I Spent $10k On a Disney Cruise And It Was Awful

Recently, I took my twin three-year-old boys on a four-night Disney cruise in and out of Auckland.

If you’ve ever looked into Disney cruises, you’ll know they’re not cheap. Ten grand later, I had convinced myself it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience; the kind of magical family trip you can’t put a price on.

As a kid, I went to Disneyland with my parents and grandparents, and it’s still one of my most treasured memories. With Mum and Dad getting older, I’m not sure we’ll ever get the chance to take a big trip like that to Florida again - so I did the next best thing: booked all of us on a cruise. Me, Mum, Dad, and my two very energetic toddlers. Easy peasy… right?

Well.
Let’s just say reality didn’t quite match the brochure.

It started with excitement.
Then… too much excitement.
Then too many people, too many noises, too many new things, late dinners, missed naps and suddenly everything unravelled. I remember standing there thinking;

'I would pay the same $10k again just to get off this boat right now.'

Of course, there were beautiful moments. There always are. But it was hard. Really hard.

On the last morning, while we were packing up, my Mum (Nana), asked one of my boys:

“What was your favourite thing about the whole trip, Baz?”
And he looked at her and said:
“Nana.”

My heart.
They’d formed such a special bond - more time than they’ve ever had together.

Then she asked my other boy, Beau.
“And what about you, sweetheart? What was your favourite bit?”
And he said:
“Poppa.”

And in that moment, everything clicked.
That was the whole point.
Not the characters. Not the shows. Not the ocean views.
Just… time together. Family. Safe people. Tiny sacred moments.

When we got home and settled back into normal life, we sat outside on the grass having lunch. The boys were calm. Peaceful. Back to themselves. And it hit me with absolute clarity:

This is security.
Their home. Their space.
Their normal cups and normal food.
Their mama close by.
Nothing fancy, just the feeling of being safe.

And it made me think about my clients.

So many people come to me wanting freedom, choices, upgrades, beautiful holidays, a better home… and yes, we work towards all of that.

But underneath every aspiration - whether we realise it or not, is the same desire:

We just want to feel secure.

Financial security.
Emotional security.
Security for our kids, our parents, our health, our future.

And that’s why security is always the first thing I build into every financial plan. A strong, steady foundation that means no matter what happens, you’re going to be okay.

Because freedom doesn’t come from constant excitement.
Freedom comes from knowing you’re safe.

Anyway, I must go. One of my boys has just come to tell me the other has done “wee wees” in his pants.
Back to real life we are. 💛