I love my children, too. But unlike Gaffigan, I was previously unwilling to visit Disney because I viewed it as a rip-off, an unneeded parental sacrifice, and not nearly as rewarding as the great outdoors. Although I have fond memories of visiting Disneyland with my family as an eight year old boy, I have fonder memories of visiting the nearby Laguna Beach that same week. “So I’ll take my kids to more majestic, less expensive places instead,” I told myself.

Deep down, however, I wanted to know: Could so many people be wrong? Why do over 70 million folks visit one of Disney’s templated parks each year, making it the third most-visited tourist attraction on Earth? Can a place that averages 4.6 out of 5 stars really be an overpriced tourist trap?

To find out, I finally caved and booked my family for two-day passes to Disneyland. Tickets weren’t cheap. In fact, admission into the park totaled more than the combined airfare and four-day stay we paid for a well-rated hotel across the street, not to mention the expensive dining we were sure to encounter inside the park.

Upon realizing that, I had buyer’s remorse. Had I made a mistake? Was I turning into sheep? Maybe. But I was determined to find out for myself, if not for humanity’s sake.

Turns out, my inner-critic was wrong. Disneyland is enchanted–a captivating delight. During my visit, I wasn’t the only one who thought so.

I saw several bearded, grizzled men in full Micky garb. A pair of Gothic girls sporting oversized Mini Mouse t-shirts under layers of black. A senior couple euphorically boarding Peter Pan’s Flight. Grown adults rising and falling on King Aurthur’s Carrousel with nary a concern of looking foolish. And a model-esque, exotic-looking blond inching closer and closer to a passing parade just to catch a glimpse of her favorite princess, if not touch her past.

At Disneyland, the stoic and cool are nowhere in sight. I’ve never seen so many smiles and cheery dispositions in public. Almost no one is heads down on their phone. At one point I bumped into a lady in her 40s. We both smiled, apologized, and hi-ho’d our separate ways into Tomorrowland. Had the encounter happened “in the real world,” I would have expected a lot more grunts, grumbles, and annoyed looks.

I certainly didn’t expect so much wonderment. When my wife and two daughters exited from Indiana Jones — their first ride of the day — they did so with bright eyes and full faces. While whipping through Big Thunder Mountain or dropping from Guardians of The Galaxy, we screamed a whole lot more than we do at our local theme park.

Upon approaching Space Mountain for the first time in 27 years and encountering those hypnotizing blue lights and launch tunnel, I thought to myself: let’s see if this still has it after all the years. I’m here to report, it does. I retired giddy with laughter. All three times.

But Disneyland and the adjoining California Adventures capture more than just thrill rides. The fifteen themed areas arrest the imagination. Sure, the robotics of Pirates of the Caribbean, Ariel’s Underwater Adventure, or Nemo’s Submarine Voyage won’t suspend your belief. But Cars Land will. The Star Wars rides will. Midway Mania will. Fantasyland will. So does Animation Academy and several others.

Like he’s done with so many of his movies, Walt Disney bottled magic in his theme parks. Not because I need them to be worth the price of admission. Not because I overvalue nostalgia or feeling young again. Not because I love my kids. But because I shared two fun-filled days with them at a truly remarkable place.

Upon retiring the first night, my wife (who entered the park more jaded than I) turned to me and said, “That was a blast!” Lying next to us in the queen-size bed, two of our daughters were sleeping in each other’s arms. I’m romanticizing, but not making that up. No, Disneyland didn’t mend the sibling rivalry between them. Maybe they were just tired. But I believe there’s more to it.

We entered the park that day as a family that prides itself in avoiding tourist traps, taking the road less traveled, and frequenting some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes the world has to offer. But we left that day little younger, a little happier, and fully converted to the gospel of Walt Disney.

There I go getting romantic again.

Is Disney the “happiest place on Earth”? I don’t know about that. But there’s virtue in the slogan. It is indeed a happy, happy place. That’s not the stars in my eyes talking. For any still in doubt, I can positively say Disney is anything but a tourist trap, rip-off, or somehow inferior as a synthetic apple to the authentic “oranges” of nature.

In short, my first visit with kids to Disneyland over 10 years ago exceeded all of my skeptical expectations. I’ve enjoyed it many times since (much more than Disney World). And believe it or not, that first visit actually prompted my career as a travel writer, after reviewing the trip for a national magazine.

If that’s not magic, nothing is.

Blake Snow contributes to fancy publications and Fortune 500 companies as a bodacious writer-for-hire and seasoned travel journalist to all seven continents. He lives in Provo, Utah with his wife, five children, and one ferocious chihuahua.