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Monday, September 12, 2011

Happy Dance

I have so decided to do the DxDDP (deluxe dining plan) no matter what. I think it is a good possibility for FD (free dining) that I can just upgrade.

Ok here we go....just OOP (out of pocket) I am looking at spending between $1550 to $1750 conservatively speaking. This is doing a light breakfast mostly at RF (Roaring Forks) (which will get old after a couple times) and then not eating again until dinner time mostly eating at TS (table service) restaurants but no appetizers (ever) and few if any deserts, a few snacks and drinks.

Where as if I go with the DxDDP with no discounts I'm looking at about $2071.68 but we will have possible 3 meals credits a day and 2 snack credits a day per person. Which is only about a $321 difference or only about $40 a day more. But we would have the opportunity to eat so much better and I would have to worry about who is ordering what and how much is it going to cost. I have already made out a tentative meal schedule including a estimated tip figuring towards the higher end entrees. Especially since my oldest loves steaks, he would order the cheapest thing on the menu without even a grumble but it would be really nice to be able to indulge him some. He is such a good kid (most of the time LOL), works hard, does his studies with out too much argument, helps around the house and farm.

Anyways I digress. 

Here is what I have come up with so far...

Sat - DHS
Breakfast: Starring Rolls Café 
Lunch: Sci-Fi Dine In
Dinner: 50’s  Prime Time Café

Sun - DTD
Breakfast - Whispering Canyon
Lunch - Earl of Sandwich
Dinner - Planet Hollywood

Mon - Animal Kingdom
Breakfast - Tusker House
Lunch - Flame Tree BBQ
Dinner - Whispering Canyon

Tue - MK + MNSSHP
Breakfast - Crystal Palace
Lunch - Casey Corner ?
Dinner - Tony's

Wed - Epcot 
Breakfast -Roaring Forks
Lunch - Rose and Crown
Dinner - Akerhus

Thur - IOA
Breakfast - ? Room Service 
Lunch - Three Broomsticks (OOP)
Dinner - After we get back from IOA

Fri - Epcot
Breakfast - Sunshine Seasons Food Court
Lunch - Coral Reef
Late Dinner - Beirgarten

Sat - USF
Breakfast - Roaring Forks
Lunch - (OOP @ USF)?
Dinner - HDDR

Sun - Check out
Breakfast - Chef Mickey's 

I know it seems like a lot, but even if we deviate a little I think we will get our money's worth.

I just have to remember my new mantra "Flexible is good. Flexible is good. Flexible is good."

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Here We Go Again

Howdy Howdy,

Getting ready for another round with the Mouse and Mr Potter. I think I am more excited this time then I was last time if that is possible. lol
I have been working on the planning phase for a while now but have not had a chance to start this blog until now.

I have started my vacation book or as my hubby jokes my Disney bible...lol. I will share pics in my next blog entry. And my family thinks I'm totally nuts because we are not planning on going until next year, September to be exact. I really enjoyed going last Sept. It was a good time to go, the parks were not all that busy even on the weekends. It was still pretty hot but not so hot that we were going to pass out. All major school districts were back in session. But we are going to have a couple major differences this next trip and a couple minor changes.

First minor change (or maybe major change...lol) is no nephew this trip. I kinda got used last time by my darling nephew, being included on the trip was a graduation present. The stipulation that I would stay off his back about no life direction was that as soon as we got back he would either get a job or apply to college. He did neither until about 10wks ago when he finally decided he wanted to try art school. Anyways off subject. Story for a different blog.

Next minor change is that we are adding 2 days going from 7 days last trip to 9 days this next trip. But one of our major changes is that we have decided to stay on site @ Disney. We are also going for the Dining Plan. I am hoping for Free Dining because I really want to go with the Deluxe Dining and want to save some $$.
I have run all the numbers at least 50times, and without the nephew and his extras we will have more then enough to stay on site. Also we are going to spend the entire trip accommodations at Disney. I did debate on a few days at a Universal Resort but with the dining plan at Disney it is going to be a better bet for us to stay at Disney and visit Universal a couple days. I love Universal but with a younger child still and myself being more of the pooh sized (but working on my Roller Coaster Diet...by heavens I want to ride everything!!!!). I think Disney is a better bet, this time.

We are going to do 5 days @ Disney and 2 days @ Universal, giving us 2 blank days. Those two day were really needed last time and maybe we would have wore ourselves out so much that most of us ended up sick by the end of the trip. Hubby and I were the worst both coming down with bronchitis by the time we arrived home.
We are going to drive down again, it was a long haul with myself being the only driver but I'll do it again in a heart beat. I don't think I'm going to worry about renting a vehicle and just plan on driving my Explorer again. Another difference though is that we are not telling the kids until the last min. I will pack their bags is secret and maybe I'll be able to sleep some the day we plan leave out (even if I have to take a sleep aid to get some rest. I am not doing 48hrs+ on only an hour and a half of sleep). I have been keeping close care of my vehicle maintenance and I will be buying 4 new tires before we go. (Trying for no ugly surprises this time at least not anything that I can possibly help)

Also my mother will not be with us on the drive. She and her BF will be joining us down there but we will not be traveling together. YEAH!!! LOL. My mom is not totally horrible to travel with unless it is by car. She rarely drives anymore and has to stop every 50 miles or so.  Will we really have less stops without her in the vehicle? IDK but I can hope...  :)

I will go into more details of the planning next time. But I think I have rattled on enough for tonight. 

Until Next Time....