“I thought I was taking my first trip to Walt Disney World. I had no idea I was about to fall in love with a place that would become part of our story forever.”
Long before The Diabetic Travel Guide existed, before our Florida Keys adventures, and before Disney became one of our favorite places to visit, Steven and I took our very first trip to Walt Disney World together.
Looking back now, it’s amazing how much began on that vacation.
If you’ve been following our blog, you may have already read the story of how Steven surprised me with a proposal in front of Cinderella Castle. That moment will always be one of the most important memories of my life, and we’ll link that story at the end of this post if you’d like to read it.
But this isn’t really a story about our engagement.
It’s the story of how I fell in love with Walt Disney World.
Arriving at Disney
The excitement started long before we reached the parks.
As we drove from South Carolina to Florida, I kept checking my phone, hoping to get the notification that our room at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort was ready.
When the message finally came through, I could hardly contain myself.
We pulled into the Gran Destino Tower, carried our luggage upstairs, and opened the door to our room.
One of the first things we noticed was the television.
It read:
“Welcome Forbes & Mouton Party”
It seems so simple now, but in that moment, it felt magical. We immediately took a picture because it felt like Disney was personally welcoming us.
The funny thing is, we barely spent any time in the room.
I had waited too long for this trip.
I wanted to get to Magic Kingdom.
The First Time I Saw Magic Kingdom
I still remember climbing onto the Disney bus that morning.
I had butterflies in my stomach.
I was excited.
I was nervous.
I honestly don’t think I knew what to expect.
Then, as the bus rounded the corner, I caught my first glimpse of Magic Kingdom.
I immediately started tearing up.
For years, I had watched Disney videos, dreamed about visiting, and imagined what it would feel like to finally be there.
Suddenly, it wasn’t a dream anymore.
It was real.
I don’t think Steven completely understood why I got emotional.
To him, it was a castle.
To me, it was something I had dreamed about for years.
A Day I’ll Never Forget
As if seeing Magic Kingdom for the first time wasn’t enough, that same morning became one of the most important days of my life.
If you’ve already read our proposal story, then you know what happened next.
Steven proposed in front of Cinderella’s Castle.
We’ll let that story stand on its own because it’s one of our favorite memories, but after saying “yes,” the entire day felt like something out of a movie.
We called our moms first. Then we started FaceTiming family and friends to share the news.
Like everything else in 2021, Disney was still operating a little differently because of COVID. I even remember sitting at a table, calling family, and being reminded by a Cast Member about the mask rules.
Normally, something like that probably would’ve annoyed me.
That day? Nothing could ruin my mood. I had just gotten engaged.
Little Moments That Felt Like Magic
After we picked up our “Just Engaged” celebration buttons, it seemed like Disney celebrated right along with us.
One of my favorite memories happened when we checked in for lunch at Cinderella’s Royal Table.
The Cast Member at the front noticed our buttons, smiled, and decided to make the experience a little more magical.
Instead of sending us upstairs with everyone else, she escorted us to Cinderella’s private elevator.
It probably only added a minute or two to our day.
But that’s the kind of thing I’ve come to love about Disney.
It’s the little moments that stay with you.
Years later, I still think about that elevator every time we visit Cinderella’s Royal Table.
“They Said the Cups Were Fun…”
Not every memory from our first Disney trip was emotional.
Some were just hilarious.
Before our reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table, Steven and I thought it would be a good idea to ride Mad Tea Party.
Looking back…
Maybe spinning as fast as possible right before lunch wasn’t our brightest idea.
Thankfully, I still have the video.
Steven is laughing so hard he can barely get the words out while saying:
“They said go on the cups… They said… ha ha… it was fun… They said… ha ha…”
Every single time I watch that video, I laugh.
It perfectly captures Steven’s personality and reminds me that some of the best Disney memories aren’t the perfectly planned ones.
They’re the unexpected moments you end up laughing about for years afterward.
Realizing Disney Was Different
As our first day came to an end, I realized something I hadn’t expected.
I wasn’t just enjoying Disney.
I was falling in love with it.
Yes, getting engaged there made it incredibly special.
But it was more than that.
It was the attention to detail.
The kindness of the Cast Members.
The excitement I felt walking down Main Street, U.S.A.
The little magical moments that happened throughout the day.
Without realizing it, that first visit was laying the foundation for a tradition that Steven and I still share today.
What I didn’t know then was that the next few days would also teach me some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned about traveling with Type 1 diabetes at Walt Disney World—and those lessons continue to shape every Disney trip we take today.
Part 2 of this story will be posted June 29, 2026! Be on the lookout!
Here’s our proposal story: https://thediabetictravelguide.com/the-most-magical-question-on-earth/