Ahoy, Angela!
You certainly do have an AMAZING trip planned! I can't think of a better way to celebrate any milestone (birthday, anniversary...anything!) than by sailing away on a magical Disney Cruise vacation with Captain Mickey and his crew! Your teenager has lots to look forward to on the
Disney Dream - as you know, there are activities day and night to keep cruisers (yes, even teenagers!) happy and entertained throughout your voyage.
So, you've been in the terminal and seen the Family of the Day be the first to board the ship? How much fun would that be? For each sailing, Cast Members choose one family to be "Family of the Day" while in the Port Terminal. I wish I could tell you the magical way to get chosen to be that family, but nobody really knows (except maybe Captain Mickey himself) how the lucky family is chosen.
The only thing I know for sure is that the family that gets chosen has to be at the terminal early and ready to board, since they'll have the privilege to step aboard the ship before the other guests. My best advice is to get there early and just enjoy your time together as a family until it's your turn to board. A happy family with smiles all around just might get you chosen to be the lucky ones!
I'm wishing your family a most magical cruise aboard the Disney Dream. My fingers are crossed that you and the birthday boy/girl might be the first ones to board the ship and greet the fabulous crew!
Anchors Aweigh! - Diane W.