Which nighttime attractions to husbands enjoy more?

[epcotty]

As a DH I like all the nighttime entertainment, and also like outside attractions at night. Maybe the way to go with him if he doesn't like any nighttime entertainment is outside rides at night. I probably like Electrical Parade/Celebrate The Magic/Wishes (also Illuminations) better than Fantasmic though, although I like that too. I still kinda miss Spectromagic though

 

[julluvsdisney]

My DH LOVES the castle projection show. When he saw that I had him hooked! That and a stay at the poly! HAHA

 

[BrdwayBoy]

Never push a spouse who isn't snorting the pixie dust, or mainlining it into their veins ...

Quite possibly the most amazing thing I've read in my five years here on the DisBoards.

 

[freshstart19]

Thanks everyone! Do you get the same Wishes experience by watching it from the beach at the Poly? I guess you can't see the castle from the beach area. We may need to stay late on our last night. Sounds like we should just pass on Fantasmic which I had made a lunch dining package for to make that a less waiting around experience.

 

[freshstart19]

OH, and I had no idea the rides were so different at night! DD12 is not one for roller coasters but does like Splash Mountain. Think I'm going to redo the touring plan again!!

 

[GrumpyDad1974]

Fantasmic is my least favorite nighttime show... but at least there is somewhere to sit. On a regular non-event night, illuminations is my favorite, the alcohol in World Showcase helps.

 

[Delirium]

Nightime is cool at Epcot and HS. It is special at MK. Sell him on the idea that nightime is a great time to be in the parks when it's not as hot. It's not the 'spectatculars' that draw me to teh park at night. It's the entire atmosphere.

 

[nat8199]

My DH is unwilling to go back out after dinner when we are traveling with kids. He is just too tired, especially since our kids get up early. If he and I did go out for any of the nighttime shows, the kids would already be in bed in the resort with my in laws. Though I love the fireworks, I don't push him. Having him happy and well rested to enjoy the days with the kids is more important.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Thanks everyone! Do you get the same Wishes experience by watching it from the beach at the Poly? I guess you can't see the castle from the beach area. We may need to stay late on our last night. Sounds like we should just pass on Fantasmic which I had made a lunch dining package for to make that a less waiting around experience.

It's not the same, but it is GORGEOUS! They are both wonderful, but different experiences. I would suggest doing Kona and watching the Electric Water Pageant and Wishes from the Poly beach. It's beautiful and so much more relaxing than battling crowds in MK. If he really doesn't want to go to Fantasmic or MSEP, I wouldn't push it. My DH is not really into Disney, but he'll go with us as long as he can go at his own pace which means joining us in the parks for the morning or until right after lunch and then he wants to relax - swim, read, go to the spa, have a nice dinner in the evening, etc. My DS and I either go back with him or make our own plan. We have our together time and our alone time, we all get to see and do what we like and we are all happy!

That being said, if he agrees to do one of the night activities, I would do MSEP. Fantasmic is very similar to the DL shows and not nearly as good IMHO. Plus getting out of Fantasmic is a nightmare. I agree with the others, MK at night is really cool. If your DD is into pirates at all, doing the Pirate adventure in Adventureland at night is really fun and typically that area isn't crowded at all at night. If DH doesn't want to go, I would just go to the nighttime activities with your DD.

 

[v3rs3]

If I had to pick it'd be MK. I'm not a big nighttime show person either. I prefer rope drop and having fun in the parks. I'd rather get some early shut eye than battle the crowds to the buses and watch fireworks.

 

[BudgieMama]

DH says the two best evening bits were the Frozen Fireworks (which is odd, cos he's no fan of the film) and the MSEP.

 

[amylevan]

DH prefers Illuminations with Wishes as a close second.

He doesn't like MSEP (or any parades for that matter) and just finds Fantasmic to be ok.

 

[emilymad]

My DH HATES MSEP. Hate is not even a strong enough word. He likes Wishes and the projection show but we have to have a FP+ for it. He hates standing in the street and dealing with all the people.

We haven't seen Fantasmic in years. DH especially finds the show boring so I don't push it. Illuminations is usually a take it or leave it thing. If we are at Epcot and it happens to be time for Illuminations we will watch.

I agree with not forcing DH into going if he doesn't want to. My DH likes/tolerates Disney depending on the day. We are both much happier if I allow him to opt out.

 

[scrapquitler]

Hello! We leave on Sunday and I am in a struggle to plan our MK days because DH is not into coming back to the park for the nighttime parades, fireworks, etc... I already booked Kona Café for dinner to alleviate the crowds for fireworks viewing. If your DH had to choose between Fantasmic and the electric night parade, which would be the choice? My DH just watched Fantasmic on YouTube and said it's the same thing he saw last year at Disneyland which was not Fantasmic. He equates it with a light show. They all fall in the same category for him. I've never been to MK at night since we're there at rope drop which so DH sees no need to go back later.... I would love to know which attraction the DHs enjoy more!!

My husband dislikes parades and fireworks. He saw Illuminations when he was there recently, and enjoyed it, but said once was enough. I'm going to try to get him to Fantasmic next month, we've never seen that. My husband would much rather ride the rides later at night. Some of them are a different experience at night (we love BTMRR at night, for example).

 

[AngiTN]

Worse comes to worst, and he won't go just to make you happy, then I say let him take his sorry self back to the resort and you go to the park and have a magical time.

I'll admit I'm not tolerant of adults that refuse to join in the plans. I make them, you don't want to go along, fine. Stay at the Resort, do whatever you want. But I'll be at the park watching Fireworks, parades, Illuminations and F!. Nighttime entertainment is one of the things Disney excels at. I'm not missing it. Not any of it. Now, that doesn't mean I have to see every one every night of our trip. But we will be at 1 of each during our trip.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

I love my Disney loving DH. He is as Disney crazed as I am, so I don't have to worry about these things.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I wasn't aware that the night time attractions were gender specific.

To answer your question OP, my DH feels the same about all of the night time attractions -- pretty indifferent.

 

[Lucius Best]

Problem is being in a park that late when I insist on rope drop each morning. DD12 doesn't mind but DH definitely does!!

Personally I have no interest in standing around in a crowd for a parade, but everyone's different. I like fireworks, but for me the main benefit of the parks at night are the rides. Anything outdoors (BTMRR, Splash, Jungle Cruise, 7DMT, Wedway) feels different/faster/more exciting after dark. Even some indoor rides are better at night, your eyes adjust quicker to the darkness at night and I can see details better in Haunted Mansion/Pirates.

But if the main problem is commando touring at rope drop and staying late, it doesn't matter what things he might enjoy at night. For us, rope drop is non-negotiable, we will absolutely be up and at rope drop every day. Then we wing it on the evening depending how we feel. We'll tentatively plan being in the parks late almost every night, but on last trip half the time we were tired and went back to hotel. As long as we see Illuminations and Wishes at least once each, every day doesn't need to be rope drop to park close.

If the 12yo is up for being out late, no need forcing the husband to stay out late every night. Let him go back to room early, or he can sleep in and meet you in the park.

 

[Kae]

I would say don't do rope Drop on the day you want to be at MK at night.

 

[freshstart19]

Thanks everyone!! DH really does like the rides and I had no idea they would appear so differently at night! I think I gave my DH a bad rap here. Didn't mean to do that. Our last night is a very low crowd for MK so I think we'll go to rope drop and then be out of the park most of the afternoon and come back for A&E 6:50 FP. I need to get a better ADR for Be Our Guest. I have a 2:20 that will keep me in the park unless I decide it's not worth it. I keep trying for a different one! Hopefully, the rides won't be so crowded so I will get by without FPs. We won't have to get up so early the next day since we're going on the Dream for 3 days. I think I've ruled out Fantasmic for sure. Will do the fireworks at Poly as planned to see if I get my fill with that and still have the last night available to me if I feel I missed out on MSEP and Wishes. We did see Illuminations 3 years ago for the first time and saw the light show at Disneyland last summer. I really appreciate the help. I've been totally stressing out about the MK days.