Speaking with Insider, Ariel said her friends invited her to attend Disneyland's Dapper Day — an unofficial celebration where parkgoers dress in sharp outfits inspired by the 1950s and beyond — which was held on Sunday.
When the group arrived at the theme park, employees who noticed Ariel's outfit were eager to unite her with Captain America, she said.
"They were so helpful," she said of the employees. "When Captain America got there, they started running up to my friend saying, 'He's coming!'"
But Ariel said that despite everyone's help, her interaction with the Marvel character didn't go as planned at first.
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"It's so embarrassing because I ran up to him and he was holding hands with a child who I didn't see," she said. "We had a brief conversation and he said, 'Let me help out these kids real quick and then I'll come find you.'"
"My friends and I stayed in that spot, but I didn't think he'd come — he probably thought I was a terrible person for running up to him while he was with a child," she continued.
But to her surprise, he began walking toward her saying, "Peggy Carter, I need you for a second" shortly after.
"He was totally in character saying it had been 89 years since we'd last seen each other and that he still owes me that dance," Ariel said. "He said flying a plane with bombs on it into the Arctic Ocean wasn't his best idea, and that he should've thought that through more."
While chatting, he walked Ariel over to a picture-perfect spot where they had an impromptu photo shoot. And when others approached him for photos, he kept his focus on Ariel.
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"I was scared but a little excited," she said. "I was like, 'Oh my God, he won't talk to other people.' The rest of the day I was speechless. My friends would not stop talking about it. It was only a two-minute interaction, but it was amazing."
Ariel enjoyed the moment so much that she told Insider she's considered buying an annual pass to visit the theme park more often. However, she said she'd likely ditch the Peggy Carter outfit next time.
"I don't want to say I'd never wear that outfit again, but holy moly I was sweating like crazy," she said, adding that she'd also bring a pair of flat shoes for comfort. "I'd never walk around Disney in heels again."
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