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.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Using the principles of keeping it simple, staying warm, and taking advantage of the resort where you already are, we booked Sebastian’s at CBR. (Darlene had already let us know the fireworks weren’t happening, so that made the decision easier and it made more sense to stay close.)

The last time we ate at Sebastian’s, it was not prix fixe. Now it was. Shouldn’t make much difference. Either way, it was better than the old version of the place called Shutter’s (aka Shudders. ) I kid. Shutter’s wasn’t even that bad.

When the server came around to explain how the menu worked, you know how it went: I had to ask about dessert for Brian. I expected a response similar to our Be Our Guest experience - sorbet, etc.

Instead, the young man reacted almost incredulously, with kind of an “are you crazy?” tone. “Sugar free for dessert? I don’t know, man, maybe some fruit or something. I mean I can ask the chef, but I don’t think so.”

Knowing I knew better than this ignorant person, I shot back, “Well, fruit is pretty much all sugar, so that would make no sense. Yes, please ask the chef.” And we ordered our drinks. I was fairly confident the chef knew more than the server and would come up with something.

I ordered a version of an old-fashioned with “pig” in the name that was supposed to come with bacon (garnish.) It did not. Brian had another beer (grapefruit.)

The server returned, again with this kind of snicker, “Yeah, the chef can’t do anything except fruit.” Like, “I was right, I can’t believe you would even ask for sugar free dessert.”

Now you see why I am the one who asks. Brian prefers not to mention it at all. I was annoyed at this point.

It wasn’t so much the lack of option, it was the attitude, like no diabetics had ever dined there before. I had no issue with Rose & Crown the night before, who just offered a simple, “I’m sorry, we don’t have anything” without sounding like the request was insane.

Our runner came out with the bread service, and explained the onion jam and the guava paste (which he preferred mixed together.) It was night and day, the friendliness of the runner vs. the server. The bread was great, like last time. But I was already so turned off, I didn’t take pictures at all.

I wasn’t going to be moody during the meal, but I barely acknowledged the server again.

The food was decent, served family style. There was some nice mojo pork, a sliced steak (like London broil but spiced for the theme) chicken legs & thigh, and sides of rice, beans, carrots, broccoli, etc. I may be forgetting something because…no pics lol.

What I didn’t know is while this is not advertised as all you care to enjoy, you may ask for seconds of certain things, similar to what we did with the skillets at wilderness Lodge on a recent trip. So we asked for more steak and more pork. Cool.

When it got down to the dessert, I suggested we could either take it to go, or take it off the bill, because I wasn’t going to sit and eat dessert in front of Brian while he went without.

We took it to go. It was a kind of tropical bread pudding. I told Brian I’d eat it at the room.

Without missing a beat, he said, “We’ll have dessert together. My husband already got me a mango cheesecake that’s in the fridge.”

I had forgotten about that. (And that’s how I didn’t come to share the 2nd mango cheesecake ) The bread pudding was good, too.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

It got fairly cold that night, down into the 40s. We ate our dessert, forgot to watch Saturday Night Live (!) and at least one of us was out like a light. In the morning, we needed to pack up and be ready for our text from Animal Kingdom Lodge!

We were packed and ready to go between 9 and 10 AM. It was freezing out at this point, and we didn’t want to be stranded without a room in the cold, and with no park tickets. Since we were staying at club level, I found the special phone number for Signature Services and called.

I explained the situation only to ask if they had any advanced knowledge of approximately when our room would be ready. After a brief hold, they came back and said our room had been ready for a while, but our check-in information stated we wouldn’t be arriving until three, and that’s why we hadn’t received a text.

That makes no sense, because as I’ve already mentioned, you can no longer choose a specific time before 3 PM when you check in online. I didn’t care, I was just glad our room was ready! We drove over to Animal Kingdom (at first the wrong building lol) and found our room. Full Savannah view. Loved it.

And Kylie’s Mickey on the table.

 

[Swissmiss]

The picture of Kylie’s Mickey made me smile

 

[MinnieM123]

Instead, the young man reacted almost incredulously, with kind of an “are you crazy?” tone. “Sugar free for dessert? I don’t know, man, maybe some fruit or something. I mean I can ask the chef, but I don’t think so.”

Knowing I knew better than this ignorant person, I shot back, “Well, fruit is pretty much all sugar, so that would make no sense. Yes, please ask the chef.” And we ordered our drinks. I was fairly confident the chef knew more than the server and would come up with something.

I ordered a version of an old-fashioned with “pig” in the name that was supposed to come with bacon (garnish.) It did not. Brian had another beer (grapefruit.)

The server returned, again with this kind of snicker, “Yeah, the chef can’t do anything except fruit.” Like, “I was right, I can’t believe you would even ask for sugar free dessert.”

Now you see why I am the one who asks. Brian prefers not to mention it at all. I was annoyed at this point.

It wasn’t so much the lack of option, it was the attitude, like no diabetics had ever dined there before. I had no issue with Rose & Crown the night before, who just offered a simple, “I’m sorry, we don’t have anything” without sounding like the request was insane.

It's not uncommon at all for some guests to have specific medical, or other, food allergies. I would think that restaurant management would include at least one option on the dessert menu, without sugar. That aside, I was floored with the (attitude) response you received from the server.

 

[RememberWhen]

The desserts is exactly why my sister and brother in law didn’t do the dining plan on their recent honeymoon. He’s diabetic too and sometimes the CMs will swap an appetizer for a dessert, but not always. Disney is so good with food issues, usually. Sorry you all had that experience.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

The room was lovely. But what the heck was this in the closet?

Shaped like a power drill, looks like…an iron? I meant to try it out but never got around to it.

Now this was a cool detail:

It was off when it was flat in the headboard. It lit up when you pulled it out, and then you could aim it anywhere.

We didn’t have a lot of visitors early in the morning. We’d learn the next morning that seemed to be a pattern: the animals were more likely to be on the other side of the building early (we could see them through the hallway windows) and come over to our side in the afternoon.

This guy had the whole place to himself early on.

Brian must have been plum tuckered out from sitting in the passenger seat on the looong ride over from CBR, so he decided to test out the bed. I needed to find our club lounge and scope it out.

One problem: I had no idea where it was! There was nothing in the room to indicate it, nothing I could find in the app. A Google search told me it was on the 6th floor. Cool. I walked down the hall to the first elevator and got in…but it only went to the 5th floor. Huh?

A Mousekeeping CM was nearby, so I asked for directions. He told me, then proceeded to walk me down the hall. I let him know I could take it from there, but that was very helpful. The elevator off the lobby went to the 6th floor. You just scanned your magic band, and it automatically chose 6. OK, Wonka.

A very nice CM asked my name and asked if I had received my welcome package yet. I had not. (Maybe that would have made this easier? ) She looked and found a paper with my name on it, detailing the various “feeding times.” Inside was a fancy bar of chocolate.

OK, Wonka!

We had missed breakfast, but it was snack time. There were cookies, vegetables, hummus, tea/coffee, cold drinks, nuts with African spice, chocolate covered raisins (which I combined with the nuts ) teeny tiny triangle PB&J sandwiches, teeny tiny ham & cheese pinwheels, and a few other things. I wouldn’t say it was an impressive spread, but it wasn’t nothing, either.

After a nibble, I went back to the room to collect my husband and show him how to get to the 6th floor. We continued to graze, and a CM asked if we’d like a drink. Well, since you asked…a couple of merlots did the trick. A couple more did another. And…back to the room, with a few window stops to see some furry friends.

 

[k8einwdw]

The room was lovely. But what the heck was this in the closet?

Shaped like a power drill, looks like…an iron? I meant to try it out but never got around to it.

It’s an oddly-shaped clothes steamer I’ve heard that Disney is gradually taking irons out of their hotel rooms and replacing them with steamers.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Our yard was beginning to get busier. Must have been my milkshake.

After a brief rest, I went to the hotel gym. Had to walk outside in the cold to get to it, but it wasn’t too bad. I felt much better after working out, having missed workouts since Thursday. Bring on the desserts!

By the time I got back, I was a little tired. So was this giraffe.

I had never seen a giraffe get down (or get funky) like that. Wild.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

In case you’re interested in staying at AKL, here are all the activities we didn’t do.

And a few more random shots.

Couldn’t resist.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

The next feeding time in the lounge was “Twilight offerings” from
5-7pm. Note they didn’t call anything breakfast, lunch, or dinner. That would have been misleading. These were all light bites.

Our dinner had some repeats, like the PB&J

…and of course, the merlot.

The difference was the merlot was now at an ever flowing station, rather than in the back. There was also a hot station with a spoonful of butter chicken, and something else I didn’t get. There were a few more options in the regular area vs. snack time, but again, somewhat underwhelming. Our only other time at a club level was 2 nights in 2017 at the Grand Floridian for our 10 year anniversary, and I thought I remembered the food being more substantial and savory.

There was still one more round to go, and that was “Evening Indulgences” from 8-10.

In the meanwhile, talk turned to dinner. Once again, Darlene had “dangled” Top of The World in front of us, but said it was too cold. Boy, was it!! Down into the 30’s at night. Why leave our beautiful, warm AKL?

We have done and loved Jiko so many times. Both Jiko and Boma had availability around 9 and 9:30pm. It was now about 7. We had never done Boma. Boma would offer more variety, and they still had Chakalaka wine. I was fighting with myself over the two, so Brian had the tiebreaking vote. He chose Boma.

Let me emphasize that point. He chose Boma.

He also chose 9 over 9:30.

What would we do in the meantime? (Not in our room.) You’ll never guess.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Seeing no guesses, I see you all take me at my word.

While at the gym earlier, I saw a guy leave through a back hallway and then, to my surprise, return.

Not eager to walk the cold outdoor (short, I’m being a baby) pathway back to the main building, I asked him if that was an alternate exit into the hotel?

He said no, it was the locker room / rest room / sauna.

Sauna?

In an empty gym? Hmm. I would not take a sauna in a busy public gym. But I have recently taken to taking a private (infrared) sauna at a place near home. This was not that. I went back to check it out.

There were actually two saunas - one steam (smelled a little moldy) and the other a dry heat generated by something smoldering in the little room.

I mentioned it to Brian during the not-dinner lounge visit, and he liked the idea. I assumed and hoped we’d be the only ones there (we were.) We chose the dry one. Sit and bake.

While in there, and before my phone shut down from the heat, I checked the app and found this unflattering ride photo from day one.

WOW. We looked…I don’t know…tired?

We did not purchase that photo. But we had a good laugh about it.

Brian bailed a few minutes before the 30 minute time ended, I stuck it out. The showers were just steps away, clean, plenty of towels. We’d have paid $70-$100 for that at home. And we were now at least 40 pounds lighter.

Time to get changed for our first Boma experience.

 

[cgersic]

Oh my gosh, you're so entertaining in your writing!! And loved the picture of "wild" Kylie mixed in

 

[Tony the Tigger]

In real time: all this talk about The Wizard Of Oz - tonight we went to see the 85th anniversary screening. First time seeing it in a theater after all these years.

I guess after hanging with @Tuvalu at WDW, a little Shirley-ness rubbed off, because we had the whole theater to ourselves.

 

[fractal]

Nice job on the photos!

 

[erstwo]

I would never have guessed sauna! That's why I didn't guess.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Before Boma, there was the nighttime safari in our “backyard.”

I know those poor babies were chilly.

On our way to Boma, we heard drumming. I peeked down and took this:

These guys were fine percussionists, but it was a bit much for dinner music.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

We walked into Boma with hope, but maybe not with the biggest appetites. While the free grazing up in the lounge didn't seem like much, it was still a volume of food greater than the typical appetizer (plus two merlots each.) Granted, it was two full hours (and a sauna) between those appetizers and dinner, so maybe that's a wash.

I know a lot of people are into Boma. I was always a little skeptical that a buffet could be quite that good, but I did enjoy Tusker House at AKL. If this was at least that good, it would be fine.

But it wasn't, IMO. Nor in Brian's.

It had nothing to do with dessert. In fact, I give them points for the dessert everyone talks about: the zebra domes. They were smaller than I had pictured in my head, but they were a delicious mousse-y dessert that is right up my alley. They were a little hard to get from the tray to your plate, and I saw the CM behind the counter pull a tray back and waste several that had gotten knocked around. There has to be a better way. But thumbs up for the zebra domes from me!

We didn't even bother looking or asking for a dessert for Brian.

But hey, they had my Chakalaka wine!

We really didn't know what to expect going in. I had looked at the menu online, but thought they could never put an entire buffet menu online, right? This was just a sampling?

Nope, what was online was pretty accurate. OK, cool. As advertised.

On our first round, we picked some things the same (like the steak) and some things different (like Brian picked the mac & cheese and I picked a pasta salad.) We both very much disliked the steak. It was fatty (like all the way through) and cooked to an odd temperature that was hard to cut and chew. Neither of us finished it. Brian reported he was not impressed with the mac & cheese, however I was with the pasta salad (the seasoning was quite good.) We also both got a spare rib, which I thought was very good and the best thing on the plate. Brian (who you will recall ate a bowlful of pork belly the day before) thought it was fatty. Maybe his was, more than usual(?) but nice big spare ribs typically are.

I believe Brian also had the chicken on his first round, and I don't think he even bothered with a second round. I had a hard time reconciling $60 for one round. I went back up and did a desperate thing: I went for the pasta with meatballs. At an African buffet. I thought, how bad could pasta be?

Turns out it can be pretty bad. Or at least blah. It tasted like they just warmed a can of crushed tomatoes and threw it over some pasta. I will say the meatballs were pretty good, though.

Now...for me (Mr. Italian) to not finish basic pasta - that's bad. I've eaten Spaghetti-o's. I'd prefer Spaghetti-o's to this. My Grandma would be upset with me for eating jarred sauce ("gravy") but Ragu is miles ahead of Boma (though I prefer Newman's no sugar added, or Flora's, or a small handful of others.) That was just a huge sign to me this was not likely to turn out well with additional tries. I gave up on the savory.

I was also not that hungry. Can't say that didn't factor into this.

That's when I went back up alone for some dessert. (Brian still had his dinner plate to work on in front of him.) The couple of desserts I grabbed were acceptable and again, the zebra domes were quite good. I was still stuck on not getting anywhere near my money's worth for this meal.

Let me emphasize that point. He chose Boma.

He also chose 9 over 9:30.

Thank you for reminding me!



We weren't mad, we weren't upset. We were disappointed for sure, though. Tusker House beats the stuffing out of Boma. Jiko shouldn't be in the same neighborhood. Since it was, as we exited Boma, I looked wistfully inside Jiko. I knew they closed in a few minutes. I didn't want to impose just to get a Wild Boar appetizer (which I'd been talking about the last several days.)

I half-wish I had asked. I bet they would have accommodated us, and we could have been in and out quickly and saved the evening.

As I recall, we were both slightly uncomfortably full, and had just blown $150 on mediocre meh. We quit while we were behind.

Boma: one and done. We'll snicker at it next time we go to Jiko (which may be fairly soon!)

 

[rshell68]

As we walked, our discussion turned to the Magician meet ups. I think Brian was beginning to understand it wasn’t just random people shouting into the wilderness on these boards.

I opened this very trip report and started reading to him as we neared the exit. I skipped my own posts. I read to him all of *your* posts - all your kind comments regarding our good, Irish lass.

He “got it.” So even if you weren’t there, you helped.

I should try this on my hubby. I'm so mad to have missed out on the meetups!! @Tuvalu was so gracious to message me (truly humbled!!)

 

[93boomer]

We walked into Boma with hope, but maybe not with the biggest appetites. While the free grazing up in the lounge didn't seem like much, it was still a volume of food greater than the typical appetizer (plus two merlots each.) Granted, it was two full hours (and a sauna) between those appetizers and dinner, so maybe that's a wash.

I know a lot of people are into Boma. I was always a little skeptical that a buffet could be quite that good, but I did enjoy Tusker House at AKL. If this was at least that good, it would be fine.

But it wasn't, IMO. Nor in Brian's.

It had nothing to do with dessert. In fact, I give them points for the dessert everyone talks about: the zebra domes. They were smaller than I had pictured in my head, but they were a delicious mousse-y dessert that is right up my alley. They were a little hard to get from the tray to your plate, and I saw the CM behind the counter pull a tray back and waste several that had gotten knocked around. There has to be a better way. But thumbs up for the zebra domes from me!

We didn't even bother looking or asking for a dessert for Brian.

But hey, they had my Chakalaka wine!

We really didn't know what to expect going in. I had looked at the menu online, but thought they could never put an entire buffet menu online, right? This was just a sampling?

Nope, what was online was pretty accurate. OK, cool. As advertised.

On our first round, we picked some things the same (like the steak) and some things different (like Brian picked the mac & cheese and I picked a pasta salad.) We both very much disliked the steak. It was fatty (like all the way through) and cooked to an odd temperature that was hard to cut and chew. Neither of us finished it. Brian reported he was not impressed with the mac & cheese, however I was with the pasta salad (the seasoning was quite good.) We also both got a spare rib, which I thought was very good and the best thing on the plate. Brian (who you will recall ate a bowlful of pork belly the day before) thought it was fatty. Maybe his was, more than usual(?) but nice big spare ribs typically are.

I believe Brian also had the chicken on his first round, and I don't think he even bothered with a second round. I had a hard time reconciling $60 for one round. I went back up and did a desperate thing: I went for the pasta with meatballs. At an African buffet. I thought, how bad could pasta be?

Turns out it can be pretty bad. Or at least blah. It tasted like they just warmed a can of crushed tomatoes and threw it over some pasta. I will say the meatballs were pretty good, though.

Now...for me (Mr. Italian) to not finish basic pasta - that's bad. I've eaten Spaghetti-o's. I'd prefer Spaghetti-o's to this. My Grandma would be upset with me for eating jarred sauce ("gravy") but Ragu is miles ahead of Boma (though I prefer Newman's no sugar added, or Flora's, or a small handful of others.) That was just a huge sign to me this was not likely to turn out well with additional tries. I gave up on the savory.

I was also not that hungry. Can't say that didn't factor into this.

That's when I went back up alone for some dessert. (Brian still had his dinner plate to work on in front of him.) The couple of desserts I grabbed were acceptable and again, the zebra domes were quite good. I was still stuck on not getting anywhere near my money's worth for this meal.



Thank you for reminding me!



We weren't mad, we weren't upset. We were disappointed for sure, though. Tusker House beats the stuffing out of Boma. Jiko shouldn't be in the same neighborhood. Since it was, as we exited Boma, I looked wistfully inside Jiko. I knew they closed in a few minutes. I didn't want to impose just to get a Wild Boar appetizer (which I'd been talking about the last several days.)

I half-wish I had asked. I bet they would have accommodated us, and we could have been in and out quickly and saved the evening.

As I recall, we were both slightly uncomfortably full, and had just blown $150 on mediocre meh. We quit while we were behind.

Boma: one and done. We'll snicker at it next time we go to Jiko (which may be fairly soon!)

Oh that’s disappointing. We’ve never tried it either. Kinda glad we haven’t.

 

[Wicked Sisters]

We walked into Boma with hope, but maybe not with the biggest appetites. While the free grazing up in the lounge didn't seem like much, it was still a volume of food greater than the typical appetizer (plus two merlots each.) Granted, it was two full hours (and a sauna) between those appetizers and dinner, so maybe that's a wash.

I know a lot of people are into Boma. I was always a little skeptical that a buffet could be quite that good, but I did enjoy Tusker House at AKL. If this was at least that good, it would be fine.

But it wasn't, IMO. Nor in Brian's.

It had nothing to do with dessert. In fact, I give them points for the dessert everyone talks about: the zebra domes. They were smaller than I had pictured in my head, but they were a delicious mousse-y dessert that is right up my alley. They were a little hard to get from the tray to your plate, and I saw the CM behind the counter pull a tray back and waste several that had gotten knocked around. There has to be a better way. But thumbs up for the zebra domes from me!

We didn't even bother looking or asking for a dessert for Brian.

But hey, they had my Chakalaka wine!

We really didn't know what to expect going in. I had looked at the menu online, but thought they could never put an entire buffet menu online, right? This was just a sampling?

Nope, what was online was pretty accurate. OK, cool. As advertised.

On our first round, we picked some things the same (like the steak) and some things different (like Brian picked the mac & cheese and I picked a pasta salad.) We both very much disliked the steak. It was fatty (like all the way through) and cooked to an odd temperature that was hard to cut and chew. Neither of us finished it. Brian reported he was not impressed with the mac & cheese, however I was with the pasta salad (the seasoning was quite good.) We also both got a spare rib, which I thought was very good and the best thing on the plate. Brian (who you will recall ate a bowlful of pork belly the day before) thought it was fatty. Maybe his was, more than usual(?) but nice big spare ribs typically are.

I believe Brian also had the chicken on his first round, and I don't think he even bothered with a second round. I had a hard time reconciling $60 for one round. I went back up and did a desperate thing: I went for the pasta with meatballs. At an African buffet. I thought, how bad could pasta be?

Turns out it can be pretty bad. Or at least blah. It tasted like they just warmed a can of crushed tomatoes and threw it over some pasta. I will say the meatballs were pretty good, though.

Now...for me (Mr. Italian) to not finish basic pasta - that's bad. I've eaten Spaghetti-o's. I'd prefer Spaghetti-o's to this. My Grandma would be upset with me for eating jarred sauce ("gravy") but Ragu is miles ahead of Boma (though I prefer Newman's no sugar added, or Flora's, or a small handful of others.) That was just a huge sign to me this was not likely to turn out well with additional tries. I gave up on the savory.

I was also not that hungry. Can't say that didn't factor into this.

That's when I went back up alone for some dessert. (Brian still had his dinner plate to work on in front of him.) The couple of desserts I grabbed were acceptable and again, the zebra domes were quite good. I was still stuck on not getting anywhere near my money's worth for this meal.



Thank you for reminding me!



We weren't mad, we weren't upset. We were disappointed for sure, though. Tusker House beats the stuffing out of Boma. Jiko shouldn't be in the same neighborhood. Since it was, as we exited Boma, I looked wistfully inside Jiko. I knew they closed in a few minutes. I didn't want to impose just to get a Wild Boar appetizer (which I'd been talking about the last several days.)

I half-wish I had asked. I bet they would have accommodated us, and we could have been in and out quickly and saved the evening.

As I recall, we were both slightly uncomfortably full, and had just blown $150 on mediocre meh. We quit while we were behind.

Boma: one and done. We'll snicker at it next time we go to Jiko (which may be fairly soon!)

We were not sure whether to try Boma next time but will definitely not bother now.