Hi, Julie! How exciting it is to be headed to your first visit to Walt Disney World!
There are resorts that are designed to suit every budget, so you can find everything from a Value resort themed after some of your favorite movies or sports all the way to the Deluxe resorts like the Contemporary, where the Walt Disney World monorail runs right through your resort! You might even want to check out the pirate themed rooms at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort.
As for how many days you may want to spend, while it depends on the amount of time you have, I'd say you want to do at least one full day at each of the theme parks. As pass holders at Disneyland, you may be able to breeze through the Magic Kingdom, as there are many familiar things, but as often as I've been there, it still is a full day park for me - and sometimes two full days if my kids get their way. The only park I think you might be able to do in a little less than a full 8 or 10 hour day would be Disney's Animal Kingdom. The park generally closes a little bit earlier than the others, and while I can easily stay from open until close, my kids (11, 7, and 20) like to hit their favorite attractions and then head to another park.
If you are going to be doing any special dining experiences, I highly recommend making reservations. You can do that online by clicking
Walt Disney World Dining. The popular meals can book up quickly.
Have an absolutely magical time on your first vacation to Walt Disney World!