Please help me plan my vacation!

[baldy6060]

OK, I plan on taking my family (me, wife, son-12, daughter-15) to WDW Dec 31-Jan 5. We should arrive around late afternoon on 31st. I want to resort hop at deluxes that night to see decor (any suggestion on best plan for that keeping in mind how busy it'll be at that time?), eat at Boma around 9pm, go to Epcot on 1st, do DTD and relax on 2nd, do MK on 3rd, maybe Epcot or HS on 4th and finish with AK on 5th and head for home. I wanted a studio for these dates but all are booked for 31st. Here's my main problems...

I can book a value or moderate for my dates. However, judging by discount history, there will probably be a discount or free dining beginning Jan 2nd. So I would either have to do a split or just not get a discount. And if I DID do a split I wouldn't get my tix til 2nd and I wanna go on the 1st (I know it'll be busy but I don't wanna cram 4 days in 4 days). Another option would be to get 1st night at a value then a studio at SSR for 1st-5th. But we would have to check out of value early, check in at SSR early and head to Epcot before open. Sounds tough. And again, no discount or free dining.

I'm sure I'm missing more details and pros/cons, but so much is swirling in my head I've forgotten. I'll add it later if I remember. Any and all help and advice is greatly appreciated!