Spouse that does not love MK

[Vivianne]

Don't really think he HAS to like DISNEY...

Fine...it's all about family time...

Maybe he would prefer Seaworld or Universal or just the beach. It's all good. We've done it all.

Be happy he's there at the most important moments in your family time. Capture those moments/pictures...you'll appreciate them when your kids are older...

 

[kathy884]

My husband doesn't like Florida or theme parks. What I've been doing is taking a mini theme park trip annually (just three nights or so) with my son (often meeting up with extended family). DH is soo happy we aren't trying to drag him along and has no problem at all with our going. And as a family we plan a bigger one week vacation (I'm the main planner) and go somewhere we'll all enjoy. In March my son and I will do a mini three night/two day Orlando trip. In June we'll all be out west for a week (seven nights) spending time in Utah National parks -- Bryce and Zion. It helps that we can usually find really good airfares to Orlando from where we live.

This is easier for me than bringing DH along and trying to find things he'll like. It's so much for fun to go to a place with others who are excited and happy to be there. There isn't much in the Orlando area he cares for: He likes the food at the Animal Kingdom Lodge -- Boma and Jiko, likes Cirque du Soliel, likes Blueman Group, like Skyventure indoor sky diving, and likes Gatorland (more of an old time Florida attraction with animals native to the area). Those, though, are about the only things he's ever done in the area that he enjoyed. Disney, in particular, is a place he doesn't like at all and wants to run not walk away from.

Every family has there own way of doing things/working out different preferences. This is what works for us, and we've all been pretty happy with this.

 

[pickles]

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

that is my husband 100% !

So, i go without him. I miss him while I am there and wish we could share things, but I dont want my tight fisted grump trudging around with me judging every dime I spend

 

[pickles]

maybe he can take the boys and do something and you take the princess. really if it boils down to it..if he cant stand standing in line for characters and you have done the character thing, why not start skipping that?

maybe there is a way for him to enjoy MK if you take the stuff that annoys him away?

 

[dd50]

My son in law doesn't like Disney so my daughter leaves him home. He went one time and didn't care for it. She takes the two kids every year.

 

[ntikos]

You say your DH doesn't like Disney but this is the 3rd year in a row you are going there.

Here's an idea.

One year you plan a vacation then the next year let him plan a vacation.

If you can't do this then you really do have a control issue.

 

[topmonkeygirl]

I've been going to Disney since there only was the MK, that will tell about how old I am. My DH had never been until we went on our honeymoon last Oct. He drove me crazy, my feet hurt, my head hurts, my back hurts, this is dumb. WAAWAAWAA. We literally do nothing all year because he wants to be home, he doesn't like crowds and confusion. So I told him to suck it up that we stay home and do nothing now it's my turn to do what I want. I didn't come to Disney to hang out at the resort, or to sleep, I came to have fun!!!!!!!!!! For the most part he was pretty good about it, but the last couple of days he was tired and needed a rest. He was a little cranky. I didn't get married to go on vacation by myself or with friends, I want my hubby there to share those moments with me. I want to look back where were old and gray and be able to say remember when......

 

[frayedend]

that is my husband 100% !

So, i go without him. I miss him while I am there and wish we could share things, but I dont want my tight fisted grump trudging around with me judging every dime I spend

Funny because while we spend a lot on a Disney trip it is the only vacation I feel I'm getting my money's worth. I mean I've paid 5 grand to sit on a beach with some free use of paddle boats. Relaxing, sure, but not fun like Disney. And when they do things like free dining I'm surprised they even make a profit they do things so well.

I love MK a lot too. I even like IASW. When the kids were really small we watched a Disney Music video we had and it had the Main Street parade. It was super exciting for the kids when we went and saw the parade and the kids (and I) were singing along..."walkin right down the middle of Main Street USAAAAAA!"

 

[KellyNY]

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!

Have you considered character meals, kids will enjoy characters and he will eat. Also get him here on board, maybe he will learn something like some planning is must esp. with characters meeting. BTW, does he likes any rides at MK, fireworks, Spectro? And try Kim Possible at Epcot, kids will love it.

 

[bumbershoot]

You say your DH doesn't like Disney but this is the 3rd year in a row you are going there.

She said he doesn't like the Magic Kingdom. One out of four parks.

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.

Unless you have a package, you can use the GAD vouchers and then upgrade to however many days you want, thereby saving the one park cost (for each person) the GAD vouchers would give you in the upgrade...


I would just stop judging his reactions based on how you might react. Sounds like except for the characters, he's game for the MK day. Just have fun in your way, let him work on his own fun in his own day, and it might feel better!

 

[danceintherain]

Maybe while you wait in line for the characters, he can go off and do something else. It's probably not the characters that bother him, it's probably the lines to see the characters.
For example, when your daughter wants to see the fairies he can take your sons to get some ice cream, or do something else.
Maybe you can do a character meal with Mickey and the Gang, instead of waiting in line to see them. Then, he gets to eat (something most men love) but your kids get to see the characters.

My husband LOVES Disney, but he doesn't see the point of waiting in line to see the characters. We don't have kids yet, so it is understandable. He, however, is perfectly ok with the walk-up characters, so maybe you should skip the ones with the huge lines, and just wait until there's someone you can walk up to, like in the World Showcase. If he loves Epcot already, then it may be easier to sneak in characters there, instead of in the Magic Kingdom that he already doesn't like.
Or if the Fairies are absolutely necessary, then hit Toon Town right at Rope Drop, so your wait is shorter.

You can't make him more excited about it. If he had never been before, then maybe, but he's already waited in those lines, and KNOWS he doesn't enjoy it.

Also, if you only do 2 Park Days, which parks do you do? Maybe you could do a couple extra days in the parks. That way you just spend the low crowd mornings there, then head back to the hotel for some rest and other activities.

 

[honeydiane1953]

Leave him home. If he hates it leave him. He'll only make u feel anxious.

 

[nebo]

Try just letting him be...

sounds like you have control issues.

this was way off-base/ OP was asking (on a DISNEY board, where people love disney) for adviceon tryng to get hubby more excited. he goes, she just wants him to be able to be excited. she is not controlling.

Maybe your DH would prefer to play a round of golf on MK day? Or even just relax by the pool.
Good luck!

these are good suggestions (even though he will miss out seing the kids enjoy it., although dads tend to...sadly... miss a lot of kid stuff)but it's a happy medium

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.

well Easter and christams are the most crowded times!Iunless you're taling about early dec) maybe he would like it better if you went at value season, or at least regualr season.

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. .
Why do we flip out when our spouses don't want to go to Disney? LOL
.

can't help you here. I am so lucky!!! hubby NEBO (you may have read his trip reports) loves disney more than I do! (and there are many other guys that do, too). here's an idea, have hubby read Nebo's 1st and 2nd trip reports. he'll crack up laughing, and see disney in a whole new way!

ps. about characters, you don't have to see them at MK. at Epcot, they have the character station, where you can take the kids in lines to see the charachters while hubby is having a brewski at Rose and Crown! then MK won't seem so totally kid centered (the character lines are much longer at MK)

 

[nebo]

this is smidgy. I just posted under hubby Nebo's name! (proving that he is a disney lover...he left the "dis" logged in . under his name. guess he was getting his disney fix!:lmao)
but, be glad he goes. take turns. he picks a vacation, you pick a vacation (I'm still wondering if I'll ever get to Vegas!)

 

[nebo]

You say your DH doesn't like Disney but this is the 3rd year in a row you are going there.

Here's an idea.

One year you plan a vacation then the next year let him plan a vacation.

If you can't do this then you really do have a control issue.

when I suggested,"you pick a vacation, then he picks one" I hadnt read this post yet. DISCLAIMER: I don't agree with this post. you are not controlling.


I like the idea about the cahracter meal. also, when I suggested the character's at Epcot, I didn't think about the faries. true, only one place to see the fairies. maybe hubby and son do something else while you and DD do fairy time. godd luck and have fun!!!!

 

[snookiedoodles]

My husband does not like the Disney thing.....so if I can get him to go, he would rather take the car to go scuba diving elsewhere.

Other than that, I an planning a trip down there without him and just me and the kids........

 

[WVParkfan]

To the OP: does your husband like Epcot? Does he like the Animal Kingdom? How about DHS?

The Magic Kingdom is my least-favorite park, and our family spends the least amount of our time there. Sure, it's magical, but I prefer Epcot any day. And I don't think that me and your husband are the only men that aren't head-over-heels in love with the MK.

My advice to you is to explore the other parks with your husband. Forcing anyone to spend lots of time in a place that just doesn't make them happy will cause them to lose the magic. Your husband may find that he loves the Animal Kingdom Park or Hollywood Studios. If you agree to spend some time at the other parks, you may see that the "magic" works for him at a different park. In turn, by being happy and finding the magic for himself, he may be more open to spending part of the time at the MK.

I love WDW, but if we only went to the MK, then I would have been done visiting years ago. But mixing all 4 parks together every trip is absolutely magical for me. And that may be the secret for your husband, too.

 

[PirateGirl]

I think that quite often women simply get more pleasure watching (& joining in with) the kids having fun & where better than MK?
My other half is similar; he loves Epcot & HS but not so keen on AK & MK. Quite often he will drop us off & go off to motorcycle shows etc. That suits us both fine & we are all happy at the end of the day (no arguments or grouchiness ) and we will then go off to a park in the evening together. This works for us but everyone is different.

 

[ntikos]

She said he doesn't like the Magic Kingdom. One out of four parks.





Unless you have a package, you can use the GAD vouchers and then upgrade to however many days you want, thereby saving the one park cost (for each person) the GAD vouchers would give you in the upgrade...


I would just stop judging his reactions based on how you might react. Sounds like except for the characters, he's game for the MK day. Just have fun in your way, let him work on his own fun in his own day, and it might feel better!

From a man's perspective here's how I read it. By saying he doesn't like MK the DH is saying he doesn't like Disney but if he has to go he'd rather go to Epcot. He knows how much his wife loves Disney so he doesn't want to just come out and say he hates Disney. He is dropping a hint.

As I said before - it would seem fair ( uncontrolling ) if the DW would allow DH to pick or plan a vacation every other year. My guess is he wouldn't pick Disney - but that's ok, when he does go back to Disney he will probably be in a better mood because he won't feel like " oh, Gosh - how did she talk me into going to Disney again?". In fact, after skipping Disney every other year and having some say in other vacation spots, it wouldn't surprise me in the least that he would enjoy MK more than he does now.

If the DW is unwilling or unable to allow DH to pick a vacation every other year than how could she not have a control problem.


That and 69cents will buy you a cup of coffee - but if the OP didn't want my opinion I guess she wouldn't have posted her problem on a public forum.

 

[ShannonMB]

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!

Hi OP, I posted earlier that my DD and I prefer to just go to Disney without our cranky Disney-disliker (I think my post sorta sounded like I don't even like the guy, which is so not true -- love him with all my heart -- but Disney does bring out the worst in him and he's happier at home with the house to himself!)

After reading this reply, I can see where you're coming from where it would be hard to manage the 3 little (tiny!) ones by yourself. AND that it is HIS idea to travel to Florida yearly for the theme parks.

In this situation, I'd be feeling the same way you are -- suck it up and deal with it -- AND paste a smile on your face so the kids KNOW you are enjoying what makes THEM happy! But I do love some other posters' idea of really splitting up in the MK. No need at all for all of you to wait for the fairies if that's you and DD's thing. And also, doing most of your character meets at Epcot. We always meet tons of princesses in the World Showcase, and he can be doing what he loves there while you're doing it!

So separate while your DD meets the fairies, plan a character meal to meet Mickey, and meet your princesses in Epcot. And if that's not enough of a compromise, remind him that while it's not ALL about the kids, they certainly should get THEIR turn doing what they love most!

Have a great trip!!!