Monisha, welcome aboard! I bet you're thrilled to be boarding the Disney Dream again! What an amazing ship!
If you are flying in the day before your cruise, that is a great idea. You'll ensure that any possible travel delays will not keep you from getting to the ship in time. Of course, it's always fun to stay at Walt Disney World before the cruise. You might look at the
Value Resorts there, as they have good prices, nice accommodations and you know you'll get the great Disney service you expect. Then you can arrange Disney's ground transportation on the morning of your cruise to take you to Port Canaveral. You can book this with the representatives when you call Disney Cruise Line.
If you'd prefer to stay near the port, the Radisson which is near the port does offer complimentary shuttle service from the hotel to the cruise ships at the port, so this is a nice option.
A couple other hotels that are reasonably priced near the port are the Country Inn and Suites and the Residence Inn, both in Cape Canaveral. Check their prices on their websites and compare them with the Disney Value Resorts and then see what looks like it will be best for your large group.
Happy planning, Monisha!