Spouse that does not love MK

[CTmommyx3]

So my Dh just does not like MK too much. I grew up going to Disney he did not go until maybe he was 30 with me.
We have gone the past 2 years and this is our 3rd in a row. We usually only do 2 park days due to the kids being younger.
I always say MK is a MUST do he thinks he wants to skip. I just think it is magical and everytime we go the kids see or do something else for the first time. Like each time they see it a different way.
He is not refusing but how can I get him to be more excited!
He also hates me trying to plan to see certain characters for the kids. I keep reminding him it is all about the kids, if they want to see someone I will go.
I always ask them maybe for 3 must while there.
I just feel he is not on board as much and sometimes it takes away from pour excitement.
I am sure I am not the only one in this situation?
So this year we all did a GAD so I told him that is what day we will use for MK so we are not spending the extra money on that park.

 

[Endeavour105]

So my Dh just does not like MK too much. I grew up going to Disney he did not go until maybe he was 30 with me.
We have gone the past 2 years and this is our 3rd in a row. We usually only do 2 park days due to the kids being younger.
I always say MK is a MUST do he thinks he wants to skip. I just think it is magical and everytime we go the kids see or do something else for the first time. Like each time they see it a different way.
He is not refusing but how can I get him to be more excited!
He also hates me trying to plan to see certain characters for the kids. I keep reminding him it is all about the kids, if they want to see someone I will go.
I always ask them maybe for 3 must while there.
I just feel he is not on board as much and sometimes it takes away from pour excitement.
I am sure I am not the only one in this situation?
So this year we all did a GAD so I told him that is what day we will use for MK so we are not spending the extra money on that park.

Try just letting him be...

sounds like you have control issues.

 

[kbheap]

My DH goes with us once a year. We have AP's so me and kids go way more often. Once a year DH loves it because of the kids and their reactions. Once a year is all he will go though. He just doesn't get the disney magic like I do. I don't force it on him either. I find others willing to go any other time or times he doesn't want to. Some people just don't get the magic.

 

[Endeavour105]

My DH goes with us once a year. We have AP's so me and kids go way more often. Once a year DH loves it because of the kids and their reactions. Once a year is all he will go though. He just doesn't get the disney magic like I do. I don't force it on him either. I find others willing to go any other time or times he doesn't want to. Some people just don't get the magic.

Naaaaaaaa...what they "get" is that really the only magic there is watching your $$$ disappear....pooof!!!

 

[Daisy'sMama]

We went for the first time last Aug (free dining) and my DH was happy to spend his days at the resort, in the room or poolside while DD and I went to the parks. He joined us for dinner every evening and he claimed it was the most relaxing holiday he has ever had. He also went to DTD with us one day and went resort hopping with us. It saved me a great deal of money not buying him tickets for theme parks he might not enjoy. Try just letting your DH off the hook to relax and stay behind if he wants to. All in all we had a great holiday and came home with happy memories.

 

[smokeyblue]

I think as woman we express our excitement in more obvious and verbal way. Your husband may appreciate the Disney experience more than you realize. I think you need to just let him experience it and not push things. Try to turn the focus to how much your kids are enjoying it. I've also found that men will not show entusiasm for things that may not be considered "manly".

I had a boyfriend who showed no enthusiasm for anything. It was totally obnoxious so I know where you are coming from. My current bf does shows enthusiasm for the things he enjoys and I can tell he is happy for me when I am excited about something that might not necessarily be his cup of tea.

Men need to feel like they are the providers. Tell him how much you appreciate going to Disney even if it was just as much your hard work getting there. Also tell your kids to make sure to tell dad that they are having fun and thank you.

 

[LaurenT]

It can be tough when you're really excited and want to share and your partner in life just doesn't have the same reaction - like calling him out while he's busy because you really want him to see that beautiful sunset and he comes out and says "that's what you dragged me out for", but we can't control what's going to "do it" for someone else. Find out what gets him all excited and make sure that's part of your trip, maybe let him hang by the pool on the day you go to MK, and it'll be a better trip for everyone!

 

[Jennifer S]

Don't go so often- maybe?

My DH doesn't really like Disney either. We have gone 3 times in 20 years- our fouth trip will be in May. SO we go about every 5 years.

Give him a chance to miss it and want to be there. Too much of a good thing is not always good. Disney is just not for everyone.

My DH loves things like hiking. He wants to go to Yellowstone next year. Maybe let yout DH pick the next trip.

You cant get him to love it if the loves not there.

 

[ShannonMB]

At least yours will go to WDW! My DH doesn't care for it and has skipped our last 2 trips altogether, and it doesn't sound like he's going this Nov, either. That is 100% fine by me, because I only travel to WDW with people who are EXCITED to be there, not ones who are grumpily going to point out how much everything is costing at every turn or in general bringing DD and me down. We'll go to the beach for the week this summer (a vacation he prefers) to get our "daddy" quality time in. And we'll just go without him for our "Mickey" quality time.

Maybe your DH would prefer to play a round of golf on MK day? Or even just relax by the pool. Honestly, if he isn't going to be excited about it, I wouldn't make him go (in fact, I'd make him NOT go). JMHO!

Good luck!

 

[carol-lamb]

My DH goes with us once a year. We have AP's so me and kids go way more often. Once a year DH loves it because of the kids and their reactions. Once a year is all he will go though. He just doesn't get the disney magic like I do. I don't force it on him either. I find others willing to go any other time or times he doesn't want to. Some people just don't get the magic.

Your husband sounds just like mine!! I went four times last year and he only went once. He said that was enough for him. I'm going again over Easter and he is staying home. I think he will go with me at Christmas as that seems to be his favorite time of year to visit WDW.

 

[SpoiledDisFam]

My DH is also not a disney person. He either doesn't go with us at all or spends a day or two behind at the hotel (WDW or DLR). He actually changed his mind about going with us this coming year because I promised him doing things that are not DW related. Plus it has been 4 1/2 years (by the time we go to DW) since he was there.

 

[KellyNY]

Why it should be mainly about kids? It is a family vacation. If you do not want him to drop Disney in couple of years and send you there on your own since kids will be older and you will be able to manage on your own, find something he will like as well. Shcedule ADRs at nice, not Disney oriented restaurants, go to Epcot, you all will enjoy. There is nothing wrong with not liking characters and kids rides. Try to find balance.

 

[eliza61]

So my Dh just does not like MK too much. I grew up going to Disney he did not go until maybe he was 30 with me.
We have gone the past 2 years and this is our 3rd in a row. We usually only do 2 park days due to the kids being younger.
I always say MK is a MUST do he thinks he wants to skip. I just think it is magical and everytime we go the kids see or do something else for the first time. Like each time they see it a different way.
He is not refusing but how can I get him to be more excited!
He also hates me trying to plan to see certain characters for the kids. I keep reminding him it is all about the kids, if they want to see someone I will go.
I always ask them maybe for 3 must while there.
I just feel he is not on board as much and sometimes it takes away from pour excitement.
I am sure I am not the only one in this situation?
So this year we all did a GAD so I told him that is what day we will use for MK so we are not spending the extra money on that park.

I don't think I'll be that much help because I've never understood why we feel our spouses have to love Disney as much as we do?
and it always seems to be a women thing.
My dh loves fishing, personally I'd rather have my finger nails ripped from my skin than ever go on another fishing trip with him and my sons. I doubt very seriously if he asks his buddies how he can get his wife more into fishing. He simply books a boat for him and my sons and they go on a fishing vacation.
Why do we flip out when our spouses don't want to go to Disney? LOL

We trade off, some years he's picks the vacation destinations, some years he bites the bullet and goes with us to Disneyworld. He always has a good time when he goes, he just doesn't feel the need to see it every year. Some times me and the kids head down by ourselves.
Doesn't bother me at all and I don't buy the lousy argument about "family time". That's just an excuse people throw out to get their way. You can make just as many memories for your kids at a local beach as you can at WDW.

 

[frayedend]

Maybe you can try having him do some research for you. Show him the DIS and ask him to check out things that would be good for you, him, and the kids. Have him check the Theme parks board, the dining board, and the resort board. Get him involved in the planning. The excitement and magic will come.

I happen to be a 40 year old man that is into manly stuff like tools and guns. No one would ever suspect that I love Disney. But I did skip my kids first trip to Disney. When I did go I started researching here and that was what got me excited. Then I saw things in Disney that I may have just missed if I hadn't read all the boards.

And for what it's worth, we can't imagine not starting our vacation by immediately heading to MK. If we don't see the castle first we don't feel like we are "there yet".

 

[la79al]

My DH has nothing against MK in particular, he is just not a Disney fan in general. I've given up on trying to convert him, as long as he lets us go, he's a big boy and can choose how he wants to be on his vacation. A few suggestions for you--unless your kids are asking for certain characters, skip the characters. I love my DD more than anything but the whole character thing drives me absolutely crazy. If we happen to see one and she wants to go get in line, I will because I'm the mommy and I 'get it'. I know DH will in no way be on board with this so I will send him onto a ride or for a snack or something. And yes, I will try to limit how many characters DD sees, even though I will know that she did not get to see such and such a character, she won't know what she missed. If you are desperate for characters, do a character meal, DH will get to eat while you and the kids get your fill of the characters.
I don't know how old your kids are, but is DH only getting to do the 'little kid' version of MK? Again, as the mommy, I understand that to a little kid, Dumbo and Small World are rides that can be rode a zillion times. If I asked DH to miss out on Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion or even Pirates, I'm pretty sure it would be our last Disney trip. I don't have a problem making it all about the kids and what they want to do, but I know some guys are not like that at all. Not to say they don't want their kids to have a good time, but more like it's their vacation too and riding The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh for the thirteenth time is not how they want to be spending it. Maybe make sure that DH gets to do some stuff that he wants to do (or might want to do). Take the kids for snacks or take them on Pooh for the thirteenth time by yourself.
I don't know how long you are staying at DW but it might make sense for you to try more than 2 park days. If you use your GAD, it will bring down the price a lot and you would be able to check out some of the other parks. Another alternative is to use your GAD to get FPs at MK (and whatever other park you visit) so that even if you end up waiting in line for characters, you won't be waiting in as many lines for rides.
In the end, you may have to just give up on your DH. Understand that he is a grown up and he can control how he wants to behave. If he wants to be grouchy, he will have a miserable time and his kids will remember him being miserable and complaining. If you are able to get him to give you a little more input, maybe you can plan a trip that will meet all of your needs better. Good luck!

 

[CTmommyx3]

I should have added he loves other parks like he loves Epcot. It is his choice to travel to Florida every year and do some parks. So I am not forcing him, he usually has a fun time. Just does not get that if we want to see fairies without a huge line we need to be there at a certain time.
Someone said I have control issues, that sounds a bit stronge. I plan nothing for the day except if the kids say they want to meet mickey or ride buz. I do not run all day barking orders, I just know the kids love it and they want to go. If I am driving 24 hours to Florida then yes I feel I have the right to say suck it up for 1 day and go to MK!

 

[WizardLarz]

Like the OP let him do something else for the day, or even half a day. Maybe if he did Epcot while you're guys are doing MK, he will realize that he is missing the sharing of the excitement!

 

[CTmommyx3]

Like the OP let him do something else for the day, or even half a day. Maybe if he did Epcot while you're guys are doing MK, he will realize that he is missing the sharing of the excitement!

I though of that but with 3 kids by myself that could be a challenge without anyone to help me. Esp with them all 8 and under and one girl wanting princess things and 2 boys not!

 

[megan926]

At least yours will go to WDW! My DH doesn't care for it and has skipped our last 2 trips altogether, and it doesn't sound like he's going this Nov, either. That is 100% fine by me, because I only travel to WDW with people who are EXCITED to be there, not ones who are grumpily going to point out how much everything is costing at every turn or in general bringing DD and me down. We'll go to the beach for the week this summer (a vacation he prefers) to get our "daddy" quality time in. And we'll just go without him for our "Mickey" quality time.

Maybe your DH would prefer to play a round of golf on MK day? Or even just relax by the pool. Honestly, if he isn't going to be excited about it, I wouldn't make him go (in fact, I'd make him NOT go). JMHO!

Good luck!

My DH did not come last time we went (2008) and is not coming this summer either!

Honestly, although I love my DH, I prefer Disney w/out him! We can only go in the summer (teacher schedules) and it is waaay too hot for him. He would complain too much!

We'll just do something else low key as a family as well!

 

[fireman1]

Maybe he doesn't like the feelings it brings out, like his inner child or something, I dunno..
I'm 40 and i've taken my daughter 6 times since 2000. I can't imagine going anywhere else.
And oh, MK is ALWAYS first on our list.
<---see my avatar. i'm plenty manly.