I just finished watching a live stream of the Sneak Peak! Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products presentation at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, and wow, I have all the feels. I thought about writing a recap, listing out names and opening dates of new attractions and experiences, but, that’s available on so many other blogs and social media accounts. So, I want to write a bit about the feelings the presentation brought me. This is going to be a stream-of-consciousness post, not very polished or ready for prime time. But, I hope I can bring you into my heart as a lifelong Disney Parks fan.

I’ve been looking forward to this presentation for a while. Heck, I’ve probably looked forward to it since the last presentation 2 years ago in Orlando. I’m always so eager to hear of the transformations, new parades, lands, new ships.

I grew up at Disneyland. I watched the Main Street Electrical Parade for a decade before its initial departure from Disneyland. I waited in line for 4 hours when the Indiana Jones Adventure opened. I watched the new Tomorrowland open in 1998, and got stuck on Rocket Rods multiple times. I’ve watched Fantastic! a hundred times, and cried when it reopened 2017.

I’ve lived and breathed Disneyland for 35 years.

So, watching this presentation, cheering with the 7,000 folks in Hall D23, crying upon hearing “Harmonious” performed live, dropping my jaw when we discovered what Joe Rohde has been working on the last 5 years, was one of the highlights of my year.

Disney Parks are constantly growing, evolving, adapting to the 150 million of us who embark on their adventures.

In the words of Walt himself, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” The same goes for the rest of the parks and experiences Disney offers the world. Watching his imagineers reveal new attractions, parades, and ships brings joy to my heart, because it’s their - and our - link to Walt himself, his vision, and his all-consuming passion for bringing joy to our hearts.

I’ve watched the parks evolve for 35 years, and I can’t wait to see what the next 35 have in store.