When most people think about a Disney vacation, they think about castle photos, character meet-and-greets, and riding their favorite attractions.
When I think about Disney, I think about 7:55 a.m. on a warm May morning when my entire future changed.
Back in May of 2021, Steven and I planned a trip to Walt Disney World just like countless other couples. We were excited to escape reality for a few days, eat way too many snacks, ride our favorite attractions, and make memories together.
At the time, I had no idea this trip would completely change my life.
I was focused on Disney.
I’ve always loved Disney and have spent countless hours watching videos, researching resorts, and dreaming about future trips. We were staying at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in the Gran Destino Tower, and I couldn’t wait to experience everything Disney had to offer.
As someone living with Type 1 diabetes, I was also focused on making sure I was prepared.
Travel always requires extra planning. Before every trip, I pack insulin, pump supplies, blood sugar testing supplies, low snacks, and plenty of backups. Disney vacations bring their own challenges with long days, Florida heat, miles of walking, and unpredictable meal schedules, so I always try to be prepared for anything.
What I didn’t know was that while I was planning for diabetes and Disney, Steven had been planning a proposal for nearly six months.
I actually gave him the idea without realizing it.
One day, I showed him a photo of a woman being proposed to in front of Cinderella Castle. I remember getting emotional and talking about how special it was and how lucky she was.
Apparently, Steven took notes. Very detailed notes.
Years later, he still jokes that proposing at Disney may not have been his original idea, but he’s pretty good at listening.
With help from both his mom and my mom, he picked out a ring and spent the month before our trip trying to keep it a secret.
The funny part? The ring was hidden inside a sock in my park bag.
To this day, I have no idea how I never found it.
Looking back, it’s funny how differently we experienced the drive to Florida.
I was excited about our vacation.
Steven was terrified.
While I was thinking about Disney, he was thinking about the proposal. He later told me he spent most of the drive wondering what would happen if he forgot what he wanted to say, froze up, or completely embarrassed himself.
Thankfully, none of those things happened.
The morning of the proposal started like any other Disney morning.
We woke up around 6:00 a.m., and I was already excited for breakfast and a day at Magic Kingdom. In fact, one of the things I remember most is looking forward to gluten-free Mickey waffles.
Because we were staying at a Disney resort, we had early access to the park before regular guests entered. The weather was beautiful, the crowds were light, and everything felt perfect.
As we made our way toward Cinderella Castle, we stopped to take photos.
What I didn’t realize was that Steven had quietly told the Disney PhotoPass photographer what was about to happen.
She immediately went into planning mode.
The photographer told me she wanted a few pictures of just me. Then she asked me to sit down, hold out my hand, close my eyes, and wait for a special “magic shot.”
I had absolutely no idea what was happening.
When I opened my eyes, Steven was on one knee.
At 7:55 a.m., everything changed.
I remember seeing him.
I remember crying.
And honestly, I don’t remember much else.
People always ask what Steven said, and I wish I could tell you every word. The truth is that I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I barely remember hearing anything.
Steven later told me he said the last five years had been the best years of his life, that he loved me, and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.
Then he asked me to marry him.
Apparently, I was crying so hard that he had to ask twice before he officially got an answer. I don’t remember that part either. What I do remember is knowing immediately that my answer was yes.
The rest of the day felt like a dream.
We called our moms first and spent the next several hours FaceTiming family and friends. We picked up our “Just Engaged” buttons and spent the day celebrating in the most magical place on Earth.
Everywhere we went, people congratulated us.
Cast Members celebrated with us.
Guests celebrated with us.
Restaurants surprised us with desserts.
For one day, it felt like Disney was celebrating right alongside us.
One thing that hasn’t changed since that day is diabetes.
Shortly after the proposal, all of the excitement caused my blood sugar to drop. It was a reminder that diabetes doesn’t take a break, even during life’s biggest moments.
At the time, I was using diabetes technology that feels ancient compared to what I use today. My insulin pump (Medtronic 670G) was much larger than the Omnipod 5 I wear now, and my glucose meter was about the size of an old Nokia phone. Managing diabetes required more planning, more equipment, and a lot more creativity when it came to outfits.
But diabetes was never going to stop me from living my life.
And it certainly wasn’t going to stop me from saying yes.
Looking back now, that trip became so much more than a Disney vacation.
It became part of our story.
Years later, that same love of travel inspired us to create The Diabetic Travel Guide. We wanted to show people that living with diabetes doesn’t mean putting your dreams on hold. It means planning, preparing, adapting, and then going anyway.
Our Disney proposal wasn’t just the beginning of our marriage.
In many ways, it was the beginning of everything that followed.
As I look back at the photos from that morning, one detail always makes me smile. The shirt I was wearing said, “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes.” At the time, it was just a Disney shirt I packed for our vacation. I had no idea how meaningful those words would become.
That morning, standing in front of Cinderella Castle, one of my biggest dreams came true. I said yes to the love of my life, began a new chapter of our story, and created a memory I’ll cherish forever.
Sometimes dreams aren’t found in castles, fireworks, or fairy tales. Sometimes they’re found in the person standing beside you through every adventure.
And on a beautiful Disney morning at 7:55 a.m., my heart’s wish came true.
Harriet’s Diabetes Travel Notes
Diabetes supplies I packed: Insulin, pump supplies, glucose meter, extra sensor, testing supplies, glucose tablets, low blood sugar snacks, and plenty of backups.
How diabetes impacted this trip: Long park days, lots of walking, Florida heat, and a very emotional day meant paying close attention to blood sugar trends and always keeping supplies nearby.
A diabetes moment I’ll never forget: Shortly after getting engaged, all the excitement caused my blood sugar to drop. Even magical moments can affect blood sugar levels.
What worked well: Keeping all of my diabetes supplies organized and easy to access throughout the day allowed me to focus on enjoying the moment.
Favorite memory: Opening my eyes in front of Cinderella Castle and seeing Steven on one knee.
