What to do when your spouse loses interest in Disney World?

[Zhaan]

When we first started going to Disney World together years ago, if anything my husband was more into it than I was. Our last trip in November was the first trip with FP+ and he didn't enjoy it at all. He hated being on a schedule and having to know which park to be at 60 days out (I know you can wing it - I don't want this to be a FP+ debate you either like it or you don't). Also, it was freakishly cold, one day not even getting over 50 - and overcast and drizzly and windy. All of that combined and he simply did not enjoy it.

Lucky for me we have 2 trips coming up this year because we have an annual pass and one trip is with friends so we can't cancel. To get him to go the second time I had to cut down the Disney days and add 3 Universal. Also, next summer we are committed to taking my nephews and family. So for the next 1.5 years I will get to go to Disney with my best friend (husband). However, after that he doesn't want to go anymore. He said it just doesn't feel like a vacation with FP+.

I am hoping they tweak the system so that it's a little better for people who like to fly by the seat of their pants, however that may never happen. What do you do when your spouse loses interest in Disney World? Do you stop going a while and hope the interest comes back? Do you go with friends or by yourself? I keep hoping this next trip will be more relaxed and better weather and he'll warm back up to going. It will be April and I already told him I will make FP+ reservations but to treat them as optional hoping that will make it more enjoyable for him. Any other ideas to make this next trip more fun for him?

 

[ethanwa]

Give it time. FP+ is a change but it's here to stay. After he accepts that maybe he can move on and just enjoy himself.

Try going on some different vacations and maybe he'll miss WDW and want to come back after some away time from it. Go on a cruise, go to Hawaii, do something else for a while.

Ethan

 

[Flamingeaux]

I'm fixing to find out. DW told me our last trip was her last trip. DD is still ready to go anytime!!! I may have to branch out and plan trips with my disney-friends. I still have a six day ticket and a one day ticket burning a hole in my sock drawer. I may plan a trip with just a room discount and use both tix.

 

[kamik86]

Honestly I'm with your husband. My husband still keeps wanting to go but honestly now that its that much work the appeal isn't there as much and I have been wanting to do other things.

The new deal is that he picks a vacation then I do, but with reasonable accomodations for the others enjoyment...

He picked the trip next week that is San Diego and Disneyland (so he still gets a disney fix but I'm happy as its different). I picked the cruise in May (Alaskan cruise). He will get the next pick... no idea what it will be yet... but I have some ideas for the one after that.

 

[TiszBear]

Give it a little time. To be honest even with FP+ we don't plan alot. In March 12 are going for 10 days and only have a total of 5 FP+ - for the entire time. The ones we did get are what we really wanted to do, otherwise we are winging it and don't mind standing in line.

 

[skriegerjr]

Is looking for a new spouse out of the question?

 

[RustManFan]

we have never had all our vacations at WDW and clearly spaced them out so there was always new to experience. for example, we went to Hawaii one year, we took a Civil War inspired camping trip through Virginia, we made several trips to the UK.

I say plan something different. And next time you do want to do a Disney park maybe you should go to DL with other side trips in the area that are new experiences.

How about traveling to a new city where you can surprise him with tickets for a favorite sports team? (if he is a sports fan at all)

Plan on a visit to the Kennedy Space Center maybe. My sister and I had a fantastic day there.... the tour was fantastic!

How about a beach day? I took my son to Daytona (and had a speedway tour there) while my DD stayed at WDW on her own.... yes she was old enough.

 

[eliza61]

Try some place else. Seriously.

I have had only one experience with the new Fp+ and it was an absolute disaster. we spent more time at kiosk (seems we always got behind some one who spoke no English, or the first timer that had no clue) or trying to log onto Disney's crappy wifi than we did enjoying the parks.

We have never been uber planners so we felt so regimented with this new system.

As an immediate family we opted for a cruise instead. we are returning in August because my family is having it's family reunion at wdw. Already it's a hassle, 18 people and the planners are trying to force everyone to purchase tickets at least 60 days in advance so we can make fp reservation. talk about a hassle.

We have decided to change our wdw trips. now we are calling them more of a "florida" vacation. We'll do a few days (4 at most) at thte world then do other things.

We've also decided to sell our dvc. Just not our type of vacation style.

 

[North of Mouse]

I can honestly understand your husband's feelings about FP+, but dh & I are on the same page about it. We are planning to go a couple weeks this Spring, maybe once again within the year as we will get an AP. After that, we may not go again for several years.

We have been going to Disney for many years, but are very much upset with the way Disney wants us to plan our vacation nearly to the hour. We like to relax before, and during our vacations, not plan everything completely - some ressies are ok, but not every day. Choices are more limited, but prices keep going up, up, up!

We have been including Disney in our vacations most years, but will probably say bye-bye and go more to other places that are much more relaxing to us. Disney should 'wake up' as there are many out there like us.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Other than finding new places to vacation, I would try different things...How about a Universal/Disney trip? If you stay onsite at one of the three deluxes, Express Pass might be right up his alley! No planning required. Or maybe combine Disney with a beach trip or a short cruise. Or make it a resort-based vacation while you go to the parks for a few hours in the morning while he relaxes.

 

[RMulieri]

My spouse IS like that and as a result, we have been skipping Disney and doing Universal or other things entirely. I am not going to force him to do something he isn't enjoying, and if I did we all would be miserable( not to mention I am not a an of regimented vacations either) Taking a trip without him is not an option either ( we get very little vacation time as it is and like spending it as a family .DD will only be with us a few more years before college).We will be doing Disneyland later this year, but for now we are giving WDW a break .

 

[minnie mum]

Have you ever done a non Disney vacation? Maybe the poor guy just needs a change of scenery. As much of a Disney parks fan as I am, I'm sure I would have been sick and tired of it years ago if all we did was go there multiple times a year.

Try something else. There are thousands of places to visit, even if you confine yourself to your own country. (Assuming you live in the US). Even you may find somewhere you enjoy as much as WDW. An absence from the parks for a year or two or three may lead to renewed interest on his part.

Or you could just leave him at home and go by yourself.

 

[Disfan1968]

Disney should 'wake up' as there are many out there like us.

Well, I'm afraid attendance was up last year. I think Disney can safely hit the snooze button.

 

[Zhaan]

Have you ever done a non Disney vacation? Maybe the poor guy just needs a change of scenery. .

Yes our Nov. trip was our first after a couple of years off - we were waiting to let the FP+ system get the bugs ironed out (we thought hah). During that time he picked all of our vacations.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I do think sometimes you have to do things your spouse wants to do even if they aren't your top pick. If your spouse wants to sit at a cabin on a lake for a week and you think that is the most boring thing in the world, you might want to push yourself to do it anyway. And ditto for other types of trips.

I know a guy who loved birdwatching trips and his wife would never go with him, for years and years. And then he went on his annual trip but came back with a new wife who was an avid birdwatcher. Just saying.

But only people in the relationship know how to work these things out.

 

[yeheyprincex2]

That was me after our trip in 2013. It was our first trip with both our boys and It just sucked the life out of me. I didn't mind the FP+, but I did have a two year old who wanted to to ride the same ride over and over.

I told my DH I was burned out on Disney and it was our last trip for a while. So the next year we took a road trip to San Antonio and went to California and split out time between San Diego and Disneyland. It was just the break I needed. I am now planning a WDW trip later this year and am VERY much looking forward to it. Give him some time. Try some new destinations, let him miss WDW.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

When we first started going to Disney World together years ago, if anything my husband was more into it than I was. Our last trip in November was the first trip with FP+ and he didn't enjoy it at all. He hated being on a schedule and having to know which park to be at 60 days out (I know you can wing it - I don't want this to be a FP+ debate you either like it or you don't). Also, it was freakishly cold, one day not even getting over 50 - and overcast and drizzly and windy. All of that combined and he simply did not enjoy it.

Lucky for me we have 2 trips coming up this year because we have an annual pass and one trip is with friends so we can't cancel. To get him to go the second time I had to cut down the Disney days and add 3 Universal. Also, next summer we are committed to taking my nephews and family. So for the next 1.5 years I will get to go to Disney with my best friend (husband). However, after that he doesn't want to go anymore. He said it just doesn't feel like a vacation with FP+.

I am hoping they tweak the system so that it's a little better for people who like to fly by the seat of their pants, however that may never happen. What do you do when your spouse loses interest in Disney World? Do you stop going a while and hope the interest comes back? Do you go with friends or by yourself? I keep hoping this next trip will be more relaxed and better weather and he'll warm back up to going. It will be April and I already told him I will make FP+ reservations but to treat them as optional hoping that will make it more enjoyable for him. Any other ideas to make this next trip more fun for him?

Sounds like you are going too often. Disney is a very expensive vacation, and after you have been enough times, more than once a year is too many.
No actually, you said you can't cancel the upcoming trip with friends. And next summer you are taking nephews and family--is that summer 2015 or summer 2016. You know "taking family" is stressful. Not really conducive to convincing him you should do it more often. And traveling "with friends" can be less than the best also. So I suggest cancelling the 3rd trip sandwiched in between altogether. Just go once a year for now, if you really need to go that often, and give him a chance to miss it, and like it again, as previous posters have said. Go other places. Vacation should feel like vacation, and WDW doesn't anymore, and is WAY too expensive to be stressful and not enjoyable.

 

[Jennasis]

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Let him pick the next family vacation spot. Give it time. If you can't survive without your Disney fix, maybe do a weekend or something without him? Just you and a friend/sibling etc?

 

[Jennasis]

Sounds like you are going too often. Disney is a very expensive vacation, and after you have been enough times, more than once a year is too many.
No actually, you said you can't cancel the upcoming trip with friends. And next summer you are taking nephews and family--is that summer 2015 or summer 2016. You know "taking family" is stressful. Not really conducive to convincing him you should do it more often. And traveling "with friends" can be less than the best also. So I suggest cancelling the 3rd trip sandwiched in between altogether. Just go once a year for now, if you really need to go that often, and give him a chance to miss it, and like it again, as previous posters have said. Go other places. Vacation should feel like vacation, and WDW doesn't anymore, and is WAY too expensive to be stressful and not enjoyable.

This is hilarious coming from someone with the user name "wishIcouldgomoreoften".

 

[anniemae]

I would go other places. Give Disney a break, it will still be there. Sometimes people get overloaded and need to take trips to other places, there is so much to see and do outside Disney.