After supper we boarded the bus back to MK. Nat, who had refused a nap while in our room, was dead asleep five minutes into the ride. I had toyed with the idea of leaving the stroller in the room as I suspected it had something to do with my back being sore, but had decided to take it after all because I needed something to lean on as I walked. Good decision. When we got to MK, Nat was out cold so I put her in the stroller and spent the next few hours walking around. A few times she stirred and I tried to see if she was interested in any attractions, but she would just shake her head and go back to sleep. No problem, I was really enjoying the time just strolling around the park.

Nat finally awoke at about 7:00. We went to see the Enchanted Tiki Room just as the skies were beginning to threaten rain. The Tiki Room has changed the show - it's "Under New Management" - and now includes the parrot Igo from Aladdin and the hornbill Zazu from the Lion King. It was interesting to see the original 1963 audio-animatronics figures compared to the vastly improved new figures of Iago and Zazo (not to mention a very cool Tiki Goddess). The show was fresh and funny, but I admit that I pined for the original.

As we left the Tiki Room it was starting to sprinkle. We went on Pirates of the Caribbean, and when we exited the ride it was raining a bit harder. In retrospect, I should have picked up a poncho right then and there, but we had Nat's slicker with us and I thought "A little light rain isn't going to hurt me". Spoken like a true non-Floridian. As we were heading through Fantasyland on our way to Toontown it started to downpour. I mean the sky really opened up. The lightning and thunder were spectacular (so who needs fireworks?) We were just able to duck under the shelter of the Mad Tea Party teacups (very thankful for the fact that this attraction, unlike its counterpart in California, is covered). Well, we’re here. Let's spin a cup. Nat loves this ride. I told her that I couldn't make the cup spin because of my back, but Nat did a commendable job on her own.

After our spin, we huddled under the shelter hoping to wait out the rain. After a few minutes it seemed to subside somewhat, and we were a short distance from Cosmic Ray's, an eatery in Tomorrowland, so we made the dash. Once we got inside I knew it was a mistake. Although we would have been perfectly content to sit at a table and watch Sunny Eclipse, and alien lounge singer who is sort of a cross between E.T. and Wayne Newton, the air-conditioning and our slightly soggy clothes made for a very cold combination. It was still raining fairly hard and we were now in Tomorrowland - in the opposite direction of Toontown.

Luckily the rain tapered off some so we dashed for Toontown. We went through Minnie's house, one of Nat's favorite places, then we to the Town Hall for character greeting. While there I finally broke down and bought a poncho. First we met with Minnie, Pluto and Goofy, the we went to the 100-acre Wood section and met with Eeyore and Tigger. Pooh was gone for the day which seemed to upset a few people, but Nat didn't seem to mind. It was then time to meet the big cheese himself. One really cute thing - remember that we had seen Mickey the day before at AK as well - while we were waiting for Mr. Mouse he must have overheard me calling Nat by name. When he signed her autograph he wrote "To Natalie: I love you, Mickey Mouse". Well, Nat was absolutely beaming. "Daddy, he remembered my name!" It was perhaps the sweetest moment of the trip.

The main reason I wanted to go back to MK that evening was so we could see the fireworks. During this time of year, WDW has the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks display at MK on Saturdays only. The same is true of Spectromagic, the nighttime light parade. For this reason the park was really crowded - obviously most of the people vacationing at WDW that week would be in MK that night to see the parade and fireworks. Knowing this, as much as we would have loved to see the parade, I decided to skip it. People were lining the streets at 6:00 to be in good position for the 8:00 parade, and I just didn't want to deal with it. Instead I figured we could go to Mickey's Toontown Fair during the parade - it's on the side of the park opposite the parade route - and watch the fireworks from there.

As it turned out, we weren't the only ones to miss the parade. With all the rain and lightning the parade was canceled. Was I ever glad we hadn't been waiting on the sidewalk along Main Street since 6:00! If that weren't enough, Toontown was nearly empty and the CM at Minnie's house recommended a good spot to watch the fireworks. Was he ever right! They were spectacular! Of course we missed the effect of seeing them explode over the castle, but I would venture that our view of the fireworks was superior to what you would see from Main Street. It was absolutely great.

But then we had to leave.

It was actually almost surreal. When we started our trek out of the park we were practically by ourselves. The crowds grew in Fantasyland. By the time we made it through the hub into Main Street it was a veritable sea of humanity. It took quite a while to get out and then we were greeted by what was to be by far the longest line we would wait in on the trip - over an hour waiting to board the ASM bus. Eventually we got on a bus and were on our way back to the hotel. Nat had a mini melt-down when she realized she would have to stand for the ride, but a kind soul stood and let Nat take her seat. We were soon back in our room. Nat immediately crashed out and I stayed up for a while to pack and get ready for the trip home. I was in bed a bit past 11:00.