Disney World Prep: Lodging

If you HAVE to turn 30, you might as well do it at the Happiest Place on Earth. When I turn 30 I want to be at the happiest place on earth surrounded by some of my most favorite people on earth.
So we're doing it!
Geoff and I are packing up the mini-van and the boys to head down to Orlando. We'll hopefully get to have dinner with Chuck, Lisa, Jenny, Katie, Jim and Reese who will happen to be in town and then we get to spend a week with Rory, Dagny and even Joe and Frankie for a few days as we celebrate all things fabulous, whether thats Buzz lightyear's lasers for Grant, 'Queen for Carter or the princesses for Dagny (and Rory... and me!)
We are determined to make our week long trip to Disney (T-32days) filled with memories but without breaking the bank, so I'm going to document costs and all since I know a lot of people want to do the same. usually finances/costs/money in general is not a topic that I like to talk to anyone about, so personal! I have had a number of people ask just how much a Disney vacation costs or the best ways to do it and while I certainly don't have all the answers, I can at least write down what we spend on our week.
We are not going as cheap as possible. We are not saying "money is no object". We're trying to balance having a great time with being smart about the money spent... we'll see how it goes.

The ONLY thing we knew before starting to plan the trip is that we were going to get the Military Salute tickets because Disney rocks and has an awesome deal for service members and their families. A 4day Ticket with Park Hopper option (you can visit more than one park in a give day) for $156 each. -usually for this exact ticket Adults would be $256 each and Grant would have been $239, Carter under 3 is free-

I called up Disney and asked about a week at a Disney resort in March with Military discounts.
We were quoted Sun-Saturday at the Art of Animation resort in a family suite (small kitchenette, seperate master bed/bath) with the Disney standard dining plan for $2536.00 SAY WHAT?!?!?!
The same days and meal plan at the Caribbean Beach resort in more of a classic hotel room with just a fridge and 2 queen beds was quoted at $1899.00
Now, the Art of Animation was in a Cars themed room which would have had Carter over-the-moon but he's 2 and we're not rich so that wasn't even an option. The Caribbean beach room would be pirate themed which would have both boys saying "cool"and "arrrrr" all week long but is still a lot of money.

We called up Shades of Green, an MWR facility on Disney property that is only for military. It is a hotel but enjoys the perks of Disney resorts such as Extra Magic Hours (when parks open earlier/close later for Disney Resort properties' guests) and shuttles to the parks. It is a basic hotel room with 2 queen beds and fridge, like the Caribbean beach room but the pool is "just" a pool, not a fancy pirate water park (keep in mind, we're going in March though resort pools are heated) and the hotel itself is "just" a hotel, not filled with Disney magic. The rate for Geoff's rank was $133 a night, $800 total.

So then we had to see if the dining plan was worth the $1,100 difference...