Gerry Liette of Virginia Beach had no problem accepting a free cup of coffee from McDonald’s on Wednesday.

“It’s great,” said Liette, who stopped at the Armory Drive fast-food restaurant with an hour to kill before attending a training session at Paul D. Camp Community College. “I’m on the road, so I’ll read my Kindle and drink coffee.”

McDonald’s was among several businesses offering specials for Leap Day to promote Feb. 29, which occurs every four years. While McDonald’s on Armory Drive was giving away coffee, other McDonald’s were offering buy-one-get-one-free sandwiches and 29-cent hamburgers, according to a published report.

Disneyland in California and the Magic Kingdom Park in Florida for the first time ever stayed open for 24 hours straight. Frontier Airlines held a special on flights to 65 cities.

Subway was offering free cookies with any purchase. Choices included peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, raspberry cheesecake, macadamia nut and chocolate chip.

“Most people like cookies,” said Dianne Asuquo, manager for the Subway at Walmart in Franklin. “With any purchase — a cup of coffee, a bag of chips or another cookie — you get a cookie.”

The store made 140 cookies, which is twice as many as other days, Asuquo said.

John Clark appreciated his free coffee at McDonald’s. The 71-year-old from Boykins had two cups with his breakfast.

The morning coffee gang at McDonald’s also appreciated the gesture.

“I think it’s nice,” said Charlie Lupton of Hunterdale, who normally pays the 55-cent senior rate.

Joining him were Elsie Johnson, Lucy Whitley, William Bannester, Bob “Bird Dog” Edwards, “Morning” Bob Edwards and Bob Vann.

Vann’s not a coffee drinker. He opted for a paid-cup of sweet tea.

Gwen Albers is the managing editor of The Tidewater News.  Her e-mail is gwen.albers@tidewaternews.com