Need some help with Hubby-

[poohpcgirl]

I have a 6 day trip planned to WDW in October. It will be me, hubby, son (3), God son(9), and my parents. We all get along great and will be staying together at the Cabins on property. Everyone is excited about going except my Hubby. He keeps saying he will not have a good time. He is not upset about the group, just that Disney will not be fun for him. He is very practical and is not much of a going out person. Hes like history and other nations, so I try to sell him on Epcot. Has anyone else run into this type of brick wall at home? Was there anything you could do, or did you have to just let them see for themselves? I know my husband and I know he will have a good time once he gets there. He really has no idea what Disney is like. I an open for any suggestions to try and get him ready for out trip.

Thanks!

 

[Papillon]

He may enjoy that Hall of Presidents thing in MK, and the Liberty Tree Tavern. I agree with you that Epcot will probably be fun for him. Be sure to let him know that the people who work in the World Showcase are usually from the country they represent, so that might be interesting to him.

 

[crisi]

Personally, I'm for restrained guidance. See if he is interested in picking a few sit down restaurants, this is a good time to introduce Epcot. If he enjoys fishing, see if he'd like to schedule a fishing trip. With my dad, I "buy him off" with a round of golf with my husband (he enjoys Disney, but day after day - mid trip he can really use a round of golf!). If he'd like a date night, see if you can schedule it with your parents. Try not to let your excitment overflow too much.

We took my MIL last year under similar circumstances. She isn't into the frenetic corporate consumerism stuff, and I was afraid she'd hate it. She really wanted to go for spending time with the kids and us - but honestly - before we got there - would have preferred a more "cultural" and "laidback" destination. Once she got there she had a great time pursuing her interests (we met up and had family time, but because her pace is slower and her interest different from our preschoolers, we also brought her sister along and let them break off from us).

 

[ebarj1098]

I did not invite my DH on this trip! All he can say about it is what the cost will be, how can you have any fun with all those people, etc. I hope to go again in 2008, with DH then. We will plan to stay in the cabins, and, as previously suggested, I'll send him fishing and golfing. Maybe your DH is anxious about the crowds. It sounds like you've done what you can, and maybe he'll just have to see for himself!

 

[mjmcca]

My hubby has been tehre and doenst like it. I usually leave him home. If he comes he spends time with freinds who live in the area. He may coem to the parks one day and then we usually fight anyway so it isnt worth it. We may go in Feb because he really needs to go and see his freinds the bonus is i get disney!

 

[Sandyincanada]

I sold my DH ( the first time we went) not by trying to get him to buy into it but by getting him excited for the kids. I had never been as a child and always wanted to take our kids so I built on that....how much fun the kids are going to have, how they will remember it forever, etc. He didn't go with any grand expectations (which is a good thing, lol), he went thinking that this one is for the kids and lo and behold, he loved it! In fact, he was the one to suggest going back our very next trip, lol. We've been a few times now. We both enjoy taking different trips (like Mexico) every other year but we always seem to get back to Orlando. He has always prefered UFS/IOA to DW and now that the kids are older, they do too so you could always do a day there as well. We do both and Busch.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I have to say the thing that did it for my DH was that show on the Travel Channel last week! He ran across it completely by accident. He called me at work to tell me it was on, then he sat with DS and they watched the whole hour. When I came home he said "We have tickets for all 4 of those parks?" I said yes. He was almost GIDDY. It was hilarious! I was hoping the planning video would do that for him, but there was too much other stuff in it for him to get excited, and since we got it in late December it was already outdated!

So check your TV listings for the Travel Channel show!

Just a little background:
DS won an airline ticket in November in a raffle. The following week I was presented with an airline ticket in appreciation for my work on a charity event. The trip just sort of mushroomed from there. DH was furious, didn't want to go, said he wasn't going, griped about the cost, etc. I kept planning. He wouldn't discuss it for the first several weeks, but he SLOWLY started to come around.

Good luck!!

 

[poohpcgirl]

Thanks to everyone for the great advice. I agree that he will like it when he gets there and he loves watching our son play. So I think we will be alright. He does not play golf or fish... But thats okay. (That is what Grandpa will be doing... LOL) I am glad I am not the only one out here to have this "issue". I think I will look for that show, it sounds like it might open him up a bit. And including him ont he decisions is something I hod not thought about. He usually stays out of it, but you never know what might pique his interest. And I will get my son really hyoed about it and he should start to share the excitement. Thanks so much for helping me feel better about this. Keep your finger crossed for me!

Hugs to all!!

 

[crisi]

SandyinCanada,

I've heard a lot of those stories....recently from one of the mom's my son goes to school with. She was over and we were talking about Disney. "I'd really like to go but DH is set against it." I sent her home with an old Birnbaums.

He loved it. When I next talked to him he wanted to know how DVC worked.

 

[Amirah95]

Just give him a kiss and tell him that you've never steered him wrong before. He'll be alright.

 

[fun & fancy free]

In the past I have read about similar circumstanes on the boards. Some people had disers who were going before them send post cards to their DH. Each postcard would be signed by a character or dis name. This got a few people who weren't so excited alittle intrigued. Especially if the postcards were things of interest to the non-interested person. Get it. I have this knack of making simple things sound confusing. Hope this helps.

 

[samsid99]

I am also a disney grouch widow. He went with us once in Jan 01, our girls were little then 6 and 4. They had a great time....he was miserable the whole time, hates crowds, lines and the whole deal. Glad we didn't go during peak season as the world really was empty at this time. But truly overall he was a pretty good sport. He worried about the money the whole time etc...

I returned to disney last July and left him at home. I had been working as a long term substitute and recieved my last paycheck of $1000. And asked him very calmly if he would object if I took my paycheck and went to disney with the girls now 9 and 7. To my huge surprise he said no he would not and offered to pay for our airline tickets because he didn't want me driving that far!!

The girls and I had a wonderful trip we were there for 11 days, and this time we stayed on site and had UPH passes. It was just awesome...and although I felt bad he missed all the magic it was his choice, and his bad mood didn't damper our trip.

We will go back this July and I think we are staying even longer!!!

 

[JoyMouse]

My DH always "says" he's never going back! He is always the one to plan the next trip! He really enjoys seeing our 2 DD's excited and happy, and me too! Really, he has fun and loves directing us around the parks to make sure that we always get our moneys worth. We never waste a minute! I want us to slow down and smell the flowers this time. Anyway, good luck with your DH, I'm sure that he will find that Disney magic as soon as he sees your childrens' eyes light up!