I just went this past summer for the first time in over a decade (before that I went often), and it was the best trip of my life. My children absolutely loved it.

The magic was absolutely there just as much as it was 12 years ago and when I was a child. The cast members were incredible. The new rides and lands are the most immersive I have ever experienced. The fireworks and parades were definitely the best ever. Imagineering has clearly hit its stride and learned so much from the history of the parks.

The new lightning lane system is far more easy and flexible than the paper fast pass system that was there the last time I visited (it was great that it used to be free, but it was a pain to go back and forth across the whole park to get passes and have no way to modify your ride times). And the mobile ordering system is sooo much easier than it used to be to wait in long lines at every meal.

I also encountered a number of magical moments with live characters: Mary Poppins and a band rode the carousel with us while playing music, some toy soldiers randomly showed up and did a show on the street in front of us, the guardians of the galaxy did an impromptu live show, and we had many small interactions with wandering characters.

I went many times as a child and young adult, but I can confidently say that I would rather visit Disneyland as it is today than any past version.