Ideas on how to make a non-WDW person into a fan?

[Samantha*belle]

O.k. so I know that a lot has changed recently at WDW to dissuade people from visiting, but I finally convinced my husband on a trip to WDW! Here is the issue, he thinks he isn't a WDW fan. (e.g. it is crowded, hot, expensive, and not worth it). I was lucky enough to go a few times in the late 80s and early 90s as a kid and have such good memories of that and want our kids (5yrs and 2yrs old) to experience it all. We're planning on 7 or 8 nights in early Jan. post-marathon weekend 2023. Right now I'm thinking roughly 2 days at Magic Kingdom, 1 Animal Kingdom 1 Hollywood Studios, and 1 Epcot day. Grandparents will be joining us so we'll have babysitters in/out of the park. Our kids still take midday naps (unless they fall asleep in the stroller or car. haha) so we'll have many afternoons and evenings to spend together with just the two of us.

What are some of the rides, activities, experiences, etc. that might have a non-believer become a fan? He likes Star Wars so we'll do Galaxy Edge and try to purchase LL for RotR, but I'm not sure what else? Dessert party? I hear the parks are more than ever which makes me nervous because he gets overwhelmed and stressed by crowds. Should we include a non-park day? Also, I was thinking of a 2-bedroom at the Boardwalk would give adults a space to hang out in the living room without waking sleeping kids and be close to 2 parks. However, the Treehouses look so spacious in a more relaxed setting. Better to be closer?

 

[Marthasor]

IMHO, close proximity to parks makes our vacations much easier especially when you have young children in tow. I would look at accommodations in the EP or MK area. If your DH isn’t keen on the parks, I would consider doing non-park activities with him. Does he have any hobbies?

 

[buzzrelly]

I would love to help but after making some progress with my DH over the years, I think after this last trip, I've lost some headway. We just got back and the crowds were worse than ever and Genie+/ILL is an obvious greedy money grab.

The one thing my DH does still like is the food down there, so plan some nice meals and try to hit to booths at some of the EPCOT festivals. EP is my DH's favorite park so we always need to hit it a couple times.

The Treehouses aren't my cup of tea, either in looks or proximity to parks. We love the EP resorts area…BC/YC (never stayed at BW), and you can easily have a non-park day there, although I don't know how much swimming you'd be doing in January and that's part of the appeal of BC/YC. With little kids, I would also look into The Contemporary Resort or Bay Lake Tower. There's something magical about being steps from Cinderella's Castle. If you're renting a villa with just two kids, you probably don't need a 2-bedroom. A 1-bedroom villa gives you plenty of space to let the kids sleep while you and dad relax.

 

[lorenae]

My husband has NEVER been a Disney guy. I’ve gone solo, with friends, my own kids, and now with my grandkids.

Weirdly, about a month ago he asked me when I’m going to WDW for one night to activate my AP. before bringing the grandkids later in January.

I told him I had Epcot reserved on January 11, and HS on January 12, but would be home in the later afternoon on the 12th. He looked at me and said “I’ll go with you!” I almost fell over. For 20 years, I”ve asked him. I stopped asking a while ago.

So I bought his ticket, and changed my HS reservation to AK since I think HS would make him not like Disney. Epcot, and animals (and Pandora)- well, yes I think that’s a better introduction. I was going to stay at the Swan with him, but even with an AP discount, it’s very expensive (over $300 for that one night with resort fee and parking) while the Pop was $130 plus parking. He’ll hate Pop most likely, but he will like the skyliner so I figure that balances out.

I think my favorite will always be MK, but I don’t think he’ll see “magic” there at all- he’ll see a fake environment with too many people so that’s why I choose epcot and AK. I hope that works!

 

[JenLT]

We personally love the treehouses. They are rather isolated but so peaceful after the parks. We also love to take the boat to Disney Springs. However the one bedroom has bunk beds which might not be ideal with a 2 year old. How many people in total will you have?

There are a lot of really nice restaurants in Disney Springs and might make a great adult evening. They were doing live music at night but I’m not sure about now. They have other activities at Disney Springs that we have not tried like bowling and a movie theater.
Good luck turning your husband into a fan!

 

[PollyannaMom]

I hear the parks are more than ever which makes me nervous because he gets overwhelmed and stressed by crowds. Should we include a non-park day?

Absolutely!! Not just for your DH, but also for your kids in that length of a trip - some quiet time, pool time, etc. and an early night mid-trip is a great idea for everyone!

You mentioned your DH not liking crowds; what about the ranch? I've never been there, but I think it is near the the campground - with horseback riding, etc. It would be much more laid-back and non-theme-parky if you think he would enjoy that.

Or is he a golfer? They have three full courses, and you could give him a morning "off" of kid duty to do that, maybe with your dad? (Plus they have mini-golf if you need a less-crowded family activity.)

Your goal this trip is to show him that Disney has something for everyone!

(And him seeing the kids' reactions to things should also help grow the Disney-love.)

 

[chris benton]

A lot has changed since you were a kid. I'd suggest getting The Unofficial Guide To WDW 2022. You can still have a load of fun, but currently, there's stuff missing that's limiting the previous full experience, that some might consider lacking for the prices that are being charged. The great thing is that if you choose to research experiences for yourself, you can do the things that YOU and your group would like to do, in order to spend your time and money wisely for you. You have a good start with knowing that he likes Star Wars, I'd suggest checking which rides might fit the bill. There are only a few thrill rides, so you can easily rule those in or out for your hubs and kids. Shows are easy to rule in or out as well. I'd highly suggest dessert parties if your team likes fireworks and is really averse to crowds. It's hard to say what will be available when you visit. If Hoop De Doo is back, I'd highly suggest that dinner show, but that's me, not you. You and your fam might hate it, but that's life.

You've got some studying and planning to do. It's not tough to plan if you figure out the best way to make your list of what's important to do for your group and then whittle it down to get it in with the time restraints. Also - big picture - It's a vacation. Don't run yourselves ragged trying to do too much, or getting mad because you have to pivot because of circumstances beyond your control. Remember to just plan a good amount of time having FUN with your kids. Ooh - also, imo, you've got to plan your meals/snacks wisely. There's some good food, and a whole bunch of overpriced mediocre, and overpriced trash. Suggestion: Youtube has PLENTY of folks that review resorts, restaurants, snacks, and attractions. Touringplans.com can give you a customized plan of attack for what attractions you would care to experience in the parks.

 

[holden]

Things that might make him like it:

VIP Tour at the beginning of the trip.
a non-park day to relax, golf, etc.
Purchase ILL to hit the best attractions
Make reservations to eat at least once a day to avoid crowded quick service.
Low pressure - let him sleep in if he wants, etc.
Take it easy - don't rush to do everything.
Get the biggest room you can so he can have some privacy if he wants.

 

[Sandiz08]

My DH wasn’t a fan because he went as a kid and ate hot dogs/ hamburgers and stayed off property. He fell in love with Disney parks when we started going as a family because he loved seeing the joy on our kids faces. He also fell in love with the the signature restaurants as he is a big time foodie. Take your DH to Ogas Cantina as he likes Star Wars. MY DH loves Star Wars so he was super excited to meet Chewbacca. He loves all the bars inside the resorts and has become a resort snob. He only wants to stay deluxe now, so, that works for me! If you plan a Disney trip with careful consideration, there is no reason for someone not to fall in love.

 

[MomOTwins]

Okay, hear me out. Shorten you park trip and add on a 3-night disney cruise. You and the kids will love the disney experience the cruise (character activities everywhere and no waits!), and he’ll be spared the headaches of waiting in lines, keeping up with a rigid schedule of touring plans and ADRs, and crowds. My DH is NOT a parks fan, but once we started adding in the cruises he loves it.

As for the parks you should absolutely choose boardwalk. What’s the point of a relaxing retreat at the treehouses if you never spend time there because the commute is too long and you are far from any resort amenities? With Boardwalk, when the parks crowded in the afternoons, you walk back to the resort, have a drink and a swim in the pool, then return to the parks in the evening when it is cooler and less crowded.

 

[Darcy03231]

DH is not a Disney fan. Doesn't like crowds, heat, waiting in line, etc. What's worked best for us is to stay off-site in a rental home with a private pool and go during a slower part of the year. Sometimes he goes into the parks with me and other times he opts to just hang out at the house. I've found having plenty of space for everyone to relax, have their own rooms, etc. works much better for us that cramming everyone into one room.

 

[disney dumbo]

(e.g. it is crowded, hot, expensive, and not worth it)... our kids (5yrs and 2yrs old) to experience it all. We're planning on 7 or 8 nights in early Jan. post-marathon weekend 2023. Right now I'm thinking roughly 2 days at Magic Kingdom, 1 Animal Kingdom 1 Hollywood Studios, and 1 Epcot day. Grandparents will be joining us so we'll have babysitters in/out of the park. Our kids still take midday naps (unless they fall asleep in the stroller or car. haha) so we'll have many afternoons and evenings to spend together with just the two of us.

What are some of the rides, activities, experiences, etc. that might have a non-believer become a fan? He likes Star Wars so we'll do Galaxy Edge and try to purchase LL for RotR, but I'm not sure what else? Dessert party? I hear the parks are more than ever which makes me nervous because he gets overwhelmed and stressed by crowds. Should we include a non-park day? Also, I was thinking of a 2-bedroom at the Boardwalk would give adults a space to hang out in the living room without waking sleeping kids and be close to 2 parks. However, the Treehouses look so spacious in a more relaxed setting. Better to be closer?

Just my two cents...
2 bedroom is awesome! You all will love the space. I would try to get resort near Magic Kingdom... convenience wins!

I would not do a park everyday. Exhausting even for adults... and expensive. I would skip Epcot for kids your age... lots of walking! Maybe just you and hubby do Hollywood Studios... kids hang with grandparents. With kids at parks, come back to the room mid-day for naps, lunch, etc. The off days you can ride monorail... contemporary has big elevator that my young grandson is facinated with. (sheltered child! ha!) go to disney springs... ride boats from Magic Kingdom to contemporary or Wilderness lodge. Lots of free stuff to help your husband's pocketbook. Maybe he will like it more if relaxing and more reasonable.

Best wishes... hope he gets hooked!

 

[iheartglaciers]

I just got back from WDW with my parents, my sister, her husband, and their baby. My dad hadn’t been to Disney in 20 years, so we were sort of in a similar boat.

We did a 2-BR at Boardwalk and it was perfect. My dad was really impressed and comfortable with the extra space. And it was so convenient being able to walk to both Epcot and HS (or you can take the boat to HS too). Makes it so easy to do mid-day breaks. We would often go back to the resort to eat lunch away from the crowds.

Mid-day breaks and non-park days (especially on a long trip like yours) are really important, especially when you have someone who isn’t a big fan (yet?!). Also not waiting on lines is really big too. So if it’s in the budget, it could be a good idea to plan to buy Genie+ and some individual LL.

My dad and some other non-Disney friends we were with were really loved Rise, Millennium Falcon, and Flight of Passage.

For food, Tiffins, Nomad Lounge, and Skipper were favorites with our crew. I’ve heard good things about Space 220 and Steakhouse 71 (short walk from MK), but I haven’t tried them myself yet. Restaurants and lounges are a good way to take a break from crowds too.

 

[Samantha*belle]

IMHO, close proximity to parks makes our vacations much easier especially when you have young children in tow. I would look at accommodations in the EP or MK area. If your DH isn’t keen on the parks, I would consider doing non-park activities with him. Does he have any hobbies?

I was thinking the same thing for lodging. He likes the outdoors and good scotch. haha. He's a pretty introverted guy. Perhaps a late-night Oga's reservation? I wonder if it is always super busy.

 

[glocon]

Love a lot of the above ideas!

Maybe let him help choose a resort based on what appeals to him.

What if you did a split stay? Say first 4-5 days at a monorail resort or Wilderness Lodge. Do MK and AK while you are there. You can do DS, pools and explore your resort as well as other resorts on off days. Then last two days stay at an EP resort and you and he can do HS and EP while kids stay with grandparents and hang at the pool. And grandparents can hit HS and EP for part of the days when you and hubby get back from those parks.

My husband also had no desire to go to WDW the first time we went (in his mind it was for kids) and by day 2 he was already planning our next trip! So you just never know.

 

[Yensid67]

A 2 bedroom at the Boardwalk is your best bet for someone who has never been there for two big reasons. First, you can walk to both Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Waiting for buses to and from the parks can be a stress inducer. Besides, you can easily get back to the resort for the afternoon naps. And second, you have access to all of the stores, bars, and food on the boardwalk, which is never crowded during the day.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Location is #1! The monorail is such a unique way to get around and I would definitely recommend either BLT or VGF for a 2 BR (get a lock off if possible) or if you don't mind studios, Poly. EPCOT resorts are great for adults and tweens or teens but it is challenging to get to MK or AK. It takes so long to "commute" from resorts to parks that the opportunity to be a quick walk or monorail ride away from MK can change anyone's mind IMO! And yes, pick a middle day for resting, hanging out at the pool and a nice meal. Have a great trip!

 

[westie55]

I have successfully converted my DH into a Disney believer. He doesn't like rides. He doesn't like crowds. He doesn't like heat. He doesn't have special memories from trips as a kid like I did. I was really up against it.

I found that I had to look at it through his eyes and think about the things HE likes. He likes fine dining. He likes relaxing by the pool with a cocktail. He enjoys nice bars and lounges. Plan some nice meals, perhaps even a date night if you have the grandparents along. California Grill during fireworks is really splendid. My husband loves Geyser Point at the Wilderness Lodge. Knowing how to "work the system" reduces some of things he doesn't like. We won't wait more than 20 minutes for a ride. Use Genie and Lightning Lane to your advantage. Get to the park for rope drop when you can have the shortest waits. Take mid day breaks for relaxation.

Choose the highest level resort you can afford. While I don't care about the amenities, that was something important to DH. Getting to the parks easily makes it less of a hassle for someone who doesn't like parks, crowds, and rides to begin with. Have a plan. Good luck! It can be done!

 

[Samantha*belle]

I would love to help but after making some progress with my DH over the years, I think after this last trip, I've lost some headway. We just got back and the crowds were worse than ever and Genie+/ILL is an obvious greedy money grab.

The one thing my DH does still like is the food down there, so plan some nice meals and try to hit to booths at some of the EPCOT festivals. EP is my DH's favorite park so we always need to hit it a couple times.

The Treehouses aren't my cup of tea, either in looks or proximity to parks. We love the EP resorts area…BC/YC (never stayed at BW), and you can easily have a non-park day there, although I don't know how much swimming you'd be doing in January and that's part of the appeal of BC/YC. With little kids, I would also look into The Contemporary Resort or Bay Lake Tower. There's something magical about being steps from Cinderella's Castle. If you're renting a villa with just two kids, you probably don't need a 2-bedroom. A 1-bedroom villa gives you plenty of space to let the kids sleep while you and dad relax.

The cost with genie+ is a major Clearly Disney is about the bottom line. Bummer about the crowds too.

I like the look and feel of BC and YC, but we'll be there in Jan. so why not stay at the BW where it is slightly cheaper. I don't think we'll do any swimming. The 2 bedrooms is because we'd like to stay with grandparents. Definitely interested in Bay Lake tower too. Is there still a running monorail line to Epcot?

 

[Samantha*belle]

My husband has NEVER been a Disney guy. I’ve gone solo, with friends, my own kids, and now with my grandkids.

Weirdly, about a month ago he asked me when I’m going to WDW for one night to activate my AP. before bringing the grandkids later in January.

I told him I had Epcot reserved on January 11, and HS on January 12, but would be home in the later afternoon on the 12th. He looked at me and said “I’ll go with you!” I almost fell over. For 20 years, I”ve asked him. I stopped asking a while ago.

So I bought his ticket, and changed my HS reservation to AK since I think HS would make him not like Disney. Epcot, and animals (and Pandora)- well, yes I think that’s a better introduction. I was going to stay at the Swan with him, but even with an AP discount, it’s very expensive (over $300 for that one night with resort fee and parking) while the Pop was $130 plus parking. He’ll hate Pop most likely, but he will like the skyliner so I figure that balances out.

I think my favorite will always be MK, but I don’t think he’ll see “magic” there at all- he’ll see a fake environment with too many people so that’s why I choose epcot and AK. I hope that works!

What a surprise! I also looked at the Swan & Dolphin but it is still pretty pricy.

Good luck on your husband seeing the magic!