How I Survived 11 Days at WDW with a Disney-Resistant Husband **2/20 THE END **

[taymacsmom]

Awesome pics after all!! Thank goodness they all agreed to go with you. I have to admit I got quite a chuckle picturing you "frolicking" on the Boardwalk alone.

 

[cdotla]

Such wonderful pictures I'm sooooo glad you didn't have to go solo. I can't even imagine...I know that I would have had a major melt down!!!! Roots does really great work! Chris doesn't even look so unhappy .
(and your hair did look great!)

Thanks! I am not sure I can promise I didn't have a major meltdown that afternoon though!

It just goes to show you: while you know all about what was happening behind and around the picture-taking, all we see is your beautiful family. We see magic, and love, and fun, and mischief, and life -- and these moments are what you wanted to remember, I'm sure! Even if no one but you wanted to do it, these pictures epitomize everything we could imagine a Disney family vacation to be (aside from the parks) -- and I'm sure you'll treasure them.

I really like them -- they didn't get some feigned (hold still for the picture) moments -- those photographers captured the real moments.

Thank you! I really appreciate your comments.

No one outside Chris, me and the kids have seen these photos until now. I really appreciate your comments...you summarize exactly what I wanted the photos to document. So if that is what you see in looking at them, that makes me very happy! (Even if we all know the less-than-pleasant backstory.)

I'm so glad you didn't leave us hanging for too long Trish. I caught the backdrop of your Roots thread and moved away rather than respond because I felt so awful for you.

Your shots from Roots are FANTASTIC and I'm pretty sure that the entire family are looking at them fondly....NOW. And your hair looks amazing too; time and money well spent!

Thanks so much! I really appreciate it!

While the moments leading up to the photo shoot weren't the stuff that dreams are made of, at the end of the day, the final results were more than worth it. And you are right - all 4 of us were very happy with the photos.

Heck - I was estatic because I was expecting absolutely nothing given what I felt we had given the Roots to work with.

If I hadn't heard the backstory before looking at the photos, I would never have guessed the circumstances that happened before so.

They turned out Amazing! and the photographers are sooo talented to think up so many of those poses.

Luckily you were able to convince the rest of your family to go after all

Oh...I am so, so happy to hear this!!! Thank you so much!

Thank you so much for sharing your pictures...they are AMAZING and I'm sure everyone in the family will appreciate looking at them later on especially your husband. Your family looks so wonderful.

Thank you so much! Yes, I am so very happy to have these photos. They are the most unique photos we have ever had taken as a family and I know I will be thrilled for many years to come to look back on them.

Yes - I will probably always remember the not-so-great lead-up to the photo shoot. But in the end, the photos make me smile. And I am sure very quickly the only memories the photos will trigger are the happy ones from our trip...to my favourite place on Earth.

WHEW!!!!! What a relief!

I think the candids are so great! They caught some really great candid shots - you all look great!!

Thanks Katie! Despite all odds, I ended up with exactly what I had envisioned and wanted from the shoot.

What fantastic pictures! I hope you got at least one good "I told you so" out of them

Believe it or not, Chris had never seen the Roots' website or work before the photoshoot. (I think I mentioned his general lack of interest in things pertaining to Disney and/or photography before?). Anyway, the 1st time he saw their work was when I showed him our website gallery after we returned home from vacation. He was really impressed with the results, especially because (like me), he lived through the shoot and knew how difficult our family had been for the Roots.

While he has never said anything, I would like to think he now feels a bit sheepish and would probably have brought a lot more to the shoot if he could do it all over.

 

[dbug209]

I have really enjoyed your TR!!

 

[mom2mek]

Oh my goodness, Trish! Those pictures are fabulous! Your dress is fabulous and I think all of your outfit choices turned out great! The Roots did a great job and I think those are some photos you will look at fondly and (hopefully) laugh about the frustrating backstory later in life!

Sara

 

[cdotla]

oh wow Trish, some of those are AMAZING!

And I daresay...worth the drama, heartache, headache and potential heatstroke!

Thank you so much Cynthia! And you are completely, 100% correct!

Oh man, I'm so sorry you had to go to the much anticipated photo shoot with an unwilling family. I really feel for you. But, the pictures did turn out fantastic. Like others have said, you'd never know they didn't want to be there.

Thanks Michelle! I really appreciate it!

Had I not known the background of the day and the resistance that you had to deal with....I would have NEVER guessed it, looking at your GORGEOUS photo shoot results!! OMG, they're BEAUTIFUL!!!

Can I ask how far in advance you had to book them? I am wondering since this will be our FIRST trip all together, if I could rangle everyone to do this kind of photo shoot??

Thank you so much!

As for booking the Roots, we pencilled our session in just over a year before the trip. (I am a perfect example of the Type A Disney planner.) Our final date and time did shift a couple times to suit our schedule and the Roots' schedule, but we were both flexible, especially because we knew we would be there for 11 days.

And you can totally blame me if the Roots decide they never want to do another family photo session again.

I'm so glad you ended up with such spectacular pictures. Whew!
What great photographers -- and a gorgeous family doesn't hurt, either

I so admire how you came through all that resistance from DH (the kids', for some reason, seems easier to handle to me). If I were in your shoes at that point, I don't think I would have come out looking so cool, calm and collected!!

You did such a great job coordinating the outfits at the last minute, too. I soooo hope your DH at some point tells you that he's happy he did the shoot and has these amazing family photos

Thank you so much!

You are absolutely right that DH was very impressed with the end result of our photo shoot.

I am really kicking myself now that I wasn't more insistent that he look at the Roots' website and blog before our session to get an idea of their style and talent. Then he would have realized how lucky we were to have them as our photographers and the evening would likely have unfolded very differently. That was completely, 100% my fault.

You looked FANTASTIC!..Love your pink dress...and your hair!

Iam so sorry for what you must have been feeling that day though..
Getting this shoot done obviously meant a LOT to you...you are very interested in photography and Roots in particular was your dream!..You planned this shoot for months...carefully thought about outfits and were delighted that Roots could fit you in.

We as readers can understand and feel your excitment..why oh why does your DH not care..

Iam angry on your behalf...he Knew this was important to you and he tried to screw it up..in fact he DID screw it up ..and he wound the kids up too...

I LOVE your report but Iam getting more and more annoyed by your hubbys ways....It seems as if he is just trying to upset you...

Thank you so much for your comments on the photos!

As for DH: did his lack of interest/commitment to the photo shoot get my back up? Absolutely! However, I have to eat some of the blame myself. You see, I am really not sure how much I ever really told him about the shoot, the Roots, or how important it was to me. We are probably jointly to blame for this. There are certain topics (like Disney and photography) that I have long since stopped discussing with DH in any great detail because he just completely tunes out. To this day, readers of this thread would be far more aware than my husband of how much I was anticipating this photo shoot.

Yes, DH knew we had a photo shoot booked. And I think I told him a couple times how talented I thought the husband and wife photography team were who would be taking our photos. But that was probably the extent of his knowledge of the shoot.

From his perspective, here we were, yet again, on another family vacation in Walt Disney World, a place that he would be happy to visit once every 5-10 years, not as frequently as we have been going.

And to make matters worse, during the trip I am constantly taking pictures of the trip, or videtaping it, instead of just living it.

So for a guy who minds the heat, minds the crowds, doesn't like getting his picture taken, and was still in post-nap grogginess, maybe I should have cut him some slack when he decided he wanted to forgo a photo session that really hadn't been properly explained to him from the get-go.

Don't get me wrong....I still think I was right. However, as with most things in life, there are many shades of grey between the blacks and whites.

 

[cdotla]

I love the pictures from behind....it is always my favorite shot. And I love the one of you talking to your son alone...were you whispering for him to smile or else!!

The shots are wonderful!!!!

cheryl

You are very astute! I suspect you are right - it was probably some sort of bribe or threat!

I'm so sorry that Chris + the kids were uncooperative, but I have to say-- what shows in the pictures is a family that is happy and loves each other!! The tiredness, hotness-- does not show. What the pictures capture is much better, and deeper than that.
Love your dress! I think the outfits you went with really go with the surroundings at the Boardwalk!

I am so happy to hear this! Thank you so much!

Thanks as well for the comment on the dress and outfit choices. Now I just have to change the shorts into khakis for the guys on our original outfit line-up, and I have a nice color palette for a fall photo shoot back home with my self-timer.

Trish, I absolutely love your dress! Your hair looks great too.

I am horrified at your DH's attitude but I dont know why I am still surprised... ... I should have seen that one coming.

I think what upsets me the most is that, while I understand Disney is not his thing, this photo session is something that he should have done to make you happy regardless of how he feels. He really should have put his feelings aside and think of you for ONCE in this trip...

Regardless of all the pre photoshoot drama, the pictures turned out great! There are some really great shots in there! I just hope that when you look at the pictures, you see the great pictures and not all the drama that went with them!

Looking forward to another update!

Thank you so much!

You are right about the photos....I smile and laugh when I see them. Yes, I can remember the not-so-great background when I think about the lead-up to the shoot, but the pictures themselves only evoke happy thoughts.

Your family sounds like my family except it's always a hassle trying to get everyone together to do anything it seems (we are down to just four of us going to WDW in November now - oh well).

I loved your pics! Especially the last ones under the archway I hope this won't discourage you from trying another photo session on future trips!

Getting our photos taken during our Disney family holidays is becoming somewhat of a family tradition.

A few years ago, my friend Beth Wild, who lives in Sarasota met up with us in WDW with her family for a little weekend trip and took some family photos on the Grand Floridian Beach. One of my favourites from the session was this one of the kids, playing in the sand, with the Polynesian in the background:

Now, on our most recent trip, we have our wonderful photos from the session with the Roots.

I hope in a couple of years to keep repeating the tradition.

Your pictures are beautiful and you seem like a really good sport. There's no way I could have thrown together those outfits so quickly and have them look as good. And I had no idea you could get a blow out at WDW--my hair always looks like I stuck my finger in a lightsocket when I'm there. Good to know.

I would bet that your DH is a great guy in every other aspect of life besides Disney; you don't seem like the type to put up with less. I'm glad you got your pictures. Roots did a lovely job and everyone looks great.

Looking forward to reading the rest of your TR.

Thank you so much! I appreciate your comments!

You are right about DH. Fortunately, he has a ton of other loveable traits that cause me to keep him around. Unfortunately a Disney Trip Report is not going to be his place to shine.

And as for the blow-outs - yes, you can get them in just about any of the deluxe salons.

Your photos session looked like so much fun! Sorry that the rest of your family wan't as cooperative as they could have been. Maybe they will one day look at those pictures and they will bring back memories of a wonderful family vacation

The photos turned out beautifully...you can't even tell that they weren't having fun.

I am enjoying your trip report very much. I have lurked on the DIS for some time now and finally decided to join and post. It is very addicting

Thank you for posting and coming out of lurkerdom! Thank you as well for your comments on the photos! They already do bring back many happy memories of not just our trip, but of the little quirks and humourous personalities of my two little kiddos!

Great pictures!!

Thank you!

Beautiful photos!

Thanks!

 

[cdotla]

I thought Roots was maybe a lot of hype, but those pictures are priceless. Like everyone else, I don't think that the problems that you had showed at all.

Wonderful. My DH can be a royal pain in the kiester, but what are we gonna' do as we love them.

Thank you!!!

As for the Roots...they are phenomenal in my books. If I was a bride-to-be, there is no other photographers I would want with me that special day!

As Jensey would write, "Favorite!"

I'm with everyone else: You guys look so happy in these photos, that will be the memory that lasts (or you'll all have a good laugh about it later ). And I think your thrown-together-at-the-last-minute outfits look great together—your dress is a-friggin-dorable!

Thanks Carrie!!!

Photo shoot turned out awesome!

Thank you!

I'm so sorry you had to have all that stress and drama before the photoshoot. And I'm so happy that you got everyone to go anyway. All of the pictures are wonderful and, as PPs have said, if I didn't know the before story I'd never have known some of ya'll weren't happy to be there.

This is so great to hear - thank you! At the end of the day, despite all the struggles in getting there, it was totally worth it!

 

[cdotla]

Phew! I am relieved. And a bit teary at how beautiful your pictures are! I agree you'd never know you threw those outfits together at the last minute. Like Carrie, my favorite is the one with you and Chris sitting and the kids being "crazy" on either side of you. Beautiful, beautiful pictures.

I'm so glad you got to do this. I tell you, I want to get married just so I can have them take pictures!

They turned out so well. HOW on earth will you choose which ones to frame??

Thanks Christine!

I completely agree with you - I would have loved for my wedding to have been shot by the Roots. But I am about 14 years too late for that.

And you are absolutely right - I am going to have a hard time figuring out which photos to frame! I didn't even come close to posting all of the photos from the shoot. We ended up with over 200 photos and there is not a single solitary one I don't like.

such a beautiful family and amazing pictures!!!

Thank you!

The pictures are beautiful! They are definitely very talented photographers! I'm glad everyone came around enough to get some good shots! Especially since it was over a year in the planning!

Thanks...it certainly was a very pleasant surprise how well the photos turned out!

Super impressed with those photographers! The pictures are just beautiful! I'm glad your family came with, but sorry they were so uncooperative.

Thank you!

Awesome pics after all!! Thank goodness they all agreed to go with you. I have to admit I got quite a chuckle picturing you "frolicking" on the Boardwalk alone.

I have really enjoyed your TR!!

Thanks so much!!!

Oh my goodness, Trish! Those pictures are fabulous! Your dress is fabulous and I think all of your outfit choices turned out great! The Roots did a great job and I think those are some photos you will look at fondly and (hopefully) laugh about the frustrating backstory later in life!

Sara

Thanks Sara! Already I am starting to see the humour in the situation...what else can you do but laugh, right?

 

[abs730]

The family pictures you posted were amazing! Your family is beautiful and what talented photographers you used!

 

[DrMomof3]

Those pictures turned out amazing! Especially given the back story. I think I would have murdered my DH at that point, especially with the kids feeding off the "I don't want to do this" energy. Thank goodness you got such awesome pictures so you can laugh about this in the future!!!

Amanda

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

Wow. I just found this site today and have spent the past several hours reading all 66 pages of this amazing thread! It makes me feel like I'm there! I just booked a trip for December (going myself and not the first time). I love your story and am amazed at the detail in which you are describing it. I am a bit late to the party but I just subscribed! Looking forward to reading the rest!

 

[raider97]

I was drawn in by your title. My husband is Disney resistant also! For him, it is more about money than anything else. He does manage to fun once we are there. All caught up and loving your trip report! Your kids are just adorable!

 

[SoonerGirl]

That is when it was dropped on me that Chris had decided he was too tired and not in the mood for pictures and would not be coming.

Trish I am so happy that you had the rest of the story posted before I saw this because when I read it my heart just sank for you! I'm glad I didn't have to wait to find out that Chris did indeed go and that you got some absolutely fabulous photos from the shoot.

I'm so sorry that it was such an ordeal, but honestly you would never know looking at the results. They're beautiful

 

[MaryAz]

Coming out of lurkdom to tell you how much I am enjoying your report. And to also say that you are VERY patient with your husband. There have been many times I have read something and thought "Oh no he didn't"
I am very happy that you will get another trip. Like Stephanie said there are quite a few of us planning to go around the same time-I for one am especially hoping she will be able to come since we miss eachother by hours this year.
Your pics are very good-am bumbling my way around my DSLR. You got some great shots at your photo shoot-hubby is even in some

 

[usnuzuloose]

I have been following your TR and am enjoing it.`I love the photos of your family. I understand about a resistant husband. We lived near DL and my exhusband would never allow us to visit DL. We were not allowed very much of anything. I feel your at least blessed he went. Dont give up all hope. Hope you have many years doing alot of vacations together.

Looking forward to the rest of your report. I feel like I am there with you enjoying it. You are a great looking family. Jo

 

[brookelizabeth]

I've been lurking on your TR - just have to comment about how beautiful your pictures are!!!! They did a wonderful job. I love the ones of you and your DH sitting with the kids jumping and making faces on either side of you - adorable!! I'm glad despite the drama beforehand, and during, the pictures turned out well!!!!

 

[nat1234]

What great family photos. I love them. I'm so sorry you had to go through all that drama first though. I'm loving your report.

 

[MagicShell]

I love your pictures. I am glad you convinced everyone to be there.

 

[lexmas]

Amazing photo shoot. They must be amazing if they can turn some grumpy faces into wonderful pictures. Now you have me addicted to looking at their blog!

 

[LilAnn]

I have to say, that after hearing the background story, you absolutely can barely tell from the photos, as an outsider. You guys look like you could be the poster family for the boardwalk. I love those photos on the surrey bike. While you may not have gotten your fill on the PP cd, you sure came home with some amazing photos from this shoot.