Help with Disneyland trip planning

[Candi]

We are planning on going in Oct 2008. I have lots of questions. When is the best time to buy tickets? What's the best place to stay? What are the pluses of staying at a Disneyland hotel versus a good neighbor hotel? I have only stayed at good neighbor hotels and this is my first trip there with kids so any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also, what special meals or things should we plan? Dd will be 6 and ds will be almost 4