Disney has been getting a lot of flack lately. People are upset about the incident that happened last month, during which two-year-old Lane Graves was allegedly attacked by an alligator in the Seven Seas Lagoon. Unfortunately, Lane drowned and did not survive. People are questioning how this could have happened, what Disney could have done to prevent it, etc. It's an all-around tragedy.

I also hear people constantly putting Disney Channel down for being too stringent in the "rules" they have for their shows. Allegedly, they can only show one kiss per season for each show. People gripe about the lack of diversity and representation on Disney Channel as well (to those people I'd say have you seen "Stuck in the Middle" or "Bizaardvark" or "K.C. Undercover" because there is a much needed growing sense of diversity on their shows).

I am forever hearing people say that Disney is "too expensive." They are starting to nickel and dime their guests. They're pricing themselves out of being a vacation the average family can take. These people aren't wrong, per se.

Disney isn't perfect. I'm not here to claim that they are. I would lose all credibility. I know they aren't perfect. I love Disney despite all of this.

I have always loved Disney movies. When I was growing up I wanted nothing more than to be a bona fide Disney Princess. Belle was always my favorite. Ariel and Snow White were close seconds. I was lucky enough to visit Disneyland when I was four and again when I was seven. I visited Disney World for the first time when I was 13 or 14. I fell in love with Disney World. I went back after my high school graduation and again for spring break my sophomore year of college.

I don't know why it didn't occur to me to work for Disney sooner. I didn't have that idea until I was in graduate school. So that's what I did. I moved to Disney World to work for The Mouse. I started off in the Disney College Program. I moved onto two different professional internships. I had countless other professional opportunities. I made truly amazing friends.

You'd think that by working for Disney, I would have become desensitized to the magic. Knowing how everything actually works should have ruined it for me. It never did, though. Every single time I walk into the Magic Kingdom I am constantly overcome by raw emotion. Seeing the castle, watching all of the families seeing it for the first time. Taking pictures on rides, having amazing interactions with different characters (a few days ago, I went and met Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel and Tiana in Princess Fairytale Hall and they were some of the best character interactions I ever had), these are experiences and memories that I'll cherish forever.

It's the people that make Disney so special, however. It's the tens of thousands of cast members who tirelessly work all day every day to ensure that guests have the most amazing time that deserve the credit. The cast members I know (myself excluded) are some of the most generous and selfless people I have ever met.

Working for Disney changed me for the better. It was physically demanding at time and mentally excruciating at times. It was emotionally charged when dealing with unhappy guests. I learned a lot about myself and what I'm capable of.

Living at Disney changed me too. Whenever I'm upset or stressed or scared or sad or angry or frustrated, I can go grab a dose of Disney and somehow it makes it all go away. It's impossible to be unhappy at Disney. My annual pass certainly helps -- I don't have to buy a ticket every time I go. Even walking around Disney Springs, which doesn't cost a thing, cheers me up. The magic is alive and well in every corner of Disney's property.

These are my experiences with Disney. It isn't a perfect corporation. There are things I would do differently. Somehow, it became my home though. I always miss it when I'm not there. Disney truly is a family.