I am really confused about this 90 day window thing and how it's supposed to "grow" back to 180. So is everyone gonna have different "windows"? Some at 160, some at 142, some at 98, etc? I'm confused!! I hope they make it official soon and put out some sort of calendar so I know when to call, LOL!!! I do want CM and CRT, so I'll probably be calling at 180 for those.
I'm working tonight and it's VERY slow (yay!), so I decided to work on our itinerary some more, especially the dining. The talk about CM the first night really got me thinking. So, here's what I have now!!!
5/1/09 Friday- arrive in Fla, stay offsite (likely at Country Inn and Suites Calypso Cay), eat dinner offsite
5/2/09 Saturday - Free breakfast at CI&S, early check-in at the Poly, head to MK for the day (CS lunch). Get into room in afternoon, naps, swimming, etc.
Dinner at Chef Mickey's aroudn 6 PM
Evening at the Poly, hanging out, unpacking, relaxing
5/3/09 Sunday - Epcot for the day (CS lunch), back to Poly for swimming and naps
Dinner at Kona around 5:30 and head to the MK for the evening - possibly for Spectro at 9, Wishes at 10 (we didn't see it in the park last time b/c DD was afraid of fireworks so I can't wait to this time!)
5/4/09- Monday -- Animal Kingdom (CS lunch)
Poly for swimming, naps
MGM for the evening. Mama Melrose Fantasmic Dinner at around 5 PM. Fantasmic at 9
5/5/09 - Tuesday - MK DH and DS have CS lunch; DD and I do CRT around 12. Possible do the MK Barber shop right at rope drop!! We'll likely stay for the 3 PM parade this day, then go for short naps.
DTD for evening - OOP dinner at T-Rex (assuming it's not on the
DDP)
5/6/09 - Wednesday - Blizzard Beach (CS lunch)
Crystal Palace dinner around 5:30, evening in MK or back at the Poly
5/7/09 - Thursday - our day is open - wherever we want to return to!!! (CS lunch); Dinner at LeCellier at around 5:30, evening in Epcot, Illuminations at 9
5/8/09 - Friday - MK in the morning and then depart around noon/1. CS/snack lunch.
I also redid the DDP calculations with our new choices and I am SHOCKED at how much we stand to save again. This is based on the 2008 plan of course. Not counting the tip in either calculation (b/c we'd be paying it OOP regardless) - we will save $273.03! Not shabby. This making educated guesses on where our CS's would be and what we would eat, figuring out everything including tax. This is a good deal more savings than I was originally thinking because of switching CM to a dinner not a brunch and doing the MM Fantasmic pkg (get appies!). Plus, food prices have gone up since my last calculating. I also realized I really do not care if the appy is added back in - we have 2 buffets and it's included at MM and CRT. That leaves only Kona (probably won't order one, just eat the bread) and LeCellier (possible order 1 bowl of the soup, or eat the kids'!)
Sooo...if the 2009 plan is exactly the same (doubt it!) we'll save a ton. If the prices go up, even by a good bit and even without adding a thing, we can still save. And that's assuming food prices remain the same. If those go up even more, we'll save more. With the way we eat, and having 2 kids on the plan, I think it would be hard for us NOT to save! Still hoping they add the tip back in though (wishful thinking I guess!)
Oh, and our OOP expenses will be tips and the one appy (approx. $100), maybe a few alcoholic drinks on the Poly beach, and our T-Rex dinner. I'm trying to save on the T-Rex by doing it on our CRT day (doing that on the plan now, btw). DD and I will have eaten a big, filling lunch, so I'll probably just get an appy. She'll probably share food with all of us, so our cost there should be lower.
I'm pretty happy with the way this worked out and don't think I'll change much. Thanks for reading this far, LOL!!