Chain of Memories Resonating Memories

I have a question. This took me along time to figure out, and you can call me an idiot for it, but is the reason sora, donald and goofy were able to act so well and quickly with the disney characters in COM because, even though they thought they didn't know them, the memories were still inside, and they felt like they new them?

I don't know if that made any sense but please try to understand.