Next week my friends and I are driving out to California to take a trip to Disneyland. As we all sit here counting down the days and planning out our trip, we are getting excited thinking that in just a couple of days we get to revert to our childlike selves to spend a day going on rides and devouring churros.

When you are a Disney fanatic (like I am) the thought of even going to Disneyland gives you the chills from excitement. Although, yes, I'm 20 years old, and the park is undeniably touristy, the feeling from being at Disneyland will always remain the same.

Everyone has different strategies and tactics on how to get the most out of your Disney day, whether it’s starting at Frontierland and going on Indiana Jones or running over to Space Mountain early to get a FastPass, one thing is the same for all the obsessed Disney-goers, and these are the Stages of Disney.

1. You don’t mind waking up at 6 a.m. and making your way to Disneyland to be there at opening. Any other day, definitely not, but for Disney? It’s not even a question.

2. You get a particular feeling when you complete your outfit by placing your Minnie Mouse ears on your head. You know it’s real now, it’s go time.

3. The first ride of the day is the tram. It’s basically the time that you are the most anxious and excited, and the trip from the parking lot to the front gate definitely counts as an adventure.

4. You analyze all the entrance lines to see which one is going to be the fastest. Get me into that park as soon as possible. You go in that line, you go in the other line, I’ll stay in this line, BREAK.

5. Next, when Disney isn't a family experience, but basically a mission, you become a little cynical to some of the oh-so-friendly Disney staff. When you walk in the gates, and they ask to take your picture, you get beyond irritated (Hellooooo, can’t you tell we’re on a time schedule?).

6. Even though it’s the Happiest Place on Earth, and you love seeing all the children dressed up and prancing through Main Street, the slow walkers, large families and lost first-timers bug you … oh, and don’t get me started on strollers.

7. You made your usual getaway to your first ride and after debate, checking which rides are closed and the wait times by using your handy dandy Disney app, you finally decide to jump into a line because it gives you peace knowing your first goal has been met. Get on a ride.

8. You make note of everything you and your friends want to do today, and you’ll stop at nothing to complete it all, twice if there's time left over.

9. You basically spend the day trying to cheat the system. You know how to make the most of FastPasses, you know what lines you can pass and what side the elevator opens at the Haunted Mansion, everyone is standing there trying to figure out where the door opens, and you’re already sitting down on the ride.

10. You see a large group headed towards the ride you’re going to and you immediately start running with no regrets. Sorry Jiminy Cricket, no conscience here.

11. Now it’s the cliche time for you and your friends to go take the classic picture in front of the castle. You have those Pinterest ideas, and you are ready to throw what you know, but then you see a woman getting proposed to in front of the castle, and you get a little depressed when you remember you are forever single. Then you remember you are at the Happiest Place on Earth, and it’s all good again.

12. Now it’s snack time. Probably one of the most difficult decisions of the day. What to get? The classic churro? A Dole pineapple whip? Mickey pretzel? A pickle? All of it? Calories don’t count at Disneyland.

13. It’s parade time, and you know what that means? DON'T GO! This is the perfect time to hit as many rides as possible because everyone is crowded around Main Street, and you’re blazing through ride after ride with little to no lines.

14. You constantly find ways to entertain yourself while waiting in lines, and you don’t care how obnoxious you are. “Heads Up" anyone?

15. You see Goofy or Mickey at the corner with a long line waiting to take a classic picture. You know you would never spend time like you did when you were younger to take a picture with someone dressed up in a costume, but deep down part of you always wants to

16. Now it’s meal time. You and your friends all have their own favorite Disney restaurants, and you know you’re never going to agree. Plus, you can’t even decide on your own because you want all of it: Gumbo or clam chowder in a bread bowl, bacon wrapped asparagus from Bengal Barbecue, chicken nuggets and fries from that one place in Frontierland, pizza from Pizza Port, one person wants Mexican from Rancho del Zocalo and someone else wants to go to Downtown Disney (a whole other ballgame). In the end, you usually just settle for chowing down about five more churros.

17. It’s that time of the day when you are about to take a nap on a bench or fall asleep on It’s a Small World. You almost want to go on the Jungle Cruise just so you can sit down for a solid fifteen minutes. After, a quick break, you and your friends realize there’s only a few more hours and you decide to push through it.

18. You know that the Fantasyland rides are far from intense, but you grew up going on these rides. However, you know all the kids go home after the fireworks or sometimes earlier, so the best time to go is late at the night when the lines are almost empty.

19. You just rode Space Mountain with your FastPass that you've basically been waiting all day for. And holy cow was it great. You see the line is still an hour long, but you really want to ride it again. Everyone looks at each other and says, "Okay, let's do it!"

20. You got a top score on Astro Blasters, had your face as a target in Space Tours, rode Indiana Jones three times, Space Mountain twice, Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean and everything in between. Heck, you even made it to the Matterhorn. The fireworks are starting, and you can’t believe it’s been another amazing day at Disneyland.

You hit a couple more rides and realize closing time is just around the corner. You basically have to drag yourself out and sadness sets in as you take your final walk down Main Street. The park is all lit up and something inside of you leaves you smiling ear to ear.

You’re stuffed from all the sweets, your legs hurt from all the walking, and your head is a little sore from wearing your Minnie Mouse ears all day, but it was worth it.

Dear Disneyland, no matter how old I get, you will never disappoint. Thanks, Walt Disney, for giving us a place where we never have to grow up.

“Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever”