The missus enjoyed it despite not being updated on Who (her only background came from watching Blink and Smith's first season) and she still enjoyed the 50th. Apparently, the dialogue did a good job of filling her in (or giving her an idea) on most of the references that she needs to get, like the doctor killing the daleks and the timelords.

Not knowing who Rose Tyler is didn't lessen her enjoyment, and I didn't bother explaining who Tom Baker is (and what "Who" "Nose." is making fun of), though she did get that we're supposed to wonder whether the Curator was the doctor himself or it's just the show being meta.