How to Convert a Disney Downer On Your Trip

[Jsharp13]

I tried taking DH to Disney several times and made a major effort to try to find things he'd like. He likes Gatorland as that is the anthesis of a world class theme park. He liked Blue Man Group and the Cirque de Soleil show. He used to like Boma for food, but the last time thought they had replaced some of the better African dishes with more basic theme park fare. He liked indoor sky diving in a wind tunnel on I drive. But OMG out of tremendous effort on my part that is all he liked. SeaWorld was OK for a one time visit. The Titanic attraction was OK for a one time visit.

This is exactly what I went through, planning for a non-Disney person. Don't get me wrong, I LOOOOOVE my Disney planning! But I jumped through every hoop, pulled out every stop, and lined up so much magic - and eventually got a brief side 1/2 smile at best, and a grumpy face the rest of the time. It just wasn't for him. And because of all that planning, when it wasn't met with appreciation or even a hint of joy, it made me resentful, which isn't a good relationship either.

But we learned together... there are things he doesn't like so he will skip those. And on the flip side, I'm not going to spend a trip miserable either. So don't even think about asking me to back pack into the mountains and sleep in a tent or something.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

This is exactly what I went through, planning for a non-Disney person. Don't get me wrong, I LOOOOOVE my Disney planning! But I jumped through every hoop, pulled out every stop, and lined up so much magic - and eventually got a brief side 1/2 smile at best, and a grumpy face the rest of the time. It just wasn't for him. And because of all that planning, when it wasn't met with appreciation or even a hint of joy, it made me resentful, which isn't a good relationship either.

But we learned together... there are things he doesn't like so he will skip those. And on the flip side, I'm not going to spend a trip miserable either. So don't even think about asking me to back pack into the mountains and sleep in a tent or something.

One of the things that took a few vacations (some mini weekend trips too) to various places to figure out is reading more into what was really the issue with each of us.

For instance I get hangry, my husband (before we got married) eventually figured out that I'm not irritated at him, nor the surroundings I just need to get a bit of food and I'll be okay. I learned that if my husband is naysaying everything while we're on a trip maybe it is the surroundings like heat or cold or wind that is getting to him. We both tend to be grumpy when we're tired lol.

In both of those examples internally we weren't as clued into what was going as the other was, so I don't always recognize when I'm just hangry and he doesn't always recognize when it's the surroundings that are really getting to him. But because we've figured this out about each other it helps when we're on trips and helped ease that annoyance feeling of like "I'm so excited about this, why aren't you" or "we did so much planning into this place and now..."

We've run into both of the examples at Disney and Universal before and other destinations (even as recent as May) and figured out a reset may be needed. So for me it may be getting food, for him it may be let's take a brief rest out of the elements if possible or calling it a day.

 

[BrianL]

TBH I wouldn't go with them at all. I have friends who are not Disney parks fans (they find the parks too "kiddie" focused) so why would I go on a trip with them to a place they don't like? Especially with the prices Disney charge? No thanks.

I have a friend who likes certain things, Star WArs, Marvel - you know, the "adult stuff." Anyway, I have been with him and it can be okay, but man it's tough sometimes. The first time I went with him, me and another fiend used to have this running joke - "How do they do that? MAGIC!" This guy is all like, "it's NOT magic." More recently, I had proposed hitting Pirates of the CAribbean next, and he said, "I dunno, it's just a boat ride." I mean, look dude, you don't have to be here, you know? I mean, seriously, he's a good dude and all, and it's not all bad. Sometimes I see signs of it cracking. He does love Halloween, so that stuff works anyway. The worst thing is that he eats like a five-year-old!