Boy’s Temper Tantrum on Cruise Goes Viral, Mom Tells Real Story (Exclusive)

Brittney Mettke-Powers’ son was not a happy camper when he realized their Disney cruise didn’t have Wi-Fi.

This past August, Mettke-Powers shared a video on her TikTok account of her son Luca during their family’s trip on a Disney cruise. In the clip, Mettke-Powers’ husband could be seen trying to calm down their son, who was having a temper tantrum over not having access to both Wi-Fi and Roblox.

“POV: your hubby is offering support to your kiddo who is in full blown WiFi/Roblox detox because you are torturing them with a Disney Cruise,” Mettke-Powers wrote across the video, which showed their son lying down on a couch and her husband leaning over him.

“Enjoy this. Enjoy this time on the cruise, okay. You’ll get Wi-Fi, but it’s going to hurt not having it for a while,” Mettke-Powers’ husband can be heard saying to Luca. “But it’ll get better, okay? Each day will get better and it will be easier and easier to live without wifi, okay?” 

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Mettke-Powers’ comments were filled with many who expressed that Luca’s response was intense.

“This should be a pretty big wake up call,” wrote one person. “It’s literally a dopamine crash,” said another.

Speaking with PEOPLE, Mettke-Powers shares that there’s one thing commenters didn’t see that contributed to her son’s tantrum.

“When our video of Luca’s Wi-Fi meltdown on the Disney Magic went viral, what people didn’t see was the heart behind the moment,” she explains. “Luca is autistic and routine is his anchor. His iPad and favorite games are more than entertainment — they’re a comfort and a way he regulates when things feel overwhelming.”

“This wasn’t even his first cruise, but each time there’s an adjustment period. The sudden realization that he wouldn’t have Wi-Fi — something he counts on daily — triggered the tears you saw. It looked dramatic, but for him, it was real,” adds Mettke-Powers.

The proud mom says that the beautiful part for her is how quickly her son was able to adapt once he was given the space and support.

“Within an hour, he was smiling on the water slide, enjoying endless soft-serve ice cream and making new friends around the ship,” says Mettke-Powers. “By the end of the trip, the question wasn’t about WiFi anymore — it was, ‘When’s the next cruise?'”

“Moments like these are a reminder: what looks like a meltdown is often just a child navigating a world that feels different than what they expected,” she continues. “And with patience and understanding, the hardest moments can transform into the best memories.”