There’s a certain look you get when you tell people you’re heading to Disney again as an adult.

It’s a mix of disbelief and subtle judgment. You can see the questions in their eyes: “Aren’t you too old for that?” “Isn’t that just for kids?” “How many times can you ride the teacups?”

But let me be perfectly clear: I’m not here to defend my love for Disney. I’m here to celebrate it.

Because for me and for so many other grown adults, Disney isn’t about escaping reality. It’s about reconnecting with a part of us that still believes in joy, in wonder, in magic.

The kind of magic that doesn't require explanation or permission. The kind that lives in the swell of a theme song, the first bite of a Mickey-shaped pretzel, or that gasp when the fireworks explode over Cinderella Castle.

Some of my most cherished memories were made on Disney vacations with my family. I remember the laughter, the fun park visits, the way my heart felt like it might burst when the parade passed by us, and I eagerly looked at the princesses and their vivid signature dresses.

Those are the moments etched in my heart. And now, I get to continue the tradition with friends who have become my chosen family, and with my husband Sebastian, who happily takes photos of me in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle, ears on and heart full.

There’s a special kind of joy in being an adult Disney fan. We know life’s hard. We pay the bills, chase the deadlines, navigate the grief, the chaos, the everyday. But when we walk through those gates, whether physical or metaphorical, we are reminded of a simple truth: it’s okay to let happiness in, however it finds you.

So yes, I’ll proudly wear my ears. I’ll sing along to “Part of Your World” in the car and any Frozen and Moana song. I’ll enjoy the fireworks, because they remind me of everyone, I’ve shared them with, and everything I’ve carried to get here.

Disney isn’t just for children. It’s for the child still alive in us all.

And that, to me, is the real magic.