Hi, Christopher!
Congratulations on your upcoming cruise aboard the Disney
Dream -- she is oh-so stylish and spectacular! You are not going to regret one moment of booking your family's vacation...of course, you're also not going to want to leave either!
Since you're driving in all that way from Canada, I recommend arriving a couple of nights
before your cruise in order to "decompress" from the drive.
Walt Disney World (WDW) has a variety of resorts at several price levels (Deluxe, Moderate and Value) which can not only help you get ready for the voyage of a lifetime but which will begin the pixie-dusting process of introducing you to the Disney magical touch!
You can also have so much fun at WDW without ever leaving your resort -- take a swim in the pool, enjoy great recreation options and make a dining reservation! Then, once you're rested up...you'll want to grab some breakfast at your resort on Embarkation Day and head over to Port Canaveral as soon as you can. The drive will take you a little over an hour, and the check-in process begins at 10:30 a.m. in order to be of the first to board.
I hope this helps you plan! Have a wonderful day and a magical vacation. Bon voyage!