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

[berliozcat]

Your husband should realize that all you were trying to do was get a great picture to put over the mantle. He needs to check himself and realize all you were doing was being a good wife and mother. If only all families were as lucky... Glad you stuck to your guns and made him go out and do the shoot. He should learn to grow up!

 

[kcandbella]

I'm glad he finally decided to get his picture taken. They did turn out fantastic. As cute as that yellow sweater is, you probably would have had a heatstroke in it! I think you were smart to choose based on what would be cool, and everyone looks great!

 

[swwake]

Ok those pics are AWESOME! My favorite is the one where y'all are on the bench and Katie is standing above you. It looks like a photo from a catalog or an ad. Chris sure looks happy there!

 

[MODisneyfan]

OMG.. I Love your photo shoot!! Those pics are just so CUTE!!

 

[Queenofallthings]

Your pictures are stunning...such a beautiful family....sorry you had to have heart failure before them, but you look FANTASTIC considering what you just went through....sometimes ya just gotta go with it girl, and you did a great job

 

[DisneyBoundinDec]

Oh no. Don't you dare take any blame for his behavior! That was just wrong. I can understand if he doesn't want to talk about Disney, yes I get that, but to not want to listen or talk about photography???? If that is a hobby or passion of yours, then why wouldn't he be interested in it? Is he not supportive of your interests? Outside of Disney
Aside from all of that, those pictures are awesome. If I didn't know the back story I would never know of all the heartache and grief it took you to get those. My heart just hurts with the pain that you must have been feeling during the shoot.
I know we are all bashing your husband. And I am sorry for that. But I really do hope that he is much more respectful towards you at home. You deserve better.

 

[declansdad]

Wow great photos. I must say that you seem to have a tremendous amount of patience.

 

[LukenDC]

You deserve much credit for the success of the photo shoot. It is very hard to go "on stage" with a cheerful face when you are angry, frustrated, and hurt.

 

[MouseTriper]

Oh my goodness, your pictures turned out simply BEAUTIFUL. I love them all, especially the ones with the kids being kids jumping around and being mischievious. So so precious....I would love the Roots to shoot my family at WDW...I think it would be awesome to have a shoot WITHIN the Magic Kingdom!!! (I am sure my pocket book could not afford that though...lol)

Anyways, I just have to say that I feel bad for what you had to go through prior to the shoot. I think for what you had to put up with - you deserve another trip to WDW without the Disney hater. Hahahahhaha.

 

[TyRy]

OMG - what great looking photos you ended up with. Everyone really looks like they had a great time. If I hadn't read what lead up to it, I would have thought everyone really wanted to do the photoshoot. So glad you dragged them and that it worked out.

 

[LakesRegionNHMom]

I have enjoyed reading your TR and have come out of "lurkdom" to subscribe!

I also have a Disney resistant Husband. He was actually the one to suggest our first family WDW trip back in 2006. I did not want to go and thought (at the time) that Disney was a waste of money, etc. Well, it was during that first family trip in 2006 that I caught the Disney Fever and fell in love. We have been back every year since; I don't think that my husband had envisioned that when he suggested that trip in 2006.

We have had many up and down moments over our 5 trips and reading your TR reminds me that WDW can be a wonderful, magical, vacation, but also stressful.

I declared during our last trip in 5/10 that I would never go to WDW again with my husband. He knows how much these trips mean to me and yet somehow always manages to dampen some of the magical moments. Why must Disney haters be that way? Why can't they just embrace the magic?

I can't wait to read more....thanks for sharing!!!

P.S. Your pictures are amazing...I'm just sorry you had to have a non-magical moment to get them!

 

[DisneyDoc5]

FABULOUS PHOTOS!!!! All you can do in life with a 'resister' is laugh and move forward, the end result was awesome! Curious, are you letting him read this report, he should, may give him a big dose of humble pie!!! When I have had those 'resister moments' at Disney and in our lives, I have to assume he has no idea how important Disney is to me, or he wouldn't act that way, but, he does KNOW how important it is, so ???????? My DH has his 'moments' as well, and I obviously don't always appreciate them, but none of us are perfect (even though I wish he was!!!) Keep smiling, can't wait to read more!

 

[cousinbb]

Hey! First off I wanted to let ya know I'm really enjoying your TR and can't wait to read more. Second, I was looking at photosession pictures and my dad came up behind me and said "Look at that happy family!" (I didn't tell him the story behind it ) But the happiness really does shows in your family's faces.

 

[smillerguy]

Loving your trip report. I am a Disney addict and my husband is not!!! I have tried Deluxes and Delux Dining Plan. My DH is very fit and eats healthy and does not enjoy lines I am try to be healthy at home work out at home but at Disney all bets are off. It is an easy 8 hour drive for me so I want to go at least once a year which is too much for my DH. He wants to venture somewhere else. We live at the beach. My DH also resists photopass and tries to enjoy it but I can tell he just does not. His favorite part is pool time with a beer. Our trips sound sooo similar. Looking forward to the rest of your trip report. Your plan for upcoming trip with friends is similar to what I was thinking for our April trip.. DH travels to work some in Fl. so I was thinking of booking and encouraging him to work a few days and joining us for dinner and maybe a day in the parks. My DS would miss his RNR partner though!

 

[Disney Geek]

Bumping you back to page 1 while patiently waiting for the next update!!

 

[Charlefours]

Caught up again, great updates and wonderful photos!! I'm so glad you were able to get wonderful photos from your session. Your impromptu outfits look wonderful.

 

[cdotla]

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

Thank you so much!

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

Thanks Amanda! All worth it in the end, and thankfully, yes, I now can look back and laugh about it!

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!

Hello, and Welcome!

You aren't late at all...we aren't even half-way through the trip! Very jealous of your December trip...I have been in April, May, June, July, September and October, but never around Christmastime. One of these days....

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!

Thanks so much for posting, and again Welcome!

Sorry to hear you may be another one with a spouse who is less-than-enthusiastic for WDW. But at least, as this thread shows, we are in good company, right?

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

Thanks Michelle! In retrospect in was totally worth it, and I would go through it all again in a heartbeat for the end results!

 

[cdotla]

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

Hey Mary! Thanks for coming out of lurkerdom! It is much more fun to know who is reading!

So are you planning a trip for October 2011 too? (Am I understanding you correctly?) That would be fun!

And thanks for your comments about our photos with the Roots!

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

Hi Jo! Thank you so much for posting and welcome!

Yes, I am very lucky that even though my husband doesn't "get" Disney the way I do, he certainly doesn't hold me back from going. I have gone without him many times, and will continue to do so. And after this trip, when he does come along in future, I will be much better prepared, with more realistic expectations. I love the idea of going down a few days early and/or coming home a few days after he leaves so I can fill up on the parks then.

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!!!!

Wow - a lot of lurkers are coming out with these Roots photos. Thank you so much for posting...it is so much more fun to do these TRs with feedback and comments.

Thank you so much for your comments on the Roots photos. I am so, so happy to have them. The experience leading up to the shoot is becoming more and more a distant memory, whereas the photos continue to make me smile wide each time I see them.

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.

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!

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

Thank you! Me too!!!

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!

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the Roots. They are truly fantastic!!! I so, so hope I get a chance to do another shoot with them in future when we can show up with our true and real happy faces, ready for some real fun!!!

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.

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

Two of the ideas I knew I wanted to incorporate into our shoot was the surrey bike and a shoot of us eating ice cream, which we did at the end. (I didn't actually post any photos of that segment).

I LOVED the surrey bike! I was so glad we did it!

Your husband should realize that all you were trying to do was get a great picture to put over the mantle. He needs to check himself and realize all you were doing was being a good wife and mother. If only all families were as lucky... Glad you stuck to your guns and made him go out and do the shoot. He should learn to grow up!

While 3 out of 4 of us weren't enthusiastic about pictures that evening, all 4 of us loved the end results. Mom always knows best, right?

I so hope we have a chance for another session with the Roots in future. If this is what they got on this shoot, I would love to see what they would capture when we show up with our happy faces!

 

[cdotla]

I'm glad he finally decided to get his picture taken. They did turn out fantastic. As cute as that yellow sweater is, you probably would have had a heatstroke in it! I think you were smart to choose based on what would be cool, and everyone looks great!

You are so right about the cooler outfits...even with those on our backs, it was sweltering!

I thought perhaps it was just our Canadian blood that was not used to the hot temperatures, but even Nathan and Jensey advised us that they were pretty much done with outside shooting for awhile as it was getting too hot. And, as you know from being there yourself that week, everyone (even the Florida locals) seemed to be commenting how hot it was.

Ok those pics are AWESOME! My favorite is the one where y'all are on the bench and Katie is standing above you. It looks like a photo from a catalog or an ad. Chris sure looks happy there!

Thanks so much! I like that one too!

As much as he wasn't keen on going, the Roots did capture many genuine happy faces on everyone during the shoot, including Chris. We were both cracking up at the kids' antics and funny faces throughout. They were very mischievious and precocious...but it was funny. And we laughed despite ourselves.

OMG.. I Love your photo shoot!! Those pics are just so CUTE!!

Thank you!!!

Your pictures are stunning...such a beautiful family....sorry you had to have heart failure before them, but you look FANTASTIC considering what you just went through....sometimes ya just gotta go with it girl, and you did a great job

Thanks Queeen! It all came together in the end, didn't it? I am very happy to have those photos!

Oh no. Don't you dare take any blame for his behavior! That was just wrong. I can understand if he doesn't want to talk about Disney, yes I get that, but to not want to listen or talk about photography???? If that is a hobby or passion of yours, then why wouldn't he be interested in it? Is he not supportive of your interests? Outside of Disney
Aside from all of that, those pictures are awesome. If I didn't know the back story I would never know of all the heartache and grief it took you to get those. My heart just hurts with the pain that you must have been feeling during the shoot.
I know we are all bashing your husband. And I am sorry for that. But I really do hope that he is much more respectful towards you at home. You deserve better.

Sigh! Yes...I won't lie. I was disappointed and frustrated about the photo shoot. And other things about the trip. But fortunately there is so much good in our lives outside of Disney and this trip report. The TR isn't an accurate or complete report of a family...just a trip.

Wow great photos. I must say that you seem to have a tremendous amount of patience.

Thanks Darcy! It is funny...in everyday life I often have little patience. But I certainly rose to the occasion during the trip.

You deserve much credit for the success of the photo shoot. It is very hard to go "on stage" with a cheerful face when you are angry, frustrated, and hurt.

Bingo! You summed it up completely. This is exactly how I felt. That is why I was so amazed and relieved with what the Roots were able to capture.

Oh my goodness, your pictures turned out simply BEAUTIFUL. I love them all, especially the ones with the kids being kids jumping around and being mischievious. So so precious....I would love the Roots to shoot my family at WDW...I think it would be awesome to have a shoot WITHIN the Magic Kingdom!!! (I am sure my pocket book could not afford that though...lol)

Anyways, I just have to say that I feel bad for what you had to go through prior to the shoot. I think for what you had to put up with - you deserve another trip to WDW without the Disney hater. Hahahahhaha.

Thank you so much!

Funny you should mention about the WDW photo session. I actually tried to convince the Roots to do one session for us on the Boardwalk (which we did), and a 2nd session the next morning at the Magic Kingdom. Unfortunately, WDW prevents outside professional photographers going into the Parks. As a matter of fact, my friend Carrie (lurkyloo) was so lucky to get the Roots to shoot her wedding in Morocco in Epcot before Disney moved to prevent that as well. That alone would be enough reason for me to move a wedding to a venue outside the Parks.

OMG - what great looking photos you ended up with. Everyone really looks like they had a great time. If I hadn't read what lead up to it, I would have thought everyone really wanted to do the photoshoot. So glad you dragged them and that it worked out.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of these comments. I am so glad to know that others also see happiness in the photos!

 

[cdotla]

I have enjoyed reading your TR and have come out of "lurkdom" to subscribe!

I also have a Disney resistant Husband. He was actually the one to suggest our first family WDW trip back in 2006. I did not want to go and thought (at the time) that Disney was a waste of money, etc. Well, it was during that first family trip in 2006 that I caught the Disney Fever and fell in love. We have been back every year since; I don't think that my husband had envisioned that when he suggested that trip in 2006.

We have had many up and down moments over our 5 trips and reading your TR reminds me that WDW can be a wonderful, magical, vacation, but also stressful.

I declared during our last trip in 5/10 that I would never go to WDW again with my husband. He knows how much these trips mean to me and yet somehow always manages to dampen some of the magical moments. Why must Disney haters be that way? Why can't they just embrace the magic?

I can't wait to read more....thanks for sharing!!!

P.S. Your pictures are amazing...I'm just sorry you had to have a non-magical moment to get them!

Thank you so much for coming out of lurkerdom and posting!

That is too funny about the role reversal between you and your husband! Unfortunately, I too simply can't comprehend how anyone could not love Disney and enjoy being there. I love every single moment I am there. Even the lines, crowds, heat...it is all part of the experience.

I am disappointed to know that others also have to learn to live with a spouse that doesn't embrace WDW the way we all do. However, I hope everyone has taken some solace (as I have) in that at least we are not alone. In fact, I think we are all in very good company!

FABULOUS PHOTOS!!!! All you can do in life with a 'resister' is laugh and move forward, the end result was awesome! Curious, are you letting him read this report, he should, may give him a big dose of humble pie!!! When I have had those 'resister moments' at Disney and in our lives, I have to assume he has no idea how important Disney is to me, or he wouldn't act that way, but, he does KNOW how important it is, so ???????? My DH has his 'moments' as well, and I obviously don't always appreciate them, but none of us are perfect (even though I wish he was!!!) Keep smiling, can't wait to read more!

Yes - you are so right. All you really can do is laugh and move on!

And do I really have to confirm that DH isn't a member of a Disney-lovers forum? Geez...I couldn't even get him to fully appreciate the trip while we were experiencing it? Do ya think he would want to re-live it in a TR?

Hey! First off I wanted to let ya know I'm really enjoying your TR and can't wait to read more. Second, I was looking at photosession pictures and my dad came up behind me and said "Look at that happy family!" (I didn't tell him the story behind it ) But the happiness really does shows in your family's faces.

Thank you so much for your kind comments!

I love your story about your dad...it will be a long time before I get tired of hearing people saying that they see happiness in those photos. I had so much doubt during the photo shoot that the Roots would have been able to capture anything at all worthwhile.

Loving your trip report. I am a Disney addict and my husband is not!!! I have tried Deluxes and Delux Dining Plan. My DH is very fit and eats healthy and does not enjoy lines I am try to be healthy at home work out at home but at Disney all bets are off. It is an easy 8 hour drive for me so I want to go at least once a year which is too much for my DH. He wants to venture somewhere else. We live at the beach. My DH also resists photopass and tries to enjoy it but I can tell he just does not. His favorite part is pool time with a beer. Our trips sound sooo similar. Looking forward to the rest of your trip report. Your plan for upcoming trip with friends is similar to what I was thinking for our April trip.. DH travels to work some in Fl. so I was thinking of booking and encouraging him to work a few days and joining us for dinner and maybe a day in the parks. My DS would miss his RNR partner though!

Hi there, and Welcome! So glad you have joined in!

You are right...our trip experiences are very, very similar. Too funny! Sounds like our husbands would get along just fine!

I think your plan for your April trip sounds great! My plan for the next trip DH comes along for is to encourage him to stay at the resort (and out of our hair) as much as possible while we tour the parks. And any evening park entertainment he would rather miss - that is ok too.

Who knows...he just might learn that he misses the true Disney experience afterall.

Caught up again, great updates and wonderful photos!! I'm so glad you were able to get wonderful photos from your session. Your impromptu outfits look wonderful.

Thanks so much Stephanie!