Disney Store South Coast Plaza - Grand Opening!

As you may have noted by previous posts, we're kind of Disney nuts in this household.

Kind of. We hide it pretty well, I think.

So when I got an email from a Make a Wish rep a few weeks ago inviting us to the grand opening of the new Disney Store at South Coast Plaza, I was a teeny bit excited.

It was a bit of a logistical puzzle, since I was racing Chapman 5K in the morning, too, but we made it work. 

After meeting our Make a Wish contact at the store, the district manager led us into the store for our private tour, with two other Wish kids and their parents. 

If you haven't seen a remodeled Disney Store yet... they're pretty amazing. Interactive Princess mirrors, movie theater, scrolling screen with upcoming events, giant trees with leaves that change with the seasons... Pretty remarkable (and, did you know, Steve Jobs had a hand in the redesigns!). I LOVE the remodels - I've always thought the Disney stores didn't really reflect the Disney magic, but the new stores are pure Disney. 

Gabby, and the other two Wish kids, were treated to a magical morning, with a private tour of the new store, shopping spree personal shoppers, meet and greet with Mickey and Minnie, and an opportunity to lead the store opening ceremonies (if you're close to a store that's been remodeled, they also do an opening ceremony every morning!).

It's been a stressful week - some insurance issues with her meds, carefully watching her cold to make sure it doesn't morph into something more. It was a magical morning. That's all. Sometimes, that's all you need.

Yeah, so. We're now the happy owner of some earmuffs....

IT'S MICKEY! You know. Because she didn't JUST see him.

A GIANT thank you is owed to Make a Wish and the Disney Store at Costa Mesa!