How to generate excitement

[Wistraveler]

I'm the OP. I'm a disabled male in my 60s, so I can't experience the parks like I could 35 years ago. I still live and breathe everything Disney. Maybe it's because of the era I grew up in, with Mickey Mouse Club (Annette....oooh), Davy Crockett, Zorro, Spin & Marty,WW of Color, etc. I read every book I can get my hands on.

If I, at my age, can still get excited about going to the place where dreams come true, then anyone can. It's all in how you approach life. It's too short, so you need to enjoy every part of it you can.

 

[Baltazar]

Hey now! Not all of us!

Add my "HEY!" in there too.

And I agree about the not building things up too much.

Beer and/or wine at meals on vacation helps to love the World.

 

[PrincessMonkey]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNZY3UE1D7o

Modern Marvels on Disney World!

 

[KellyNY]

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?

Not everyone is absolutely in love with Disney. I was hooked the moment I saw the castle, but my father is a nonbeliever . And I believe it is completely my fault. When we went there with my parents I tried all my best to surround him with magic. Guess he got an allergic reaction instead. Like every new food, Disney needs to be introduced slowly and in small portions.
I would suggest lots of adult activities, restaurants, golf, water sports. Look at his reaction and hope for the best.

 

[GrillMouster]

...I would suggest lots of adult activities, restaurants, golf, water sports...

If you want to improve the chances that he'll enjoy his vacation (and not ruin that of others), this is excellent advice. Are there any activities that he enjoys that he can do at WDW? Would he like fishing at WDW? Golf? He probably thinks of WDW as an oversized Check E. Cheese's --all kiddie stuff--despite everything you've said and shown him to the contrary.

 

[TDSAXX]

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....

I'm from Western PA too. When we went to Idlewild this summer my nephews wanted to know why we couldn't get any Magic Tickets (Fast Passes).

 

[Pacha]

It might just take being there. Before our first trip, it was my DW that did all the research and planning. I just thought it was a vacation to some amusement park. She tried to get all of us excited by showing us the info she had gathered, but we were all unimpressed. Well, my first Disney memory was at resort check-in, or actually the bellhop who helped us get to check in. After our first day at Disney, I told DW "we have got to come back." So, sometimes people (like I was) don't realize what WDW is all about, and have to experience it to "get it"

 

[Nancy for Disney]

My DH was a nonbeliever too. He wasn't really excited either. We had been to Disneyland and he didn't understand what the big deal was about WDW. What helped to get him excited was he had spoken to other nonrelated people who had been. It turns out that one of his bosses is a DVC member. That helped a lot. He never got super excited. That just isn't his style. Even now I am planning a trip for the two of us and he really just wants to know what the cost is. I always find that I have to restrain some of my excitement. I think that is why I like DIS, there are people who understand.

 

[EpcotMatt2]

I have no problems whatsoever getting excited for Disney.
As far as the females out there looking to get their males interested in Disney, what types of things do they like in general? If they're sports fans, a trip to the ESPN Club might work. If they're into some adult beverages, the World Showcase is a great place to be, especially if you're there during the Food & Wine Festival. If they're thrill-seekers, the various rides such as Expedition Everest, Rock & Roller Coaster, Mission Space, etc might be right up their alley. A visit to the Yacht Club resort might appeal to anyone with a nautical interest. There are several championship golf courses down there. The Wilderness Lodge is great if they're the woodsy type. Parasailing, fishing excursions, pontoon boat rides which you can drive yourself, mini-powerboat type boats.

 

[Wistraveler]

My DSIL travels a lot for his job, so much that he spends upwards of 300 nights a year in a hotel room, so the thought of taking a vacation and spending more time in a hotel doesn't exactly thrill him. Since all his meals are in restaurants, he longs for home-cooked meals when he gets home, not to go to a restaurant.

This will be his 1st real vacation anywhere, so we are trying to pick things that will make him feel more relaxed. This is why we picked POR for his stay, and scheduled things that might peak his interest.

The first full day will be MK. Once he sees that famous entrance with the railroad station that he has seen so many times in pictures, his heart will melt and he will be a kid again for the next week. That's our hope anyway. There's something about the magic of Disney that changes your perspective on life in general.

 

[VikingInMouseEars]

This may be lurking under the surface in your SIL, LOL

Hello, my name is Eric and I am an Disneyoholic

I was pretty much like most of the guys being talked about here. Actually I had always wanted to go to WDW, but figured I would go once and cross it off my list of places I want to see. So at age 43 I finally get to go, I was accusing my SO of planning the thing to death, doing what when, ADRs, etc etc, she tried to get me to spend time on Dis and other things, I didn't see the point. We probably wouldn't even have gone if we hadn't gotten a free week in a condo, a free week of rental car and $500 to use towards plane tickets, we also had about 8 days worth of free tickets to universal....(those didn't get used lol). So anyway, we get to Orlando the first day, didn't want to waste a day on our tickets for a few hours so we headed for DTD, it was chilly (january), pouring down rain, but in Goofy's Candy Co, while watching a super friendly CM (and she happened to be from Brazil lol) putting the toppings on my made to order pretzel rods I realized...I HAD THE MAGIC!!!.
After an incredible week, I still had it, and now we are on our 3rd trip to the World in 2 years, and I do nearly all the planning, she wants to help but I don't want any LOL, I read the Dis boards, most of the guide books as they come out, various other online places, I get both Celebrations and Orlando Attractions magazines, I can't get enough!

 

[EpcotMatt2]

My DSIL travels a lot for his job, so much that he spends upwards of 300 nights a year in a hotel room, so the thought of taking a vacation and spending more time in a hotel doesn't exactly thrill him. Since all his meals are in restaurants, he longs for home-cooked meals when he gets home, not to go to a restaurant.
This will be his 1st real vacation anywhere, so we are trying to pick things that will make him feel more relaxed. This is why we picked POR for his stay, and scheduled things that might peak his interest.
QUOTE]

Those are good points. The theming of a particular resort, not exactly the typical "Disney" as a newbie would think {WL, Poly, POFQ, etc}, would help. And as far as "restaurant" food, there are plenty of places at Disney that don't have that run-of-the mill restaurant feel.

In fact, I'd love to try a few today myself. But I'll just have to wait a bit longer.