A video of a 10 year old boy breaking down over the lack of Wi-Fi on a Disney cruise has gone viral — sparking both sympathy and debate across social media.
The clip, shared on TikTok by Brittney Mettke Powers (@therealbrittneypowers), shows her husband Gerard consoling her son Luca as he struggles with the reality of being offline at sea.
“Enjoy this time on the cruise, OK?” Gerard tells his stepson in the video. “You’ll get WiFi, but it’s gonna hurt not having it for a while, but it’ll get better. Each day, it’ll get better and it’ll be easier and easier to live without WiFi.”
The moment, filmed onboard a Disney Cruise Line ship, has since racked up millions of views. While some viewers found the exchange humorous and relatable, others criticized the boy’s reaction as proof of “too much screen time.”
Speaking to Newsweek, Brittney explained that Luca is autistic and thrives on routine, which makes sudden changes — like losing internet access — particularly tough.
“Any type of change can hit a little harder, so his reaction might look bigger than most,” she told the outlet.
She stressed that once he adjusted, Luca “was all in — swimming, eating endless ice cream, meeting characters, watching shows,” adding that by the end of the trip “he wasn’t even thinking about his devices.”
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While some users online focused on screen time, others resonated with the deeper message. “I’m guessing the kid was overstimulated and looking for a comfort item, the same way we all pull out our phones in awkward situations or to decompress,” one commenter posted.
Brittney said the video sparked broader conversations among parents — not just those with neurodivergent children. “Even parents of neurotypical children chimed in, saying they’ve dealt with the same meltdowns over change or routine,” she explained to Newsweek.
Brittney noted that Luca ultimately “had the best time ever” and that the family is already looking to book their next Disney cruise.
Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando. In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.