Alright OP, we here on the UNI side of things are not known to throw shade like the WDW side, but it is starting to seem like you are trying to make a point vs. asking a real question.
8 nights at CB - 800
2 day bast ticket (hoppers now not improtant) -640
Leaves 560 to compare with Free Dining
Tix are not cheaper at Disney, already shown above.
Not the same parks, not the same experience. And quite frankly (here comes the shade, sorry), I would gladly save two years of vacation money to do one week with Unlimited Express over that bag of garbage known as FP+. That was the game changer for us. Haven't been back since, not going back. My 8 day vacation money is much better spent elsewhere.
And not that it is anyone's business, but what do you do the other 6 days? 8 night stay with 2 day tix? If it is pool time, etc. then the CB pools and lazy river, waterslide, might be the game changer. Only you can decide. Downtown Disney? We love it (and its the only place that gets our WDW money), but City Walk is pretty awesome as well.
Again, this is not designed to be a personal affront to your vacation plans, both parks are doing quite well as of late. Crowds at WDW (especially during Free Dining) are huge, so you are not alone. My first extended vacation to Disney with my kids only happened because of free dining. Your budget is yours and yours alone, and you need to decide where the value needs to be. Knowing that more days is very cheap at both parks, it appears that $2K is the line, so maybe WDW is your best value proposition. Please Enjoy!
My family would have more fun with the above experience at about $2400, so 20% more, or an addtl. 3-4 months of savings, is the better value proposition. Some on these boards can go for an extended amount of time multiple times a year, and that is great for them.
If your kids really want to see HP, and it is worth it, goe for 6 or 7 nights, cap out at the same 2 grand. Will it be better? maybe and maybe not. But, there will be some fun, maybe loads, so try it.
Then, come back and throw shade at me, lol. But, it will be educated shade, and I can deal with that, just not random non-researched statements like you can't believe tix at UNI are more than Disney.