Will apt-get be able to resume a download if I get disconnected?

Haha (I'm not laughing at you, but at me.)
I'm relatively new to debian but here's a question I can answer: Yes and No.

Yes: if you need multiple packages, it will not need to download the packages that you have already downloaded.
Nonot too sure about this, correct me if i'm wrong) but if you are part of the way through a package you will need to start it over again.

I hope I was helpful. I'm here waiting for a response on the Nvidia post. Anyone know anything about Xserver and why it won't go above 800x600. (if so go to the Nvidia post)

Yes and if the download of the packages is taking too long or you just want to stop it then you can use CTRL + C in the console/console window if running graphically then you can resume where you left off. Sometimes if you wait too long and a new package has entered your branches archive you would have to apt-get update to refresh the cache then you can resume without apt having to download any packages it already still has in the cache.

Yes! if you get disconected, use apt-get again to reinstall the package, it will continue reinstalling.

my question is whether apt-get will continue if it was stopped halfway through a package. lets say a kernel image? would it pick up where it left off or start over again?

Yes, it will resume where it left off. Downloads in progress that get interrupted get stored in /var/cache/apt/archives/partial.

Thanks, will run apt-get before I sleep to set up my debian system.

Don't forget the -d switch (apt-get update then apt-get -d upgrade) to only download the packages then when you start again without the -d switch and it will install them.