This week, I wanted to talk about something powerful — nostalgia — and how theme parks have become one of the most vivid ways we time travel back to joy. I’m sharing one of my favorite photos of the Back to the Future Delorean at Universal Studios, because that car isn’t just a cool movie prop — it’s a spark. A portal. A memory machine.

If you’ve ever been transported by the sight of something you loved from childhood — a movie, a character, a vehicle, a voice — you already know what I mean. Theme parks have mastered the art of activating these emotions.

There was a time when theme parks were more likely to craft original ideas that developed into their own legends. Attractions like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean were born inside the parks and later became pop culture icons in their own right. They didn’t need tie-ins — they were the magic.

But in today’s landscape, most theme parks are operated by large media companies with vast libraries of Intellectual Property (IP). It’s no longer just about creating something new — it’s about creating something recognizable, something that taps into emotional equity you already have.

They want you to walk into the park and say:
"Wait… that’s the Hogwarts Express!"
"That looks just like the Mos Eisley Cantina!"
"That's the DeLorean from Back to the Future!"
"Wow! That's Cinderella's Castle"

And it works.
It worked on me — and probably you too.

In an episode of The Season Pass Podcast, legendary Imagineer Tony Baxter talked about the development of Disneyland’s Indiana Jones Adventure. There was debate about whether or not using Indiana Jones was essential to the attraction. Tony’s mic-drop moment? “We could call him ‘Kentucky Bob’ but would anyone come?” That ended the debate.

There’s power in IP. And there’s deep, personal power in nostalgic IP.

I remember being a kid visiting Universal Studios Hollywood in the early 1980s and being thrilled to sit inside a replica of KITT from Knight Rider. Someone off-stage voiced KITT and talked directly to me. It blew my mind — and it became one of those forever memories. Another favorite? Sitting in the Captain’s Chair on the Star Trek: The Next Generation bridge at the now-closed Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas. I’ve even sat in the real captain’s chair of a Princess Cruise ship while at sea, imagining myself as part of The Love Boat — a totally different kind of fantasy fulfilled.

These moments — big or small — are snapshots of joy.

So yes, give me the Marvel heroes, the Hogwarts castles, the Muppet-themed photo ops. I’m all in. These stories helped shape my childhood, and now they help shape the memories I capture as an adult. That’s the magic. That’s the wonder.

And that’s why you bring your camera.

Because when you get that chance to stand in front of the DeLorean, or shake hands with Spider-Man, or drink a Butterbeer in Hogsmeade… that’s not just a good time — it’s a return trip to a beautiful part of your personal timeline.

Don't forget to snap the photo.
Even if it's a simple selfie — it's proof that you were there.
And it’s okay to buy the souvenir too.

📸 Want to learn how to make the most of those nostalgic photo ops?
Download my free guide, “Top 3 Magic Memories: Tips to Shoot Epic Theme Park Photos With a Cell Phone,” here.