Suggestions on getting a non-Disney person to cruise on DCL???

[Juddster]

I'm looking for encouragement to get my DH's parents to come sail with us!! His step-dad is 'onboard' but his mom hates all things Disney and disowning her is not an option She use to live in Orlando and, as I said, dislikes all things Disney. We told her she doesn't have to partake in the Disney side of it, but I thought someone else might have had a similar experience and might have some ideas!! It's challenging since we love Disney!! tia

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm looking for encouragement to get my DH's parents to come sail with us!! His step-dad is 'onboard' but his mom hates all things Disney and disowning her is not an option She use to live in Orlando and, as I said, dislikes all things Disney. We told her she doesn't have to partake in the Disney side of it, but I thought someone else might have had a similar experience and might have some ideas!! It's challenging since we love Disney!! tia

I've found you can't convince someone of something that they don't want to be convinced of.

All you can do is book a cruise for those who do want to come. If she's not one of them, that's on her. Maybe all the "wasn't that a great cruise?" talk afterwards will bring her around.

Maybe she could take a little vacation of her own while the rest of you are on the cruise?

 

[MUN]

I'm looking for encouragement to get my DH's parents to come sail with us!! His step-dad is 'onboard' but his mom hates all things Disney and disowning her is not an option She use to live in Orlando and, as I said, dislikes all things Disney. We told her she doesn't have to partake in the Disney side of it, but I thought someone else might have had a similar experience and might have some ideas!! It's challenging since we love Disney!! tia

Are you paying for her trip?

 

[xavier2001]

I've found you can't convince someone of something that they don't want to be convinced of.

All you can do is book a cruise for those who do want to come. If she's not one of them, that's on her. Maybe all the "wasn't that a great cruise?" talk afterwards will bring her around.

Maybe she could take a little vacation of her own while the rest of you are on the cruise?

This!! Our first Disney cruise my Dad was NOT into it and in the end did not go (citing a last minute work conflict). The rest of us went and had such a great time and after all the pictures and talk about how wonderful it was I think he regretted his decision. He came with us on cruise number 2 and we all had a blast!! Sometime the more you push the more the naysayers push back!

 

[cmph]

If you don't have kids, my suggestion is: have kids. Things my parents would never consider doing are now done with joy with grandkids.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Simple, do you have kids, aka her grandchildren? DH isn't a Disney guy, but he goes to Disney events because he loves me and knows I'll back off when he's reached his limit. Maybe your MIL can be convinced to join you because she loves you and the family and promise to back of the Disney stuff (other than Animator's Palate, I guess) as a compromise?

 

[Sunshine2U]

Couple of thoughts on that one...

If you have children and she is not willing to sail Disney to see her grandchildren's enjoyment then she's probably too far on the dark side. Go without her.

If no children ask yourself if it is more important to have a Disney or family vacation. There are other options that work well for adults - I stand firmly that Disney is the very best for the preteen set. If you have sailed Disney before, maybe you could consider compromise. If you've never sailed Disney:

I've found you can't convince someone of something that they don't want to be convinced of.

All you can do is book a cruise for those who do want to come. If she's not one of them, that's on her. Maybe all the "wasn't that a great cruise?" talk afterwards will bring her around.

Maybe she could take a little vacation of her own while the rest of you are on the cruise?

 

[squirk]

Why does she hate all things Disney so much? Was she attacked by a pack of wild Walt Disneys as a child?

Unlike the parks, it is very easy to avoid most of the Disney kitsch found on the ships. There's no way to avoid all of it - she will see mouse ears at some point - but if she sticks to the adult areas and avoids others (e.g., the family section of the pool deck, the musicals, Animator's, Royal Court/Palace), it is very easy to forget you are sailing on a Disney ship.

As @Sunshine2U said, if you don't have (young) kids and MIL really really doesn't want to sail DCL, then maybe you all need to pick a different cruise line this time, and save the DCL cruise for just the two of you.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I'm looking for encouragement to get my DH's parents to come sail with us!! His step-dad is 'onboard' but his mom hates all things Disney and disowning her is not an option She use to live in Orlando and, as I said, dislikes all things Disney. We told her she doesn't have to partake in the Disney side of it, but I thought someone else might have had a similar experience and might have some ideas!! It's challenging since we love Disney!! tia

My suggestion is like Elsa sings, "Let it Go." I asked my parents and my 2 aunts to join us on our last cruise and was so worried making sure they had a great time that I lost site that it was a vacation for my wife and kids. I still had a really good time but didn't have the zen cruise experience I normally do. The great time I thought we'd all have together, was good but nearly what I thought it would be in my mind. Just my $.02

 

[disneyholic family]

My suggestion is like Elsa sings, "Let it Go." I asked my parents and my 2 aunts to join us on our last cruise and was so worried making sure they had a great time that I lost site that it was a vacation for my wife and kids. I still had a really good time but didn't have the zen cruise experience I normally do. The great time I thought we'd all have together, was good but nearly what I thought it would be in my mind. Just my $.02

keep what this poster says in mind!!! i've been there, done that...both on DCL and at WDW....
brought my mom and sister, the disney haters along, and while there were moments of glory with the grandkids, in the end it definitely hurt my personal enjoyment as i was so wrapped up in trying to make it perfect for the disney haters, i didn't have my normal experience just having a lovely laid back time being with DD, DS and DH together with the mouse....

 

[clten]

Give her some examples of Navigators from recent cruises that are similar to what you are planning. Point out to her the activities they have that are not Disney-fied -- cooking classes, Bingo, cabaret acts, musicians, Castaway Cay etc. The things you think she would enjoy. If she still doesn't want to go just because it is a Disney ship, there may be nothing you can do to convince her.

 

[aggiedog]

Pay for her trip. Hard to turn down a free trip!

Aside from that, I agree with the PP's. You can't make someone like something, and for the cost of Disney, she'll just be that much harder to convince.

 

[pgroom48]

I hate the parks and would rather walk on broken glass but I LOVE the cruises. I also used to live in Orlando. In fact, I'm leaving today on my 13th. Tell her many feel like her. I think the ships are less throw a mouse down your throat than the parks. Not to mention it's not so stifling hot. If nothing convinces her, go without her, you'll have a great time.

 

[RedSox68]

Just being with you and your DH on a vacation aren't enough? Show her the information about the adult areas and the lounges and how it's not all kids stuff. Otherwise, just take your FIL

 

[bumbershoot]

She use to live in Orlando and, as I said, dislikes all things Disney.

That's how my uncle is, too. Anything that has to do with The Mouse, he hates. He has two nieces in the whole entire world, and when I come to visit Florida he won't meet us because I insist on being in Orlando/Celebration. Now he's solved the problem by moving to rural Tennessee.

Why does she hate all things Disney so much? Was she attacked by a pack of wild Walt Disneys as a child?

Happens to some when they are trying to live their lives and themeparks keep getting built up all around them.


OP, go on a different line! Apply what you're trying to apply to her, but in reverse. And then you'll see if it's the cruise that's bothering her or *just* Disney.

Adults shouldn't be forced to go places or guilted into doing stuff. She's allowed to have her likes and dislikes. If she and her husband have a relationship that allows for separate vacations, consider that.

But also consider another line.

Celebrity has NO indoor smoking, which makes it similar to Disney in that respect, but they do have a casino which can perk some people up.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I encouraged my MIL (she's single so just her) to join us on our 7 night Alaskan Cruise recently. She wanted to go to Alaska but had no desire to be on a cruise with a bunch of other kids that weren't her 2 grandsons where everything was ALL DISNEY. Well, she saw all the pictures, videos and stories from our trip and is 100% regretful. Fast forward to us telling her we booked our second cruise while on the ship and she asked if she can join us!

Have you shown her all the fun that can be had? All the food that can be eaten? All the places you get to see? Maybe it will take this trip to show her how fun it can be AFTER you've done the trip!

 

[aggiedog]

Yes, to the after trip regret as a motivator. My dad said for years he didn't want to travel overseas. So my mom and sister went to Europe without him. He felt a bit left out when they got back, especially hearing the stories and seeing the pictures. My mom had to keep reminding him had adamantly refused to go despite multiple invitations. Fast forward several years. He's been to Italy, Iceland, and a Baltic and Caribbean DCL cruise with us, and we're planning a trip to Japan for next summer which he is all excited about.

Sometimes you just have to go without them (at least initially.) They are adults and entitled to make their own opinions, and possibly change them as time goes on.

 

[squirk]

Happens to some when they are trying to live their lives and themeparks keep getting built up all around them.

An assumed risk of living in Orlando, I suppose.

 

[Justacruiser]

All of the above posts are great. My parents weren't to keen on going on a DCL cruise but enjoyed it. I actually think they enjoyed it more than they want to admit. You/She can actually have little to do with Disney if she wants. It is not a bunch of crying, sobbing, misbehaved kids (ok, so I am stretching a bit), making a whole lot of noise all the time. And, it's not "it's a small world" music blaring 24/7. I would just say, we are booking on Thursday and are you in or out? Then book! If you want to plan something else with them, go ahead but say you are going on the cruise. enjoy!

 

[jahber]

For me the question is are you trying to plan a vacation with your husband's parents or are you inviting them along on your vacation? I'm assuming it's not the former or you wouldn't have chosen a vacation associated with a place your MIL hates--you would have asked her what she wants in a vacation.

So, if you just want them to come along on *your* vacation with you, I agree with the others who said take your FIL and leave MIL at home. She may have limited money or vacation time, for example, and not want to (what she sees as) waste it on the mouse. I get that. I've always lived in Orlando and it would never occur to me to go to a theme park on vacation. That said, I loooooove cruising, especially DCL, whereas I could take or leave WDW.

But IF you really were trying to plan a vacation WITH your in-laws, I think it's only fair to allow everyone to have a say. And at least not have their entire vacation themed by a place they hate.