Alone, Disneyland becomes not just a theme park but also a work of art. Today, alone is often my preferred way to visit the park. It’s a sensation I encourage every fan to experience. You can truly treat Disneyland as a park. On your own, there’s no need to rush from ride to ride. Suddenly, I felt like I was really seeing it for the first time.

In solitude, it was just me and the park. As much as I had enjoyed Disneyland with friends, there was always a schedule to keep, a conversation to be had or a nostalgic story to tell. I began to focus on the attraction in ways I hadn’t before, noticing little details that had previously eluded me. I remember bolting straight for Pirates of the Caribbean and feeling scared when I got to the front of the line and had to say, “Just one.” But 20 seconds of awkwardness soon was replaced by having my own row on the boat, and the opportunity to simply get lost in my thoughts amid the life-size dioramas of drunken marauders. Since I had the chance to get to the parks only once or twice a year at that time, I opted to stick it out.

By midafternoon, my companions had decided to bail. But once it started raining, it didn’t stop. About 15 years ago - long before I could afford an annual pass - I visited the park with friends on a day when rain was in the forecast.

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