free dining vs gift card offer (help, i'm so confused!!!)

[ziggystardust]

Hi all!

I booked a vacation package with the $200 gift card offer.
(2 adults, feb 10-16, pop)

Now I'm thinking free dining might be a better deal. What do you think?

Free dining:
1. Would have to pay $10 per night upgrade from the QS plan to the regular plan.
2. First night of our stay is blocked out, so i'd have to make a separate room only and pay out of pocket for our food that day.
3. Not a huge dessert person, more of an app person, so might end up paying out of pocket at SOME restaurants (ie. cheese soup at le cellier)
4. Would NOT have to save (MUCH) extra money for food.

$200 gift card.
1. one reservation for the entire stay
2. use $200 towards food.
3. not restricted to menu items

i'd really appreciate thoughts on this. thanks!

 

[Q-man]

Can you eat 2 meals and a snack for 5 days on $300?($200 Visa plus $10 x 2 x 5) That would work out to $60 a day.

 

[Q-man]

Would the $300 get you into a moderate so that the other dining plan comes with it? Do moderates at that time have the same blackout dates? 1st night may be not be blackedout at other properties if they still have rooms to sell. If you can get free dining 1st night too at a moderate then you can add the food cost you saved that day to that $300.