Multibit 0.4.23 Help

Hello everyone,

I deleted a wallet years ago by mistake using Multibit 0.4.23, It had that function which was a pity for me as I am fairly useless when it comes to computers.

I am using the same computer MacBook and have a wallet.dat and a wallet.aes.json file. I still have both Multibit 0.4.23 and Multbit 0.5.16 on this computer.

So I have done a ton of reading and done the following:

1, Imported the wallet.dat into Blockchain.Info, shows Multibit wallet but balance 0.
2, Tried to import the wallet.aes.json into Blockchain.info but am unable to do as Blockchain.Info keeps asking for a password which I am unable to remember at te moment.
3, Im now in the process of loading Bitcoin Core in order to try the wallet.dat file there.

Question is, Am I wasting my time??? there were some bitcoins when I deleted the wallet originally in Multibit 0.4.23.

Thanks for any help advise in advance,

Best regards,