Trip Report Two broke guys & a dog (for the last time.) (completed)

No, I’m not mad at Disney. We’ll be back (in fact, it can’t be soon enough.) But this turned out to be our last trip together as a family.

Who: Brian (R) Tony (L) and Kylie.

When: May, 2023.

Can’t tease this, so I’ll just come out with it.

We’ve posted TRs over the years under the “Two broke guys & a dog” banner (and other titles.) Our May trip was short, and we had already booked August for my birthday (complete with a planned meet up with @Tuvalu) so I thought I’d make one double TR after August.

I ended up with Covid mid-month and we had to postpone to December for Brian’s birthday.

In the meantime, Kylie, our 14 year old German Shepherd/Chow Chow was diagnosed with heart failure. That “heads up” turned out to be a gift and a blessing that allowed us to spend so much extra quality time with her.

Kylie’s 14th bday on Halloween:

She stayed with us through the holidays, rubbing on the Christmas tree when she walked past it, per usual (like a cat lol) and was really doing well - eating, going for walks, snuggling. I expected more of a slow, gradual decline…but she passed yesterday. Now my heart is failing.

I don’t know how far I’ll get with this today. It might actually be too soon. But I thought it could be therapeutic, and a nice tribute.

For some reason, since my 30s, if I cry even a little, my eyelids swell up and it’s hard to undo. Ice helps only temporarily. I fear typing all this out will continue the waterworks (it already has) and prolong that condition. OTOH, they’re already swollen, so WTH? I’ll play it by ear, if that’s ok.

This is my love letter to my pup.

 

[93boomer]

School bread FTW!

View attachment 784652

I don’t know why I like this. It makes no sense. It’s bread & butter with sugar.

Is that how they got kids to eat their bread & butter? Hint: it works.

I love it too!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

I need a drink just keeping up with you this morning!

I need one pretty badly. My buzz is gone!

 

[cgersic]

Hollywood!!!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Well, the first bus was for Disney Springs, so I had to pass. The second bus…guesses?

I’m turning into a selfie nut!

…at MK.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

What was my first ride?

 

[Tony the Tigger]

 

[Tuvalu]

You know where to find me.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

And then I was hungry, and my morning buzz was gone. I made an ADR for 1:40, about an hour away.

Poked around a little…my phone was running down.

I guess Stitch escaped.

And I learned there were 2 charging stations - but I’d have to go back to the locker and get my own cord.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Wait times were pretty long for everything that was a walk-on last night. I thought I’d go early to the restaurant and see if they’d take me.

They did!

Since Valentine’s Day, Tony has become a regular at Tony’s!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

With low expectations, I ordered the spaghetti & meatballs. Really just wanted the meatballs lol. They were not bad.

In my fam, if I put red pepper flakes on my pasta, it meant the gravy (“sauce”) was bland. That usually only happened at my Aunt Minnie’s house.

How was it at Tony’s?

My belly is now shaped like that bowl. Let’s go in the pool!

Charging your phone outdoors in that heat by IASW is…meh. I did catch up with Brian, and I did get my phone from 16% to 30something.

Then I remembered the a/c AP lounge at Epcot, just a monorail away (or two) and now I’m on the monorail!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

If at first you don’t succeed…

And the flight is back to normal time.

I stopped into the AP lounge.

But I had to charge my phone a bit. In a locker of sorts, which meant I couldn’t use it while it charged. I got it to 38% and had to go before I died of boredom.

In all seriousness, the lounge was appreciated. But crowded full of cranks!

As I sat there, plotting the next dessert with no diabetic (married to me) in sight, I first thought I would go to France. Then I remembered something about a pretzel bread pudding in Germany. Great idea! It’s been on my to do list.

Alas, on my way to Germany…

Bananas Foster bread pudding! Yes, please and of course.

It’s the BF sauce from POFQ. This was nice, not sweet. But - I was kind of looking for seeet.

I walked towards Germany.

Is Weird Al here today?

It was too soon for another bread pudding.

But…if at first you don’t su…

Fortunately, the line for La Cava moved quickly.

I ordered an Ocho Añejo, but they only had Ocho Widow Jane. OK, I like to try new things. Neat, please.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Not long after getting this $40 sipping tequila, I was politely asked to take it to go to make room for other customers who wanted to get trashed on cheap margaritas.

So I’m finishing it out here by the fountain at my leisure.

#selfieking
#livetrippin

 

[donaldtoo]

View attachment 784691View attachment 784692View attachment 784693View attachment 784694

I’m turning into a selfie nut!

…at MK.

Yea, but can you do somethin’ about that camera…it’s all crooked…???!!!!!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Do you see it?

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Yea, but can you do somethin’ about that camera…it’s all crooked…???!!!!!

I don’t know how to work it

 

[donaldtoo]

View attachment 784785

If at first you don’t succeed…

View attachment 784786

And the flight is back to normal time.

View attachment 784787

I stopped into the AP lounge.

View attachment 784795

But I had to charge my phone a bit. In a locker of sorts, which meant I couldn’t use it while it charged. I got it to 38% and had to go before I died of boredom.

In all seriousness, the lounge was appreciated. But crowded full of cranks!

As I sat there, plotting the next dessert with no diabetic (married to me) in sight, I first thought I would go to France. Then I remembered something about a pretzel bread pudding in Germany. Great idea! It’s been on my to do list.

Alas, on my way to Germany…

View attachment 784788

Bananas Foster bread pudding! Yes, please and of course.

View attachment 784789

It’s the BF sauce from POFQ. This was nice, not sweet. But - I was kind of looking for seeet.

I walked towards Germany.

View attachment 784790

Is Weird Al here today?

It was too soon for another bread pudding.

View attachment 784791

But…if at first you don’t su…

View attachment 784792

Fortunately, the line for La Cava moved quickly.

I ordered an Ocho Añejo, but they only had Ocho Widow Jane. OK, I like to try new things. Neat, please.

Before I even saw your caption, I had the same Weird Al thought…!!!!!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Too late to book a proper dinner, but this nicely spiced pork with corn risotto hit the spot! With a frozen lemon honey drink.

There’s at least one hoe in this picture:

Hey, pal.

And it’s time for SSE.

 

[donaldtoo]

View attachment 784797View attachment 784798

Not long after getting this $40 sipping tequila, I was politely asked to take it to go to make room for other customers who wanted to get trashed on cheap margaritas.

So I’m finishing it out here by the fountain at my leisure.

View attachment 784799

#selfieking
#livetrippin

Please tell me that’s $40/bottle and not $40/pour…?!?!?!

 

[Swissmiss]

Where is this taken?

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Please tell me that’s $40/bottle and not $40/pour…?!?!?!

Pour.

Where is this taken?

Store next to Tron.