Ooooh, Lord, where to begin... I think I recognized the 'magic' of DLR when I was a small child, but in a childlike way. It was a sensory overload....an assault on the senses, but a feast for the eyes, really. I was mesmerized with everything - the sights, the aromas, the tastes, the sounds, the toys, the colors, all of it....breathing in the scent of popcorn, peppermint, chocolate and churros...watching flying elephants and space-age vehicles and playful characters in furry costumes. Those things still keep me enthralled, 37 years later. As I got older, I started to appreciate the little nuances and details I hadn't noticed as much as a child. I almost just think there is something in the air - a chemical - at DLR that captures us all and ropes us in. It is like we have walked into a living fantasy. I just love all the attention to detail all around the Resort, in every corner - some of it is obvious and some of it is hidden and you have to look for it. I love that Bugs, Toons, Critters, Toys, Monsters, Fish, Pirates, Mermaids, Fairies, Princesses, Dinosaurs, Dogs, Cats, Superheroes, Rodents, Bunnies, Villains, Cars, Ducks, Witches, Ghosts, Bears, Chipmunks, Mad Hatters and Wicked Queens, etc., etc. can all peacefully coexist in one magical land comprised of jungles and forests and Castles and pirate ships and on and on - all under the watchful eye of one very wonderful Mouse. It’s your birthday and Christmas and every other holiday all rolled into one! I also love walking around in DL and feeling like I have been transported to another time and place in each land. It's a remote jungle, an Old West Town, a land of the future, a picturesque village out of a storybook, and enchanted castle, a lively Southern City and a wacky, colorful place where you can play with manholes and mailboxes - and even go to jail! - all in the same place.
I love seeing people from all walks of life mingling harmoniously, from everywhere in the world, enjoying the park without a care of race, religion, lifestyle preference, sexual orientation, gender, age, size, etc. Everyone is happy at Disneyland, for the most part! That has to be infectious and addictive for the masses! I don't know how to sum it up. I could go on and on and on and on. Disneyland just captured me with its 'magic air' and whatever they pipe into it early on, and I have been a lifelong addict!!!
Basically, it is like visiting a whole different utopian world - but it has everything you could ever imagine in your wildest dreams! And that is why it's so magical!