Hello again fellow ressie changer - LOL! By the way, did your waitlist issue get cleared up?
Anyway, we always eat 2 TS meals day, so we have done it all in regards to dining: DDE 2x, cash with other discounts and Dining Plans (both regular and deluxe, as well as a combination of both during split stay trips). The kids meals are limited, which is a problem for us as our kids don't eat 'typical' kids' food at all. We don't eat junk food, fast food, drink pop, eat fried foods, etc., so with kids on the Dining Plans, you have to get creative. We sometimes pay an extra $2.00 to order a steak, or, we all share our food together. So, mom and dad might eat a few chicken fingers, and the kids will eat some of our grilled chicken, fish, etc. This is a great way of ensuring that they get the food that they need.
For us though, we have found that the Deluxe Plan is the plan that suits our needs best as we don't really care for CS either. We have just done extensive dining spreadsheets, and the Dining plans beat out the TIW card. We know that many people on here prefer the TIW card, but for us at this stage with 2 young kids and we don't drink alcohol, the plans are better for us. We also don't like how the TIW card has gone up in price, there are restaurant exclusions, blackout dates, subject to holiday surcharges and mandatory 18% tip.
We are contemplating a combination Deluxe & Regular scenario, as well as Deluxe for our whole trip, except for our last 3 nights that we are at AKV Concierge.
We have eaten everywhere, and feel we are experts in this regard, so we have lots of fun making it work for us and the kids. The kids' dining plans are great deals, so we make it work! We only order what we can eat, but love the Deluxe plan because it gives us appetizers such as soup or fruit for our very hungry 20 month old boy!
Happy eating to all, Tiger