What makes Disneyland and California Adventure so special no matter your age is its timeless enchantment. I took a trip there recently with a few of my friends, and each time I go I recognize something new in myself. While it may sound cheesy, the music, the colorful atmosphere, the fireworks and all the smiles around me combine into a powerful sensory overload - but just the right amount of it - that truly puts me under Disney’s charm.
As a young adult going to these parks, I find that there are select rides I go on for a thrill, like California Screamin’ and Tower of Terror. Other rides like Peter Pan and the Teacups are mostly for sentimental purposes, simply a reminiscence of childhood. These moments can be eye opening because as the years go by, the rides change, they appear less daunting, less exciting, and unfortunately, less magical. We begin to remember what the rides felt like as a child, and perhaps cling to those feelings, wishing we could go back to the excitement and anticipation we felt then.
The Evil Queen in Alice in Wonderland was terrifying, and I swore those hippos were real on the Jungle Cruise. I remember sitting as far in as I could on any ride that had villains, animals, or even water that could pop up or splash me. Whether it was flying on Dumbo with wide eyes and a terrified yet content smile, or putting on periwinkle eye shadow to model Cinderella’s airy appearance, Disney has sprinkled a little of its fairy dust over me throughout the years.
I find that there is magic that reaches the older generations as well as the young. Even just walking along the sidewalk makes me nostalgic. During the firework show, there are projections of The Jungle Book, Winnie the Pooh, and Snow White that many young kids today are not as familiar with. For me, hearing the “Circle of Life” or watching Ariel swim across the lit up castle brings me right back to my pigtail self. For all the children today, the excitement is seeing Lightning McQueen in the light show, or waving to Elsa; these are their moments, their heroes. Disney is growing, changing, morphing, and developing; each generation gets to experience a taste of what Disney has to offer.
I think the magic changes in each phase of your life. While I’m not a parent, I can begin to see how the excitement can come flooding back when you bring your own child to the park. Memories of your experiences as a young toddler, pre-teen, and teenager come rushing back, creating a special bond between generations.
There is something so magical about watching a child experience Disneyland. They are absolutely inundated with sounds and sights that they don’t know what to do first, what to say, where to go. They have arrived into their own fantasy land where imagination runs wild and fairytales are lived out. It moves beyond what they see on their TV screen or what toy they play with at home; it’s a whole world created just for them.
