Can Disneyland Still Make Me Feel Like a Kid?

Welcome to Ethels Tell All, where the writers behind The Ethel newsletter share their personal stories related to the joys and challenges of aging. Come back Wednesday each week for the latest piece, exclusively on AARP Members Edition.

When our children and grandchildren wobble down the block on their starter two-wheeler, lick an ice cream cone for the first time or stare in awe as a ladybug settles on their pinky finger, we are reminded of the joy and excitement that surged through us as children. But watching doesn’t always bring us into the moment. Not totally.

And not in the same way as a visit to Disneyland can, a place that evokes a strong sense of nostalgia in many of us.

When I entered the Magic Kingdom on its 70th anniversary as a 77-year-old woman, holding the hand of my 7-year-old great-niece, I was carried back to a summer’s day in 1955. Back then, I was the excited 7-year-old visiting Disney for the first time, tightly gripping my mom’s hand.

But there’s one major difference. I now know how much planning and money go into a trip such as this.

Ethels Tell All

Writers behind The Ethel newsletter aimed at women 55+ share their personal stories related to the joys and challenges of aging.

Read the full essays and join the conversation

Thankfully, my 40-something niece had made all the arrangements, from travel to dining options, just as my parents had done in the past. Her diligence allowed me to be a kid again, with no other responsibility than having fun.

As we made our way down Main Street, the smell of popcorn, the clop clop of the horses and the surge of visitors moving in all directions brought me back in time.

That’s not to say that Disneyland is the same as it was all those decades ago. Because it isn’t.

Gone are the days of trying to read the park map or asking for directions. For those of us who grew up in the pre-cellphone days, it can be an even more challenging experience. One often has to rely on apps to book rides, which means finding the app, logging in and remembering the password while maneuvering through the throngs of people all doing the same thing. Long lines result in anxious people looking at their phones instead of talking to one another, as we did in the past. And the high prices make the park unaffordable for frequent visits. 

Despite these changes, meeting the Disney characters was as exciting as it was when I was a little girl. Of course, today I know that they are actors and not really princesses, mice and robots. And although I never wanted to be a princess, it was still a thrill to have my photo taken with one.

Author Janie Emaus has a meet-and-greet with Sleeping Beauty at Disneyland during the theme park's 70th anniversary year.

Courtesy Janie Emaus

Fortunately, we were able to leave the crowds behind and have several dinners at nice restaurants in Downtown Disney before returning to the park. The child in me loved the rides and activities, but the adult in me didn’t really want hot dogs or cotton candy to serve as fuel for our adventures.