I think we've sussed them! I did think it was odd so I was checking here from people who've done it
This is really a difficult one, trying to forecast what the flight prices will be in 6 months time for the dates you've booked the hotel for! (I like to go premium economy these days...the prices vary day to day from affordable to ludicrous, it would be just my luck to end up with flights that are £3000 each way). But hotel availability is so unstable, if you want a particular hotel you have to go with whatever company offers it asap before it goes again. Over the last couple of years, the Epcot resorts have not been generally available via Disney Travel Company, or at least I missed the few hours when they were available! Maybe this is the reason why - Virgin booked more than they should have, leaving no availability for other travel agents??
I'm not bothered either way about free dining. I've had three holidays at WDW so far, the first two were without, the third (in the coming February
) is with, but I didn't do this on purpose, it was being offered at the time I booked. The problem is you've got no choice it seems, in the UK at least, if it's on offer you have to take it. From what I understand, you don't get a discount on the package if you get free dining, so it's debateable whether it's worth it. It depends on the amount of the discount, but you can't tell what discount you would have got once the free dining is available!
I wouldn't buy a dining plan separately, it's not value for money for me personally. It's no more hassle paying on the go (you scan the magic band either way) and it's much cheaper.