Please help! My husband doesn't 'get' it!

[drcbpearce]

I am really excited! We just booked our first family trip to WDW for early May. My husband is going along with it b/c he knows the kids are really excited. I think they are at great ages to go. I've been to DL a couple of times in the 90's, but he's never been. What can I do to get him excited about it? Any tips? Here's an example. We had a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to house sit for friends in Honolulu and he wasn't really into it b/c of the cost of airfare, but once we got there, he got it and now raves about that trip and how that was the best vacation ever. I've been talking it up to him every day trying to get him pumped about this, but none if it is really working. He looked at me last week and asked who the trip was really for (with a wink). I told him if he wanted me to stop planning, I would drop it then, but of course, all I got was a smile. So I took that as my go ahead to continue. Has anyone else experienced this? If so, how did you get your partner/spouse excited and into the trip?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Aliceacc]

Hi and welcome!!!

As hard as it is to believe, not everyone is as crazed about Disney as most of us here. It doesn't make your husband (or mine for that matter) a bad person.

Get all excited here. do all your planning here. Bounce new ideas and ADRs and big decisions off the people here.

It sounds as though he'll have a wonderful time if you do the planning. And it sounds as though you, like me, love the planning aspect.

I've started a planning thread for newbies; it may help:
One more thing: I started a thread for other newbies; it may help you along the way http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1715551

My husband just shakes his head and chuckles over all the time I spend on this site. But when we get the ADRs at the right restaurant, when my kids have fanny packs and pins for trading and autograph books-- all bought ahead of time for less than what we would pay at WDW, when my kids are happy and prepared-- then he'll know it's all been worth it.

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

My husband didn't get it either. He didn't get it until we got there. He now talks about what a great vacation it was. He says it was the best one we have ever done. We didn't do WDW we did DL but, we had a blast.

The Dis is great and all of us get it. So post here about all the cool stuff. Come home and tell us about what a great time you had. Your husband will probably get it by then.

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

My DH didn't get it either at first. But we have had 4 trips since then and he starts talkin gabout what we will do the next time we go soon after returning home. He also shakes his head at the time I spend on Disney sites, but he loves how smoothly our trips go, and the amount of helpful information I find. He now gives Dismey advise to his co-workers.

 

[Captain_Hook]

My DH isn't as much of a Disney nerd as I am. Our first "big" trip with just us was in 2006. I used the passporter and the UG to plan alot of that trip. I found alot of activities that I though he would enjoy. As a result, we did the Segway tour around Epcot and he took surfing lessons at Typhoon Lagoon.

Now he wants to do surfing lessons again and would probably like to do the Segway again.

I think I may have just gotten him to agree to matching t-shirts. The catch? I told him we could try to do the mickey head tie dye. I knew the tie dye part would be a big selling point! It seems to have worked....

Just try to find a few things things that are right up his alley and he may start to like it more than he ever thought he would!

 

[pawla68]

My DH didn't get it at first either. We took our first trip in 2005. He went along with it because our 2 DS's and I were so excited about going. Once we got there, he really enjoyed it, even though he wouldn't admit it. Once we were home, I asked so, when can we go again? half joking, half serious, expecting him to say never. Well, he blew my mind and said next summer! So we went again in 2006. We were unable to go last summer, but are going this summer. I now here him talking to others about how great Disney really is. He loves the theming of everything! If your DH is like mine, trying to "make" him like something will only cause him to "dislike" it even more!!! Just go, have fun and let the magic happen!!!

Paula

 

[drcbpearce]

Thanks for all of the tips. I know once we get there he'll get it, sometimes I feel like I'm walking the dog, you know the one that doesn't want the walk and is being dragged along? He's a guitar player, so he's excited about the RockNroller coaster. I suppose it's probably alot b/c the only places he's been are like 6 Flags. Which is fun, don't get me wrong, but it's all about the rides there and at DL/WDW it's about fun and magic and all of it, the rides are great too, but everything works together to make a terrific experience.

So I'll just keep talking to my new DIS friends and get my WDW fix this way!

I'm obsessed with this site too. My DH has no idea how much time I spend here, he'd really shake his head if he knew!

 

[heartbeeps]

my DH doesn't "get" it (yet) either. And, we're bringing (and paying) for 14 of us to be there to celebrate his 80th bday. But, I'm counting on him getting it once he....
- experiences the fuss over his b'day
- sees the romantic dinner & fireworks at Narcoosee's
- experiences the private dinner safari at Animal Kingdom
- opens the drapes in our AKL savanna room
- goes on the fishing excursion with DS & DGS & BIL
- eats the Strip Steak at LeCellier with SIL & BIL & Best Friends (surprising him)
- sees the excitement on 2 of grandkids' faces as they experience WDW for the first time (10 & 12 yo)
- experiences a day at AKL just watching the animals!
- meets his sis flying in from CA for the trip
- sees 18 other ppl at his b'day dinner celebration at Jiko's all there for him!
- sees the bill I'll be generating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[trivial]

I do wish there was a sure-fire way to help them "get it." I'm planning a big family trip, and while I think most of those invited will come, my impression is that none of them really get just how amazing WDW is (none of them have ever gone). I plan to do a presentation a little down the road to go over everything, which will hopefully give them somewhat of a better idea.

But hey, if your husband is willing to go, it'll be that much more of a surprise for him, and he'll be dying to go back.

heartbeeps: Wow! That sounds like an amazing birthday you have planned... what a lucky husband you have

 

[Aliceacc]

The cool thing is that as a result of my planning, my sister (who is going a month before us) and my friend (who is on the same flight down, but not staying together) are aware of all sorts of things they would otherwise have missed

 

[drcbpearce]

He'll get it once we're there. It sounds like you've got a wonderful b-day planned for your DH. I hope when we're that age we're still up for that kind of fun! I'm sure he'll enjoy every minute of it!

 

[breezy1077]

Sounds like our first trip. He actually wanted to know if there was going to be anything there HE would enjoy doing . I told him to sit back and enjoy the ride because we're going regardless.

Now he "gets it". not to the extent I do but...

My advice - keep planning! I think (because he's told me so) he enjoyed it as much as he did because I planned so hard. All the guesswork (and hardwork) for him was gone.

One thing that might help -replay the free video disney sends you? Might help but he'll probably not get hooked till he goes and experiences the magic firsthand.

 

[HolidayRoad]

I am really excited! We just booked our first family trip to WDW for early May. My husband is going along with it b/c he knows the kids are really excited. I think they are at great ages to go. I've been to DL a couple of times in the 90's, but he's never been. What can I do to get him excited about it? Any tips? Here's an example. We had a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to house sit for friends in Honolulu and he wasn't really into it b/c of the cost of airfare, but once we got there, he got it and now raves about that trip and how that was the best vacation ever. I've been talking it up to him every day trying to get him pumped about this, but none if it is really working. He looked at me last week and asked who the trip was really for (with a wink). I told him if he wanted me to stop planning, I would drop it then, but of course, all I got was a smile. So I took that as my go ahead to continue. Has anyone else experienced this? If so, how did you get your partner/spouse excited and into the trip?

Thanks for your help!

If it helps, as embarrassing as it is to say, I was once like your husband. As a matter of fact when my wife planned our first trip to WDW I didn't really want to go, kept threatening her that I was going to cancel the trip whenever I'd get mad about something, etc. Then I went to Disney World. Things changed and fast, now I'm more of a Disney nut than her. So that being said here is my advice: First, don't push the plans on him, you run the show as far as what your going to do and when, we're men and we try to avoid thinking whenever possible. Second If he like to partake of an alcoholic beverage from time to time (Loves Beer) then introduce him to the joy of the World Showcase, like a kid in a candy store invite him to run over and get a beer from Germany or the UK. there is something about walking around outside with a nice cold beer that is attractive to most men. Once he "finds himself" in the World Showcase the rest will come naturally. It's like anything else let it come naturally, don't force it and he will soon be "drinking the cool aid" like I did.

 

[drcbpearce]

If it helps, as embarrassing as it is to say, I was once like your husband. As a matter of fact when my wife planned our first trip to WDW I didn't really want to go, kept threatening her that I was going to cancel the trip whenever I'd get mad about something, etc. Then I went to Disney World. Things changed and fast, now I'm more of a Disney nut than her. So that being said here is my advice: First, don't push the plans on him, you run the show as far as what your going to do and when, we're men and we try to avoid thinking whenever possible. Second If he like to partake of an alcoholic beverage from time to time (Loves Beer) then introduce him to the joy of the World Showcase, like a kid in a candy store invite him to run over and get a beer from Germany or the UK. there is something about walking around outside with a nice cold beer that is attractive to most men. Once he "finds himself" in the World Showcase the rest will come naturally. It's like anything else let it come naturally, don't force it and he will soon be "drinking the cool aid" like I did.

Thanks for the note. It's nice to know he's not the only one. The idea of the beer in the WS is great. he's a beer lover to be sure. I"ll just keep doing what I'm doing and let him coast. I guess it's sort of like planning our wedding. It's a huge deal for the bride, but the grooms, mine included, just say tell me where and when. Once we get there I'll try to get a photo of his AHA moment! I try to include him a bit in the planning, i.e. tell him what I"ve got set up so far for ADR's, but since he doesn't get it yet, it basically goes in one ear and out the other. I'll start leaving that stuff out and try to let more of it be a surprise to him. It's just hard keeping secrets from my best friend.

 

[HolidayRoad]

Thanks for the note. It's nice to know he's not the only one. The idea of the beer in the WS is great. he's a beer lover to be sure. I"ll just keep doing what I'm doing and let him coast. I guess it's sort of like planning our wedding. It's a huge deal for the bride, but the grooms, mine included, just say tell me where and when. Once we get there I'll try to get a photo of his AHA moment! I try to include him a bit in the planning, i.e. tell him what I"ve got set up so far for ADR's, but since he doesn't get it yet, it basically goes in one ear and out the other. I'll start leaving that stuff out and try to let more of it be a surprise to him. It's just hard keeping secrets from my best friend.

Have a blast, Before long he'll be joining us over on the Dis Dad's Club!

 

[mdsouth]

Thanks for the note. It's nice to know he's not the only one. I try to include him a bit in the planning, i.e. tell him what I"ve got set up so far for ADR's, but since he doesn't get it yet, it basically goes in one ear and out the other. I'll start leaving that stuff out and try to let more of it be a surprise to him. It's just hard keeping secrets from my best friend.

I understand totally! I just love the planning and anticipation of a trip so much and I too want to share all the fun with my best friend!

 

[drcbpearce]

Have a blast, Before long he'll be joining us over on the Dis Dad's Club!

I'm sure he will. He's a computer nerd at heart. Tell me where it is, so when he comes over to the dark side, as my brother puts it, I'll point him in the direction.

 

[RMulieri]

I understand how you feel.My Dh and I went for our honeymoon ( his first vacation ever) and he HATED Wdw.It has taken 8 yrs, and he is just now starting to get into helping plan.I had to concede to his resort choice( Beach Club Villas) and I let him pick most of our dining choices.In return I get to make him go to MNSSHP and eat at LTT that night....I figure if it makes him love Disney( and so far he has agreed to discuss DVC ownership)I am all for it.Just plan away and be sure to ask his opinion and input from time to time.

 

[Kanga+2Roos]

Hi!
I'm in the same boat! After hearing too many complaints about how he refuses to go to Disney & won't put up with whiney kids I just planned my trip without him! I'm going next month with my mom & 2 DS & plan to have a wonderful time! My mom is excited to go to Disney to witness the boys first magical trip & now DH is acting left out. Oh well--his loss, grandma's gain!

 

[trivial]

RMulieri: that's too bad that he hated his first trip. Did something go wrong, or was it just not his thing?

Kanga+2Roos: what a shame that your husband is choosing to miss out on a special family vacation. Good for you for still going though; if anyone will have any regrets, I'm sure it will end up being your husband.