Three adults and two children, ages 5 & 16. Plans are for the week before Christmas...is it better/cheaper to stay in DW or outside? Hotel, house, or condo? Packages I've looked at seem very expensive...I think I can fix our meals cheaper..at least some of them. Help!!
What are the best deals inside the park?

Disney is an expensive place. You can book packages that include meals and at least fix your cost.

The benefit to staying on site is that you minimize your comuting time. You can use the Disney transportation system. Everybody but the five year old can come and go as they please.

You will receive many responses to your post. If you've looked at other Disney threads on this site, there are several sites dedicated to Disney travel including allears.net

For specials check http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ click on specials at the bottom. Whatever offer Disney is having at the time will come up and you can check dates. The least expensive way to go for 5 is the Port Orleans Riverside which has 2 doubles and a trundle. It's tight but doable.

A great website for planning is www.disboards.com. Practically anything you ever wanted to know is mentioned.

Thanks for the quick responses!

I'd go outside, the hotels are hurting around the Disney area, you can do quite well if you look around.