Jensosa
Did you say that you were going in December? What part of December? If it's not the Holiday season you might be able to get a good price on a Fort Wilderness Cabin or home. With our family of 5 it saved us a fortune in the long run. It has a kitchen, so we ate breakfast there everyday (this also saved time....while some ate the others got ready for the day.) We would also stop back during the day from the parks for a sandwich,a rest or snacks. I took some food with us from home (frozen spagetti sauce/pasta, cereal,snacks for the park, bottled water/juices, etc.) Since you're driving you can buy your food on sale at home and bring it with you. Once you're there you can run to the food store (minutes away) for anything you forgot.
I think the cabins are just as nice as hotel rooms, with a bedroom with a double bed and bunks, and a living room with a pull-down bed.
It's also very nice to have so many free things that your children can do - free campfire movies, a small beach, pools,etc. (The laundry is by the pool so you can enjoy yourself while you wash.
There's also a boat to the Magic Kingdom!
A budget tip - get the Park Hopper passes. That way if you don't go to the park every day you still have days left that are good forever. If you are a AAA Member you can get a discount on them. Or, if you join the Disney Club for $39.00 you get a discount on the passes and, sometimes during the year you can get a discount on the rooms at the resorts.
Believe me, the only way we were able to go to WDW was by checking into all the discounts and getting a place to stay with a kitchen.
Good luck! You'll have a wonderful time!
FW - April '96
FW - April '00
FW - November '00
FQ - January '02