Excellent resort choice Deirdre. Once have a welcoming lei placed around your neck, take an afternoon hula lesson, swim in the Nanea Volcano Pool, and walk amid the hibiscus and palms you will feel like you are on a South Pacific island.
While the
Disney Dining Plan is perhaps not the bargain it was originally, the plan can still save you a few dollars. If you plan to experience a dinner show, dine with characters, and try out a restaurant or two in Epcot's World Showcase and Downtown Disney, you might find table service credits a better deal than paying out of pocket. Use your entitlements thoughtfully to get the most bang for your buck. For example, use your snack credits for stocking up on goodies such as MIckey crispy rice treats to take home to enjoy or give as gifts rather than a Coke in the park. Take a look at a few menus with prices on a website such as Allears to see if you think the dining plan will work for your budget.
Also consider that some of the advantages of the DDP are not about saving money. Convenience and knowing your food costs in advance make the dining plan worthwhile for many guests. My family finds the benefits are less tangible. Sitting down for a table service meal each day provides a chance to pause from the fast pace of the parks and discuss the day's experiences. We have visited some unique, fabulous restaurants that we would have skipped if we had not been on the dining plan. An often quoted phrase at our house is " Hot stuff coming through and he's carrying hot food" thanks to a hilarious server we had at the 50's Prime Time Cafe. If we hadn't been on the dining plan that meal would have been a quick burger on the run instead of a fun, wonderful memory.