Hi, Melissa!
Planning your first visit to Walt Disney World is so exciting...and so daunting, too, so I'm glad you've found us here at the Disney Parks Moms Panel!
For our ticket purchases, I only go directly through
Walt Disney World's online ticket window because I am confident that my credit card information will be safe, that my transaction will take place smoothly and there will be no surprises when I try to enter the parks with those tickets upon my arrival.
There are some reputable discount resources available, however, which you may want to investigate. For example, if you are a AAA Member, you can access discounted tickets through your local AAA office. In addition, many folks use sites such as undercovertourist.com or mousesavers.com for discounted tickets.
As first-timers, you'll need to decide on your itinerary before you head to Walt Disney World, so that you can then book any Advanced Dining Reservations you'd like for Table Service Meals. I can surely help you plan the itinerary based on crowd levels, dining experiences and particular things your family in interested in seeing, especially if certain characters or food types are on your to-do list.
Send more questions as you think of them, Melissa. There is so much to tell a first-time family, and I'd love to help!