Some of my favorite childhood memories are set on the overcrowded walkways in Orlando, Florida. I can hear the music playing, see the Mickey Mouse hands waving, and feel like I can touch the top of Cinderella’s castle while sitting on my dad’s shoulders. There was magic in the air, no question.

But as we get older, we realize that’s not the REAL Snow White, the boats on “It’s A Small World” maybe reach two miles per hour, Splash Mountain will screw up your mascara, and there must have been a million people that have touched the steering wheel on this spinning teacup. So does the magic fade? Absolutely not. In fact, I think Walt Disney created this theme park for us.

1. Melt-down time

This past weekend when I went to Disney with my family, I noticed a trend my parents had been noticing for years. When 2:30 pm hits, there’s no stopping the outpour of tears from the little eyes of the terrible two’s to the third graders. These kids woke up with such intense excitement at 6 that morning, jumped on their parents’ beds in order to wake them up, and caught the first shuttle in to the park. This would mean they are on hour 8 of Disney mode. The endorphins pumping through their veins slow, and the tantrums begin. As this occurs, parents try their luck at what turns out to be a few failed attempts at calming their children down and getting them back to Disney mode.

2. No Stress Zone

If you are, or ever have been, a college student, I don’t have to tell you about the ever-increasing stress levels. Lectures to watch, exams to cram for, notes to take, office hours to attend, readings to read, internships to get, articles to write, or even something as simple as deciding what to dress as for your next social – it never ends. The job market is more competitive, and in effect, so are we. When you’re in the happiest place on Earth, stressing is just not an option. When I started to think about the math exam I had next week, a staff member didn’t let it slide. “You dropped something,” she said. I looked down next to me and heard “YOUR SMILE!” in the most Disney of Disney voices. If there is any place to live in the moment, this is it.

3. Whole squad on that roller coaster

All of your theme park childhood memories include your original crew: your family. We have all the time in the world to hang with friends in college, and while those memories are also priceless, there is nothing like being with your family. Seventy-five minute wait for Splash Mountain? Annoying, yes. But your parents, and you, wouldn’t trade those minutes to just talk for the world. Nostalgia is filling the air at Disney; so reminiscing about the time they bought you a hat (and filled it with a pair of socks) so you were tall enough to ride Splash Mountain, and other memories, will make the wait seem like you had a Fast Pass. This is as close to Neverland as we can get, so we have to embrace it.

4. Don't hate, really appreciate

All jokes aside, the wonder of Disney World is alive and well at any age. Every aspect of every ride is crafted by the world’s most genius designers to create an atmosphere that feels like another planet. You cannot find a staff member between the gates that doesn’t exude pure joy, regardless if they are representing their country at Epcot or making sure your seatbelt is fastened, even though this is just another day at work for them. The fireworks shows leave us speechless, and they leave a look of amazement on the face of the five-year-old girl next to you that could bring tears to your eyes.

So next time you and your family decide to take a vacation, consider the happiest place on Earth, put your phone away, be a kid again and enjoy the magic!