How to make a non-DL lover, love it :)

[kailuagirl]

DH is not a fan of DL, not sure why. We have never been together (I've only been a couple times). We are taking DD (2) for the first time in June and I really want him to enjoy it so he will want to go back ALOT I want him to like it more than Vegas.

Any suggestions?

I'm so worried about the high crowd levels in June and how that may totally turn him off even more from ever going back. So, I've been trying to plan the perfect 3 day trip.

Thanks!

 

[2wildchildzmom]

Has he ever been? My husband Hates "amusement parks" and Love Water parks, so when I booked a trip to WDW he was less than enthused. BUT once he got there the magic took over and now he is a true fan. The kicker for him was standing under the castle watching the fireworks. He actually got emotional! Planning is key (I think) to having a good time. Good Luck!!

 

[Ken2Blitzkrieg]

the first time i ever came there in 1988 i had always wanted to go ,but in the back of my mind there was also the `what if i dont like it..` scenario...

lol i was hooked at the top of main street

and i just love the first section of POTC when u first set off

 

[PinkBudgie]

You could also have him focus on your daughter. Like when she is excited about something, point that out to him. Smile and say something like "Look, how cute. She ____" (fill in with whatever cute thing she is doing). This will tie in some good memories of his daughter with Disneyland.

 

[kailuagirl]

Yes, he's been, not much at all. He used to live in Irvine 20+ years ago and I think went then (he's 42).

I literally cried the first time I went as an adult, just pulling up into the parking lot brought tears to my eyes. What a joy. It truly is the happiest place on earth. I've only gone 2x as an adult and my mom says I went when I was little, but I don't remember and there is no pictures, so hummmmm, did I really go?

I keep talking about this and that and all of your wonderful tips, ideas and suggestions trying to hype him up. I've been working on our must do rides and will formulate a "game" plan, compare to hydroguy's threads and then get everyone's advice and suggestions, cuz you all rock and are da best!!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

DH is not a fan of DL, not sure why. We have never been together (I've only been a couple times). We are taking DD (2) for the first time in June and I really want him to enjoy it so he will want to go back ALOT I want him to like it more than Vegas.
Any suggestions?
I'm so worried about the high crowd levels in June and how that may totally turn him off even more from ever going back. So, I've been trying to plan the perfect 3 day trip.
Thanks!

My DH was the same as your DH. He couldn't care less about DL and simply indulged me every once in a while. We went on our honeymoon in 1990 and he wasn't impressed with it. He's not big on wild rides like SM & Cali Screaming because he gets sick, or VR rides like Start Tours (we both got sick on our honeymoon and have never gone on since). He's definitely more into the whole ambiance of DL, and a few days of that is enough for him. So if we book a 5 night stay, it's guaranteed the first day he'll be off on his own in LA on business or exploring music stores, watching live bands, etc. I let him go because it's what makes him happy. Then somewhere along the 2nd or 3rd day he'll pop in for a few hours and then sometimes leave to go gallivanting around elsewhere. Then he'll come back for dinner and go back to the parks til closing. The last couple of days he pretty much stays with us in the parks or is relaxing at the hotel. I don't care what he does as long as he's happy...because he's made me and DS very happy by bringing us to the parks. So we'll live with it and compromise.
DH also loves Vegas. So we tend to book long vacations and drive from Vegas to DL so he can get his fix and I can get mine. Again, we compromise. I'll tell you what though. In 2001 we took our son to WDW and DH loved Epcot, especially illuminations. That is one fireworks show that completely moved us all to tears. Simply awesome! We've been back to DLR every year ever since. Prior to our 2001 trip, we hadn't been to a Disney park since Oct 1997. So going to Epcot and experiencing some of the more adult themed areas and the entire ambiance of being at the world totally changed his perspective on Disney. He has a greater appreciation for the theming, and loves to just people watch as do I in DL. It's interesting, the things you'll see...He likes DL, but he doesn't love it like DS and I. However, because he loves us, he indulges us by taking us there at least once a year. Hopefully your DH will do the same -- if he doesn't love it as much as Vegas, at least love you all enough to want to indulge you and make you and your DD happy! Take plenty of photos and videos. Kids are so precious, and their reactions are priceless! Most of all, remind DH that you are creating memories for yourselves and your DD that she will be able to remember long after you all are gone. That is true, and it does kind of help guilt them into agreeing to go at least once a year! Worked for me!Good luck!

Has he ever been? My husband Hates "amusement parks" and Love Water parks, so when I booked a trip to WDW he was less than enthused. BUT once he got there the magic took over and now he is a true fan. The kicker for him was standing under the castle watching the fireworks. He actually got emotional! Planning is key (I think) to having a good time. Good Luck!!

Same thing happened to us, but the kicker was Illuminations and the song from Kelly Coffee that plays after (We go on?) It just bowled us over. Tears shed all around! We even bought the CD so we could relive it!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

ONe of the things that got my husband interested (back when we were dating) was to take one of the special tours they offer. (Granted - I did this with a backstage tour at WDW, but it still got him a better appreciation.)

I would suggest booking him some adult time with the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour. Very well crafted and presented - an he'll get to hear Walt's own voice tell him about his ideas for the park (they use old interviews and such in a seamless way). That tour is only for adults (over 16 or so), so it might be a nice intro.

The other thing would be to watch them make magic for your whole family n the Family Magic Tour. It involves the kids and a scavenger hunt though the park.

You could also take him to a House of Blues Concert while you use Pinnochio's Workshop for babysitting (if the kids are minimum age of 5)...

Although Vegas types have their specific adult appeal that Disneyland doesn't have the options to compete with, this just might do it...

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

You could also wean him into it buy introducing him to our little podcast and letting him listen to specific episodes....

(There's a link on the bottom every page of the forums!)

 

[kailuagirl]

THanks everyone! I didn't even notice the podcast at the bottom. I'll have to check it out. THanks!

 

[mystic_path]

I too was in a similar position last year, and I made a post asking men why they like Disneyland. Its just that my brother had never been and he couldnt figure out why he should spend so much money and time to go to an over rated childrens park (His words not mine). But once he got there he was HOOKED! (GUESS WHAT? WE WENT IN JUNE) I am leaving to go back with my family on Sunday and he is so upset his work wouldnt give him the time off. He is planning for this fall and is so excited.

Disneyland is in a totally different world and league of its own. When your there you feel like your eternally 10 years old, you have no care in the world but when your going to see the next wonderful attraction. There is something for everyone to enjoy... From the age of infancy riding dumbo, to being an adult pirate battling it out till the end, or being an elderly person sitting down enjoying a coffee on main street as they listen to the Daper Dans singing ragtime. You forget about your job, your home life, your problems you left behind and you get to spend quality time with your family and friends.

You can tell him that Disneyland is not just the little children, and there is a reason that this park is one of if not the oldest theme parks in History and is still kicking strong with no sign of an end. With the kind of money that Disney racks in on a daily basis he has no idea how to fathom the effects of the parks.

You can also say that adults have the upper hand because #1. they get to be a child themselves #2. They can experience the joy's from childrens eyes all at the same time. Disneyland also has this way of making you feel like they are just catering to you, and you alone. Its incredible how they manage this.

Honestly if you could bottle up all the emotion you feel in this park, you would be one of the wealthiest people in the world.

 

[Pezalicious]

My husband started off hating Disney. He went once when he was young. His parents took him to a character meal and Goofy wouldn't stop messing with him, so he kicked Goofy (and then got kicked out).

After we met, he went because of me, and now, after 3 trips, he loves it almost as much as I do. Here's what I did over 3 trips (2 at Disneyland 1 at WDW) -

Definitely catch the fireworks from a good viewing location, even if it means missing something else.

Excitement is contagious - I get so giddy and can't stop smiling when I'm there. That feeling helped carry over to him. Go with a no complaints/all smiles attitude.

Take a break - When you're not a huge Disney lover to start with, hitting the parks at full force from morning to night will make a hater, not a lover. It's exhausting. Take a nice long break in the afternoon to kick back in the hotel or pool and relax. I have snacks, beer, and vodka in the room so he can have a drink or two and zone out. I also go with the attitude that I'll hit all my favorite rides, but if I miss some others, it's ok. I stay flexible and if I notice that any of us are getting tired or cranky, it's ok to take a break early. It's better to miss a little and enjoy all you did, than to push it and get cranky for just one more ride.

Minimize crowds - Long lines can be a bit much for some people, especially if they're only kinda into it in the first place. Get to the park early when it's least crowded and use fast passes as much as possible. My hubby loved that we didn't have to wait long for anything, and he never had to say "we waited an hour for that crappy ride?!!" Short wait times made every ride better to him.

The thing that really hooked him, other than my contagious excitement and the fireworks was the food. I poured over menus and chose according to what I thought he'd like best. At DLR, there's a nice mixture of counter service and table service restaurants, and of course all the tasty snacks. At WDW, I did the deluxe dining plan and we did sit down meals for all but one. It's been 6 months since our trip, and he still talks about how excited he is to go again, and how we have to eat at Ohana's every night we're there. lol

My hubby is also a huge sports fan, so if there's an important game, I make sure he gets one of those super comfy lounge chairs at ESPN. It helps that he doesn't feel like he's having to sacrifice something he loves just for the parks.

 

[Hound 109]

My husband started off hating Disney. He went once when he was young. His parents took him to a character meal and Goofy wouldn't stop messing with him, so he kicked Goofy (and then got kicked out).

After we met, he went because of me, and now, after 3 trips, he loves it almost as much as I do. Here's what I did over 3 trips (2 at Disneyland 1 at WDW) -

Definitely catch the fireworks from a good viewing location, even if it means missing something else.

Excitement is contagious - I get so giddy and can't stop smiling when I'm there. That feeling helped carry over to him. Go with a no complaints/all smiles attitude.

Take a break - When you're not a huge Disney lover to start with, hitting the parks at full force from morning to night will make a hater, not a lover. It's exhausting. Take a nice long break in the afternoon to kick back in the hotel or pool and relax. I have snacks, beer, and vodka in the room so he can have a drink or two and zone out. I also go with the attitude that I'll hit all my favorite rides, but if I miss some others, it's ok. I stay flexible and if I notice that any of us are getting tired or cranky, it's ok to take a break early. It's better to miss a little and enjoy all you did, than to push it and get cranky for just one more ride.

Minimize crowds - Long lines can be a bit much for some people, especially if they're only kinda into it in the first place. Get to the park early when it's least crowded and use fast passes as much as possible. My hubby loved that we didn't have to wait long for anything, and he never had to say "we waited an hour for that crappy ride?!!" Short wait times made every ride better to him.

The thing that really hooked him, other than my contagious excitement and the fireworks was the food. I poured over menus and chose according to what I thought he'd like best. At DLR, there's a nice mixture of counter service and table service restaurants, and of course all the tasty snacks. At WDW, I did the deluxe dining plan and we did sit down meals for all but one. It's been 6 months since our trip, and he still talks about how excited he is to go again, and how we have to eat at Ohana's every night we're there. lol

My hubby is also a huge sports fan, so if there's an important game, I make sure he gets one of those super comfy lounge chairs at ESPN. It helps that he doesn't feel like he's having to sacrifice something he loves just for the parks.

I agree with every word of this post.


I'm a guy who could take or leave Disney when i was in my 20's or 30's. In my 40s, i went (to WDW) 2-3 times primarily "for the kids".

But after stumbling upon the disboards, I loved the fact that I could PLAN out the day with Fine meals planned & LOVED getting to the parks early (& being rewarded for it) & taking a break each day. (As opposed to just showing up an hour after park opening with no plan & no food reservations....sitting in long lines in humid Orlando....which is what we did on our first two visits....we just "went with the flow", which meant crowds every step of the way & I hated it.) So the final two visits to WDW were better than the first two....but i still hated the buses & the humidity of WDW.

Then when visiting (& planning a visit for) DLR for the first time (in 40 years) 3 years ago, I discovered that DLR is even MORE planning & "avoiding the crowds" friendly (if one has a plan) & the rest was history. I'm now a DLR nut.

Have him:

- Participate in the Restaurant plan ahead of time (one good carnivore meal a day)...check out the menus etc ahead of time too.
- Participate in the ride plan & FP pickup plan (have him read HG's tip threads....he'll either like them or not).
- Invest in Ridemax.....let him fool around with it....it might get him more vested.
- If sports or movies are his thing, block out an afternoon for him to watch a game or watch a movie (while you all shop or bippity bop.....or whatever it is you girls do )
- Take a mid day break every day!
- Let him hold the camera & take pictures of the kids....even if he isn't a DLR fan, no Dad can resist watching his kids experience Walt's magic.

 

[disheadz]

Myself, my brother in law, and my dad all like DLR to differing degrees. One thing we all share is an interest in the history of the park and the "hidden" aspects of the park.

 

[becpee]

We are planning a trip for September 2010 and one thing that has been bothering me is what happens if my DH hates it? He'd have to be a nut if he hates it but he just may be

I work with a guy in his late 40's who took a trip last year after visiting 8 years ago, his wife got him to tag along the first time, he had zero interest in going and he thought to win her over he had to go, then he told me she couldn't get HIM out of the place.

This gives me hope

The more I read here the more i'm sure this will be the trip of a lifetime, taking a 5 year old to Disneyland is huge and I think my DH won't be able to resist the excitement.

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

Haven't read all the replies yet, forgive me if I repeat.

DH HATES crowds, roller coasters, mass quantities of anything. Drop him in a stream w/ a fishing pole any day & he's in heaven....bring him to a loud, over-stimulating, expensive, chemical filled place - he'd rather jump off a cliff.

HOWEVER. When we brought the kids this last time he REALLY enjoyed it. I made sure we went in a non-busy time, that helped his frame of mind immensely....but seeing it through the kids eyes - REALLY turned him around!

You may be surprised since you're going w/ your child. Also - PLAN PLAN PLAN. DH really appreciated I had a PLan A, B & C.

 

[avalon451]

I like all the suggestions above.

DH is an engineer, and very literal-minded, practical, and schedule-oriented. He likes to be up early and know what he's doing. (This works great for planning a trip to DL!) He hates malls, random shopping (unless it's in a hardware store) and cutesy kid stuff. But, he LOVES our daughters and they have him wound round their little fingers, so he'd do anything for them. When we finally went last year for the first time, he was in Long Beach about a month before for business, and he went over to DL and got a shopping pass for an hour so he could "do reconnaissance" on the place.

He was HOOKED. He swears they pump in happy gas; he said he stood there at the top of Main Street and felt so... content and happy!

He was very impressed with the cleanliness of the place, the organization and the friendliness and helpfulness of the CMs. It's really not like any other theme park. The theming and decorations are incredible.

When we went, I did all the planning, arrangements, PS's, Ridemax plans, etc. I found that he did better when I limited my chatter about it. Husbands can get really tired of all the DL talk! I learned it went much better if I only kept him apprised of the main things, or only if he asked. Then when we got there, and everything went smoothly (except for DD12 getting sick, but that's another story!) he was very pleasantly surprised at how fun our vacation was.

So I guess I'd gauge your husband's reactions, and stop talking about it nonstop, if he gets sick of hearing about it. Come here and chatter about it all you want! We love to listen!