Debbie and Veronica – February 2003

Trip Report - Day 4 (Feb. 8)

Cast of Characters:
Me (the Mom - Debbie, age 30)
DD (Veronica, age 5, celebrating 2 year remission)

Feb. 5-8: AS Movies
Feb. 8-9: Best Western Lake Buena Vista

Today: Downtown Disney and Magic Kingdom
Weather: Cold (60 degrees), windy, cloudy

Side Note: DD and I were supposed to go home today. DH gave us an extra night (for my birthday present and his gift to DD) so we could see SpectroMagic, my favorite parade. I thought it was really sweet of him! Flight switch wasn't a big deal. Had a slight problem trying to get a room but thanks to Binnie I was able to get the Best Western in Downtown Disney. I wish we could have stayed on site (I asked at the desk everyday) but as long as I had a bed and free transportation, I really didn't care. So THANK YOU BINNIE!!!! I was so happy to get the extra time!

Woke up to Mickey again around 8:00am. Since I had packed most of our things the night before we didn't need to rush. Finished packing. Ate breakfast in room. Then we went to the store to look around again and get our free lanyards (Dream Makers package). They are blue and we also got 2 pins. One is of Pluto in a car and the other is Donald in a car. Really small but cute. Look at some other things and hope I can find them at World of Disney so I can use my Disney Club discount.

I had called for baggage pickup the night before. Requested a 10am pickup. Went back to the room for a final check after we visited the store. Grabbed our coats and sweatshirts (it's really cold and windy out) and head for the bus to Downtown Disney.

Started in the scrapbooking store. Bought a couple of kits and a new address book. The address book has the castle on the front. Not very dollarless ($12 but I like it)! Then we wondered down the path. Skipped the Christmas Store (on a budget and that place would bankrupt me!). Stopped at the Pin Trading Station. Got 2 Build-a-Pins made. Plus bought a pin with DD's name on it and one of Big Thunder Mountain (DD's favorite ride). Traded a couple pins too. DD was really getting into this. The only problem was that she wouldn't wear the lanyard. So she did the trading and I did the wearing! LOL!!

Since it was really cold there (must have been like a wind tunnel effect) we decided to go to lunch early. That way we could warm up. I had $25 for Planet Hollywood from my package so we went there. I've only been to Planet Hollywood at the Mall of America (in Minneapolis) and hope that I could find my favorite item here also. Got seated immediately and ordered. I got the BBQ baby back ribs (YUM!!) and DD got chicken strips (coated with Cap'n Crunch!). Both items were really good. DD then got a chocolate hot fudge sundae. She kept missing dessert all week so now was her last chance! The bill was about $10 plus tip! Gotta love the package deals!

Went to Once Upon a Toy and got a box ($16) of Potatoe Head parts. Already have 2 heads at home so we didn't need those. Looked around some more and then went to World of Disney. I wanted to get a sweatshirt and hadn't been able to find one I really liked or didn't already have. Got DD a Minnie t-shirt. I also picked up a Minnie picture frame, some more postcards, and a SpectroMagic CD. With DC discount I paid about $40.

DD was getting upset because she has been collecting all the Minnie beanies in different outfits from the Disney Store and was hoping to find one she didn't already have. Since I hadn't found my sweatshirt yet we went into Team Mickey to look around. I found nothing for me but DD found a Ballerina Minnie (she's trying to convince us to sign her up for lessons)! She was ecstatic!! The outfit is hot pink so she was in love.

Really wanted to go to Ghirardelli for ice cream but it was too cold so we decided to back to the All Star Movies, get our luggage, and grab a cab to the Best Western Lake Buena Vista.

Check in was very smooth and fast. Room was clean (only on second floor so not much of a view). Reorganized my backpack and went down to wait for the Magic Kingdom bus! We waited about 15 minutes and then we were off.

Got to the MK at about 4:45pm. Planned on seeing the second parade at 9pm so we went about doing the rides we had missed (Aladdin, Dumbo, and the Carousel). Went to Cosmic Rays and had the rotisserie chicken while DD had the kid's corn dogs. Both were really good. Had a table where we could see Sonny Eclipse play and joke. DD got a kick out of him! We then went over to Buzz Lightyear again. After that DD wanted to go on BTMR again (her 3rd time). While heading over there I noticed the ropes were up for the 7pm showing of SpectroMagic. Main Street was swamped with people! We get over to Frontierland and there is nobody there! DD decides that we should get a spot and watch it now. Okay! It's only 20 minutes away so I could handle that. Luckily I had DD's rain poncho to sit on and she was in her stroller. The ground was really cold!

As always, I loved the parade. The music makes me so calm and happy!

Afterwards we cut across the small wooden walkways to BTMR and got on. DD did not like this in the dark! Said she'll only do it when the sun is out. I told her that at least she tried it and now she knows. I personally prefer it in the dark.

We then worked our way slowly up to the front of Main Street. The fireworks had just ended so it was a mass exit, therefore a lot of people! Cut into a store, which was a little easier but still crowded. Got my niece a t-shirt, DD another t-shirt and finally found myself a sweatshirt! It's gray and has all four park logos on it with their opening dates. Very nice and expensive (but I don't care!).

Dodged our way across Main Street to get to the candy store. I promised the people I work with a Mickey rice krispy bar (dipped in chocolate). I grabbed 4 of those and then got DD a bouquet of suckers and myself a box of chocolates. Walking out of the park we get Gov. Radcliffe's autograph and photo. Get a bucket of popcorn (can't take the box on the bus) so we can munch on it in the room while I reorganize our luggage.

Bus is waiting for us so that is nice. Get back to the room and start repacking. Go to sleep around midnight.

High Points:
Seeing SpectroMagic
Getting an extra day in the World!

Low Points:
Cold weather.

Tomorrow: Going home.

Day: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5