Yes, We are going on a Disney Cruise Without Our Two year old
Recently an “anonymous mom” (nothing on the internet is anonymous, but lets humor ourselves) posted a rant about how “immature childless millennials” should be “BANNED” from disney world. She cites one such millennial who was wearing “slutty shorts” and had the audacity to buy a Mickey Pretzel. Thus “making” her 3-year-old son cry.
Oh dear.
I don’t consider myself a millennial and I’m not childless, but you better believe I’m about to go on a Disney Cruise without my kid. (Insert party horn emoji here.)
And even though we seemingly have two different perspectives, I probably have more in common with this mom that not.
When I read pieces of her post, I hear a familiar voice. Except its not mine. But its a mom like me. She’s invested in yet another vacation which has led to disappointment. She had envisioned a happy-go-lucky-kid, skipping around singing Disney songs. She’s exhausted, her shorts are sticking to her legs and she just realized that, not only is the line to get a Mickey pretzel an hour long, that pretzel, the simple combination of flour and water, is $7.00 dollars. And now her 3- year old has commenced his 5th meltdown of the day.
I have a feeling the post is more about her overwhelm and less about the short-shorts. And I Can Relate
In fact, I can relate to this so much, that our sweet child, whom we love dearly, was kindly uninvited from our Disney trip this year. And before you judge me, I want you to know that he uninvited himself. Last year we brought him. Every night, he was unwilling to go down for bed, and then woke up around 3 AM screaming, unconsolable. In an effort to keep the entire ship from being woken up, my husband and I found ourselves taking him on 3 AM tours of the halls and staircases of each level of the ship.
And in the midst of the sleep deprivation, we met not one, but two couples who had kids, but purposely left them at home to enjoy the cruise themselves. Now, this my friend, is where I could’ve easily written a Facebook rant. Oh those selfish couples who leave their kids at home. They come aboard Disney cruises only to comment that your baby is “ so cute” and that it “all goes by so fast” all the while sipping their cocktails in total peace. I hate you.
They were being kind.
I get it. But in a moment of disappointment that yet another “vacation” had failed somewhat epically. As I was surviving on five cups of coffee daily, a Facebook rant could’ve been in reach. If only we had internet on the boat.
Instead, my husband and I came up with a better plan. To join these leisurely couples who left their kids at home.
We signed up for our 2019 cruise and secured my mom as a babysitter before we were even off the boat.
And now, for almost a full year we’ve been looking forward to our own get away. Some may say that’s selfish. But as two full-time working parents, sometimes including travel, we don’t get much time with just each other. And we’ve made a conscious decision to carve some out. We booked spa treatments, the fancy dinner restaurant for a night and a few excursions.
Ray will be invited again in the future. And I know I will miss him. I will miss watching him explore a new surrounding and seeing his excitement over all the action. But I will not miss my sleep, nor roaming the boat at 3 AM like nomads with a grumpy baby.
Instead, pour me a cocktail Mr. Bartender. I’m looking forward to seeing some cute babies that aren’t mine.
Also, should you be brave enough to take your toddler on a Disney Cruise, I wrote a post of tips for you last year. See it here! He was at least pretty cute.
Until next time, cheers!