As I am gearing up for my coming trip to Disneyland, I can't help but think about why it is the most magical place on earth, and to quote Disneyland, "the happiest place on earth."

When I was younger, I didn't appreciate Disneyland as much as a young girl should. I was much too scared of the rides, and that just overpowered and ruined my experiences there, so my family didn't go often.

But then I hit middle school and all changed. My middle school always took the 7th and 8th graders to Disneyland right before our final exams. It was an incredible tradition that I was nervous for when I found out about it. I didn't want to be that one girl sitting out while all my friends were going on every ride and having fun together. But, because of my friend Lola, who had her very "vicious" tendencies, I knew I'd be dragged on these rides.

The first ride she dragged me on was the Matterhorn. As I cried my way through the line and was shaking with fear, I considered backing out, but Lola would have never allowed that, and I am thankful she didn't let me back out to this day.

Now I am fearless when it comes to the rides, except Splash Mountain because that is just too much for me. I wait in each and every line, so eager to get on those rides and have the time of my life. It doesn't matter if I am waiting in line for over and hour and then the following ride is less than 5 minutes long; they are the best 5 minutes I can ever imagine and bring me joy that lasts for days and weeks after.

But again, Disneyland is not just about the rides. It's about the magic of the place itself. From looking into the distance and seeing Sleeping Beauty's castle place perfectly in the sky and finding the hidden Mickey Mouse's within each ride and place in the park, I truly feel the magic from the park within me and I know others do as well.

I wish so much that I appreciated the magic of Disneyland as a child. I feel the magic would have been even more intense and powerful. It is such a special place for kids because it allows them to believe in magic and princess and talking animals. My fear got in the way of me finding that joy as a child.

Now as an (almost) adult, I still feel the magic or more like the whimsy of anything Disney. I know magic isn't real, I know there is not Rapunzel up in a tower waiting for a prince to climb up her hair, but I wish that when I was a child I knew that.

Either way, Disneyland is a place I feel pure joy and a place where I have a smile plastered across my face while I am there and even a few days post Disneyland. It is one of my favorite places in the world and finding the magic within oneself is so important if you ever visit Disneyland. I always find wearing my Minnie Mouse ears helps.