Hey Cameron,
If you want automagic automation, php is a good starting point if you are looking for a request based process. So yes, you've got the right tools in hand here.
Now as far as Dreamweaver cough UltraDev4,
it is entirely possible to continue using that as your wysiwyg HTML editor. Now, don't get me wrong, I use DWUD <- (dwud hahahah)
for some rapid layout elements etc and as a nice lil FTP utility for multiple site management, but you're really going to want to use the HomeSite software that came with it or some other text editor such as NoteTab or WinEdit as your primary tool for php scripting since the java based HTML editor for dreamweaver is a real pain in the arse to work with.
I'd really recommend getting a book like Professional PHP programming by Wrox press,
it's a big red book with 5 uber-geeks on the cover, you can't miss it. And I've seen that book in most dot coms I've consulted here in the Bay Area and Seattle so it's pretty popular. And hey... I have a copy too, what about that!
You should read up on the different code imlementation schemas for HTML integration as well as codebase management to help you get a feel for how to create a manageable site. Since that really is where I see newbies having the hardest time is after they've sweated and duked it out learning the basics and making their application work they go back in later to extend it and they find that they have an unmangeable mess on thier hands. And I've seen many newbies have a nervous breakdown or other nasty psychotic episodes at that point due to the trauma caused by the realization of the utter futility of their acheivements.
So, you have a better chance of success here if you take some time to get your head around the basics before diving in too deep too soon.
