Hi Sarah,
I have to be honest with you: I think that it is too late to plan a trip for the end of December 2013. Even more than how soon it is, you should consider how crowded Walt Disney World will likely be at that time. The weeks around Christmas and New Year's tend to be some of the busiest times of year at Walt Disney World. Given this, I think that the chance of securing the accommodations and dining reservations that you would like will be very small. I would hate for you to plan a trip so quickly and compromise on all the things that you want to do, especially on your first trip.
I have a suggestion for you: try January or February. Once you get away from New Year's, Walt Disney World will get much less crowded. The holiday weekends in these two months, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Presidents' Day, will see some increase in crowds, but nothing near what you would see at the end of December. By choosing a time in January or February, you will be more likely to find availability for the accommodations and dining that you want.
As to my recommendations for accommodations, I suggest that you stay at a
Walt Disney World Resort Hotel. This way, you can take advantage of Disney transportation right from your resort to the theme parks, as well as other perks for Walt Disney World Resort guests such as Extra Magic Hours, which allow Walt Disney World Resort guests an extra hour in a theme park on select days. The link I provided has a list of the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels, along with links for each so that you can check them out. Where you choose to stay will depend on your budget, as well as which resort appeals to you most in theme and location.
I would love to help you plan more, Sarah; however, I am limited in the amount of space that I have to answer. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any further questions!