Tips on getting the husband back on board?

[SugarSweetLee]

Hi!

Although I practically grew up at Disney (but now live several states away ), and my husband had only been once before in his whole life, last January we went on our first Disney trip *together* and had a 5 day/4 night trip that was AMAZING (largely thanks to all the tips and tricks I picked up here). Now, I'm getting the itch to plan another trip back next year, but he's more of the opinion that he needs a few years "off" and that there are other places to visit

Ideas to help me convince him to go back sooner rather than later, please!

ETA:
We just had a long talk about it and in his opinion it seems less special if you start going more often. While I do not feel that way having grown up with several years of APs (thanks grandma!), I won't argue his opinion. We are tentatively planning a trip for 2017/18 when more of the new stuff is done at AK (his favorite park), and talking about some smaller, less expensive trips like camping in the mountains and maybe a C@rnival cruise, etc, in the meantime.

Thanks everyone for the advice

 

[ColoradoDis]

Wondering if you added a couple of days at the beach after your WDW trip if it would make him more excited. Clearwater Beach is amazing and is a good way to unwind after a busy Disney trip.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

Wondering if you added a couple of days at the beach after your WDW trip if it would make him more excited. Clearwater Beach is amazing and is a good way to unwind after a busy Disney trip.

Hmmm, maybe? I like the idea, but generally we have to limit our vacation time due the fact that he doesn't get paid time off (contract work), so the lack of work/pay over the vacation factors into how long we can take off.

 

[mort1331]

Take him in October to the Wine and Food fest, add in a round of golf if the two of you like, and wonderful meals DD. I cant wait till I go without the kids.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

Take him in October to the Wine and Food fest, add in a round of golf if the two of you like, and wonderful meals DD. I cant wait till I go without the kids.

He did particularly like the "drinking around the World" part of the trip, :haha:

 

[Micca]

He did particularly like the "drinking around the World" part of the trip, :haha:

You can drink around several things: AK, TDS, DTD, the resorts...

 

[pepe of ohio]

If he's like me, I do enjoy WDW, I just don't want it crammed down my throat the opening to closing thing...

That said, we've done 54 trips and I still get giddy each trip, but we do the parks in moderation...few hours morning and few hours evenings...a lot of pool resort time...exploring Fort Wilderness...pool picnics... Beer wine feasts at the pool....very few TS restaurants....I just don't like being dragged all over to say, get your money's worth...it's a vacation...relax... If wife wants to shop DTD, be my guest, I'm staying at the pool...she's a big girl and goes herself....

 

[snowwhite84]

My husband enjoys Disney but not nearly to the level I do. So my bff and I have instituted a tradition of a yearly girls trip. That way, DH goes about every other year, but I get to go more often. Do you have a friend that is a Disney addict?

 

[Planogirl]

Well... He is right that there are other places to visit.

Could you alternate where he picks one and then you do and so on?

 

[JRennie]

My husband also seems to think there are "other places to vacation". I don't exactly share this opinion so next year we are spending a week in Hawaii and then a week at Disney instead of two weeks at Disney. Sometimes you have to go where they want to go.... we often alternate years for who gets to choose the vacation destination, it's a good compromise.

 

[ForMyBoys]

We'll, how about a Disney cruise? They have 4/5 night cruises. The theming in the ship and Castaway Key is awesome. You could start or end your trip with a day in the parks. Then you get to travel to a new place while being Disnified!

 

[SugarSweetLee]

If he's like me, I do enjoy WDW, I just don't want it crammed down my throat the opening to closing thing...

That said, we've done 54 trips and I still get giddy each trip, but we do the parks in moderation...few hours morning and few hours evenings...a lot of pool resort time...exploring Fort Wilderness...pool picnics... Beer wine feasts at the pool....very few TS restaurants....I just don't like being dragged all over to say, get your money's worth...it's a vacation...relax... If wife wants to shop DTD, be my guest, I'm staying at the pool...she's a big girl and goes herself....

I think you're onto something there. I am definitely more commando style touring, but he was definitely wanting to take a more laid back approach and go with the flow. Since our trip together was the first time either of us had been in many many years, we *were* trying to fit in a lot of stuff. More break times, spending time in the pool and resorts, would probably help scale back the intensity.

My husband enjoys Disney but not nearly to the level I do. So my bff and I have instituted a tradition of a yearly girls trip. That way, DH goes about every other year, but I get to go more often. Do you have a friend that is a Disney addict?

OH MAN I WISH. I'm afraid that I'm the only gungho Dis-fan out of my close friends. We all grew up in FL together, and while they'd visited fairly frequently as kids as well, they don't have as much of a drive to go back as I do.

Well... He is right that there are other places to visit.

Could you alternate where he picks one and then you do and so on?

Sure! Except he won't pick one! We are lowkey saving for a trip to Europe that will be our true ( years belated) Honeymoon, but that is still a few years off to financially be able to go for the length of time and all the places we want to hit, so we'd like to take about one smaller vacation per year in the meantime. Husband just doesn't get excited about planning things the way I do, and usually leaves that part up to me, sooooooo...

My husband also seems to think there are "other places to vacation". I don't exactly share this opinion so next year we are spending a week in Hawaii and then a week at Disney instead of two weeks at Disney. Sometimes you have to go where they want to go.... we often alternate years for who gets to choose the vacation destination, it's a good compromise.

Again, I'd love to talk compromise, except he won't put any cards down to negotiate with!

 

[SugarSweetLee]

We'll, how about a Disney cruise? They have 4/5 night cruises. The theming in the ship and Castaway Key is awesome. You could start or end your trip with a day in the parks. Then you get to travel to a new place while being Disnified!

I do love the idea of a cruise, but I think the Disney ones are a little out of our budget (we are off-season, discount-code, Value resort type of funding). Plus, the cruise doesn't have some of our favorite things about the parks - the rides

 

[Planogirl]

I would tell him that if he doesn't have a suggestion then you are booking another trip to WDW. Someone has to decide and if he won't then it has to be you.

Maybe you could work in a day or two to the beach or Kennedy Space Center or St Augustine or wherever.

 

[ForMyBoys]

You can get some great last minute cruise deals (esp in mid Jan) if you are willing to wait to book. But yes I know they cost more... but so worth it

 

[SugarSweetLee]

I would tell him that if he doesn't have a suggestion then you are booking another trip to WDW. Someone has to decide and if he won't then it has to be you.

Maybe you could work in a day or two to the beach or Kennedy Space Center or St Augustine or wherever.

Heeheehee...I have toyed with the idea, believe me! If I didn't have to have his full cooperation as to working out the timing of the trip, I'd have done it already.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

You can get some great last minute cruise deals (esp in mid Jan) if you are willing to wait to book. But yes I know they cost more... but so worth it

I will keep that in mind! We have never cruised before, so may try out a cheaper option like C@rnival first (which has ports closer to home) just to make sure we're not seasick types, haha.

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

How about an evening at Trader Sam's? And if that fails... crying usually works.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Deluxe dining. A promise of filet mignon nearly everyday will get my husband to go about anywhere! He goes to Disney for the food.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I have a similar situation. DH does not like the parks at all.

Year before last, I booked a trip to Disney's Hilton Head Island for spring break. I got my Disney, and DH said it was the best family vacation we ever had. He admitted that Disney really has fabulous guest services. The next fall, we did a split Disney World/Disney Vero Beach vacation. It also worked really well for my husband.

I do take trips just with my mom and the kids, but DH is going back to the World with us this fall. He is actually looking forward to it. I talked up the restaurants and we will be on the dining plan. I plan to spend some time every day in the parks, but we only booked him a 2 day ticket. That will give him some time to relax at the resort while I take the kids to the parks (and we will probably do some man-on-man coverage of our two kids, also). I do think it helps to let DH decide what he likes to do. Mine likes to eat and relax while on vacation, so I let him do that. We don't have to be together 24/7.

There are so many awesome things to do at WDW that don't involve parks. Horseback riding, bike riding, swimming, boating, golfing, etc. Almost everything you can do at any resort in the country you can do at Disney. Once my DH discovered the magnitude of WDW, he goes back willingly enough.