Couples on holiday often look to enjoy a romantic trip to the beach, the mountains, or a theme park. If things go well in the sunshine, on Space Mountain, at a quaint cafe, they sometimes take it as a sign. This is my soulmate…it’s kismet…destiny.
But of course, a trip to Disney World or a cruise is an infinitesimal portion of a life shared with someone.
A vacation is a break from our real lives, but a strong relationship has to be designed for those long weeks in between. Work, family, home and filing taxes.
In the midst of an amazing vacation, we sometimes get confused about what’s real relationship data we can use, and what’s as sugar-coated as a Mickey snack.
A Park Day With Your Worst Enemy
We all know you can spend your day at a themepark like Disney World with almost anyone and have a great time. Disney World is the happiest place on earth!
I could wander the parks with Genghis Khan and have an unforgettable experience.
Laugh at the photo of us going over Splash Mountain. He buys me a blue Mickey balloon.
It pops after hitting one of the horns on his helmet. I offer a shy giggle.
I’m off topic here, but the upshot is that you can’t judge a relationship by only the amazing, firework-framed moments.
WHY DO WE SO OFTEN ACCEPT THESE OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD MOMENTS AS PROOF THAT WE’VE FOUND OUR SOULMATE?
If you can explore Disney World with someone and stay infatuated, what have you proven? Same goes with a trip to Hawaii, a camping excursion, a first date, a fancy birthday dinner, and to a lesser extent, an evening at Dave & Busters. ANYONE can get along during these touchstone moments!
The Science of Doomed Relationships
You need real, repeatable data for relationship longevity. Can you locate Netflix shows you can both agree on? Not all shows have to be a match, but you need some shows you can watch together.
Do you agree on the levels of house cleanliness or organization of a room at the Grand Floridian? You need to be able to endure a discussion on finances after you’ve just heard your flight has been delayed four hours. How about a road trip to somewhere neither of you wants to go?
Don’t worry. I’m working on a travel website that schedules travel nightmares for couples wanting to test their compatibility.
Trip insurance won’t be an option. I’m going to make billions.
In fact, it might be helpful if Disney required a bit more from couples than just having a good time. Maybe make couples clean their own hotel rooms and do the laundry. Show up at Chef Mickey’s and have to cook for their aunts and uncles.
How to Tell If Your Partner Is Disney Compatible?
Budgets, beliefs on what happens to leftovers, weekend chores…these are the actual tipping points when you spend your life with someone.
So at the end of an amazing day, when you’re sitting on that bench in front of the castle, you may have to stare into Ghengis’ kind eyes and tell him you need some space.
Things are moving too fast.
Sure the relationship feels like fireworks and cotton candy right now…but how will it feel when you bring me back to the grassy steppe of Mongolia to meet your family?
The point is to avoid using “vacation feelings” to judge the chances for true, lasting love. It’s only part of the equation. Always weigh your real world experiences more heavily. Make sure your forever pledge is based on more lazy Sunday compatibility than strolls down Main Street, U.S.A.
End
One disclaimer! I know there are couples and whole families who can go to Disney World and fight the entire time. The unhappiest place on earth! And then those same people can rebound to book the same vacation the next year.
These relationships can work too. I do think every couple must prepare at least one fight at a theme park per visit. That’s just healthy. Check out my top ten places to fight with a significant other in Disney World article.
For more on my chilling research into the horrors of relationships click here!
You can also check out my whole page of Disney World Inspiration.
Overheard on a Mountaintop 
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