Opinions please
!
We arrive on a Thursday morning and plan to be at Epcot between noon and 1pm. Our flight lands at 10am and we are taking DME to Pop Century, dropping our bags and heading to Epcot. Mom is a bit...shall we say..."frugal"
, but she has been to Disney and understands that it is pricey. That being said, I really want her to enjoy her first F&W Festival without experiencing too much "sticker shock". Dad has arranged all the financial stuff and has allowed for a very generous food budget ($400 for 5 days...just mom!) and mom has not looked at it yet. She just says, "Whatever you guys want to do" when we try to explain it to her
.
Here's what I am thinking...even though it may not be the best financial value, I was thinking about purchasing ONE Sampler Package for our arrival day (Thursday) and then share the 8 entitlements (and cost) between the two of us. This would let mom have an introduction to the Festival offerings without having to concern herself with the prices on the menu. We have no interest in the concert so that is a moot point. The pin is a nice touch, but it's probably not something I would be buying anyways.
I talked to my dad about it and he said it was "not a bad idea". He also suggested that since we will also be there on Monday, perhaps we should buy a second, single package for that day too. His only hesitation, which is also my main hang up, is that FINANCIALLY, it is probably going to actually cost us a little more to book the packages. I figure $62 (incl tax) for 8 selections means that each item has to average $7.75. I know that the mushroom filet in Canada is about that much, but we aren't going to eat EIGHT of them
. I will be curious to see the prices of the alcoholic beverages that are included. We are not beer drinkers at all. Mom will drink some wine and I prefer the mixed drinks. I know the slushies at the booth in France are usually around $10 so if they are included, I would buy this package without hesitation
.
So, without knowing what items will be included, and what the list price will be, would you advise me to buy this package now? Since we aren't going until the middle of October, do you think I should wait until the Festival opens and prices/exclusions are "official"? And along that line, do you think if I wait, the packages may sell out? What about the idea of buying it for the two days? Any thoughts?
ADDITIONAL:
I went through last year's booths and compared them to the items announced for this year and came up with some selections.
Canada: Mushroom Filet ($7.25)
China: Kung Fu Punch ($8.50)
France: La Passion Slush ($9.95)
Greece: Tzatziki Martini ($7.75)
Hawaii: Aulani Sunset *2014* ($6.75) ...assuming Mai Tai will replace this
Mexico: Mango Strawberry Margarita ($8.50)
Poland: Frozen Szarlotka ($8.75)
Puerto Rico: Mango Rum ($7.25)
TOTAL: $64.70 (assuming these prices include tax)
So, with these prices presumably going up, and the price of the package being $62.84, I would, in fact, come out ahead if all of these items are available and included.
but you could always load $50 on a gift card and tell her it HAS to be spent at Disney anyway and to enjoy herself! 
. Since we are planning a large family trip to WDW next fall, mom and dad have already started accumulating gift cards. They buy them from the school's TRIP program so the "use it or lose it" really won't apply. In fact, I fear it would backfire since mom may feel like keeping the purse strings tight on this trip so that she can splurge on all the kids and grandkids on the next one. That was one reason I thought about the sampler package...it would REALLY be a "use it or lose it" proposition...and I don't think we would really "lose" that much money. I think the worst-case scenario is a break even, but again, I can't thoroughly evaluate it until the Festival begins, and by then, it may be too late to get it. Decisions...decisions.... 
...)
