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.

 

[Wicked Sisters]

I don’t want this report to end as I love seeing all the photos of Kylie. What wonderful memories. Sending hugs to you and Brian.

 

[dizfan917]

Such a wonderful report. Thanks for sharing that all with us. (we've never been to Boma... and prolly will just keep spending the big bucks at Victoria Falls Lounge and Jiko - two of our favorites on a date night...)

I've never had a pet, so I can't relate to the loss, but I hope the healing process is a smooth one. Something I heard when my Mom died has helped me through some sad times - "Everything that has a beginning has an end. Make your peace with that and all will be well." That should probably be on a t-shirt with Pooh and Piglet.

Take care.

 

[MinnieM123]

@Tony the Tigger -- what a wonderful TR, and a touching tribute to Kylie. I never met Kylie, but I sure as heck miss her.

I'm glad that you and Brian had a much needed getaway vacation, and made the best of your time in WDW.

 

[RememberWhen]

Sending you both so much comfort. Kylie was clearly special. Thank you for sharing your memories and this trip with us.

 

[Sillysidewalker]

So sorry for the loss of your girl. You gave her an absolute dream of a life and so much love. Thank you for sharing her with us.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Tu is right!! Now we all have swollen eyes.
I’ve been thinking of my cat Chloe while reading your TR. We have so many memories of her. This June will be 7 years. They bring so much love into a home.
Thank you so much for sharing your memories and TR with us.

I got lucky, I had enough time to ice them before going to work - but I had to skip the gym to do it LOL.

What a lovely cuddly to be given and keeping it with Kylies Mickey - that got me too! Especially with the wording.
As Tu says- beautiful!

That tiny dog replica was actually just what I needed the first few days after getting home, as silly as that may sound.

The stuffed dog truly has her "look", and that was really sweet. Continued hugs as you wander down the healing path and I can't thank you enough for sharing all of this - the good and the bad (looking at you Boma).

Poor Boma.

This was truly wonderful Trip Report, more like real life report!! Great big hugs to you and Brian both every morning and night!!

Can't have too many hugs.

I only knew Kylie through your various TR, but as I read your last post I wasn’t ready yet to say goodbye; it must be terrible for you and Brian

I wish for you that one day soon her memory makes you happy rather than sad.

It's kind of both at the moment. Today was my saddest day since getting her ashes back. Shows how much these TR's can mean.

Last time I bought one they rang up as "toothpick holders". Disney doesn't sell "shot glasses".

Don't know if that's still the case.

I knew they didn't call them shot glasses!

I don’t want this report to end as I love seeing all the photos of Kylie. What wonderful memories. Sending hugs to you and Brian.

I kind of don't want it to end, either. It did feel like a connection. At the same time, how long can you reminisce before you are just wallowing in it? (See my last paragraph in this post.)

Such a wonderful report. Thanks for sharing that all with us. (we've never been to Boma... and prolly will just keep spending the big bucks at Victoria Falls Lounge and Jiko - two of our favorites on a date night...)

I've never had a pet, so I can't relate to the loss, but I hope the healing process is a smooth one. Something I heard when my Mom died has helped me through some sad times - "Everything that has a beginning has an end. Make your peace with that and all will be well." That should probably be on a t-shirt with Pooh and Piglet.

Take care.

We may get a shot at a Jiko redemption. I'm sorry for the loss of your Mom. Losing a pet, while they're not "children," they are dependent on you for everything, and they're in your life every single day. It's a very specific thing. (I know, some people do consider them children, and I won't quarrel with them. Whatever works for everyone. I personally make a distinction.)

@Tony the Tigger -- what a wonderful TR, and a touching tribute to Kylie. I never met Kylie, but I sure as heck miss her.

I'm glad that you and Brian had a much needed getaway vacation, and made the best of your time in WDW.

I know you've been reading about her for many years, if not in TR's then on the Chit Chat thread.

Sending you both so much comfort. Kylie was clearly special. Thank you for sharing your memories and this trip with us.

She really was.

So sorry for the loss of your girl. You gave her an absolute dream of a life and so much love. Thank you for sharing her with us.

And here I go again.

First, I didn't want to be too repetitive after each quote, so thank you to every one of you - so, so much.

While I let myself get sad today, I am better already vs. two weeks ago. No more impulses about I should be checking on her, letting her in or out, etc. The new normal is setting in.

And...here we go again. It looks like Brian will have off Wednesday & Thursday every week, at least for now. I noticed Valentine's Day falls on a Wednesday. About an hour ago, he texted me from work to confirm he'd be off those days that week.

So I just booked Wednesday - Friday (the 14th to 16th) at Port Orleans French Quarter. It was the best deal of the moderates, and the values were up around $150 per night, which I think is nuts. If the values were at their usual sale price of $85-$95 or so, I would have booked that to save money. We won't have many points left after paying for the room this time. But I thought French Quarter would be somewhat romantic for the holiday, and we've never stayed there before (and I know @Tuvalu likes it.) Mixing new things and old favorites is usually a goal.

It should be warmer than last month (fingers crossed.) We've done Valentine's Day there before. Actually, the picture of Kylie with her Mickey was from that year. Brian's work had put him up at a hotel (luckily pet friendly) in Tampa so he could work as a food & beverage manager at the State Fair. Kylie and I went up to visit for several days; and on Valentine's Day, we made the roughly one hour drive over to have lunch at the Brown Derby. I know that was all in a trip report, and I lingered by myself at HS (I think that was the first time) when he drove back to work the night shift.

I don't want to keep torturing you guys with Kylie stuff; at some point it becomes too much. I'll have a week and a half to decide if we're bringing her Mickey and how much I'll include her. (I suspect we will.) Obviously we are bringing her in our hearts. And this fits the "love letter" theme. But I want to report a happy Valentine's Day trip. I'll have to try to find a great no sugar added/sugar free dessert. And maybe we'll get to see Julie this time (at the Tune-In Lounge.) "The World" keeps turning.

 

[Tuvalu]

Just avoid room 7345. I hear it has a leaky toilet.

 

[Tiggertoo56]

Port Orleans FQ is my favourite Have a wonderful time there over Valentines

 

[93boomer]

Oh nice! FQ is our second fav after Riverside.
Nice and quiet. Good choice for day.

 

[Tiki Traveler]

As someone who has also slept on the kitchen floor next to their ailing dog waiting for the vet to open you should be proud of the way you always took care of her.

We haven’t had the pleasure of staying at Animal Kingdom yet but your report definitely puts it in the realm of possibility.

Re: romantic options at FQ, may I suggest :
- Jazz (Check at the bar as the schedule can change)
- Nighttime boat ride to/from Disney Springs - Even if you don’t stay at DS it’s a very pretty ride
- Horse Drawn Carriage Ride
- Stroll around the grounds (Riverside too)
- Outside Movie depending on the movie

Have a great time!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

As someone who has also slept on the kitchen floor next to their ailing dog waiting for the vet to open you should be proud of the way you always took care of her.

We haven’t had the pleasure of staying at Animal Kingdom yet but your report definitely puts it in the realm of possibility.

Re: romantic options at FQ, may I suggest :
- Jazz (Check at the bar as the schedule can change)
- Nighttime boat ride to/from Disney Springs - Even if you don’t stay at DS it’s a very pretty ride
- Horse Drawn Carriage Ride
- Stroll around the grounds (Riverside too)
- Outside Movie depending on the movie

Have a great time!

Thank you!

I can’t tell you how many times we’ve almost done a horse drawn carriage ride, but never did. (They have them at the Cabins as well, and our first ever moderate resort was PO Riverside many years ago.) This may finally be the time for it! I love the boat ride idea as well.

I’ll have to figure out which parks we want to go to and when, and for the first time in a minute, consider how much we want to spend (real money, not Visa points lol.)

I looked last night and saw Epcot has an after hours event on Thursday, so we won’t be there Thursday night. MK, OTOH is open until 11 that night, so that’s a strong possibility to finish the trip.

On Wednesday, actual Valentine’s Day, I’m not sure. We didn’t do AK last week, so that’s a good bet at some point, and maybe stop at Tiffins/Nomad.

I think I’d find it odd to skip MK on Valentine’s Day. It could be a morning stop, carriage ride in the afternoon, evening…hmm…have to see when Julie is working at the Tune-In. I think she’s off on Thursdays.

To be continued…

 

[Tony the Tigger]

have to see when Julie is working at the Tune-In

Alas, again, Julie is unavailable.

While that sucks, it actually makes planning easier.

Actually, I don’t even know our arrival time on the 14th. We usually go up the night before, but Brian will be working until about 1am on Tuesday.

How late will he sleep on Wednesday? He’s still sleeping now!

Obviously, I won’t let that happen.

I can drive, and he can sleep in the car. Or - we can fly, but I think it’s a 9am flight and ends up not saving much time, and risking issues getting home on time. Or - we can take the Brightline…but I think it’s pretty expensive and also doesn’t save much time.

My car it is! Heated seats, my music (or WDW podcast) and we can bring whatever we want (and have a car on site.)

He just woke up and we started talking dining…

 

[Seagull59]

Alas, again, Julie is unavailable.

While that sucks, it actually makes planning easier.

Actually, I don’t even know our arrival time on the 14th. We usually go up the night before, but Brian will be working until about 1am on Tuesday.

How late will he sleep on Wednesday? He’s still sleeping now!

Obviously, I won’t let that happen.

I can drive, and he can sleep in the car. Or - we can fly, but I think it’s a 9am flight and ends up not saving much time, and risking issues getting home on time. Or - we can take the Brightline…but I think it’s pretty expensive and also doesn’t save much time.

My car it is! Heated seats, my music (or WDW podcast) and we can bring whatever we want (and have a car on site.)

He just woke up and we started talking dining…

Yay for another trip! Enjoy!!

 

[fractal]

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!)

Boma was the most forgettable meal we've had at WDW.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Received in the mail today from her primary vet. Obviously handmade. Very sweet.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Despite easily booking everything on our last last-minute trip, most of “the best places” are not showing availability for Valentine’s Day night. (Well, duh!)

No matter. I like our chances for something opening up between now and then - even the day of. If not, we always make do. Everything is open the next night, just as good.

I did book one slightly risky, but new to us dining experience, just for the fun of it. Tony’s in MK had nothing available in the evening, but a few slots around lunchtime. I’ve been thinking about giving it a shot lately, having heard it’s “gotten better.” I go in with realistic expectations for what I think will be a fun and romantic atmosphere, and will get us right into a park as soon as we get up there.

It’s simple Italian, a little vino, and my namesake. (I’ve recently learned not to ask, “How bad can pasta be?”

Anyway, I’m looking forward to that. We’ve agreed we both need to be fully packed before Brian leaves for work on Tuesday, and go right to bed when he gets home. We’ll leave by 10am with wiggle room, which means we’d get up there around 1pm, plenty of time for our 2:15 lunch, whether or not the room is ready.

I know dinner will work itself out fabulously, per usual.

So I have to book MK for Wednesday morning, and I’m thinking Epcot at night, but possibly HS.

That leaves AK for Thursday morning, and likely closing MK at 11pm.

All that could change in a minute, the way I am.

This is a good distraction (again) and something to look forward to.

I guess this is now a pre-trip report again!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

No luck with Valentine’s Day dinner yet. I’ve been checking maybe 3-5 times a day, and seeing new options regularly, but not the right ones.

Brown Derby, Narcoosee’s and another one I would have liked popped up, but they were all around 5pm. Our lunch is at 2:15, so that wouldn’t make sense.

That also made me look at the Brown Derby menu and realize…meh. I think I’d rather sit at their outside patio a bit - weather and availability permitting, of course. Maybe we’ll do Fantasmic, it’s been years.

A Cinderella Castle dinner popped up at 10:25 pm but the park closes at 10(?)

I’ve never heard anything good about the food there, and not particularly interested in the princesses tbh, so that was a pass.

Kinda fun checking now and then.

Not concerned!

 

[Tuvalu]

Avoid Narcoosse’s at all costs. That was our Boma.

 

[Songbird76]

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!)

That's really interesting. Maybe you hit it on an off day? DFB always says the only thing consistant about Disney restaurants is that they are inconsistent. We ate at Tusker House in 2016 and never again. It was AWFUL. There was hardly anything any of us would eat, nothing was fresh or hot....like it had all been sitting there getting stale for ages, but it was SOOOOO busy so it couldn't have been. And it was FREEZING in there. It was pouring rain outside and cold, and we ordered hot chocolate when we got inside. But the hot chocolate was luke warm muddy water. Our server wasn't the most attentive. It was a one and done. But we keep going back to Boma because it's been stellar every meal we've had there.

 

[Songbird76]

Thank you for sharing Kylie with us. Your tribute is beautiful and it's obvious that she was loved so much and had a great life with you.

Have a lovely trip!!