If you’re alive and have a functioning brain, I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that most of you’ve seen a Disney movie at some point in your life. If you haven’t, you have been severely deprived. Now, if you’re really fortunate, you have been to one of the theme parks, especially the original, Disneyland.

Growing up as a kid in Southern California, Disneyland was very much a part of my life. I was lucky that my parents got annual passes to go to Disneyland throughout the year. We got to go five or six times a year from September until May, especially around Halloween and Christmas when the park was decorated for the holidays. I even remember days when instead of going to school my parents would take me on a surprise trip to Disneyland.

Recently over my college spring break I went home for a few days and one of the things I did was go to Disneyland with my family. Despite the crowds, I had a nice time hanging out and spending time with my family. Upon returning to school I began to wonder what it is about Disney that maintains its appeal for me, a college student, when many would dismiss it as something childish that no self-respecting ‘adult’ could enjoy. I’d say there are several reasons why Disneyland still holds a place in my heart.

The first and most obvious reason is nostalgia. Walt Disney and, by extension, Disneyland were big parts of my childhood and indeed are a powerful fixture of the classic American childhood. Some of my best memories growing up are connected to trips to Disneyland. I’ll never forget those days waking up excited for the day to get moving, feeling the anticipation build on the drive down and then having it all pay off once we arrived. Those were always special days packed with as much excitement as a kid could take. So packed in fact, that my parents would bring pajamas down with us so my sister and I could change as we would inevitable pass out on the drive home. The best trips however, were those where we would spend the night in a hotel and spend a few days at the park. Whether it was one of the Disney hotels or other local accommodations, they had their own special magic. But nostalgia alone is not enough to explain my continued appreciation for Disneyland.

Another reason is the time it allows me to spend with my family. In our modern and distraction heavy lives, it can be hard to find the time to just sit and connect with another person. Going off to college and spending most of my time away from my family, barring texts, weekly Oovoo calls, and infrequent visits, its hard to find the time to just relax and share experiences with them compared to when I lived at home. Disneyland gives me this time, whether standing in line (so many lines) for rides or sitting down to meals, I have all day to talk about whatever’s on my mind while just enjoying a day with my family doing something we all love. Since going off to school I’ve come to realize just how precious this time is and Disney provides the best time to spend it.

Since ancient times man has been on a quest to distract himself from the various worries and disappointments of life. From ancient storytellers to print media to motion pictures we’ve sought escape in the world of fantasy. The genius of Walt Disney is that he decided to take his story telling talents and apply them to a real place with the goal of seamlessly maintaining the illusion. 60 plus years later his vision is still going strong. Being in the park you know that the city of Anaheim is just a few yards away on the other side of the trees and yet you forget it. For a few hours the outside world fades away and you can believe you are in the Wild West, or fairy tale land, or even the future, while the illusion is maintained with an impressive commitment. With the world as chaotic and terrifying as it is now, who doesn’t want to escape for a few hours? It’s no sin to want a little break from it all.

If none of the above reasons are enough to convince you that it’s ok for a college student to like going to Disneyland then I have a reason that sure is. I don’t care about any superficial notion of what’s cool to like or dislike. I don’t care about what is supposedly too childish for someone my age to enjoy. Disneyland is something that crosses age lines from toddlers to senior citizens. We are just tiny specks living a brief existence on a blue marble floating through space we should focus on doing what makes us happy and brings happiness to others. Life is simply too short to worry about seeming ‘cool’ or ‘mature.’

For all the crowds and expenses involved in a Disney trip, which are considerable on both counts, it still remains something special to me. Whether it’s for the nostalgia, escapism, family bonding time, or just plain fun, a trip to Disneyland is always a memorable experience. For these and countless more reasons, Disneyland will always have a special place in my heart.