Originally Posted By minniefan I am trying to plan a trip for October this year. My DD and I have been to DL many times and we have grown to love early November for the lack of crowds and great weather. Hubby has finally agreed to go with us and we are over the moon to show him The Land!...BUT...he's very cautious about this trip...'I don't like rides...it's going to be long lines'..etc. etc. I just need to get him there so he can experience the magic! DD and I know we can handle perhaps larger crowds and any other 'issues' that may arise, but I'm just so anxious about bringing him that I'm OBSESSING about dates! If I pick a date and the entire state of Utah is there or a huge cheerleading convention, I will never ever get him to go again. Timing is crucial...if I can get him to love it, then The Land could be a yearly vacation place for all of us! We're making this a somewhat 'abbreviated' trip so hubby doesn't burn out on us. I originally considered 10/21 thru 10/25, but am also tossing around 10/14 thru 10/18. Any thoughts on either dates? I'd love some input/thought/concerns from any and all of you!
Originally Posted By Disney_Binky You'll want to be careful on dates in Oct. Because of fall break. I live in Utah and I'm not sure when fall break is here, but I know A LOT of people in Utah that faithfully go In Oct. And I'm sure many other states have fall breaks as well. Good luck!
Originally Posted By sean-tyler I have heard that the Utah trip is the weekend of the 23rd. Also heard that a lot of schools in the area are out the week of the 12th. Then there is Columbus Day weekend 9-12. I am also looking into October heard it is fun! But like you, it's hard to choose dates. We want to be there to Trick o Treat!
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I'm assuming early November is not possible for you this year? That's almost certainly less crowded than October. I'd avoid Columbus Day weekend.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip When you are going on a trip with a "non-Disney" spouse you need to take it easy. After our first trip to WDW I was planning for our next visit when BOTH my wife and daughter told me they never wanted to go to WDW again. I just could not imagine it. When I talked to them about it I found it was my theme park commando style that turned them off to Disney. I figured the way to do Disney was to be in the park every minute it was open and do every single ride you could. In other words... I ran them ragged. I promised I would take a more relaxed approach in the future and turned both my wife and daughter into HUGE Disney fans. So take it easy. If you are at a nice hotel (especially if it is a Disney hotel) spend some time just hanging out at the pool or whatever. Have some really nice table service meals in the park or Downtown Disney. Take time to relax in the parks... grab an ice cream cone and find a nice place to sit. We have a good time just watching people and enjoying the beauty of the parks. If you make the overall experience enjoyable for a person who isn't that thrilled with rides or lines; they will soon succumb to the magic of the parks. You maybe know all of this already, but I thought I would mention what helped turn my wife and daughter into Disney Freaks!
Originally Posted By jodiefra My advice if you can swing it financially is to stay at the Grand Californian. We went two years ago with my non-Disney brother-in-law and it won him over. When things got crazy he could retreat in a hurry and the GC doesn't have that in-your-face Disney factor that DLH and PP do. We were there in mid-September and had very low crowds; the only time my B-in-law got nutty was after Fantasmic when he thought he would be squished in a sea of people. If you don't want crowds, think especially of those parades and other times that will be nutty even when the crowds are down. Have fun and don't push your agenda too hard - given time (and perhaps a beverage by the pool) he'll find the wonder of Disney for himself, I'm sure
Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove Willing to trust me and send me an e-mail? (see my profile) Perhaps we can help. I am married to a recent convert. I never thought he would see the pixie dust. (Uh, I mean: "light".) Miracles do happen. But, short answer: everyone's already given you great tips. You can't push it. If it happens (the great elucidation)it will happen on its own, and not at the point of a spear, or tears, or begging, or bribing. Evolution takes time. DH has gotten to the point that during our last visit last month, he realized that the crowds don't even bother him in the least anymore; in fact he's delighted with all the humanity. Words I thought I'd never see myself type..... So, dear, hold out hope. Get plenty of sleep if you can, stay in good humor, be a nice person, don't try to do/see/experience everything because serendipity WILL happen, if you let it, and ask Tink for some extra pixie dust. You just might get your wish and he may begin to believe after all. One hint: take him to see Billy Hill and the Hillbillies. xoxo
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes My hint is to start with the DLRR. No need to go into 'how Walt loved trains and etc. etc. etc.' just experience it for what it is. Getting an overview of the place and starting out with something of a slower pace that still shows off some pretty nice stuff (the peek at Splash Mtn., Primeval World, etc.) is good. Then just take your time. Be sure to include all the little treasures like the Castle walk-through. Don't make it an E-Ticket Marathon. Try to get a meal at the Blue Bayou as early in the trip as you can. I'd suggest making lunch reservations so he won't faint at the dinner prices, and do this BEFORE riding Pirates of the Caribbean! You'll really have his curiosity going what with dining in the moonlight in the middle of the day and the boats going by. After that, take him on the ride and I'll bet he'll be hooked. And quit telling him how magical it is. Disney will already have done that 1,982 times before you get down Main Street. Have fun!
Originally Posted By SleepingBeauty82 <<<I'd suggest making lunch reservations so he won't faint at the dinner prices, and do this BEFORE riding Pirates of the Caribbean!>>> That is an awesome idea! I'm picturing how I'd react if I'd never been on the ride and ate at the restaurant first and that would be amazing! Also be sure to take him on the Mark Twain, Jungle Cruise, and Tiki Room. All original Walt-type attractions that don't have long lines and allow some relaxation. Utilize Fastpass in the mornings for the Mountain rides. If POSSIBLE, I would go the last week of Sept. Halloween Deco is up, crowds are light. Weather is hot but grab a Fastpass and go on Grizzly River Run! You'll cool right off! I HATE crowds yet I'm a Disneyland freak and go all the time. You just gotta find tricks to beat the heat and the crowds.
Originally Posted By chickapin UEA (Utah Education Assoc. or Utah Enters Anaheim) is the first weekend of October in 2009. (Date varies year to year.) LOTS of people will go to Disneyland--few will go to the UEA meetings. First weekend in November may be a better option crowd wise since Halloween is a weekend and most schools wouldn't have a break then. Good luck!
Originally Posted By iamsally All I am saying is good luck. You have been given wonderful pointers. I was lucky enough to marry a Disneyland freak so it has never been an issue for us. Where will we go on vacation this year? DUH!!?!! We used to love October but since they have hyped up Halloween and you cannot rely on breaks because of year round schools; we prefer September or November. If you have to go in October; check the calander and look at the hours and the blackout days for annual passes. The longer the hours and the more blackout days, the bigger the crowd expected. If the hours are short and the blackout days few; they are expecting smaller crowds. (Some of us just cannot keep from giving advice.)
Originally Posted By AZDLDad Tie him up and tape his eyelids open and toss him into Main Street Cinema for 6 hours! You have to get him to open up to that inner child! The Castle and Fantasyland first!! Or, before you go, buy him some of the Disney DVD's of the old Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color and The Wonderful World of Disney! toodles
Originally Posted By KCCHIEF good luck.....I married (and am now DIVORCED) a "non-Disney" guy...I thought---oh, he will come around......NO, he didn't.....and he was always walking away from us and I would have to call his cell.......(not good).....
Originally Posted By SleepingBeauty82 ^^^I say you're better off without him! This is of course not knowing anything about you or him or your relationship. LOL. Anybody that did that to me at Disneyland and didn't like the place anyway would be cut!
Originally Posted By KCCHIEF sleepingbeauty82......you are so correct.....I am tons better off in many ways without him....I wish him not liking Disney had been our only argument....lol
