Disneyland really is the happiest, most magical place on earth, no matter what age you are.
For those of you who grew up in California and frequented the land of the mouse, or those whose families made the journey to Southern California to visit, you'll know what I'm talking about.
The rest of you? Well, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about.
As a California native, I've made the trek to 1313 Disneyland Drive quite a few times in my life (Fun fact: M is the 13th letter of the alphabet, so Disneyland's address is literally MM Disneyland Drive), and every time I go, I am drawn into flashbacks of being there as a young child, while simultaneously experiencing everything new that is offered.
Like I said before, Disneyland is the happiest place on earth at all ages, and here's why.
As a Child:
Disneyland is the most magical when you go as a young child. The first time a young child walks in the front gates, you can see the wonder on their face. From their first ride on the Tea Cups in Fantasyland, to their first churro in Tomorrowland, to sitting in the middle of Main Street and watching the fireworks over the castle for the first time, they're hooked on Disneyland. Also, as children get older, they can start riding the more exciting rides like Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Space Mountain (they sure do have a lot of 'mountain' themed rides, don't they?) Besides, who doesn't love receiving autographs and taking pictures with their favorite characters?
As a Teenager:
All things Disney and childish become uncool when you're a teenager, right?
Wrong.
Being a teen in Disneyland is a whole different experience than when you were younger. The park starts to lose some of its 'magic', but becomes a fun place to visit with friends and family. You start to learn the secrets of the park, what rides have the shortest wait times during different times of the day, and California Adventure becomes the new cool place to hang out. Anybody want to go get fast passes for California Screamin' with me? Also, maybe your parents will actually take you to the Blue Bayou now that you're not in a high chair.
As an Adult:
When you're an adult, the connotation of Disneyland changes a little. It goes from the land of magic to the land of where did all of my money go? However, many adults justify the cost of these trips. Not only do they relive experiences from their first times going to the park, but they get to see their kids, if they exist yet, experience it for the first time. If you find yourself in the park with your significant other and no little rugrats, you can find yourself, say, waiting for your Indiana Jones fast pass time while enjoying some beignets at Cafe Orleans.
So, as you can see (or I guess in this case, read), Disneyland makes almost everybody happy. In my personal experience, me and my family have been arguing in our hotel one hour, and the next taking pictures with Mickey with huge smiles on our faces.
Disney truly is the happiest and most magical place on earth, and it's here to stay.
