we bought APs on that trip. We went back 3 more times before those passes ran out at the end of September. Now he can't wait for our next trip. He was more upset than I was when we discussed to possibility of changing the date because we might not be able to afford to go back in Feb/March!

 

[DisneyJade]

these stories are great! you guys are totally lifting my spirits!! I won't keep my fingers crossed that he comes out a total disney fanatic, but you've made me more hopeful that he'll succomb to a couple of magic moments.
Thanks!

 

[Pig Pen]

and just where can you buy a bottle of Corona @ WDW for $2.00?????


My DH was a WDW for years. We did Disney commando-style because we never could afford to stay on-site and we only went for one or two days at a time.

This year we went for 9 days and did all sorts of different stuff (Pleasure Island, resort-hopped, ate at NICE restaurants rather than Golden Corral & Shoney's).

By the end of the trip he had purchased WDW CDs to listen to in the car, a WDW cap, and a Disney timeshare!

He even mentioned going back to WDW BEFORE we get our timeshare points in April!

He's still not quite a Disney freak as me, but I'm working on it.

 

[Local_Girl]

From to DVC owner!! Good for him--and good for you too!! And I was excited that my DH was willing to brave the crowds on the day after Thanksgiving to see Spectro...oh well, I can't complain too much...this upcoming trip will be for 8 days which is about twice as long as I've ever spent in the World!

 

[DMickey28]

My boyfriend is the same way. We are planning a vacation to Florida this year and he rolls his eyes at the mention of Disney. I figure that next spring when Ihave the money to go, I'll take him on a all expenses paid trip to Disney to experience it for himself. He hates rollercoasters and amusement parks. He doesn't see himself going ga-ga over seeing Mickey. I just don't think he gets the concept of Disney Magic.. He's a big, grown goof ball so I have no doubt that if he's is open to it, when we go he will love it. If you not, we've decided we still will go to WDW every year he'll just play golf the whole time. I am working that into our trip too, so he'll have something he loves to do there!!!

 

[lynetteSC]

Hi! Yes, my DH is a DISNEY convert..... he had never been to DL or WDW when I met him. After 5 yrs of marriage, I finally convinced him just to give it a shot..... His thinking was, no kids....why would we like WDW.

Well, on our 1st trip during a perfect staked out place to watch the fireworks in MK...he looked over at me and said," I get it". Yikes! If I only knew..... now, he doesn't want to go anywhere or do much else. We just cruised on a different cruiseline than DCL and the whole time he kept saying, "This wouldn't be this way on Disney".... "Disney did it this way"...... which is true...our cruise didn't even compare to Disney Cruise.... But it was so funny since 6 yrs ago he had no use for WDW.

So, good luck to you!

p.s. No DVC yet...still working on him for that one...

 

[Shellie722]

My BF is a total convert even though he still leaves 99% of the planning to me. First trip, he wouldn't even go, the next year he agreed to go but thought I was crazy buying him an AP b/c he didn't think he'd really get much use of it since he didn't ride rides and the only character he even liked was Sorcerer Mickey. After about 2 or 3 days he realized he hadn't even thought about the "real world" and had no desire to. By the end of the week he didn't ever want to leave and about as soon as we got home he was ready to go back, now he wants to live there (and if not in WDW, then somewhere close.) Now, he'll ride everything but ToT (LOVES RnR) even though he won't ride a single thing at Six Flags and yesterday he said he wished we could go to WDW next week b/c Liberty Tree Tavern would be great for Thanksgiving.
Don't give up on your BF and when you get to the world just relax and don't put any pressure on either of you about how much "fun" you have to have and it will be a great trip for both of you AND hopefully he'll be converted too!

 

[DisneyJade]

these stories have given me the boost i needed!

I do have one update on the skeptic DBF. last night I mentioned off-hand that we could "skip" the smaller kiddie rides. He agreed that dumbo and pooh weren't for us, but when I described Bazz lightyear, he kind of flipped out like, "we HAVE to go on THAT!"
so maybe that's a good sign. I also got his input on some things I had planned that I THOUGHT he wanted to do, but he says he could take 'em or leave 'em. maybe he's going to suprise me afterall!

Check the trip reports board in late january to see if he came through!!!!!

in the meantime, MORE STORIES!!!

 

[becka]

DH was 24 when we first went to WDW. We only went because DH knew I was dying to go and he promised he would take me if we ever got married. He was looking forward to the time off from work but he was not necessarily overjoyed at the idea of WDW and my planning drove him nuts. LOL!

As we got down to just days from the trip he did start to ask a few questions and seemed more interested in a few things which I took as a hopeful sign but I was still not sure if he was going to really enjoy himself. I took great pains to research and plan things I felt he would enjoy.

We had probably been at WDW for about 8 hours out of a 7 day trip when he looked over at me and said "We have got to come back!". I knew I had married the man for a reason!

4 trips later and he is just as bad as I am about wanting to go back but he still doesn't like the planning!

 

[becka]

DH was 24 when we first went to WDW. We only went because DH knew I was dying to go and he promised he would take me if we ever got married. He was looking forward to the time off from work but he was not necessarily overjoyed at the idea of WDW and my planning drove him nuts. LOL!

As we got down to just days from the trip he did start to ask a few questions and seemed more interested in a few things which I took as a hopeful sign but I was still not sure if he was going to really enjoy himself. I took great pains to research and plan things I felt he would enjoy.

We had probably been at WDW for about 8 hours out of a 7 day trip when he looked over at me and said "We have got to come back!". I knew I had married the man for a reason!

4 trips later and he is just as bad as I am about wanting to go back but he still doesn't like the planning!

 

[Pig Pen]

BUZZ is our favorite! We rode about 7 times. I had read up on all the tricks beforehand but, wouldn't you know it, DH won every time and he didn't have a clue what he was doing.

Hey, maybe that's the secret....let your win at BUZZ!

There's hope for everyone.