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]

…hanging on our 6 1/2 foot in-room tree.

The view from the balcony:

 

[RememberWhen]

You two are too cute. Happy Christmas Tony!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Not kidding, B’s cousin just posted this on FB. He is staying with his bf at a hotel in TN.

This is his hotel tree:

I said to Brian, “Who has the better husband?!”

Look at that puny thing.

I’m awful.

 

[Zipadeelady]

She came back and seated us at the bar. Oscar made us these lovelies:

View attachment 832545

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Good morning! Just wanted to say Merry Christmas. We are fine. This visit was the best idea. (Note to self: next time bring strings of lights for the windows - especially if you’re competitive. ) It’s a little chilly and less sunny, but shouldn’t be too bad.

I’ll have to catch you up from dinner last night, but have to get ready for brunch today, and I’m guessing most of you will be too busy to read, anyway!

 

[93boomer]

Good morning! Just wanted to say Merry Christmas. We are fine. This visit was the best idea. (Note to self: next time bring strings of lights for the windows - especially if you’re competitive. ) It’s a little chilly and less sunny, but shouldn’t be too bad.

I’ll have to catch you up from dinner last night, but have to get ready for brunch today, and I’m guessing most of you will be too busy to read, anyway!

Merry Christmas!! Not me. I’m bored. We couldn’t go visiting cause someone has a head cold.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Although our car is here, and although it’s more expensive, it seemed prudent to take a Lyft most places. (Minnie-Van averaged $45 for short trips that were $14 via standard Lyft or $17 with XL to fit my husband’s legs.

Finishing the tree did not leave us enough time to figure out the boat from OKW to DS. The Lyft took us to one end, and we walked to the middle (between Boathouse & Paddlefish) to Teralina Italian restaurant. We were just about on time, but I could swear the time on our ADR jumped ahead a few minutes. (??)

It was cute on the outside, decent on the inside.

The specials menu didn’t have anything related to the “Seven fishes” tradition, but their regular menu sounded at least more creative than the average Italian place.

Time for drinks to start.

Mine is the twisted gimlet. B’s is the revered heritage (basically an old fashioned.)

I had to have at least one fish to remain Italian, so we ordered the calamari appetizer. Please know I’m pronouncing this Jersey Italian style, with a hard C like a G from the back of the throat like “galamad.” (Thank you!)

The galamad came with some kind of non-red sauce (read: incorrect) which wasn’t bad, but I wanted more traditional Italian. I was about to ask for a side of red, when they brought my side meatball, which had plenty of extra red for dipping.

The battered zucchini and carrots were a nice touch, and all had a perfect hint of spice.

Brian had the artichoke chicken.

I had the Nonna’s pork ragu with gnocchi.

This was quite good. I’d come back for it, but over rigatoni or some traditional pasta.

To be picky, I prefer it more red than brown, and a smidge sweeter, but it’s something I don’t see everywhere, and I appreciate that.
(If I took it home to go, I’d throw some gravy (red sauce) on top. Of course, I do that to almost everything.

 

[93boomer]

Although our car is here, and although it’s more expensive, it seemed prudent to take a Lyft most places. (Minnie-Van averaged $45 for short trips that were $14 via standard Lyft or $17 with XL to fit my husband’s legs.

Finishing the tree did not leave us enough time to figure out the boat from OKW to DS. The Lyft took us to one end, and we walked to the middle (between Boathouse & Paddlefish) to Teralina Italian restaurant. We were just about on time, but I could swear the time on our ADR jumped ahead a few minutes. (??)

View attachment 832759

It was cute on the outside, decent on the inside.

The specials menu didn’t have anything related to the “Seven fishes” tradition, but their regular menu sounded at least more creative than the average Italian place.

Time for drinks to start.

View attachment 832760View attachment 832761

Mine is the twisted gimlet. B’s is the revered heritage (basically an old fashioned.)

I had to have at least one fish to remain Italian, so we ordered the calamari appetizer. Please know I’m pronouncing this Jersey Italian style, with a hard C like a G from the back of the throat like “galamad.” (Thank you!)

View attachment 832767
The galamad came with some kind of non-red sauce (read: incorrect) which wasn’t bad, but I wanted more traditional Italian. I was about to ask for a side of red, when they brought my side meatball, which had plenty of extra red for dipping.

View attachment 832769

The battered zucchini and carrots were a nice touch, and all had a perfect hint of spice.

Brian had the artichoke chicken.

View attachment 832777

I had the Nonna’s pork ragu with gnocchi.
View attachment 832778

This was quite good. I’d come back for it, but over rigatoni or some traditional pasta.

To be picky, I prefer it more red than brown, and a smidge sweeter, but it’s something I don’t see everywhere, and I appreciate that.
(If I took it home to go, I’d throw some gravy (red sauce) on top. Of course, I do that to almost everything.

Everything looks yummy! Now I'm hungry! I'm waiting on my turkey. It's still in the oven.

 

[Tiggerish]

The Dolce Vita looks like something I'd go for.

I had to have at least one fish to remain Italian,

Of course. I love that you reviewed the menu for seven fishes

Please know I’m pronouncing this Jersey Italian style, with a hard C like a G from the back of the throat like “galamad.

Naturally.

The galamad came with some kind of non-red sauce

 

[Tony the Tigger]

After dinner, we wandered the Springs with no particular aim, but an eye towards the boat back.

What a poseur!

There was that Asian(?) store with the t-shirts on demand. That part was closed.

But that tee was cool. (Didn’t buy one.)

You’ll never guess where we ended up.

Hint: I went to Joffrey’s for a hot cocoa spiked with Jameson, but I didn’t see that on the menu anymore.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

That was a terrible hint except for the part that you’ll never guess.

Brian’s idea was to stop at Rainforest Cafe’s “Lava bar.”

This is basically the Olive Garden of bars, and that’s being generous.

They had Jameson, and a double was only a dollar extra. Hello!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

I seriously considered running out to Joffrey’s, buying a hot chocolate, bringing it back, and pouring the Jameson into it…

but I wasn’t 100% sure where it was. Also, I posted where we were on the D3 FB page, and some other random members decided to come meet us.

This was the “leader” of the bunch.

It’s no Magician meetup; but it’s something!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

We didn’t want to miss the last or nearly last boat, so we moseyed on out, and walked the plank to the boat. I thought the lights were really pretty, but the camera couldn’t quite capture it.

Random shots from the boat:

We stopped into the main area where to check in and looked around.

ETA: that was Santa's chair. Apparently, he had been there from 6-8pm!

From there, we learned/realized how far we were from the 4200’s. It was a decent walk, longer than CBR I think, and it was chilly.

We were told two possible places to pick up a bus that would stop near us. We walked to the first (I think) and the bus was stopped there. What luck!

Except I stood in front of the closed bus door for about 30 seconds, and the bus driver who obviously saw me, shook his head and moved on.

I was dumbfounded, but Jersey Tony gave him the finger and said stuff he couldn’t possibly have heard about what to go do with oneself.

In sober hindsight, he may have been in the right.

He could have opened the door to explain.

Instead he went on to the next stop a short distance away, with us following on foot, didn’t wait, just kept going.

All good. We got to the next stop, waited a few minutes, made fun of the misspellings on the sign:

took the DS bus to our area, walked around the building to take a pic of our tree from the walking path

and I quickly fell asleep on the Harry Potter marathon on USA that had been on since the first hotel on Monday night!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Coming up: Christmas Eve/Day/we still don’t have park tickets and we’re throwing our hands in the air and waving them like we just don’t care!

In real time: It’s the end of the day, and…drinks.

 

[Bullseye1967]

…hanging on our 6 1/2 foot in-room tree.

View attachment 832566

The view from the balcony:

View attachment 832567

Kudos on that tree! You did it up right!

 

[Tuvalu]

I did a double take when I saw this picture of you.

Seems that B’s gift to you of sky blue jacket wasn’t so far off after all….

Just sayin’…..

 

[Tony the Tigger]

I did a double take when I saw this picture of you.

View attachment 832824

Seems that B’s gift to you of sky blue jacket wasn’t so far off after all….

View attachment 832825

Just sayin’…..

Oh, I love the color, Miss Sassypants. It’s the tracksuit with which I take issue (and tease my husband) not to mention the size M! I tried to model it for you all, couldn’t get the pants up over my hind!

 

[Tuvalu]

Oh, I love the color, Miss Sassypants. It’s the tracksuit with which I take issue (and tease my husband) not to mention the size M! I tried to model it for you all, couldn’t get the pants up over my hind!

Here I thought you were a size S.

 

[mpaulam]

Sounds like you’re having a great time so far!
Your tree looks great.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Here I thought you were a size S.

I was a medium for the longest time. My late 30's little belly pushed me up to an L. My 50's mid life crisis gym obsession made me stay there.

Btw I told B you stuck up for him! He laughed and appreciated that.

Sounds like you’re having a great time so far!
Your tree looks great.

Yes (!!) and thank you!