Inlaws REFUSE to go

[DisneyRegulars]

We invited our my husbands parents to go down to Disney with us in September, and much to our surprise they REFUSED to go. They think Disney is all about rides, and they think the rides are equivalent to the crappiest of crappy carnival rides. No matter what we do, they don't believe us when we tell them that there is so much to look at that they would love it, and that the majority of 'rides' are not thrill rides.

How do I know they would love it? Take exhibit A: they RAVE about this carousel which is about 30 minutes from our house. They say it is the most beautiful carousel they have ever seen. You cannot begin to imagine how much they go on and on about this carousel. Can you imagine what they would think of Cinderella's Carousel?

(The image is not showing up, you can click this link, or just imagine a really crappy carousel)

Anybody else have reluctant inlaws? Anybody bring reluctant inlaws and have them hate it?

I'm not sure to give up or keep trying.

 

[jimmytammy]

As much as I know you and your DH would love for them to go, dont force it. They will go with negative thoughts about WDW, and they will not like it, no matter what. You will be disgusted if this transpires, with yourself and them. Thus it may cause friction down the road. We as DVC owners and lovers of WDW love to share the magic, but sometimes we just have to face it, others dont get it.

 

[Brian Noble]

We invited our my husbands parents to go down to Disney with us in September, and much to our surprise they REFUSED to go.

No big deal. That carousel may have some emotional attachment for them, and Prince Charming probably won't. If they don't want to come, why push it?

 

[supersuperwendy]

It's their loss for sure. Don't worry about it. We know people who we cannot convince how amazing WDW is no matter what we tell them. We have the opposite issue as you...my parents and in laws are coming in June and my mother just told me they want to come with us again for spring break 2013. Then she said they'd actually like to come with us in 2014 too! How do I say no? wanna trade?

 

[zmanandshan]

I agree with the others, if they dont want to go, dont take them. But, you can always show them the website, some pics of the rides, and maybe they will see that they are not the typical carnival rides. But if you "force" them to go, they will already have a preconceived negative opinion, and you will get aggravated with them. I have a slightly different problem. We took my parents last year, and they absolutely loved it, albeit we did go when we were kids. BUt we didnt ask my inlaws because they are not "disney people". But they are currently so upset that we are bringing friends of ours in May, and did not ask them to go, that they are not realizing that they actually wouldnt want to go, anyway. If we asked them first, they prob. would have said no. Good luck!

 

[emlutz23]

Leave 'em at home! You made a very generous offer and it sounds like they spit back at you.. Find some other family or good friends that love Disney like you guys do and them them instead.

Or if you still want to try, you can order a Disney Vacation DVD and tell them you got it "by mistake" and ask if they want it. Sometimes with inlaws there's no changing their minds, unless they hear it from someone else!

 

[TinkandGoofy'sMom]

Consider yourself lucky!

 

[DisneyRegulars]

but sometimes we just have to face it, others dont get it.

Yeah, they definitely don't get it. I'm sure there is some sort of 12 step program for this, I need to move on from the outrage stage and move to the acceptance stage.

And that lousy carousel has not emotional meaning for them, they only discovered it last year when they moved in right next door to us. The only emotion they attach to it is that they 'just can't wait until their grandson is old enough to ride it'.

Brian, don't worry I would never force it. They would definitely hate it if they didn't think it was their idea to go. If you're in any sort of negative mood there is plenty to hate at Disney (crowds, heat, humidity), so I agree they would be miserable if they did not want to be there 100%. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[rbenn81]

I know that your disappointed that your inlaws said no but it may have been the best thing that ever happened. In 2010 my parents decided to go with us on our trip to the world. It was a DISASTER!!! Prior to going we told them about all the walking, how we stay in the park all day and they insisted that they would just go back to the room for a break when they needed and meet up with us for our dinner ADR's. They NEVER did this. By late afternoon my dad was tired from all the walking and would start complaining about any and everything he didn't like. From the kids not wanting to ride a ride with them, to yet another line to stand in, to having to find a spot to view said parade an hour prior to the parade. It was the worst trip ever to Disney. Although you may be upset that they said no, they may have done you a favor in saying no.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

It's their loss for sure. Don't worry about it. We know people who we cannot convince how amazing WDW is no matter what we tell them. We have the opposite issue as you...my parents and in laws are coming in June and my mother just told me they want to come with us again for spring break 2013. Then she said they'd actually like to come with us in 2014 too! How do I say no? wanna trade?

Oh nooooo... The perpetual tagalongs. I would have no idea how to say no.

All these replies are great. I am feeling better already.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

Consider yourself lucky!

I am beginning too!

 

[DisneyRegulars]

I know that your disappointed that your inlaws said no but it may have been the best thing that ever happened. In 2010 my parents decided to go with us on our trip to the world. It was a DISASTER!!! Prior to going we told them about all the walking, how we stay in the park all day and they insisted that they would just go back to the room for a break when they needed and meet up with us for our dinner ADR's. They NEVER did this. By late afternoon my dad was tired from all the walking and would start complaining about any and everything he didn't like. From the kids not wanting to ride a ride with them, to yet another line to stand in, to having to find a spot to view said parade an hour prior to the parade. It was the worst trip ever to Disney. Although you may be upset that they said no, they may have done you a favor in saying no.

This is exactly the scenario that I worry would happen. Thanks for this info. This sounds EXACTLY like them. Except that they complain a lot even to begin with, I can't imagine how bad it would be when they got tired. Okay, I'm moving on from the acceptance step to the Thank god they said no step.

 

[Deb & Bill]

It's their loss for sure. Don't worry about it. We know people who we cannot convince how amazing WDW is no matter what we tell them. We have the opposite issue as you...my parents and in laws are coming in June and my mother just told me they want to come with us again for spring break 2013. Then she said they'd actually like to come with us in 2014 too! How do I say no? wanna trade?

How do you say no? Easy. No. Not this time, Mom.

 

[Brian Noble]

Yeah, they definitely don't get it. I'm sure there is some sort of 12 step program for this, I need to move on from the outrage stage and move to the acceptance stage.

Why does everyone have to "get it"? It's not to everyone's tastes, and that's fine.

 

[disneynutz]

Everyone has different tastes, likes and dislikes. You need to respect their decision and move on.

Bill

 

[MomofStitchandLewis]

We took my parents because we wanted to treat them but they were only somewhat into it and they ended up being TONS of work. Firstly we spent the entire time pushing my parents in wheelchairs. (Even though we about begged my mother to get an electric one off-site & have it delivered weeks before the trip but she insisted she'd be "fine".) Then they didn't want to do much and it was difficult to get them out of their room. Probably needless to say, it really wasn't much of a vacation. So IMHO, if they don't want to go, let them stay home. They will likely just look for things to point out that are negative and you'll not have much of a vacation either.

 

[ssawka]

I'm with the others, just let it go. Even in the case of the carousel. You know, (and we know) that Cindy's Carousel is much nicer, but you might have a hard time convincing them of it. Sometimes, parents just can't admit that something is nicer simply because one of the "kids" says it is. It's an ego thing! For example, we took my parents to the World in October. We got a 2 BR at BLT. My parents usually stay at Pop Century. Anyway, all my dad said about the resort was that he liked Pop better "because they have a food court".

 

[saintstickets]

We invited our my husbands parents to go down to Disney with us in September, and much to our surprise they REFUSED to go. They think Disney is all about rides, and they think the rides are equivalent to the crappiest of crappy carnival rides. No matter what we do, they don't believe us when we tell them that there is so much to look at that they would love it, and that the majority of 'rides' are not thrill rides.

How do I know they would love it? Take exhibit A: they RAVE about this carousel which is about 30 minutes from our house. They say it is the most beautiful carousel they have ever seen. You cannot begin to imagine how much they go on and on about this carousel. Can you imagine what they would think of Cinderella's Carousel?

Anybody else have reluctant inlaws? Anybody bring reluctant inlaws and have them hate it?

I'm not sure to give up or keep trying.

The way I look at it, you have 3 choices...
1) Get your inlaws to review with you some of the TR's here on the DISboards that show there is so much more to WDW than rides. You can start with ours. The links are below. After all, WDW is a theme park and not an amusement park.
2) Shake your head and move on. You graciously invited them and they made their choice. Enjoy the trip without them. Take lots of pictures and show them to the inlaws when you return. They may change their mind for the next trip.
3) Adopt me as your long-distance cousin and DW and I will go in their place. I promise to write a fantastic TR that will make them wonder why they ever said no in the first place!

 

[crisi]

Why does everyone have to "get it"? It's not to everyone's tastes, and that's fine.

One of my girlfriends spent three weeks backpacking through the mountains last year. The scenery was, she says and I believe, incredible. She LOVED it - it was a dream trip. Nature, good company (her grown up daughter), little towns to get supplies, pitching a tent, endless stars in the sky, being exhausted when you crawl into your sleeping bag at night, a feeling of accomplishment. Away from phones and work.

And while I am very happy for her, and the scenery does sound lovely, it sounds like the seventh circle of hell to me.

My advice - instead of thinking that someone else's dislike of something you love (even the idea of it) is a personal insult - instead think of something that person has a passion for that you just don't "get." Fishing. Designer Shoes. Oscar winning drama. Monster truck rallies. Running marathons. And remind yourself that you enjoy them despite their passion for something you don't get - and that they likely feel the same about you. And how BORED you get when they try and share a passion with you that you aren't that into. ("A six point buck? Really? How interesting." "Yes, that is a very nice purse.")

 

[DisneyRegulars]

My advice - instead of thinking that someone else's dislike of something you love (even the idea of it) is a personal insult - instead think of something that person has a passion for that you just don't "get." Fishing. Designer Shoes. Oscar winning drama. Monster truck rallies. Running marathons. And remind yourself that you enjoy them despite their passion for something you don't get - and that they likely feel the same about you. And how BORED you get when they try and share a passion with you that you aren't that into. ("A six point buck? Really? How interesting." "Yes, that is a very nice purse.")

Very very very good advice. Never really looked at it that way. Thank you!