Why do you love Disney?

[Welivefordisney]

The amazing feeling of peace I get as we walk down Main Street.
The fact that we can do rides all day and no matter what the age, we all love them.
I love to see my children's faces as they see a new character!
It is just magical ~ what else can I say??

 

[AmericanItGirl]

For me it's a place where I can be a kid no matter what.

I grew up in Irvine, so about 15 mins via freeway to Disneyland. One of my earliest memories is of going to Disneyland as a kindergartener with my mom for a few hours before having to get my older brothers from school. We got lunch and went on a ride of my choosing (which was a big thing because with 2 older brothers I didn't always get to have top pick of the rides we were going to go on). We were APs until the lights went out forever on the DL Main Street Electrical Parade (we couldn't afford it after that and then soon moved to Northern California...long story). My mom would often either take us to Disneyland or the beach after school if we had the time (a mom encouraging their kids to spend their afternoon at Disneyland instead of doing homework???? Score!). It happened really frequently when they did the collectible cards for the 40th anniversary and when they had the Lion King parade (my mom was obsessed with that parade). We would also go there for "vacation" since my dad could never take more than a day or two at a time off of work. As a result, I have so many childhood memories of going Disneyland that it's become something of a second home for me. Just going there is akin to someone else opening a box full of childhood things that's been sequestered in the attic for years, especially since I didn't go to Disneyland again until I started going to college in Southern California (so an 8 year gap during which I "grew up"). Now I go with my aunt who moved to Southern California right around the time that I did. We always wear something "Disney" when we go (last time I dressed as Cinderella [just modified enough to not get kicked out of the park], which brought a smile to many a cast member, except Lady Tremaine who stared me down) and have no problem acting dorky and getting excited over everything.

I've been to Disneyworld once right after my senior year of high school with my youth group who were there for a national youth group gathering. I'll never forget swordfighting with another guy in my group using these cheap plastic swords we got near POTC. Where else would you find two 18 year olds fighting with dinky plastic "swords"?

 

[SunDevilDaddy]

The magic of Disney is that it is so steeped in symbolism and fantasy that it evokes different emotions and memories for everyone that walks through the gates. We all experience similar feelings on some level but on other levels one persons connection to Disney can't be explained to anyone else.

Disney has done such a fantastic job at creating an alternate reality instead of a theme park. When you go to Knotts, Six Flags, or any other amusement/theme park you are still grounded in the here and now. Their rides and shows just act as a distraction. At Disneyland there is no here and now. There is no California, there is not United States, there is no Earth... there is just Disney. There is only all the magic that is disney. Characters come to life and become people (mice, dogs, ducks and otherwise). Worlds are created by brilliantly crafted environments where you can really feel like a Princess, Jedi, or Pirate. Rides send you to another place and time. All in all the unrealistic washes away and anything becomes possible.

Although everyone had their favorite ride on our trip both my wife and I agreed that the very best parts of the trip were not on rides at all but in those moments where our kids eyes were lit with astonishment and the magic was so strong you could almost reach out and grab it - shows like Fantasmic, and Aladdin, and watching the parade. Eating a character meals... etc. That was what DL is all about to me.

Thats the magic of disneyland... thats what the love for it is... pure unadulterated innocence. As so many others have noted, only at Disneyland is a parent and a child on the same level, can they share the same experience, and see a world through the eyes of one another.

*There's my sentimental moment.... Now to hijack - I've never been to WDW but from so many others I know who have I get the impression that DL does a much better job providing an intimate and magical world seperate from reality, where WDW is more notable for "bigger and better" scale entertainment, and the magic is a little lacking. Is this true? If so, I personally would take DL any day of the week!*

 

[sasha]

XTinabell - Thanks! Yes, it was pretty cool getting engaged on POTC. I've heard of many people doing it in front of the castle, which is romantic, but this was different. It's always been DH's favorite ride so that's where he wanted to propose. Now everytime we go on POTC we think back to the day we got engaged, and when our girls are old enough we'll explain it to them and I'm sure that ride will have a special meaning for them too.

SunDevilDaddy - Is writing your profession? If not, it should be. What you wrote gave me goosebumps. It really was beautifully written.

 

[cyberdeb]

*There's my sentimental moment.... Now to hijack - I've never been to WDW but from so many others I know who have I get the impression that DL does a much better job providing an intimate and magical world seperate from reality, where WDW is more notable for "bigger and better" scale entertainment, and the magic is a little lacking. Is this true? If so, I personally would take DL any day of the week!*

Wow, that was just beautiful and it about sums it up for me. But I have been to DL twice in my life, most recently last month and have been to WDW many times and i have to say, that magical feeling is all encompasing in florida as well. I remember a trip when i was a teenager (long, long ago). We stayed at Fort Wilderness campground within the Disney World Resort and it was when there was only one park, the Magic Kingdom. We were there for a week and i very clearly remembering my older brother telling me that it was amazing, that it was almost as if the outside world no longer existed and he totally forgot about his new first car at home. Just last month at DL, the first night we were there, we spent at Dowtown Disney and i felt the magic then too. I think most people prefer the WDW or DL Resort depending on where they went as a child. I personally prefer WDW but still loved DL too.

 

[SunDevilDaddy]

SunDevilDaddy - Is writing your profession? If not, it should be. What you wrote gave me goosebumps. It really was beautifully written.

Sadly no... But my livelihood does depend on my ability to communicate persuasively. But Mrs. Devil keeps bugging me to write a book, and ever since I discovered this forum she keeps bugging me even more to use the helpful hints I found here to write a guidebook to Disneyland. Maybe someday (when I've accumulated the hydroguy level of DL knowledge)!

Wow, that was just beautiful and it about sums it up for me. But I have been to DL twice in my life, most recently last month and have been to WDW many times and i have to say, that magical feeling is all encompasing in florida as well.

Good to know. I think part of the problem is my main source of WDW information grew up in FL and had ap's through his childhood. He claims to like it much better than DLR, but always cites the size and rides.. never the magic of it. But then again, he hates all that is West Coast and proclaims nothing but lifelong love for FL, so I tend to take his opinions with a grain of salt.

I'm glad Disney is making it a point to address the "magic" at all their parks!