How can I make it magical for a "non-believer"?

[Luv2Scrap]

My ds (10) and I went to DW for the first time in Jan of this year, and loved it so much we went again in Sept for free dining.

But DH has stayed home both times, I couldn't have PAID him to come with us, he was that much against it. He didn't care if we went, but he had no desire at all to come with. I kept telling him, "If I could just get you there, I know you'd love it" And he replied with, "If I could just get you camping deep in the middle of the woods (his idea of a dream vacation), I know you'd love it".... .....ok so after that I backed off. LOL

Well, when I was at DW in Sept, after my being there a few nights, he told me on the phone that he was lonely, the house was too quiet, and that he just kept thinking that he could be on vacation right now.

So anyways, he's agreed to come with on our next trip!!! I can't believe it!!! But we won't be going until probably Jan of 2010. I am trying for 2009 but he feels 2010 would be better financially, so we'll see...

What I need help with is this: He hates crowds (don't we all), he hates sleeping in hotels, he hates rides that make him sick.... yada, yada, yada... so I am trying to plan very carefully to make sure he has a wonderful time and loves it at least half as much as I do!

We will stay at a value resort, so far I have only stayed at POP and I liked it, but it was pretty busy in the food court, etc. Should we stay at an All Star resort to avoid crowds more? If so, which one?

Also, does anyone have some good tips on how I can make this a great experience for everyone?

Has anyone been able to turn a "non-believer" into a Disney lover?

 

[Ladysunflr]

all star crowds are worse than pop century crowds IMO... sometimes all three AS resorts share a bus - CROWDED.... and there are wayyy too many football and cheerleading things that seem to CONSTANTLY be going on.. if he likes the woods, I would consider port orleans riverside... less crowds... less people overall IMO..

 

[eliza61]

But DH has stayed home both times, I couldn't have PAID him to come with us, he was that much against it. He didn't care if we went, but he had no desire at all to come with. I kept telling him, "If I could just get you there, I know you'd love it" And he replied with, "If I could just get you camping deep in the middle of the woods (his idea of a dream vacation), I know you'd love it".... .....ok so after that I backed off. LOL


So anyways, he's agreed to come with on our next trip!!! I can't believe it!!! But we won't be going until probably Jan of 2010. I am trying for 2009 but he feels 2010 would be better financially, so we'll see...

What I need help with is this: He hates crowds (don't we all), he hates sleeping in hotels, he hates rides that make him sick.... yada, yada, yada... so I am trying to plan very carefully to make sure he has a wonderful time and loves it at least half as much as I do!

:

Why oh why are you dragging this poor man to WDW. First, you are expanding all this energy on trying to make him like disney that you and your Ds will probably not be able to relax. I'm telling you this from experience. Dragging a person around WDW who doesn't want to be there is a recipe for divorce court.
Lets see
He hates crowds-Disney is crowded pretty much all of the time nowadays, granted some times are less packed than others but there really isn't any more empty times.
He hates rides What's he going to do while you guys ride? Stand around and watch.
He hates sleeping in hotels And your picking pop, which is a great hotel but it's small.

I think after this, he should be allowed to drag you off camping in a tent.

Not trying to be mean but I think us fanatics can get, well fanatical. There are a few people that really don't like WDW and that's cool.

 

[teras75]

What about camping at Ft Wilderness. It's cheap and you both get what you want! He gets the camping and you get DW. Just an idea!

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

What about camping at Ft Wilderness. It's cheap and you both get what you want! He gets the camping and you get DW. Just an idea!

That's what I was going to recommend!! Or, you could stay at the cabins at Fort Wilderness. It's an AWESOME campground. Camping at Disney -- NOTHING better!

There's even a camping at Disney board -- about halfway down the main www.disboards.com page. Come check it out!

 

[fan_of_small_world]

What about camping at Ft Wilderness. It's cheap and you both get what you want! He gets the camping and you get DW. Just an idea!

I was going to suggest that too! That way, when OP and her son want to go, go, go at the parks and her DH needs a break, he can go back to the campsite and relax in a setting he already knows he enjoys.

BTW, I should disclose that I've never been camping, have no desire to do so, but am willing to give it a try. And if I had my choice, I'd much rather try it at WDW than anywhere else, lol!

 

[Princess Roo]

What are some things that you think he WILL like? Or, can you tell us about other non-camping vacation things that he has enjoyed, so we can help you brainstorm?

I understand where you are coming from with wanting to show him the magic, but I know a lot of people who don't find any magic at Disney or only find it through their children's excitement.

I also think there is something to be said for vacationing as a family, even if everyone doesn't get exactly what they want, but I think that would mean the next vacation should be camping-based. Does he only enjoy deep-woods camping, or would he enjoy Ft. Wilderness as a PP suggested? Or what about a hiking-type vacation as your next family vacation, even if it mean staying in cabins or a rented pop-up camper or something? I think he may 'enjoy' (at least complain less) about the Disney vacation if there is one more his style in the works that he won't want you to complain about. FWIW, my mom thought she would HATE camping and my dad thought camping on campsites was for wimps, but they decided to rent a pop-up and try the compromise and now they both LOVE it. They just wish that they hadn't waited until we were in high school to make that discovery, because we could have afforded a lot more family vacations that way.

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

forgot to mention - I don't tent camp but I could be persuaded to do so at Disney. Their bathhouses are absolutely spotless! Camping at Disney is way better than some hotels I've stayed at!

 

[Luv2Scrap]

I do compromise and go camping (to a KOA in one of their cabins) once a year, but it is hard for me. I did mention to him that we could camp at Disney, but even he agreed that camping at Disney for a week would be too difficult for all of us (I can't handle more than a weekend at a KOA).

Don't get me wrong, he stays in hotels, but it's harder to sleep, of course... and he CAN handle crowds, but he also will get crabby pretty quickly. I do worry that he will ruin things for us, but I would LOVE for him to come and really enjoy himself, and I do think there is a lot of potential for that. He just doesn't know it.

A value resort is the only thing in the budget. I'd love to upgrade but then we'd have to do without other extras, like park hopping, etc.

in Jan we went the 7th thru the 12th and it was quite dead - not crowded by any means. I am thinking he would be able to handle that no problem.

he's big into sports. dont' they have some sort of sports complex on site? maybe he'd like to see that.

 

[Luv2Scrap]

I will have to give the camping thing more thought. Maybe I could tolerate it if it would help him enjoy it. But it's so hard for me to get ready for the day in a campground. And I usually have to pee in the middle of the night and I really hate that walk to the bathrooms!

But I was there for the Hoop-Dee-Doo dinner show in Sept and it was pretty nice... but where do you eat breakfast? that would be a big issue for me, as I have blood sugar problems.

 

[teras75]

There is the Wide World of Sports Complex, but IMO, not much to see there.

You have plenty of time to plan, my only advice would be to try and go slow. Stop and look around at the details. If you try to rush to see everything, that might make him crabby a little quicker!

There is a lot to see and do all over the WDW. There is no way you are going to see everything, we go several times a year and we are always discovering nooks and crannies that we didn't know existed before. Read the boards and find which parks are traditionally more crowded on which days...and if he wants to go back and relax at the hotel...point him to the bus stop!

Ft Wilderness is really a beautiful place, I might actually consider camping there, and I'm not a camper type person! They have a buffet style restaraunt down by the dock that serves a buffet style meal. I believe its called Trails End. Check into the camping thing. It's cheaper than the value resorts, so you may be able to pull it off in 09!

 

[Princess Roo]

A value resort is the only thing in the budget. I'd love to upgrade but then we'd have to do without other extras, like park hopping, etc.

I think with what you're telling us about your DH, that a moderate resort might be preferable to park-hoppers. POR is really relaxing, especially at non-peak times. Also, if you don't already have a discount code of some sort, it might be worth joining AAA for their discount. There are also cabins with bathrooms at FW, but I don't know how they compare in price. Or, depending how long you're staying, you could camp a few days and then switch to a nicer hotel.

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

But I was there for the Hoop-Dee-Doo dinner show in Sept and it was pretty nice... but where do you eat breakfast? that would be a big issue for me, as I have blood sugar problems.

Oooooooooo, breakfast = Trail's End restaurant!!! It's DELISH! One of our favorite places to eat. Their breakfast buffet is awesome! And a great deal by Disney standards - I think the buffet is $11.99 for adults. ($8.99/kids???) Great food & lasts us till dinnertime. We like Trail's End breakfast buffet better than their dinner. Trail's End is right next to the Hoop Dee Doo.

Also, to save money, you could buy 1 annual pass (rest of your party can get regular park tickets) or you could return 51 weeks later and get good use out of your AP's. With an AP, you are eligible to buy the Disney Dining Experience card for 20% off on meals at most Disney restaurants. Also, one year the AP got us a deep discount on the Fort Wilderness cabins (reg. price was $229, we got an AP rate of $139).

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

I usually have to pee in the middle of the night and I really hate that walk to the bathrooms!

The Fort Wilderness cabins have a bedroom (full/queen bed & 2 bunkbeds) murphy bed in living room, full bath & full kitchen ...... the bath & kitchen might help with some of the other issues (blood sugar & middle of the night potty).

 

[NemoMOm]

My DH was the SAME way. so, on our honeymoon I insisted we spend 1 week in WDW and he insisted 1 week on cruise. We have now been married for 8 yrs and been back 13 x. We never tried the cruise again, he says he'd rather be in WDW I don't think you can make it more magical, if he is one of those to get it then he'll love it.

My DH is not a Disney type guy but he still got it, so have hope

 

[Luv2Scrap]

Oooooooooo, breakfast = Trail's End restaurant!!! It's DELISH! One of our favorite places to eat. Their breakfast buffet is awesome! And a great deal by Disney standards - I think the buffet is $11.99 for adults. ($8.99/kids???) Great food & lasts us till dinnertime. We like Trail's End breakfast buffet better than their dinner. Trail's End is right next to the Hoop Dee Doo.

Also, to save money, you could buy 1 annual pass (rest of your party can get regular park tickets) or you could return 51 weeks later and get good use out of your AP's. With an AP, you are eligible to buy the Disney Dining Experience card for 20% off on meals at most Disney restaurants. Also, one year the AP got us a deep discount on the Fort Wilderness cabins (reg. price was $229, we got an AP rate of $139).

I will have to look into this suggestion! thanks - I didn't know an AP could help so much!

 

[Luv2Scrap]

My DH was the SAME way. so, on our honeymoon I insisted we spend 1 week in WDW and he insisted 1 week on cruise. We have now been married for 8 yrs and been back 13 x. We never tried the cruise again, he says he'd rather be in WDW I don't think you can make it more magical, if he is one of those to get it then he'll love it.

My DH is not a Disney type guy but he still got it, so have hope

this is encouraging! exactly what I am hoping for!

 

[eliza61]

How about a long weekend at Disney. My Dh loves Vegas, I can't stand it, so when I go with him (not that often) we only go for a couple of days. He gets his fix and its not long enough for me to start whining about what a waste of money it is.

 

[prekteacher]

My husband is a non -beliver . I let him look and the book and find soemthings that he wanted to do to. He really wants to go to epcot to see all the diffrent worlds.

 

[abolanwoski]

How about appealing to his desire as a father to see the joy on his son's face as he enjoys WDW? I would think that if he is a working Dad, that he would want to spend the family's vacation time bonding with his kiddo - but maybe that's just me.