9 Adults Share Why Going to Disney Is Still So Special to Them

"Disney is like a time capsule of my childhood. As a kid, my life was all about Disney movies, toys, games, and character nightgowns (I legit had a million). I didn't visit Disney World until I was 9, but my god, I remember so much of it. I didn't go back again until I was 14, and I swear, I cried when I stepped onto Main Street USA for the first time in five years — and I've teared up every single time I've visited both WDW and Disneyland since. There's no place in the world like Disney — it makes everyone who enters its gates feel like a kid again, whether they're visiting with children or not. Disney is for everyone." — Alessia Santoro, editor, Family

"My parents have always instilled Disney love in my heart, and the older I get, the more I love how Disney allows me to connect to my childhood. As I've grown up, going to Disney World has kept my heart light and my memories strong. I've learned to be a true Disney fan — someone who simply can't complain about anything that happens there, who has a bigger smile on her face waiting in a three-hour line for Frozen than she does when she's approaching her favourite pizza parlor for dinner in NYC. I'll say it once and I'll say it again: Disney magic is actually created by the people you go there with, be it your family, your friends, and eventually maybe even your children." — Sarah Wasilak, editor, Fashion

"Some of my most cherished memories are of our family trips to Disney World. My parents worked so hard to be able to take us every year when we were kids because they wanted us to be able to experience the magic. It allowed us to believe in big dreams, let our imaginations run wild, and actually become a part of our favourite worlds, and that feeling has never faded with time. It's still our favourite place to go as adults. You get to be a kid again as soon as you walk through those gates, and Disney is there to welcome you with open arms. While we should all mature, we should never, ever grow up. Disney helps you remember how to believe." — Caitlin Gallagher, senior editor, Living

"Disney parks take the art of storytelling to an unparalleled level. The tiniest details create the most uniquely immersive experiences that take you out of everyday life and into some of your favourite fairy tales. Whether it's the kind of music that's playing in a particular land within the park (the twangy country in Cars Land), the food they're serving (Mint Juleps in New Orleans Square), the plants and foliage they choose (like in the line area for Indiana Jones or Jungle Cruise), or the scents wafting through an area (Boudin's sourdough at the wharf in DCA), Disney parks always remind me that storytelling isn't just for books and movies." — Dominique

"A trip to Disneyland represents an opportunity to escape and be playful. It's not about taking anything away from kids or the adults bringing them — it's about sharing in the magic!" — Hayley