Keeping it "fun"

[Buckeyemouse]

Like some others my DW was not enthused about going to WDW. We had two different ideas about vacations. She just wanted to sit on a beach and do nothing, however I like to see and experience as much as I can. She let me plan our first trip. The “Clark Griswold” in me took over and I had every moment planned including some time to let her lounge by the pool. We had a great time and she was hooked. The next trip we planned together. Now the only place she wants to vacation is at WDW. I’ve created a monster!! LOL

Maybe he needs something different, or just doesn't like to leave home. My dad hated going on vacations.

 

[ransom]

Honestly, there's so much to do at WDW that I can't imagine anyone being bored there...so long as they're allowed to go do their thing!

Let him swim, go fishing or to the ESPN Club or whatever during the day, then you can all meet for dinner. Or plan a day where he decides what the whole family should do. That kind of thing.

To me, that's preferable to not being on vacation together at all.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Structured vacations are a big turn off. Schedules are for work not vacations. We do not like advanced dining times so will never do the DDP. Who's to know where we want to eat, what we want to eat and when we're hungry, especially 180 days out. Notecards for attractions, directions of travel etc are all turn offs. Don't get me wrong, some knowledge is needed for doing WDW, but I'll say just a park and map tutorial is plenty and then take it as it comes. Being very flexible, will to change anything at a moments notice is relaxing. I'll also go out on a limb and say trying to cram WDW into a 4-5 day stay is too much, the commando style can turn off anyone.

In the 70's and 80's we learned the lesson of just doing our thing, when you're tired or had enough, head back to the resort and take a dip then head out again later. As I stated before, 10-12 night trips are more to our liking, more relaxing, easier to see alot at a leisurely pace and everyones happy and wanting to come back. A vacation is supposed to be relaxing, not tiring and needing a vacation from the vacation. Many will disagree but we're no, opening to close park people, it isn't going anywhere and will always be there so why kill yourself. We basically know which parks each day and thats it, come and go as we please and it has kept me and the wife happy and wanting to return every year. Keeping it simple, relaxing and easy and being flexible is paramount in our vacations.

 

[eliza61]

Ok I'm going on the side of the DH on this one (usually gets me flamed).

My dh loves to go camping, I absolutely hate it. So after going to disney world 4 or 5 times I was forced to go camping. the trip was ok but I was miserable. I didn't complain especially since my sons & DH had a great time but after that I vowed never to force dh to go to wdw with me again if he really did not want to go.
I never understand why us disney fanatics feel the need to
Push
Threaten
Browbeat (and no matter how pretty we think we are dressing it up, this is exactly what we are doing)
our spouses into going to disneyworld with us?

Op, why would you want to force some one you love into going some place he doesn't want to go. Is there some thing he'd like to do?
My dh & I compromise, since we went to wdw this year, next year we're doing Yellowstone ntl park.
Do you do things anybody else wants to do? Ask him-you may be surprised

 

[jemlover]

My DH is not a Disney nut like I am, but he knows I am so happy when I'm at WDW so he indulges me. He also loves to eat so I involve him in the ADR selections and that's what he looks forward to. He also likes touring the resorts. Bottom line is that he goes because he wants to be with me and he wants to make me happy. I think he does have a good time once he's there. I would love to be able to afford two vacations a year, one for him and one at WDW but that's just not possible right now. WDW is a good choice for us now, because it's easy to budget for the trip. I want to take him back to Las Vegas some day but I can't afford his gambling allowance.

 

[*disgal*]

There has got to be a reason he doesn't like it.

For some, they think it's too expensive, some too tiring, some too crowded, some don't want to do the "park" thing everyday. It's different for everyone.

Now, if he just hates all things Disney, there's not much to do about that. I guess you'll have to go alone. But I would think for most people, there is a logical explanation to why "they don't want to go".

you know why I think that? Because, what parent, while seeing their children have the time of their lives and big smiles on their faces, would then say to those children that they themselves hate the place and don't ever want to come back? Instead, you might just need to make adjustments in the vacation.........like stay offsite in a pool home so they are more comfortable (this saves money also).....or don't do the parks everyday, plan something for them that they really enjoy, golf, massage, boating, etc.

I remember when I was a child and we were there and my dad was filming everything. He rode rides and such but you could tell he was getting more joy from watching us enjoy ourselves. I didn't get it. He loved WDW but it was all about us.

Fast forward 25 years, we're with our 3 children.............yep, I get it now. I absolutely love the place and fortunately DH does also, but WE got so much enjoyment watching our children......ok, I'll admit it, it made me teary eyed a few times.

But I do understand why people don't want to go every year, even every two/three years. But to say I will never go when I know the rest of my family loves it.............wow, I could just never do that, but that's ME. (I'm not talking to anyone on here, I'm just talking in general terms )

Personally, I almost like the beach better than WDW. I love WDW but it's not really vacation to me. I know some say not to kill yourselves, but at the beach you are not going to catch me up at 7am for a park opening. I sleep in and lay on the beach or lay by the pool and go out to dinner. I don't walk 10 miles a day at a park.

So I get why some wouldn't like it. There are tons of great places to go with your family. I'm just saying there's got to be a reason why....the heat, expense, crowds, whatever.

 

[*disgal*]

Ok I'm going on the side of the DH on this one (usually gets me flamed).

My dh loves to go camping, I absolutely hate it. So after going to disney world 4 or 5 times I was forced to go camping. the trip was ok but I was miserable. I didn't complain especially since my sons & DH had a great time but after that I vowed never to force dh to go to wdw with me again if he really did not want to go.
I never understand why us disney fanatics feel the need to
Push
Threaten
Browbeat (and no matter how pretty we think we are dressing it up, this is exactly what we are doing)
our spouses into going to disneyworld with us?

Op, why would you want to force some one you love into going some place he doesn't want to go. Is there some thing he'd like to do?
My dh & I compromise, since we went to wdw this year, next year we're doing Yellowstone ntl park.
Do you do things anybody else wants to do? Ask him-you may be surprised

Yea, I wouldn't want to force my DH to go either. And the op said her DH didn't think it was fun anymore. I just think she should find out what he means exactly by that. It might be a simple solution.

I'll tell you the truth.....if my whole family loved camping and I hated it, I'd suck it up for a few days and go camping. And I would try to keep my mouth shut and not complain because who in the world likes a wet blanket along on vacation.

In fact, my DH told me the other day that (after 23 years of marriage) he really used to like to hike and would love to go to the mountains somewhere sometime, but he knows the rest of us don't like it. All the hiking he's done was before we were married. He knew I didn't "do" that so he never brought it up. Gheesshh!! I felt terrible. (He does LOVE wdw though)

So.........I am secretly planning a trip just for the two of us for our next anniv. catered toward him. I'm sure I'll be ok and have fun. But this is what I mean...........if I knew the rest of my family enjoyed it, I'd go along and make the best of it. But that's just me.

 

[tfc3rid]

My GF is one that is not a fan of going to Disney at all. I'm a DVC member and enjoy going on one or two trips every years, not even to really go to the parks but more to enjoy Florida in the off season...

She cannot stand Disney World because of the kids, the families who should be saving their money instead of 'wasting' it on theme parks... She just looks at it with a very different attitude than having fun... It does make me sad as I'm a HUGE fan but what can you...

 

[dougsmom98]

Where is the Villa you rent?
Thanks

We have rented in various places. We like to research and rent directly through owners because it is less expensive. We use www.vrbo.com and www.homeaway.com to search for houses. There are also companies such as All Star Vacation Homes that will book a home for you. Check out the Orlando Hotels and Attraction Forum for ideas.

 

[Smile4Me]

Definitely helps to gear parts of the trip toward him! My boyfriend came with me on my last trip to experience WDW as an adult with me. He wasn't sold on it as I went through all the planning, and was even quite annoyed by me as it got closer to the trip cause I wouldn't shut up about it. It was all worth it though when we got there and he thanked me for planning such an awesome trip for us. Then he said, thats it for awhile...but I was hooked. I said, what if its a really good deal, can we go back? He said ok. So I started saving! I've paid off our next trip by myself, and have really listened alot to what he liked and didn't care for as much! He picked the resort, I picked the room (savannah, as a surprise for him), he picked the restaurants he wanted, and I filled in the rest. Talking and listening to each other is the best way to work through it!
My boyfriend told me he really missed the rollercoasters Six Flags offers, so about three weeks before we go to Disney, we're going to Six Flags! All about the compromise!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I think it helps to vary the trip. If you stay at a different resort each time, then the trip will be differnent. There are quite a few resorts on property.

Also, while we typically go for anywhere from 4 to 6 days...we don't see everything on every trip. It is impossible to see EVERYTHING anyhow, and we DO go largely commando, but we change our trips.

Some things we do every trip: Space Mtn, Splash, Test TRack.

Somethigns we do periodically: Universal Studios, Sea World, Dtn Disney, other parts of Orlando, I-Drive, Orchid World, Hall of Presidents, Fantasmic, the Baordwalk area. I've never gone to the water parks!

We also vary our dining choices every trip. There are some great places I haven't been to in several years.

Having said that, there is such a thing as too many trips to WDW- you can only ride something like Snow White or Triceratops Spin so many times.....

Another thread asks how long to spend in WS. That;s another wat to vary a trip. How long you spend there, how much time you spend looking for characters, drinking around the world (showcase), eating desserts around the WS, getting a spa message.

It laso matter WHO you go to WDW with. Taking a newbie is (most) always a treat! Taking an older person also changes the trip a bit.

 

[wrighter]

Two thoughts:

One: I see you're into into motocross - would he get at all excited if you worked a Richard Petty Driving Experience into the schedule (and budget?) It might be just the ticket to put a smile on his face.

Two: If that doesn't work - I agree with an early poster who suggested some special new lingerie. And I would up the ante a little bit and make a coupon book for him of things only he would enjoy (if you get my drift) - but he can only redeem at Disney.

 

[srwarden1928]

I wonder WHY the OPs DH thinks that Disney is not "fun" anymore. I am a 42 year old man and I LOVE going to the parks at Disney. However, for me, riding the rides, seeing the shows, and other attractions IS the fun. One PP said

"we are going to do the HoopDeeDoo and then 4 character dinings. The only rides we MUST ride are Test Track and Haunted Mansion.. the rest is going to be about relaxing and characters LOL. "

That would turn ME off. I dont want to go with that family. Someone said that commando touring could turn anyone off. I personally LOVE it. A "plan" that was so relaxed that attractions were skipped would turn me off.

I hope the OP can find WHY her DH is not having fun on their Disney vacations. I suspect that perhaps either there is something he wants to do that never gets scheduled or something that he really hates that has to be done every trip.

I hope the OP can help her DH rediscover the magic.

 

[imthatgirl]

idk, never had that problem. my husband is a big kid, he loves it.

 

[texaslover]

DH doesn't love Disney, DS and I do. DH is a very hard person to tour with, he is constantly saying "what's next?" and rushing around just to get things done so he can go to the room and play on the computer. Now, DS and I rush with the best of them but we are more grab bunches of Fastpasses, go on our favorite 4 times, stroll around, people watch, take in everything kinds. So we have gone alone 3 times and will be going to DLR alone in August.

I don't ask permission I just tell DH I booked it and if he wants to come and can take off work to grab a plane ticket for himself. He hasn't done that yet. But, we also go on other vacations like Tahoe for skiing and have a Vegas adult trip planned for Sept.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I hope the OP can find WHY her DH is not having fun on their Disney vacations. I suspect that perhaps either there is something he wants to do that never gets scheduled or something that he really hates that has to be done every trip.

I think that people are searching too hard for a reason why the OP's DH doesn't want to go back to WDW as if the OP's going to discover it, find a solution and her DH will be happy to go back. Maybe he wants to see the world or do things that you cannot do at WDW. Maybe there's no way that he'll be happy at WDW no matter how hard the OP tries. This is a possibility! I hope it's not the case for the OP's sake but you have to be prepared for this reality.