When my boys were younger and I flew to Disney with them, we would just take Mears transportation to the Disney Resort and stay on property the whole time. Very convenient riding the bus to the parks and grabbing a bite to eat. Lots of Disney Magic everywhere. If I were only doing Disney I would definitely to it this way. Not worry about a car. However, we now usually drive down and stay at Universal a couple days.(You will love it, except the hotels do not have a food court really). Prices are high and we try to grab something from US to bring back to the room to eat. Just wanted to add that our favorite hotel there is Hard Rock. Anyway, while staying at US, we always drive to the outlet mall which is very close. Even if we stayed at Disney only which is quite a drive, we would still visit the outlets to get our souveniers. I would definitely get a car!! By the time you would pay for transfers from the airport to US and then US to Disney, and yet Disney to the airport, the car is paid for and you have freedom to do other things. Personally, we couldn't spend 4 days at US and IOA. In fact, we go in winter, so we do both parks in 1 day(been there before, etc).
As far as staying on site at Disney. My experience is that when we didn't stay on site, we just didn't feel that Disney feel. Once we moved on site, that magic appeared. Our favorite on site is AKL. Stayed there once (great price that time). Usually though only stay at value or moderate. Love POFQ and really enjoyed CSR. But CSR really wasn't about Disney, just liked the quiet atmosphere that year. When we stay at the values, you can feel and see Disney EVERYWHERE! There's more activity, noise, themes, music, kids, and a much better food court. We will be staying at All Star Movies this year and are really looking forward to it. As far as the car at Disney, if this is your first time, you will probably spend all those days at the parks. However, we usually use the car to go to Downtown Disney(more convenient), also to Gatorland, Animal Kingdom, Boogy Creek Airboats and Parasailing, etc. We use the car alot.
The dining would really be a personal choice. We did all the character meals when the kids were younger and felt the kids price was worth it. At Adult prices, feel the dining is too expensive. Now, we don't want to take the time to sit down, so we just grab a quick bite (maybe a mickey bar for lunch) and rush to the next attraction.
I didn't see if you had kids, or if this is your first time there. Maybe I would do things a little different my first time. We have been there so many times that we don't actually spend many days at the parks. Usually do at least two parks in one day, but we have seen everything at least once before and now only do the favorites.
I just gave a few of my opinions for you to think about, your trip is yours alone and you will have a great time personalizing it to what you want. If you have any more questions, I would be happy to answer them.
Help me please! I am really confused!! We are going to be in the Orlando area for 8 nights. We are going to be staying at Universal for 4 nights and we want to spend another 4 nights in Disney (area). Does it really make a difference to stay on or off site? If you perfer on site does it make a difference of value or moderate? Which resort do you perfer? Do you think we really need a car in the disney area? If we stay on Disney property should we buy the meal plan? I am from the NYC area and use to convience so what do you recommend? As you can tell the more posts I read the more and more I am getting confused! 
( i have been to Disney Land). My husband was in Disney in the 80's. Anymore suggestions are greatly appreciated . 
