Your success stories with first timers...the Disney unwashed

GhostHost · Post by **GhostHost** » Jan Tue 02, 2007 11:21 am

Hi folks, I am new to this forum and the site in general. Loving it so far! Just some quick background. I am a long time visitor of the WDW parks and used to be a 2 to 3 visit a year guest. Well, the last 14 months or so have been full of changes for me and I have not been to WDW since October of 2005. I know, it's not that long but considering the fact that I was going several times a year and always had a trip planned, it seems like an eternity. My question is this. My girlfriend and I have been together for a year now and she has never been to any Disney park. I hope that we will get to visit sometime in 2007 and I really want her to like the whole experience. I can already tell that she may not be into like I am. For one thing she hates the heat so that rules out trips in the summer months. I prefer Oct, Nov, Jan, Feb anyway so that's not really a problem. Do any of you guys have suggestions for me as to how you may have encountered a similar experience with a friend or loved one that was not a Disney freak like ourselves? I guess it's just going to take one trip to find out if she gets hooked or not.

csquare77 · Post by **csquare77** » Jan Tue 02, 2007 11:59 am

I think when you are in the parks with her she will warm up to the idea of being a disney fan. I think people are always hesitant to going new places, but when they actually get there they change.

GhostHost · Post by **GhostHost** » Jan Tue 02, 2007 12:07 pm

csquare77 wrote:I think when you are in the parks with her she will warm up to the idea of being a disney fan. I think people are always hesitant to going new places, but when they actually get there they change.

I sure hope so! I bought season passes for the local Paramount park (Carowinds) this past year and we went once...she is not much of a thrill ride type which kind of gives me hope about Disney since most of it is slow dark rides and more tame than your typical amusement park. I know we will have to skip things like TOT, Aerosmith RRC, and maybe Mission Space. I have ridden those alone before so that's no big deal. I would be happy if she just enjoyed the atmosphere and the whole Disney vibe.

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Jan Tue 02, 2007 2:29 pm

Hmm. It can also depend on your attitude going in. If you go in thinking it's lame, then you might never get out of that mind-frame. So you have to just kinda go along with the 'pixiedust' magical atmosphere. Have fun and be active. Park-Hop.

Maybe before you step into any theme park, get a guide map and decide together where to start first. You might have to give a little description of each park, but perhaps let her decide. Going to WDW for the first time is very overwhelming, and if you try do too much, you might not enjoy things. So take your time(if you can).

But if your girlfriend isn't into the 'magic' part of Disney, then there's Animal Kingdom and Epcot.

You can start converting her by listening to Subsonic Radio when you're together. So by the time you do visit, you'll both be psyched and ready

You guys can do the "green" Mission Space. It doesn't move as much, but it's still fun.

GhostHost · Post by **GhostHost** » Jan Tue 02, 2007 2:55 pm

Lion Sleeps Tonight wrote:Hmm. It can also depend on your attitude going in. If you go in thinking it's lame, then you might never get out of that mind-frame. So you have to just kinda go along with the 'pixiedust' magical atmosphere. Have fun and be active. Park-Hop.

Maybe before you step into any theme park, get a guide map and decide together where to start first. You might have to give a little description of each park, but perhaps let her decide. Going to WDW for the first time is very overwhelming, and if you try do too much, you might not enjoy things. So take your time(if you can).

But if your girlfriend isn't into the 'magic' part of Disney, then there's Animal Kingdom and Epcot.

You can start converting her by listening to Subsonic Radio when you're together. So by the time you do visit, you'll both be psyched and ready

You guys can do the "green" Mission Space. It doesn't move as much, but it's still fun.

Yeah, that's a good point about the "green" MS. I had forgotten that was an option. I prefer the "full on" version myself but I could do both. I'm sure Animal Kingdom is going to be her favorite for sure. She is an animal lover so that is the only park I know wont be a problem. We definately plan to park hop. I think this is the only way to go, especially between MK and Epcot since we have use of the monorail between the two. I have a theory that your love for Disney and the parks as an "adult" is directly related to the amount of exposure you had to either or both as a kid. I had several visits as a child and then got back into it later in life after reliving those memories. If you don't have those childhood memories as a base then maybe it's more difficult to have a love for Disney as an adult. That's not to say that there are not plently of adults and even seniors that are just discovering Disney and loving it. I'm just very thankful for parents that cared enough to take my brother and myself as children so that I would have those fond memories. I still get a little misty eyed every time I ride POTC and think of my brother and I sitting between mom and dad.

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Jan Tue 02, 2007 4:26 pm

GhostHost wrote: Yeah, that's a good point about the "green" MS. I had forgotten that was an option. I prefer the "full on" version myself but I could do both. I'm sure Animal Kingdom is going to be her favorite for sure. She is an animal lover so that is the only park I know wont be a problem. We definately plan to park hop. I think this is the only way to go, especially between MK and Epcot since we have use of the monorail between the two. I have a theory that your love for Disney and the parks as an "adult" is directly related to the amount of exposure you had to either or both as a kid. I had several visits as a child and then got back into it later in life after reliving those memories. If you don't have those childhood memories as a base then maybe it's more difficult to have a love for Disney as an adult. That's not to say that there are not plently of adults and even seniors that are just discovering Disney and loving it. I'm just very thankful for parents that cared enough to take my brother and myself as children so that I would have those fond memories. I still get a little misty eyed every time I ride POTC and think of my brother and I sitting between mom and dad.

Ooh, Animal Kingdom is a lot of fun. There is so much subtle detail everywhere, it's amazing!! From the wood carvings in the different themed rooms Pizzafari to the fake wall paitings and structures of the Maharaja Jungle Trek. Be sure to ask cast members for the stories behind them; you'll appreciate the details more.

I get what you mean about being exposed to Disney as a kid. It's the same for me. I went a lot when I was younger, but didn't necessarily appreciate it till I was much older.

Post by **js3901** » Jan Tue 02, 2007 4:57 pm

I agree with everything that Lion said. On the note of getting park maps, I highly suggest getting the customized maps from the offical WDW site. you need to register (if you haven't already), but it's completely free. the maps are free too, and they're pretty nice.

while creating the customized maps, you can go to the page for each attraction and it gives the run down of what it is and what it's like. your girlfriend can judge for herself on if she wants to do the attraction based on the pictures and video clips.

Esmeralda · Post by **Esmeralda** » Jan Tue 02, 2007 5:06 pm

My best advice to you would be to have fun yourself. Be sure to watch out for what she would like to do best, but don't fret too much. It seems that the magic in Disney is contageous (at least with the people I've been with) and if you are enjoying yourself then you're half way there. Point out your favorite details and create new memories to share. Best of luck and welcome to the site!

Post by **rdeacon** » Jan Tue 02, 2007 6:52 pm

Hmmm let's see you are describing the exact situation my wife was in when we were dating like 10 years ago. She took me with her family and I was not a Disney fan then....well now I am more into it then her!

I would agree with the post.. go there and just relax and enjoy the parks, don't have too much of an agenda. You don't want to over pre-plan it puts too much pressure on her and you. Just go with the flow and fit some key attractions you both will enjoy.

My wife and I have gone with relatives that "don't get it" and we don't push and try not to be over preachy about the wonders of WDW. We find that they will pick there own path of what they want to do.

Rich

GhostHost · Post by **GhostHost** » Jan Wed 03, 2007 8:35 am

Thanks for all of the suggestions guys and gals! I guess as several of you have said, the most imortant thing is that I have fun and show her that. I know that she will enjoy it more if I just take it easy and not try to go full steam like I am used to. The last thing I want is for her to think "hey, this is too much like work!" I tend to suck every bit of time and energy out of a WDW vacation because I love it so much. Well, keep the ideas and encouraging thoughts coming as they are much appreciated!

Post by **horizons1** » Jan Wed 03, 2007 2:20 pm

My wife and I spent the day we met together at Disneyland (we went with mutual friends). Needless to say, it turned out well. Of course, it being rainy and having to share an umbrella didn't hurt!

On a related note to this topic - we need to start another thread called "Lack of success with first timers." I have one of those. Let's just say it involves a cousin and her incompatibility with Mission: Space. The moral: Know your limits.

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Jan Wed 03, 2007 4:15 pm

horizons1 wrote:My wife and I spent the day we met together at Disneyland (we went with mutual friends). Needless to say, it turned out well. Of course, it being rainy and having to share an umbrella didn't hurt!

On a related note to this topic - we need to start another thread called "Lack of success with first timers." I have one of those. Let's just say it involves a cousin and her incompatibility with Mission: Space. The moral: Know your limits.

I was trying to think of an unsuccessful story, and can only think of my brother; it's more of a case of 'falling out of it'. We went with our parents as kids a couple of times, but the last 2 trips he wasn't feeling the magic. I think he had his mp3 player on a lot of the time

Hopefully he'll come back to us!