How to generate excitement

[Wistraveler]

My SIL has never had a WDW vacation. In fact he has never actually taken a vacation trip anywhere. My DD convinced him that now was the time to go to WDW, especially with the deals going on.

He is now having second thoughts about the trip, thinking that it would be a waste of his time. He has no idea what he is in for, even though he has seen the DVD and looked at photos. The anticipation she hoped would come hasn't materialized. How does she get him excited about going when he doesn't realize what taking a vacation, especially to the "Happiest place on earth" is all about?

 

[Alexis Green]

I have the same question. It's my Dbf's first trip to Disney, he's not as excited as I had hoped, but maybe he just isn't showing it. How do you make it fun for the men?

 

[JulielovesDisney]

Have him watch the Travel Channel special on Disney. Those are really interesting, and they always work for me.

Also, maybe see if your DD could plan something special for the vacation, like a nice dinner, a behind-the-scene tour, or a show he would be interested in. That might spark some excitement.

I'm sure that once your DSIL is actually down there, he'll enjoy it.

 

[Wistraveler]

Have him watch the Travel Channel special on Disney. Those are really interesting, and they always work for me.

Also, maybe see if your DD could plan something special for the vacation, like a nice dinner, a behind-the-scene tour, or a show he would be interested in. That might spark some excitement.

I'm sure that once your DSIL is actually down there, he'll enjoy it.

I'm sure he will. She did book their first dinner at Fultons, since she knows that he loves seafood. Maybe stepping into the resort and seeing those beautiful grounds (which I'm sure he has never seen anything like before) will be enough to to get his heart beating a little faster. She was hoping to discover a sure-fire way to kick start it before they leave.

 

[serene56]

I have yet to get interest from the males in my life whenit comes to vacation- Im talking honey and sons-- it jsut wont happen. not saying they dont excited when we get there and they have a good time.

Some people have a hard time with showing emotions no matter what.

Stop trying too hard to get them excited and let them feel that from you is enough for them

 

[Donnainnj]

If money and interest are there I would consider a Segway tour or Richard Petty Driving experience.
Donna

 

[Missytara]

When I take friends, I have the planning DVD and the customized maps sent to their homes, so they can get a sense of it.

Then I give them packets of stuff at intervals when they should start planning things, and helpful hints. I just dropped off a package this week to the two girls who are going with me this year; mostly menus for ADR's and a little mini dictionary of terms so they can start learning "Disney-speak." They got a real kick out of it.

Or I get them the schedule of the Travel Channel; they just had a couple of them on the other day!

 

[landshark]

Let him actually experience the place first; the thought of WDW doesn't thrill everyone.

If he's seen all the videos, brochures, etc... and knows what all is offered there, that's all you can do. Maybe he needs to actually be immersed in the actual place before he understands why everyone else loves it, otherwise it might just seem childish and pointless to him.

She should just wait until they're there and he has so much fun he wants to ride something multiple times or he doesn't really want to go home or says how much he wants to go back some other time. Or maybe he won't feel that way--he should at least give it a try, though.

 

[mariepapa]

My SIL has never had a WDW vacation. In fact he has never actually taken a vacation trip anywhere. My DD convinced him that now was the time to go to WDW, especially with the deals going on.

He is now having second thoughts about the trip, thinking that it would be a waste of his time. He has no idea what he is in for, even though he has seen the DVD and looked at photos. The anticipation she hoped would come hasn't materialized. How does she get him excited about going when he doesn't realize what taking a vacation, especially to the "Happiest place on earth" is all about?

Are you sure you are not talking about my husband? I have been jumping around like crazy here for our trip in 8 days. My husband is kind of "meh" about the whole thing. He is just glad we are going somewhere. I agree with a PP that maybe we just have to wait until we get there and that person experiences WDW.

 

[W.E.D.]

I'd agree with the PP's saying "don't push it". I went with my best friend one year. He was not excited at all. Once we arrived, he didn't want to leave. Sometimes you have to sit back and let the "magic" work for you.

 

[auntfrannie]

The first time I told my sister's kids we were going to disney world they weren't all that impressed or excited either. When you're used to Kennywood & Idlewild Park (local amusement parks) it doesn't seem a big deal. But once they got there, they understood & got it!

I wouldn't build the parks up to your SIL/BIL anymore. Let them go and see for themselves how wonderful it is. If you try to build it up, it might not live up to their expectations (hard to imagine) and end up being disappointed. Won't you be excited when they come home from vacation and rave about how wonderful it is!!

 

[mechteach]

The first time I told my sister's kids we were going to disney world they weren't all that impressed or excited either. When you're used to Kennywood & Idlewild Park (local amusement parks) it doesn't seem a big deal. But once they got there, they understood & got it!

Unfortunately, it also makes going back to the local parks a little trickier. DD5 still loves the thrill rides, but last time we went to Kennywood, DS3 kept asking to go on the Winne-the-Pooh ride....

 

[Tinkmom75]

I have yet to get interest from the males in my life whenit comes to vacation- Im talking honey and sons-- it jsut wont happen. not saying they dont excited when we get there and they have a good time.

Some people have a hard time with showing emotions no matter what.

Stop trying too hard to get them excited and let them feel that from you is enough for them

ITA, My DH is not excited yet, but he did put going to Disney down as one of his hobbies on a form he filled out. My DS and DD don't want to talk about it right now. Only my DS3 and my DSIS and my nephews have been my saving grace. Dsis's DH is not excited either. I think the guys will be more excited when we get there. I really try very hard to hold my tounge and not turn every conversation into a Disney discussion. I bet I could

 

[SnowandMittens]

My Dbf could care less about getting excited until he gets off of the plane in Orlando. He pratically runs to the Magical Express. It's pretty halirious... the first year he was just following me around, and the second time we went, he took off in the airport without me and when I finally got to the ME desk he was literally jumping up and down saying "Hurry hurry hurry hurry! You walk too slow!"

The people behind the ME desk were cracking up.

The men are mostly weirdos about this kind of stuff... it's hard to get them excited for anything until they're auctually there.

 

[W.E.D.]

The men are mostly weirdos about this kind of stuff... it's hard to get them excited for anything until they're auctually there.

Hey now! Not all of us!

 

[GrillMouster]

Like someone said, don't try to build up his expectations. Doing so might actually cause him to be disappointed when he sees it in person. Plus, you might be annoying him.

Whatever you do, don't let him ruin the vacation for everyone else in the group. If he hasn't lightened up after the first day at WDW, cut him loose and let him do whatever he wants while everyone else enjoys themselves. If "doing what he wants" means taking the first flight home, let him go alone and don't give it a second thought.

 

[Disney845]

I agree with all of the other posters who said don't push it for now, wait until he can experience it for himself.

The first time I took SO, he was not really interested. Thought it was silly/childish. Wasn't into planning or anything. After his first time, however, he really got in the swing of things. He isn't as crazy as I am about it, but is much more into it now.

We play the "how much longer game." It started with me being totally excited (as I am for every trip) and counting down, telling him every single day, how many more days till we go to WDW. Then I would be busy and forget to say something one day, and he would ask me, "so how many more days?" I was startled at first (because I thought he was annoyed at me "reminding" him every single day), but he had really gotten in the swing of things and was getting excited!

We also text Disney stuff to each other occasionally while we are at work. He will sometimes text me the days till we go, or if he sees something Disney related, he will snap a pic with the camera on his phone and text me, things like a newspaper story, something mickey head shaped, or sometimes he texts me the Mickey Mouse Club song (M-I-C K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E).

He also will bring up Disney or talk about Mickey looking forward to seeing me if I have had a particularly bad day at work, or if I am feeling under the weather, to "cheer me up".

 

[karney]

The men are mostly weirdos about this kind of stuff... it's hard to get them excited for anything until they're auctually there.

I take offense to that

This is me:
This is me knowing that I am in disney in less than a week:

Wednesday can't come soon enough

 

[SnowandMittens]

I take offense to that

This is me:
This is me knowing that I am in disney in less than a week:

Wednesday can't come soon enough

Haha, that's where the "mostly" comes in.

I just wish I could get my Dbf as excited as you. He still refuses to wear ears too.

 

[Whitewater]

My DH is not *obviously* excited about our WDW honeymoon, which is coming up in less than a month. He's not counting down the days, he's not mentioning it in every conversation, he's not signed up on any forum (like I am!) and he's not showing any outward sign that he even *wants* to go on this honeymoon. BUT. He has already said that in a few years when our nephews are old enough that he wants to go back (and we haven't even been there together once yet! LOL) and he's been willingly involved in the planning (telling me his opinions on restaurants and the rides he doesn't want to miss, and so on), and he's even looked at the maps my travel agent sent He's also said that he appreciates the fact that I'm doing the planning and that he can't wait to have a few days off with me. It makes it sound like he'd be happy wherever we went, so long as we're together, and that's true, but that's not all of it. He *is* excited for WDW. It's just that the signs are really subtle!

Just because a guy doesn't actively jump up and down like we women do, doesn't mean that they're not excited or that they haven't got any interest. They just tend to show it differently, and in my experience, men very often don't show any obvious emotions at all, but they're really enjoying themselves. If you ask them worriedly if they're having fun, they'll look at you like you've suddenly grown a second head and say 'Why are you asking? Of course I'm having fun!'

In my case, I have quit asking. If he's not having a good time he'll tell me. He had to learn to do be up front and honest with me, but after over 3 years of being together, we're learning each other pretty well (at least, for a new-ish relationship!) so far, and I know, now, the little signs that say whether he's enthusiastic about a new idea (like a vacation) or not.

And if DH weren't excited, like the OP, I would wait until he got there and let him experience WDW for himself. Maybe there will be something there that will turn him on, that the brochures and all don't mention. Like, we would never have known about the Land's backstage garden tour, except for the fact that it's in the honeymoon registry. Maybe it will be something as simple as the fact that WDW, as far as I can remember, has the nicest, most generous, best employees of any theme park. Small things like that can make a huge difference. Maybe it will be something that you would never have thought of -- my DH cannot wait to ride It's A Small World. Believe me, I did a huge double take when I heard that. It's so unlike him! But if that's what turns his crank, whatever

If absolutely nothing turns on the OP's husband (and he's not just one of those strong silent types who never show emotions regardless), I suppose she may just have to face the fact that she has a DH who isn't into Disney. Some people aren't, and that's ok. The world would be so boring if we were all the same!

Maybe for the next family vacation, you could let your DH choose something other than Disney and see what happens. I was surprised, again, when my DH's face lit up when he talked about going on a western Mexico cruise for one of our anniversaries. I'm down with cruising to Cabo and Mazatlan!

Anyway, just let your DH go to Disney and see it for himself. It's the best thing you can do.


Whitewater