A young mother is facing a barrage of backlash for bragging about taking a vacation to Disney World without her kids.
Madalyn Jade Monaghan, 30, known as Maddie’s Mickey Magic on Instagram, is a content creator and self-described Disney and Universal travel specialist.
On August 10, she posted a video of herself crying while hugging her son with the caption, ‘When mom guilt hits because you’re going to Disney without the kids.’
The video then cuts to a clip of Monaghan dancing and drinking a cocktail while wearing Minnie Mouse ears, accompanied by the caption: “But then you remember why you booked a trip without the kids.”
The post received mixed reactions online, with some critics questioning Monaghan’s decision to ditch her children.
Madalyn Jade Monaghan, 30, known as Maddie’s Mickey Magic on Instagram, posted that she felt “mom guilt” about going on vacation to Disney World without her kids.
The video begins with her pretending to cry and then cuts to Monaghan dancing and drinking a cocktail while wearing Minnie Mouse ears.
“Who leaves their kids at home to go out and hang out with thousands of other kids,” one person wrote.
“Letting kids go to a family destination surrounded by other kids, how weird,” wrote another.
Others defended Monaghan’s choice, saying she is free to make whatever journey she wants.
“Go ahead girl. Hope you had a great time,” one follower said.
“I’m a big believer in making memories with kids, but you have to have a vacation without them too. They’ll grow up and have their own vacation one day. And traveling with kids is expensive and emotionally and physically draining, so it never feels like a vacation,” wrote another.
Monaghan justified his solo trip in another video by saying his kids had been to Disney hundreds of times and his vacation was a work trip.
Monaghan defended herself by saying that her children have been to Disney hundreds of times and that this vacation was a work trip.
The mom (pictured at Disneyland Paris) is a content creator and self-described Disney and Universal travel specialist.
She said she rode roller coasters because her children were too young to ride and drank more alcohol than she would have if her children had been with her.
“I’m a Disney travel agent, so while I had fun and games, it was also a work trip,” she said.
‘Not to mention it’s August and it’s hot. It’s not a time of year I would normally recommend for little ones.
‘I did all this to better assist my clients and their families on their vacation.’