Congratulations on your first Disney vacation - how exciting! Your kids are a really great ages for Disney and I know you will have a fabulous time!
Free dining is a wonderful opportunity to visit Disney and a save a few dollars in the process! A few free dining dates for 2012 have already been released, and you can find those on the WDW website under
Special Offers. It is very possible that more dates will be announced in the future, so you might want to bookmark that page and keep checking back.
Another way I like to keep up with Disney specials is the Mousesavers.com newsletter. You can sign up for free on their website, and they will send you a monthly update on ways to save on a Disney vacation.
Finally, consider contacting a travel agent who specializes in Disney vacations. They work at no cost to you, and they are more than happy to help you look for the best deal for your family. You could contact someone now, explain when you're looking to travel and what budget you're working with, and they can help you find the best package to suit your needs. Then, if a better deal is released in the future, they can switch you to that, saving you even more money! It is very, very important to use a Disney specialist though, as Disney vacations are much different than other destinations, and you will really get the most out of your trip if you book through an expert. I personally use TheMouseYourWay.com, but of course there are many others to choose from.
Good luck!