To those with ANTI-Disney husbands/wives...

[zakatak]

I'm just wondering... HOW do you deal with this? Here's the situation... I am extremely jealous of my friend because her husband actually LOVES Disney and is excited to talk about it/go! He has actually driven them down 4 times in a little over a year (22 hours).

My husband rolls his eyes when I bring up Disney.

They are currently on a 3 day Disney cruise which they will book the 7 day one for next Easter on... My dh went on a Disney cruise for work last October, loved it, yet when I asked for it for my birthday, he said, "never".

I want to take my kids (7, 4, 2) down next Thanksgiving (2004) which will be 18 months since this July trip coming up. I figure I might actually make that??? (have to save up the money, we pay for Disney in cash). He is already rolling his eyes... doesn't want to waste his vacation time, yada yada yada...

So, how does everyone handle this? Should I just plan on it being me and whichever kid wants to come along? On one hand, we had a blast when it was just the kids and I. On the other, we do miss him as he does seem to have a good time when he is actually there... although he hates parades, crowds, etc lol.

Maybe I should just make it MY thing with the kids and maybe he will join us on his own free will... with only 4, we can do ASMu!

Is anyone else dealing with this? How do you handle it? Sometimes I just want to chat with him about ideas for the trip, but with the instant eye-rolling, it is a turnoff. I just wish he could be more excited like my friend's husband...

Ideas?

Karen

 

[doxdogy]

My husband is anti-disney. Refuses to go to the Magic Kingdom. He will consider MGM or Epcot. Luckily my daughter loves going to Disney. So we go together and leave my husband and her husband at home.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

My hubby is not anti-Disney, but with three sets of grandparents in three different cities and us in a fourth city (with the only grandkids), he is anti-travelling. He travels a lot for work, and he would rather "vacation" at home. He has a hard time going somewhere where family is not.

Admittedly, I do turn some of his business trips into mini-vacations, but Disney is totally separate. I love Disney, and I am trying to inspire the same love and magic in DDs. SO generally, I plan the trip far enough in advance that we announce it to all grandparents, and they can choose to join us or not. I even plan their lodging, etc. And of course they will follow my plan because anywhere I go the grandbabies go. DH usually has fun, but I get those periodic eye rolls when I start getting into the details.

I've learned to just tell him the dates so he can ask off at work, then the rest I plan to me heart's content, and he goes with the flow!

I don't know what advice to give you except to get his agreement on the big stuff (when and what resort), then plan the rest with you kids. Good luck and pixie dust for you to make it work!

 

[jel0511]

I had an anti-Disney husband, but my frequent dragging him down there he's become a convert. I wish I had a scanner to show him standing up, dancing and swinging his napkin at Chef Mickey's. It's REALLY funny!! It wasn't until this last trip in Feb, that he finally admitted that he likes going. DH always used to roll his eyes when I started talking about another WDW trip. We've been 6 times in the last 3 years, and we have another trip planned for July. We've decided the perfect WDW trip for us is now going to be once a year for 10 days. It's enough for him ( I wish we could go more!!) and it lets us take another vacation somewhere else each year also. I want my kids to experience WDW, but I also want to to experience different places also. So, this is the best of both worlds for us. We also pay cash for all our trips, and our WDW trips are mostly paid for since we are members of DVC. The way I got DH to convert is we went down on a trip and spend SEVERAL days at the pool. DH really got to relax and saw that WDW didn't have to be all parks and such, it also could be relaxing. Maybe you should try that in July. Spend some time at the resort, really relax. Just get up, eat breakfast and sit at the pool all day, then go play miniture golf. It really helps others see that WDW isn't just parks, it's also a beautiful resort which can be relaxing and enjoyable. We now plan our trips with several pool days and just take it easy. It makes for a true vacation!!!!

 

[helenabear]

My DH isn't totally anti-Disney. He's more of Disney is good every few years only. So in the mean time I will just pack up and go w/o him (this is true for most of my trips too). I do miss him when I travel with out him because I enjoy sharing things with him, but we'd both probably be more miserable if he were there and bored. Of course my situation is different as we have no children. I wish I had sound advice, but I would just plan the trips and see where it goes. Good luck, Karen

 

[grinningghost]

The first trip we took together to WDW was in 1990. At the time, DH had never been there before, but I had - and was in love with the place. All through the planning stages, he kind of rolled his eyes and more or less ignored the process. But once he got there - it was all over. Now he's just as bad as me.

 

[Mishetta]

Anti-Disney????!!! I'd ask for a Divorce!!

I will have to thank my DH after reading this thread. He is just as excited about Disney as I am! Matter of fact, our first trip to WDW, I made all the arrangements, ressies, & PS's at Restaurants. Everything was great. Well, now my DH makes all the plans because he says it makes him feel he's already there (while planning). So now I just go for the ride! He plans the perfect Disney vacation everytime! I'd say he's definitely a "keeper!"

My advice to you would be to plan your vacation with your kids if he truly does not want to go. OR, find something he really likes to do & incorporate it into your Disney trip so that he gets what he wants too!

 

[gepetto]

If he hates crowds, Thanksgiving might not be a good time to go. Why don't you try waiting until you get back from your July trip before planning another one.

 

[SuiteDisney]

Sounds like you need a new husband.

 

[Poohbear123]

Good one! Yes, I have "one of those" and I solved my Problem by GOING ALONE!!!! Believe you me, I do NOT miss him ONE bit! He went with me recently, about a week ago, for ONE night and Complained about the Hotel, which he LOVED in June, and complained about the bus service, which he bragged about in June, so guess what? I am GOING alone in Nov.! (I can hardly wait).

 

[4greatboys]

My dh is not anti Disney he is just Disney impaired. He did go along with joining dvc. But while I would love to go twice a year, he will go once a year and would probably like to make that every other year. When I think about going to Disney I get all excited thinking about all the stuff I cant wait to see and do again. he sees $$$ signs at the money we will be spending. Actually when I told him I was planning a trip in Oct--taking the kiddies to MNSSHP he said he did want to go. I was going with or without him but it was nice to hear him say he did want to go with us.
I would just plan your trip witht he kids and tell him when you guys are going. If he wants to go great and if not you and the kids have a great time!

 

[nativetxn]

It is a well known DIS fact that my husband is severely Disney impaired. I love him anyway.

I probably shouldn't post to this because my situation is so different from yours Zak. I only have one child and he just turned 28 so I don't have the "family vacation" connundrum.

My husband humors my Disney addiction and my DIS addiction and I just go solo. I love my solo trips. I only get to have 3 this year, unless I can finagle a way for a fourth one. I'm always finagling for another trip

 

[Planogirl]

My DH is kind of like helenabears. He is OK with Disney but he prefers to go a lot less often than my son and I. I can count on him going every other year or so. I used to try to include him each time but during one trip we ended up fighting with him complaining about everything at WDW and me defending the parks so I backed off. Now, DS and I very happily trot off to Florida and he very happily stays home. I try to plan two big trips a year and DH goes along for the other trip.

 

[Popsicle]

Don''t have a DH, but do have a Disney hating SO. Want to know how much he hates Disney?

He has a son at school in Tallahassee. We drove there last October. I just KNEW I would convince him to swing by Orlando for a couple of days. What did he say? NO!!!

Well, we drove on to St. Augustine to visit one of his relatives. I brought up Disney again. We were so much closer than in Tallahassee. The relative and his wife were all for it! What did he say? NO!!!

Thought as we approached the highway back home, I'd tried it again, this time using Universal as the carrot. What did he say? HECK, NO!!! (I had DW addiction withdrawal for a few weeks after returning home and I hadn't even been to DW. Imagine how horrible it was to be "so near and yet so far.")

Needless to say, he's a hopeless case, so I will do what I do every year... go with my DB and his family. That will show him!!!

You do the same. Maybe one day he'll break down. I know that's what I'M hoping. LOL

 

[bridgettesmom]

We should form a support group!!! Just this week, I "accused" DH for been anti-disney and he got offended.He said he likes disney,but, he doesn't need to go every year...WHAT???
I told him that before I met him I used to go at least twice a year.That I have made a great sacrifice and cut back to once a year and is time to go back(last trip nov 2002).Yesterday,I even got him to read a few posts fromm the board and he seemed interested ( I'm slowly trying to pull him in ).Today, I played the music from the haunted mansion and the parades on our computer and he asked me if the music was been used to persuade him to go. I know that he really enjoyed it . I know living with a Disney impaired person is hard, slowly ,but,surely we can drag them in.If not, we can always try hypnotism.We could get a recording that plays while they are sleeping that says,I love disney,I love disney,I have to go visit,the mouse misses me, I have to go back. If that doesn't work ,we go back to the support group idea and hold our therapy every six months at the BW ,so that we can go help each other in our time of need .

 

[Poohbear123]

Mine will NOT budge! He is SET in his ways! He is retired now, and I thought he would be traveling more, but, he likes to do Flea Markets and Yard Sales...I LOVE disney, but he says its TOO much Walking! I told him when he was at Down Town a week ago, pretend YOU are at a FLEA MARKET! AAcckkk!

 

[snowball22]

Boy I can relate!!! My dh is an anti Disney type of guy. I planned our first trip 4 years ago at the parks and we stayed at the CSR. He did not want to go even though he had never been there before. He kept saying that it is just a "theme park". Well, once we got there he had the best time of his life and even wanted to move into the CSR. We have a cruise planned this year. Our first cruise. He is complaining again that the money could be better used in a different way and why a cruise with Disney. He is crabbing up a storm right now. But I know again that he will have the best time of his life again.

Just plan your trips with your dh at Disney and have fun. Maybe make sure some personal attention is given to him with some surprise pixie dust.

 

[WDWLVR]

I'm counting my blessings that my DH is as much a Disney fan as I am. i don't know if I would enjoy going without him (as it would cut into our vacation time together). I used to go alone before we met and I know I could enjoy myself on vacation, but I just enjoy it that much more with him.

He let's me do most of the planning, but I always run things past him for input and he likes beng updated.

He's even planned a trip or two like our trip last December to WDW in December.

 

[CynJ]

My DH is a Disney Dud!

We had great trip planned in 2002 for my parents and us - well the two men-folk moaned and groaned and complained about going so much that Mom and I went without them! lol

Now DH and I have friends with a 1yr old son and we all want to go to WDW in February of next year just before the baby turns 2 - well at first DH was all gung ho -now he's back to being a dud.

BIG SIGH - I don't know what to do with him!

 

[kdibattista]

Yep... divorce

I am very lucky that DH likes Disney very, very much!! We went on our honeymoon (his first time) and he vows to go back every year.