They made him the food I’d make him at home and cut it into baby-friendly pieces for him.

Being a mom on vacation is wild.

Sometimes, staying at home feels easier.

A woman holds a child on her lap while sitting on a bus. Several passengers are seated around them

How would an ex-baby who still doesn’t sleep through the night do on a contained boat?

Would I piss off absolutely everyone when he inevitably screams himself to sleep?

My gentleman loves Mickey Mouse and splash pads so I decided to give it a whirl.

A young child pushes a suitcase in an airport or hotel lobby. Two other suitcases are nearby

It’s a lot of effort!

Usually I only get to eat with one because I end up feeding him in my lap.

He LOVED the stateroom, and it was amazing for me, too.

A woman carrying a sleeping baby in a front baby carrier stands inside an elevator

He loves hotels, and this was especially great because EVERYTHING WAS SECURED.

This was his playground.

It was at this point we busted out some snacks.

Side view of a Disney cruise ship with round windows in the hull, multiple decks, and a water slide

I became increasingly worried my snack supply would reach a critical level before the cruise ended.

This was the point I realized how amazing having dinner so close by was.

We’re always late to things.

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Our first night was at Rapunzel’s Royal Table, which was a four-minute walk away.

Finny feels lukewarm about princesses, but he is always down to give a high five.

Finny really liked gnawing on the bread rolls.

A baby, held by an adult, walks towards Mickey Mouse who is kneeling with arms open. Mickey is dressed in a colorful costume with long sleeves and gloves

He only has four teeth and I think others are going to break through any minute.

I’m really glad they kept the food coming.

We never eat out at home.

A woman sits on an airplane holding a sleeping baby, giving a thumbs up to the camera

Also, the kids menu turned into a Rapunzel lantern.

I was gobsmacked when he came back with a special order just for Finny!!!

It was at this moment I realized dinner was actuallyeasierthan if I had stayed at home.

Disney Cruise Line terminal with clock tower, boarding bridge, and adjacent parking structure. A construction crane and buildings are visible in the background

I didn’t have to make anything and he got exactly what he would normally eat.

That night was a show.

TheMagichad Broadway-style shows every night, and the first night was aTangledshow.

People boarding an airplane, one carrying a child

I wasn’t sure he’d be able to sit for the show, and I was right.

He LOVED running around on the deck.

If it was up to him, he would just do laps on the deck.

A dinner plate with sautéed vegetables, baked pasta topped with cheese, mashed potatoes, and two pieces of focaccia bread

I had only been on one cruise prior and totally forgot there was a turn-down service.

We ventured onto Lighthouse Cay.

My fear of my baby’s skin and the sun is real.

Buffet setup featuring various dishes including scrambled eggs, mac and cheese, fried chicken, and green beans. Plates and utensils are placed at the end

I slathered him with sunscreen.

We were told to be back on the ship by 5 p.m. and we were buzzer beaters.

I thought for sure he would sleep well because of all his playing and how we were all sun-tired.

A toddler stands on a patterned carpet, reaching up towards a door handle in an indoor hallway

The Nephew’s Splash Zone on the ship also closed at 6 p.m. so that wasn’t an option.

I thought, “What is he going to do?”

Instead, we wandered around the boat again.

A toddler in a blue shirt and shorts, standing on a window sill, looking outside through a glass door at a balcony and distant buildings

The second night was Pirate Night.

They have a pirate-themed deck party and all of the characters were out in their swashbuckling best.

We had to see our main man, Mickey.

A child wearing a blue jacket is at the end of a hallway, trying to open a door. An adult hand in the foreground holds snack pieces

He’s so amped to see the characters when we’re waiting in line.

While I did a thing for work, Finn met four (4!)

It was really lovely to just sit and not have to worry about dishes or laundry or answering emails.

A neatly made bed in a hotel or ship cabin with a pair of shoes on the floor, a child's leg partially visible under the blanket, and personal items on a dresser

Finny liked walking around and playing in there, and it was nice that I could go with him.

He slept through the night!

There’s something to be said about just how much you do on a cruise!

Dessert plate with a slice of layered pastry, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and a small jug of yellow sauce, on a decorated table setting with a drink

It probably took 10 minutes.

It was all done for me.

The “kid” features were not what I liked on the Disney cruise either.

A busy restaurant dining area with numerous hanging lanterns, many patrons seated at tables, and a few people walking around

10/10 would recommend a Disney Cruise with a one-year-old.

which I’ve heard everywhere from vacations to sporting events.

Rapunzel from Frozen meets a woman holding a small child, engaging in a heartwarming moment inside a themed venue

A toddler with light hair sits at a table with crayons and a sun-themed mat, looking to the side. An adult's arm is partially visible next to the child

A basket lined with a cloth, filled with assorted bread rolls, sits on a dining table beside an empty dish with remnants of food

A table with a partially eaten plate of pasta and broccoli in the foreground. A cloth napkin folded creatively sits in the background

A woman smiling and holding a container with a sun design at a restaurant

Plate with spaghetti, grilled tofu, broccoli, and cauliflower. The plate has a drawing of a chameleon on it

A baby wearing a patterned shirt is being fed with a spoon by an adult. The baby appears to be eating a pink substance

A small child runs playfully down a carpeted hallway on a ship, with interior doors and furniture visible in the background

A child is lounging on a deck chair on a ship's deck, with a calm sea visible in the background

A toddler walks on the deck of a cruise ship, while adults lounge in chairs and others walk in the background

Sign indicating jogging direction with the message: "3 laps = 1 mile. For your safety and enjoyment, proper footwear is requested."

A baby is lying on a bed, surrounded by pillows and wrapped in a patterned blanket, with their face turned away from the camera. Room items are visible in the background

A ship's empty deck at night with wooden planks, lounge chairs, and lifeboats overhead

View of a curvy pier extending into the ocean with people walking along it. Farmland and buildings are visible in the distant background

A hand holding a small paper model of a cruise ship in front of a window showing the ocean water outside

A toddler sits on the ground, wearing a printed shirt, reaching towards a clear bucket of water on a blue textured surface

A toddler in a swimsuit is walking alone in a splash pad water play area with various water features and slides in the background

A woman wearing a hat holds a sleeping baby on a bus or train, with a view of a dry landscape and trees outside the window. Names unknown

A plated dish featuring grilled tofu, barley, dried tomatoes, and assorted vegetables with a green sauce, served in a white bowl

Blueprint-themed display titled "Nephews' Splash Zone" features Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Uncle Donald Duck. Statue of Donald Duck spouting water in foreground

A toddler sits on a patterned carpet playing with Disney toys, surrounded by scattered items near a bed

A toddler in patterned clothing walks through an indoor entertainment venue with an illuminated stage in the background. Several people are seated watching a performance

A baby in a patterned outfit approaches Mickey Mouse dressed in a pirate costume while holding an adult's hand

Goofy in a sailor costume playfully interacts with a woman and a toddler on a carpeted floor

A mother holds her sleeping child closely among a group of people at an event

Merida from Disney's Brave animated movie sits on the floor next to a young fan, sharing a moment under a staircase indoors

Children's play area with Toy Story-themed decor, including Woody poster, tunnel slide, Slinky Dog slide, and Hamm piggy bank figure

Mickey Mouse greets guests in a restaurant filled with animated decor and vibrant lighting. Diners are seated around tables, enjoying the lively atmosphere

Menu for Animator's Palate restaurant on Disney Cruise Line open to the dessert section showing the Disney trademark

Woman with shoulder-length hair looks down at a folded towel in the shape of an animal. She stands near a table with food and a framed art piece in the background

Woman in a blue shirt featuring Epcot and Disney characters sits on a bus with a child sleeping on her lap

A woman wearing a hat and a floral outfit walks on a sunny path holding a toddler's hand. Palm trees and resort buildings are in the background

A small blue rubber duck wearing a shark costume with a red ribbon around its neck, holding a card that reads, "Lucky Lucky, you found a DUCKIE!"

Woman holding hands with a child while walking on the deck of a cruise ship. The woman is wearing cropped pants and a patterned sleeveless top. The child is dressed in a printed outfit

A woman smiling while holding a young child. The child's face is blurred