4. Fantasmic’s opening and ending

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Imagination…

While the Main Street Electrical Parade and fireworks shows usually take the cake for most nostalgic Disney experiences, there is one show that has been inducing the Disney-feels in guests for decades. Fantasmic is one of Disney’s finest achievements in entertainment storytelling to date. While we’ve dived into differences between the Walt Disney World and Disneyland shows before, two things remain the same in both—the show’s opening and closing. When the lights go down and the air whispers of fireflies and magic, every guest leans in. Lights rise and in a burst of spotlights, Mickey Mouse appears to thunderous applause.

This reveal alone is a hugely emotional moment, and Fantasmic as a show never lets up on this intoxicating nostalgia. Especially in the Disneyland version, Mickey’s journey through the weird and wonderful, through marvels and nightmares is a non-stop storm of emotion.

Fantasmic captures the wonder of the war of good verses evil more hypnotically than any of Disney’s other shows to date. Whichever version you prefer the end result is the same: the dragon and her league of evil allies are vanquished by the power of imagination and hope. The good guys win. Disney characters from across generations are united in one celebration, and it all leads up to Mickey Mouse embracing the power of dreams in a display of lights, dancing fountains, and spectacular fireworks. His excitement is contagious, and you can’t help but smile when he finally vanishes with a cheeky parting comment: “Some imagination, huh?”.

Whatever may come for this show in the years to come, we hope Disney never changes the roots of Fantasmic—one of their most incredible stories to date.

5. Seeing the Millennium Falcon the first time

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I feel a disturbance in the Force…

It’s no secret how over-the-bright-suns excited we have been for Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. Despite a rocky summer opening at Disneyland, the land is proving to be an overwhelming success at Walt Disney World, which is very good news.

For a Star Wars fan, there are few experiences at Walt Disney World that can top the moment when you first see the Millennium Falcon parked in the Black Spire Outpost. It is very easy to forget that you’re tucked into a corner of Disney’s Hollywood Studios when you see it. The scale of the thing is staggering, and Disney put together one of their most gorgeous backdrops to date tucking the Falcon underneath Batuu’s towering spires.

If you grew up loving Star Wars, you likely grew up dreaming of being able to see the Millennium Falcon is real life. Disney brought that dream to life and it’s just as exciting as many eager fans hoped for. Take a random picture of the famous ship and you’ll certainly spot a dozen fans gawking just like you are. For those who’ve always dreamed of jumping to light speed on the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs, there’s nothing like experiencing the Falcon up close. Speaking of which…

6. Taking flight

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Some of Disney’s most feels-inducing attractions all share one thing in common: you can fly, you can fly, you can fly…

Whether you’re floating past that second star on the right straight on to Neverland or gliding on a banshee over the exhilarating heights of Pandora, the sensation of flight has become something of an area of expertise for Disney. Even feeling zero gravity for the first time on Mission: Space Orange team can prove a profoundly emotional experience.

Other than Avatar: Flight of Passage, Soarin’ Over the World is probably one of Disney’s biggest emotion-stirring flying attractions thanks to its incredible combination of dramatic views, intoxicating smells, and an inspiring soundtrack. It makes you want the world to be this way, a world where people live at peace celebrating life, not trying to destroy or harm or belittle each other. Soarin’ captures the beauty of planet earth in a way that can’t help but stir emotion.

Oh, and back on the subject of Star Wars, if just seeing the Millennium Falcon is enough to fire the thrusters on your emotions, piloting the ship is an even more profound experience on Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run. While this experience is somewhat replicated on Star Tours, you can’t suppress the surge of excitement that comes with pulling that lever on the Falcon’s pilot console to send the ship blasting into hyperspace!