Trip Report Two broke guys & a dog (for the last time.) (now with Christmas 2024!)

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]

(Thank you again.)

The only slight downside of that cab ride to WDW was that I didn’t book the room when I first had the idea (before midnight.) Let this be a warning for all: you can’t book with a discount on the site same day! And after midnight, it was same day. So I would have gotten a discounted room had I made my decision faster. Instead, I paid rack rate (for the first time ever) at All-Star Music. But honestly, I didn’t care. The next flight home was the next night at 9pm. Would I rather stay in that nasty airport or at Disney? That’s a no-brainer.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

I was grateful. Brian may have been a leeeeeeetle jelly(?) I downplayed it like, “I had to get a hotel room somewhere in Orlando, right?”

One hitch: my bag was already in Fort Lauderdale.

I had my little backpack with my laptop, and not much else. I was wearing my “flying clothes” aka sweatpants and a t-shirt.

So I got on that laptop and purchased our APs, making our family trip (two days from now, remember?) that much easier. Oh, heck yeah I was going to activate mine that day!

But first…I needed supplies! Time to go to the gift shop and pay triple the price for the basics. Thank goodness for my Chase Disney Visa Rewards card. It takes the sting out. (They should hire me for commercials.)

I needed a toothbrush, deodorant, a pair of shorts, and maybe some new magic bands for us.

Mission accomplished! Almost. I don’t see any shorts in that picture, do you?

They didn’t have any. Or at least, not any I would wear. How could I walk around the parks in sweats in May?!

Btw that $3,900 toothbrush (ok maybe like $6) is bamboo. It’s fabulous and I love it to this day. I would buy another one but I’d probably check outside of Disney first for a better price.

Yes, I got the Pride Magic Bands. There was a time I’d never do that because I was hiding that part of me, so now I like to do it and appreciate that I can. They even had a surprisingly decent Pride display in the gift shop. That made me feel good because I had never seen it before. I bought the Millennium Falcon pin.

 

[lostpro9het]

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Back to present day: Ok, it’s been a rough couple of days. Brian is working overnights and I’m staying out until 4am because I don’t want to go home. I am legit sad AF.

So…I booked a little trip. (Hello, predictable?) Brian changed his schedule so he will work tonight, and then he is off until Monday night (which is his last day at his current job, anyway.) We are going to drive up to Orlando on Wednesday night, stay off site, check-in to CBR on Thursday through Sunday, and then do one night at AKL club level on Sunday. I kind of felt like being around animals, and splurging a little. Two nights at AKL club level would have been preferable, but I felt the price tag was steep. Our passes are only good on weekdays, so Saturday and Sunday will be resort days (unless we last minute decide to buy a one day ticket.)

After re-reading that, I’m low-key considering switching Saturday from CBR to AKL lol.

Haven’t planned anything yet, ADRs, etc. I’ll start today. Will be a good distraction and fun.

So woo hoo! Adding another trip to this TR. I think folks here will understand how escaping to Disney works and why this makes sense.

For any newbies, Kylie was somewhat well-known here. We didn’t bring her on every Disney trip, but on most. She was always in our TRs. Before pets were allowed on site, we stayed at pet friendly hotels, where she could sleep with us at night, and we’d take her to Best Friends Pet Care during the day. We’d always start off playing out back before they took her to her room, and if it was a long park day, we’d go visit her in the middle of the day.

When the pet rules changed, we mostly stayed in the Cabins. That was the best, and it’s where we’ve stayed pretty much every time over the last several years. It was like being in a house instead of a hotel room, and she was very comfortable there. I could not bring myself to book it this time, and probably never will again. Well, maybe when we have a new family member, but that won’t be right away. Plus I think it will be DVC soon.

I’m sure there will be mixed emotions on this trip, and at times it may just feel like she’s home with the sitter or at BFPC.

Whenever we did leave her home, Brian would tell you I would randomly yell out, “I miss my puppy!” while walking around the grounds. I’m sure I’ll still do it. I’m doing it at home.

Irrational. I know.

When we come home, the house will still be empty, but a healing week will have passed.

And now I’ll return to the accidental stranding visit, so when I come back…

 

[Disstevefan1]

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.
View attachment 762871
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:
View attachment 762875She 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.
View attachment 762876

No matter who we are, where we come from, we all know and share how much it hurts to lose our furry family members.

Please know that because of you, Kylie had a wonderful life and it goes without saying all our lives are better because of our furry family members.

Please know that Kylie is now running and playing in heaven.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

May whichever day it was:

With no luck in the shorts department, I waited out in the sun in black sweatpants for the bus after checking out of ASM. Which park? Well, I figured the least likely park we’d hit on our family trip would be Animal Kingdom. (Plus they have Chakalaka wine.)

I figured it would be easy to find shorts. Nope! Finally I asked a retail CM and was directed to one particular store. Really? Well, they had another nice Pride display.

And - awesome - look at those rainbow shorts! So me!

Are you kidding? Do you know me at all?

I got the plain navy Nat Geo shorts. Very comfy. But $45. Thanks, Chase Disney Visa for your stingless-ish transaction!

I rented one of those lockers for the first time (new Disney experience! ) went and got changed in the bathroom, and stored all my stuff, very easy.

Much more comfortably, I began to wander.

Then I went fishing.

As I recall. this didn’t seem too different from the previous incarnation.

Kept walking.

Where’s my Chakalaka wine??

 

[Beastly74]

I am so sorry for your loss. They are family and leave a huge hole in our lives when they are gone.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Here it is!

Wait, where’s the wine? It’s not in the picture!

See what happens when you drink early? I promise, after that one exhausting attraction, I stopped at Nomad Lounge for a fab Chakalaka wine (my favorite) and a nosh. Those yuca fries were fantastic.

Between this stop and when I circled back later, I tried most of that menu. Some better than others. The chicken bowl, meh. And I’m sure I had a bottle of wine in total.

But boy did it feel great to be there!

 

[erstwo]

Wishing you great comfort until you are back in your happy place and then once again when you get back home.

 

[12in12]

I'm so sorry to hear about Kylie, I hope the 14 years of loving memories will give you comfort.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

I have to say, that day at Animal Kingdom by myself was one of the most productive days ever at WDW. (Not that I don’t love having Brian with me!!) I did everything I wanted in a short visit! That included the daytime and evening safari, Dinosaur, etc. Wait times were very reasonable. I was *this close* to doing Kali River Rapids for the first time in years, but didn’t want to risk being wet on the plane ride home.

Yes, I did Expedition Everest, too!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Before I knew it, it was time to Uber back to the airport. But it was an amazingly full day in just over a half day visit. Bonus Disney time. Thanks, storm at the airport yesterday!!

When I flew home, I was relieved to find my suitcase at the airport. When I got home, I was angry to find an expensive vinyl box set and some other records had been stolen out of it! The airline was no help.

Brian picked me up at the airport. He used to surprise me with Kylie in the car, but as she got older, we put her in and out of the car less often.

Two days later, we’d all be in the car on our way back up!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

We do love the cabins.

And so does this one.

There’s my girl.

 

[MinnieM123]

Tony, you had quite the fun day at AK!

(As for the cabin memories with Kylie, I'm so sad she's no longer with you.)

Now, as for the stolen vinyl out of checked luggage -- You mentioned the airline wasn't helpful. Wondering if filing a police report for stolen property might provide some assistance? Wondering if other passengers (various flights) also had items stolen, and if there may be some pattern that investigators may be following up on.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Tony, you had quite the fun day at AK!

(As for the cabin memories with Kylie, I'm so sad she's no longer with you.)

Now, as for the stolen vinyl out of checked luggage -- You mentioned the airline wasn't helpful. Wondering if filing a police report for stolen property might provide some assistance? Wondering if other passengers (various flights) also had items stolen, and if there may be some pattern that investigators may be following up on.

At the moment, I was all about filing a police report.

The airline’s procedure was to go back to the airport (ugh) and fill out a report accusing the one person who works in that little room of stealing, with my address and other personal info on the same report. Seriously?

I went back and forth with them about it and then gave up.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Present day: good morning from All-Star Music! We arrived around 2am. Heading over to CBR later.

I brought Kylie’s Mickey.

Shot of Crown Royal Vanilla before bed.

 

[erstwo]

Present day: good morning from All-Star Music! We arrived around 2am. Heading over to CBR later.

I brought Kylie’s Mickey.
View attachment 763717

Shot of Crown Royal Vanilla before bed.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Present day: this TR will include @Tuvalu shenanigans!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Present day: this TR will include @Tuvalu shenanigans!

Now that is some good news!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Back to May. This was a very short trip. I can only go by the pics on my phone and what I can remember. I usually save receipts to help remember what we ordered etc; but as you know, we’re not home to review them. (We moved from ASM to CBR yesterday!)

As the years went on, our Disney trips became more about balance: going to the parks whenever we wake up, having a nice meal, and including our pup as much as possible.

We had stayed at a La Quinta the night before, as was custom, so we would be in the area, ready, and not exhausted when Disney’s room text came. We often got lucky with 9am texts, but you can’t set an early arrival time when you check in online anymore. You can only select “before 3pm.”

When we checked out of La Quinta (with late checkout) there was really nowhere to go. We decided to head over to the Cabins and wait around outside until our room was ready. When we pulled up to the booth to ask if that was allowed, the CM saw Kylie in the back of the car, winked and said, “I think your room is ready,” and made it happen. Thank you! She then gave Kylie a treat, which ended up on the seat of the car because it was a cookie type treat, and our little miss picky only ate meat type treats most of the time. (This made her more difficult to bribe.)

After settling in, we just relaxed all afternoon. I placed a mobile order and picked it up (pulled pork sandwich for me, of course!) There was a marathon of some ghost show or other on the Travel Channel - the one with Zak Bagans.

The only thing we had planned was dinner at an old favorite with whom we had broken up a long time ago: The Flying Fish…dun dun DUN!