Work Follows You (Even to Disney) – Let’s Talk Boundaries

It’s been 14 years since we last visited the Most Magical Place on Earth. The first time, it was just us. This time, we brought our four amazing kiddos. Core memory unlocked.

And while we soaked up every moment, we noticed something: a few things follow you—no matter where you go.

Work Follows You.


I was surprised to see among the February crowds and unseasonably warm (yay for this!) Orlando weather—a dad with his laptop open trying to work inside Magic Kingdom. How do you even carry a laptop into Disney?! All I could think was, What is his family thinking? A once-in-a-decade trip, and work won’t let him go have fun?

And he wasn’t the only one. Throughout the week, I spotted multiple guys with laptops out in the parks.

Maybe Disney security needs a new rule—no computers.

I can be just as guilty as the next person, but I want to have boundaries between life and work.

How do you draw the line? Do you give yourself a day off each week? A week per quarter? When do you truly step away to be with your family—not just physically, but mentally too? Could a little physical separation help?

Speaking of boundaries, we’ve been home-office-ing since moving from downtown Devine in August and starting the new office build. And believe me, we know the value of having a completely separate workspace—just like we discovered in 2017 when we first got started. Hoping we can wrap up the 10% to go on the office soon!

Family Follows You.


This one wasn’t a surprise. I still remember our pre-kids trip in 2011, watching all the other parents deal with tantrums. Ha!

But experiencing the highs and lows of siblings ages 2 to 9½? That was next level. Walking miles upon miles, conquering daring rides (Tron or Rise of the Resistance), only to face the underwhelming It’s a Small World after a 45-minute wait. And yes—Mom is still Mom on vacation.

What worked for us? Everyone (except the 2-year-old) carried their own backpack with snacks and a water bottle. That way, our overworked Minnie umbrella stroller didn’t have to carry the weight of the world.

A little planning saves a lot.

• Gatorades at the park? $5. Same for a Coke. Multiply by six people, and you’ve blown the food budget on Day 1. Thanks to our travel planner (Thank you, Edie!), we had some great tips. Like this one: You can Amazon Fresh yourself food to your resort. They’ll even hold it in a fridge for you. Game-changer for breakfasts, late-night snacks, and bottled drinks.

  

• Mickey ears start at $34. And my kids? They wouldn’t wear them past the trip. Instead, we grabbed hats at Hobby Lobby, added Disney patches, and everyone got to design their own. Bonus: Perfect for pin trading throughout the week.

  

• What I didn’t prepare for? The $34 bubble wands. I meant to grab glow sticks before we left, but I forgot. Next time. Next time.


You Follow You. 

One of my favorite SNL skits is about how you’re still you on vacation. Adam Sandler playing Joe Romano of Romano Tours warns something like, If you are sad now, you will still be the same sad you on vacation. 

We tried to keep things as normal as possible. One night, we realized we’d been eating so many fast meals that we missed sitting down together. So we splurged in Epcot for a table service meal.

Now, we don’t always make it to the dining table for dinner at home—but it’s a goal.

What can you do to bring a sense of normal when your routine is upside-down? Maybe it’s still Taco Tuesday, no matter what state you’re in. Maybe Friday Movie Night happens in the hotel room. Small things, but they matter.

Bringing It Back to Small Business. 

Boundaries. Planning ahead. Keeping what matters front and center.
It’s true in life, and it’s true in business.

If you’re ready to put some strategy (and sanity) into your marketing, let’s chat. Book a 15-minute call with us at Marken Media.

Also—heads up! Our Medina Magazine spring issue ad deadline has been extended. This issue will feature inspiring local nonprofits, a standout family, stellar students, and award-winning educators—plus a spotlight on fun local events.

Want to reach 6,400 Medina County families for as little as 27 cents a household? Reach out to Marcus ASAP.

Now if you’re reading this after 5 p.m., go put the laptop away and soak up some real life.

Here for you,