Ahoy, Sara!
How exciting to hear that your family vacation is coming up soon. The new year will come to a fast start for you, and shortly after, you'll be partying with Captain Mickey and the gang on the top decks at the Sail Away Party.
If you are not too sure about your plans on disembarkation day, you can definitely purchase your theme park tickets at the Concierge desk once you get to your Disney hotel. It is pretty awesome to know that the magic continues for you after you leave the ship :-).
In the past, we've traveled from Port Canaveral to our Disney Resort and have arrived at around 11am or so... if your room isn't ready yet, you can check-in and leave your luggage with bell services. You can then go straight to the parks and have lunch, and still have the rest of the afternoon and evening to visit the many rides and attractions. I like to schedule
FastPass+ rides in advance -- and that's mainly why I get my park tickets in advance. It helps save time while you're at the parks, since you can choose your favorite attractions and not have to wait standby all the time. If you've got a smart phone, I highly suggest checking out the
My Disney Experience mobile app... it's a great on-the-go tool as you prepare to head out to the Magic Kingdom.
I hope this information helps, Sara. Please let us know if you have any additional questions. Wishing you and your family a magical vacation!
Happy planning,
~ Dolly