If you’ve ever taken your kids to a theme park, you know one thing that’s empirically true. Although it is a very fun trip, it is in some ways a nightmare for the mother. Theme parks are synonymous with planning, scheduling, and overstuffing (and yet somehow they’re not cramming enough?), but do you know who’s in charge of all that at all times? Yes, it’s us. Mothers. And while it’s a deep joy to watch kids experience Disney and Universal, especially for the first time, I’m not afraid to say this outright. “A mother has a right to her own joy.”
For a long time I felt guilty at the thought of going to the park without my family. Now that I’m in my 40s, I’ve decided that it’s okay to enjoy things on my own once in a while, and that there are places where you can enjoy things in a completely different way without the kids. Theme parks are a prime example.
I wanted to ride anything I wanted to go. Or learning to walk faster than your little legs can keep up when you see the wait time for a popular ride drop below 40 minutes. I wanted to actually go around Epcot’s World Showcase and ride Universal’s The Mummy back-to-back. That’s when I learned how great mom-only theme park trips are.
You can be the hero.
I have no illusions. When I’m at home, my children are the main characters. If anything, I’m more like a stage manager or director. It’s still important, but it’s waiting behind the scenes. During my first mommy trip last year, it took me a while to realize that my own needs and desires were taking center stage. The only garbage I had? It’s my own. The only thing you were curious about was your nap schedule? In my case (napping at resorts is life).
There were days when I tried my best to get through the 12-hour park and get through it all, and there were days when I didn’t even step out of my room. And we never felt guilty about it. In the immortal words of Taylor Swift, “This is our place. We make the rules.”
It’s nostalgic in a completely different way.
Visiting the park with my kids always fills me with nostalgia. Because as the kids grow up, they’ll remember all the memories they made there. But when you get back together with your friends as an adult, a different kind of emotion arises. You remember being a child. you obtain Becoming a child. Experiencing it now, when I have autonomy, adult money, and no bedtime, feels like reclaiming the version of myself that existed before I became responsible for the well-being of others.
It’s cheap.
Sorry kids, you’re so expensive. True, the price of a child’s ticket is a little cheaper than the price of an adult ticket. But did you know? You’re probably just paying for your own money on a mom-only trip. And do you know how much money you can save on unexpected expenses like souvenirs (everyone is disappointed when a kid asks for a bubble wand 100 times), snacks, sit-down meals, and stroller rentals?!
It’s a choose-your-own-adventure experience.
I am a firm believer that you literally can’t go wrong choosing between Disney or Universal for your mom’s trip. I’ve done both before, splitting them into several days. Again, you’re saving a little money here by not bringing the kids, so why not splurge a little? However, if doing both seems too expensive (or too exciting), you can structure your trip based on the atmosphere your group wants.
If you’re looking for more of a winding journey into nostalgia, Disney is the place for you. Ideal if your group wants to combine rides with rest time to enjoy resort and pool hopping. And of course, you haven’t lived until you’ve made one lap around World Showcase at Epcot. If you don’t have kids, there’s zero pressure to rush, so you can eat, drink, and really have fun.
If your group is looking for something a little more fast-paced or high-energy, consider setting aside a few days for Universal.
With so many thrilling rides, just passing through City Walk on a busy night is an adventure. Universal is also known for its ultra-immersive lands, including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, of course, but also the five amazing themed lands in its newest park, Epic Universe. Eat your fill of Butterbeer, baby!
You will be able to be friends with your friends again.
It’s not just mothers. She’s not just a “mom friend” either. Motherhood is beautiful, but it demands a lot from us. Of course we’re going to give it our all. That means there is very little “us” left. The most special thing happens when you visit a theme park like Disney or Universal with your friends. It feels like I’m back to my old self. In front of the children. Maybe even before we knew each other. Being there, you become young again and seeing yourself and your friends through those eyes is truly magical.
