Nightmare Disney Honeymoon

KitKatBar2

Okay, so I don't know how I feel about my honeymoon...and I haven't even gone yet! It's a week until my honeymoon, and I've been planning a disney trip with my fiance.

My parents told us they would pay for us to either go to Las Vegas or Disney World. Not being gamblers or night-life people, we chose Disney World. Is it me or does that seem the least romantic place in the world, full of tourists and little kids and lines? It might be right for some people, but we've been together over 5 years and have never been on a trip together. We would have rather gone somewhere quiet with a beach and just lazed around all day and enjoy each other. Not to mention we only have 3 days, so we will be trying to get in as much "disney magic" as possible. I just feel like during our honeymoon there are just going to be more distractions from each other.

After all the wedding planning I am just so exhausted. Walking my feet off at a theme park does not sound nice. Not to mention my mother has been nagging me constantly to plan our trip and all the activities.

I feel really guilty because I am so grateful that they paid for our honeymoon, but now I'm starting to wonder if it is more of a burden than a blessing. Am I crazy? It is a week til my wedding...I am so stressed out!

Were my parents wrong to choose for us? I just feel like they gave us two choices that had nothing to do with our personalities...we would have rather taken a cruise or something with the money.

KitKatBar2

Also my mom wants me to text her pictures during our honeymoon....living vicariously through me I guess. It is kind of driving me crazy. We've been having a lot of issues this whole summer planning the wedding. Am I wrong for not wanting to think about my mother on my honeymoon?

Are you required to get people souvineers on your honeymoon?

Summer2011Bride

You're right that it was very generous of her to offer money. It would have been ideal if she got your input somehow, or at the very least said, "Here is x amount of dollars to spend on your HM however you want." Unfortunately, it didn't happen that way. You can still make Disney romantic. Where are you staying? You don't have to do the parks everyday. Our two faves were Magic Kingdom and MGM. You could just pick a couple so you don't feel so rushed.

Does your hotel have a pool? A spa where you could get couples massages? Are you staying in a nice room? You could go out for some nice fancy dinners and just relax. I totally understand that it sucks you are disappointed in your HM, but at this late date, I think the best advice is to take it in stride and try to make the best out of it. In the future, you will know your mother's money has strings attached. Maybe save up for a beachy, romantic vacay for your one year.

As far as texting your mom constantly on your HM, I would not do it. We gave our parents a safe landing text, and I think I called her twice (we were gone nine days to Hawaii) and e-mailed pics once b/c I wanted to and had the time. Do not feel bad about not talking to her everyday on your HM. I don't think souveniers are necessary, but a small token (a picture frame? Magnet?) might be nice since she did fund the trip, with a TY note.

KitKatBar2

Thanks. That actually sounded like a really balanced view.

We're staying in the Carribean beach resort....I guess i actually just feel a lot of pressure to go out in the parks and do everything because that's what my mother expects of us and I feel pressure to make the trip "worth her money". I feel like she didn't pay $2000+ for us to just relax . Our room is just kind of the basic one. We were going to just pay for the whole wedding ourselves because our families didn't really support it...we were just going to try to get to go to his grandparents beach cottage in michigan, which would be free except getting there...My car is pretty old and my parents were like " no, you're car wouldnt make it." then my parents just offered this lavish honeymoon...which we didn't refuse...my fiance has never been to walt disney world. We are both so stressed out at this point.

My mother makes me feel guilty for not acting excited enough right now....so I'm sure I will be feeling guilty if I don't "make the most" of the trip. The idea of it just kind of makes me sick. So much pressure!

I've had a lot of problems with my mother being too controlling growing up, so I'm really hoping that getting married will kind of usher in a new era with that. It is nice to look forward to a nice beachy vacay one day that WE choose....

KitKatBar2

I'm sure I will feel better about it in the morning...:)

This is a case of bridal jitters and exhaustion I think. It has been pretty rocky!

zitiqueen

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_nightmare-disney-honeymoon?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:47Discussion:53c776de-767b-4643-97fd-1758eef01a85Post:2bcf59b0-a44b-4ab5-a4c9-b2d6f1faa958">Nightmare Disney Honeymoon</a>:
[QUOTE] My parents told us they would pay for us to either go to Las Vegas or Disney World. Not being gamblers or night-life people, we chose Disney World.Posted by KitKatBar2[/QUOTE]

<span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';color:#1f1f1f;font-size:8.5pt;">Ooh, it's a good thing you didn't choose Las Vegas. Visitors to the city are <em><span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';">required</span></em> to gamble and stay out all night. Spending any time during daylight hours doing things such as lounging around the pool, visiting the spa, venturing off-Strip to see Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, or the Hoover Dam could actually get you arrested.</span>

6fsn

In Response to Re: Nightmare Disney Honeymoon:
[QUOTE I've had a lot of problems with my mother being too controlling growing up, so I'm really hoping that getting married will kind of usher in a new era with that. It is nice to look forward to a nice beachy vacay one day that WE choose....
Posted by KitKatBar2[/QUOTE]

A wedding isn't going to change your mom.  You putting on big girl panties and standing up to her will.  You let her talk you out of the wedding you wanted (because of your car?  Really?)  Now you accepted the terms of the honeymoon.  Is she going to tell you when to have kids?  And how to raise them?

mrsconn23

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_nightmare-disney-honeymoon?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:47Discussion:53c776de-767b-4643-97fd-1758eef01a85Post:4a3f0bb4-5599-4d5a-85e4-d593ca615a76">Re: Nightmare Disney Honeymoon</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Nightmare Disney Honeymoon : Ooh, it's a good thing you didn't choose Las Vegas. Visitors to the city are  required to gamble and stay out all night. Spending any time during daylight hours doing things such as lounging around the pool, visiting the spa, venturing off-Strip to see Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, or the Hoover Dam could actually get you arrested.
Posted by zitiqueen[/QUOTE]

LOL, so true.

hmonkey

disneyworld during the summer?  good luck with that.

the only advice i have is to take advantage of the extra hours in the morning and the evening, and if you go to hollywood studios, go to the toy story ride first and just get a fastpass rather than stand in line. 

thatgrrrrl

Last time I checked D-world has a water park and all of the resorts have spas and pools. You can laze around without spending ALL of your time chasing the Mouse.

AuntFlo

Ignoring all the mommy issues  - - and the fact that you and your future husband have never been on a trip together - - EPCOT has some of the most amazing, romantic restaurants.   I think it would be an awesome place for a honeymoon.   I mean, if you can't go to Paris, that is.

notamrs

In Response to Nightmare Disney Honeymoon:
[QUOTEMy parents told us they would pay for us to either go to Las Vegas or Disney World. Not being gamblers or night-life people, we chose Disney World. Is it me or does that seem the least romantic place in the world, full of tourists and little kids and lines? Posted by KitKatBar2[/QUOTE]

First world problems.

mrsconn23

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_nightmare-disney-honeymoon?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:47Discussion:53c776de-767b-4643-97fd-1758eef01a85Post:e2e78037-4338-4463-91dd-9db8ffdfdde9">Re: Nightmare Disney Honeymoon</a>:
[QUOTE]Ignoring all the mommy issues  - - and the fact that you and your future husband have never been on a trip together - - EPCOT has some of the most amazing, romantic restaurants.   I think it would be an awesome place for a honeymoon.   I mean, if you can't go to Paris, that is.
Posted by AuntFlo[/QUOTE]

So true.  Last summer, DH and I had a pretty amazing and romantic dinner in Morrocco at Epcot.  Belly dancers and everything.  And then we went to France for dessert and England for a beer.

zsazsa-stl

So take a picture in front of something Disney at the airport, pick up a keychain for your mom before you get in the cab and then don't bother with the rest.  Stay in your hotel room.  Go to the pool.  Go to Epcot for dinner.  And enjoy your free honeymoon.  A gift is a gift.  Accept it graciously and move on. 

Is the offer for the cabin in Michigan no longer available because you are going to Disney?  Can you go there later?

AmandaSC1988

 

 

My FI and I went to Disney world a couple of months ago. I had been before but he had never gone, it was so much fun and we were only there for a couple of days. Don’t go with a plan or any expectations and it will make it all the more fun. We were there open to close. We had planned to only spend half a day and then have some alone time relaxing, but we were both having such a great time we stayed later than expected. Point being, do what you want... Don't freak out just yet, it may be enjoyable.


As some of the PPs said EPCOT really is the place to go, there is this French Bakery in France and you really can’t go wrong ordering anything in that little store, that plus Champaign is A-Freaking-mazing.

 

As far as your mother  texting you all the time….turn off your phone(personally I don't know why you would have it on during your HM anyway)!! You might buy some walkie-talkies to keep on you incase you and your husband get separated. But, I would just turn off your phone, put in your big girl panties and ignore your mother. She will get over it.

kat22885

I'm a little Disney obsessed and know more about the parks and resorts than is probably healthy.  The nice thing about Disney is that there's plenty to do for those that want to GO GO GO and for those that want a relaxing vacation.

So...if you're staying at the Caribbean Beach, you're going to have a large pool area.  It probably wouldn't have been my first choice of resorts for a Honeymooning couple--it does tend to attract families because of the Pirate and Nemo themed rooms.  That being said, check out the quiet pools on property.  They're going to be a lot more subduded because really, where are you going to take your hyper 4 year old, a quiet pool or one with a slide?  Obviously the slide wins.

A PP mentioned that "all" the resorts have spas...not true.  The CBR does not.  Most don't actually.  But check out the spa over at the Grand Floridian or Saratoga Springs resort. 

Have you booked your dining reservations yet?  If not, you probably want to think about where you'd like to eat.  Signatures will always have fewer kids than your standard restaurant (who wants to spend that much money on a meal for a kid?)  So think places like Citricos, Flying Fish, Jiko.  If you don't want to spend that much, check out places like the Wave, Sanaa, Chefs de France, Tokyo Dining.  Also take time to have a relaxing breakfast one morning, I'd suggest Grand Floridian Cafe.

Around mid-August, crowd levels start to drop, so the good news is that while it will be ridiculously hot and humid, it will also be one of the least crowded times of the year.  It'll still be important to get to the headliner attractions right at rope drop if you want to ride them, but after they're out of the way, you shouldn't feel the need to rush.  Also take your time to stroll the World Showcase at Epcot.  Share a few beverages and snacks.  You can get a wine passport in Italy or Germany and try out the wines in multiple countries around the World Showcase.  

There are activities outside the parks too, like renting boats in the marina.  Or going to Cirque du Soliel at DTD in the evening (btw, Raglan Road is one of my favorite restaurants on Disney property.)

If you'd like more suggestions to make your trip seem a little more relaxed and "adult," feel free to send me a PM.  As I mentioned, I'm more than a little fanatical about WDW and know way too much about the parks, I also love to see other people enjoy the parks as much as I do...it makes me seem less insane.