Non-Disney Loving Spouse

[Racemom17]

I LOVE DISNEY...and our boys love Disney. I never went as a child but we started making Annual trips in 2006. I started going with my Mom and Dad and then eventually just my Mom. I took DH for the first time in 2009 for a big family vacation.

We just went back in Feb...I suckered him by dangling the Daytona 500 in there...my problem...he would be happy probably never going back to Disney. He has a good time but doesn't understand my fascination. Taking a trip without him is not an option (unless I go with my Mom) and even then I would feel guilty because we have both decided to make sacrifices to pay off debt...but if we can afford to pay cash yearly...why not go? The kids are only little once...right...

I just can't make him love it...I love the Disney bubble and he just doesn't get it.

 

[candielips]

Does he complain about having to go? Or is it that he could care less?

 

[Racemom17]

He complains about going. Complains that it isn't a vacation. Complains that he would rather be somewhere else. Complains about the cost....

Even this last time...we do all half days in the parks...half day pools...took it very easy and he still whined :-(

 

[travelfanatic]

My husband doesn't get it either! He goes along because it's something the family enjoys doing but if he never went back it certainly would not hurt his feelings. He totally cannot understand my love for Disney. I only wished he felt the same love as I do. He's a good sport about it though. Sounds like our husbands are very similiar! That's what I love about these boards because there are other addicts like me who do get it!

 

[Nadjalu]

His complaints seem a bit vague. Maybe there is something more specific you need to ask and find out.

Have you asked him why he feels it isn't a vacation?

If it is really bothering you I would try and sit down and really get to the root.

As for cost you can do a very economical week's stay. Infact we have found a trip to WDW is cheaper than 90% of the vacations we would like to go on, staying a week at a time.

So I don't buy it. Something else is bothering him.....

I hope you get to the root. I am blessed my DH is as nuts for WDW as I am. Sometimes I think even more!!!

 

[candielips]

Wow, it sure sounds like you have a Grumpy on your hands. Tell him to suck it up Just kidding.
If he hates it that much, it sounds like you might have to take your boys solo or find a compromise.
Can you split the trip up, doing Disney for half of it and something else that he likes for the other half?
Can you try doing Disney one year and somewhere else another?

 

[Balt ravens fan]

Maybe there is something else at Disney he might like - Golf? Sports Complex? Fish? Going to ESPN? Staying back at the room on the internet? Then he doesn't go to the parks, let him do what he wants and then maybe it becomes a vacation for him.

We don't have the same problem, we all love it. I really feel for you! Good luck!

 

[rwdavis2]

His complaints seem a bit vague. Maybe there is something more specific you need to ask and find out.

Have you asked him why he feels it isn't a vacation?
:
:

I would assume that his idea of a vacation is something with much less activity. i.e. Lying around on the beach all day. Disney is not a relaxing vacation. It's more of an adventure. Much like climbing Mt. Everest.
BD

 

[dismichael]

For some people, they just don't realize the complete package a Disney trip offers a family. I would try showing him some more of the other sides of Disney. For example, show him all of the fine dining restaurants in Disney and ask him to pick one out to splurge on when you go. Alot of people (including myself) think it's cool that Don Shula own's an expensive upscale steakhouse right in Disney's Dolphin resort.. Or maybe he would like to go down for spring training and watch the [Atlanta Braves- I believe] have an exhibition game. Going on this past weekend was ESPN week where many sports stars and ESPN hosts did all of the live taping of the shows right in Disney's Hollywood Studios under the hat. Sometimes it's not just about going to the parks and hoping everyone will enjoy that type of vacation. Some people like relaxing- in which something like the Grand Floridian's spa and beach would be more fitting. Try different things with him and show him everything the parks have to offer. Plus, it can never hurt to take breaks out during the day to rest.. Heat gets to everyone.

P.S. you mentioned he liked the Daytona 500- Disney has the Richard Petty Driving Experience in which he can train for 6 hours like a real racecar driver, then either have a trained person drive him on an official track in an official racecar at 140 or so mph, or for a different price he can drive himself!

 

[Sgt Tibbs]

Mrs Tibbs likes to complain also, she goes to WDW because our son enjoys it so much as do I. After day 3 my son and I find thatmy son and I are "going off the do Guy stuff together and leaving her at the resort to relax by the pool. We meet up in the afternoon and have dinner together. Then son and I usually head out for the evening activities and Mrs Tibbs may or may not join us as she wishes.

After awhile it's just better go enjoy yourself rather than trying and usually failing to please others. Now son and I also let Mrs Tibbs pickthe vacation spot after our latest Disney trip to keep it fair.

 

[osprey6]

Our situation is somewhat different than that of the OP, but I'm one who is not fond of Disney, either. I tried it twice (1994, 2001) and to say I was less than impressed would be to make a massive understatement. Details upon request, but to me, the list of shortcomings was both long and broad. Sad to say, the trip planning for this time around has again gotten off on the wrong foot, with one considerable exception.

Not that I really ever been a fan. During my first trip to Orlando (1990), I didn't even go to Disney. I spent time at Sea World, Cypress Gardens and Cape Canaveral and liked all of those.

DW is not a Disney lover, but thinks it's OK. DD (5) on the other hand, is a massive fan and watches Disney Channel every chance she gets.

We are going this one time because of a special situation: It's the first time since DD was born that I have a decent job that allows time off outside of established holidays and we want to take DD there once before she goes to school in the fall. It may have been a mistake to tell her, as that's all she talks about, and we don't leave for another 3 weeks.

I've agreed to go to be a good sport. I'm also quite the airplane nut and will take the opportunity to fly anytime I can. Plus, there's the weather: I'm a little sick of the snow and the idea of going to a place that has waterparks open in early April very much appeals to me.

In return, I get to go to a couple NFL games this fall (if there IS any football) when my team plays nearby, and renew my college football season tickets. I also get to make a trip to Krystal (love those burgers) while we're there. I also get to see (hopefully) big smiles on my DD, and that's a pretty nice reward on its own. As DW keeps reminding me, "Enjoy it now. In another 7 years she'll be embarrassed to be seen in public with either of us."

I couldn't agree more about the alternate activities. If haven't already, get the Orlando vacation planning book. Lots of great suggestions for non-
Disney stuff. I especially recommend the air museum in Lakeland, if he's a gearhead.

 

[GoofyGirl75]

Details upon request, but to me, the list of shortcomings was both long and broad.

I'm curious about the details.

I'm in the same boat as OP... my dh definitely does NOT "get it". I think it's primarily the long drive, the fast-paced nature of being there, and the cost probably factors in a little, too.

I'm going to try to slow it down a little this time... maybe he'll be happier.

 

[Hopalong]

I agree with others that your best solution is to find something to do that Dad would consider a vacation activity and allot some time to do that. Surely there is something in Central FL that he would enjoy and it is his vacation time as well after all.

Just a few suggestions to get the wheels turning: Kennedy Space Center, go to the beach, go fishing off of the pier at Coco Beach or from a boat if you want to spend the money. Then there are an entire slew of other theme parks available, is his aversion to Disney specifically or theme parks in general?

 

[bluejasmine]

My ex husand was like that.. I had to accept that he didnt care that much for it. Sometimes he went and normally had a good time, if he wasnt showing his butt about a long line or getting up first thing to get to the parks.. Ten yrs of marraige and it never changed, I eventually learned that among alot of other things about him wouldnt.

The kids and I learned to go without him or with my mom and we had a good time and I felt no guilt because he did what he wanted to do, we did what we wanted to and everyone was happier that way.

Now my current husband LOVES WDW as much as I do, he fell in love with it on our honeymoon and Im so grateful after knowing how it can be.

 

[Sugar Jones]

My husband is the same way. I doubt he will ever return. I however will and am planning on it.

He doesn't do well in crowds. He hates waiting for anything, he get's very motion sick, he has no patience with people. He wouldn't let the kids wait in line to meet any characters - that would have been a waste of time and stupid - exactly what he said to ds I had a little talk with him after that!


He did it once he'll never do it again. I've been to the Nascar races with him 3 times. That's enough for me, he can go with his friends and I can go to Disney with my mom & his mom. It's a compromise.

 

[Cruz91]

It's the only logical solution. EARreconcilable differences.

 

[bluejasmine]

It's the only logical solution. EARreconcilable differences.

 

[LoveMickeyWaffles]

My husband doesn't get it either!!!! He says he went when he was 11 and didn't like it then
We went in 2004 for my sons wish trip and my husband had a good time but said he didn't feel the need to return for a long time. It broke my heart!!! Two years later I managed to talk him into another trip to take his nephew along for being so great with my son. We all had a good time - husband included - no matter what he says, I've got the pictures to prove it!!
Last April I planned another trip to be taken with my parents, sister and nieces - for months I couldn't even mention the trip without getting the evil eye!! I tried bribing him with things I knew he would like to do outside of the parks, he declined every one of them!!! Needless to say, all the pictures with him in it? Smiling!!!
So I've come to the conclusion that secretly, he loves Disney as almost much as the rest of us - he just won't admit it!!

 

[Momtomouselover]

It's the only logical solution. EARreconcilable differences.

My DH doesn't care for Disney either. He will go every now and again for our son but other than that he doesn't care for the commercialism and the crowds. He also feels the resorts are just ok and food options are not up to par.

 

[Experiment_626]

When I met the woman who is now my wife, I made very sure she knew what she was getting herself into right from the start, because going to WDW as often as possible was non-negotioable for me -- whether I went with her or by myself. I'm glad that she always enjoyed Disney and has come to love it more over the last six years. She isn't engrossed in trivia, Disney history, facts and figures, Imagineering backstories and such to the degree I am, but she still loves it. For this, I am exceedingly thankful. She may not always want to hear me spout trivia for hours on end, but she does understand why I love to do it and why it is important to me.

She still hasn't made good on her promise to take me to Disneyland, however -- she used to live right down the street and could watch the fireworks from her balcony every night.

Something to look forward to, I suppose.

Scott