Welcome aboard, Phyllis! I love to see fellow Ohioans planning their very first cruise with Disney Cruise Line! My family has experienced all four of Disney Cruise Line's pixie-dusted ships and it is honestly hard to choose a favorite ship or itinerary!
If you don't want to use a passport, your best bets are to choose one of the Bahamian or Caribbean itineraries. These do not require passports, though passports are highly recommended for all itineraries. We like to sail with our passports even when they're not required, as we like the peace of mind of knowing that in the unlikely event that we encounter an emergency at sea or in a foreign port of call, we can more easily get back home. But, again, they are not required for
Bahamian and
Caribbean itineraries that originate and return to U.S. ports of call. You can read more about the cruise documents required on Disney Cruise Line's website by clicking my links here for each of those itineraries. You'll need to provide a government issued photo I.D., like a driver's license, and a copy of your state-issued birth certificate.
My best advice to beginning to plan a cruise is to check out the
Find A Cruise page. Start with the month you'd like to sail and then play around with different itineraries, ships, and specific sail dates. You'll get to view the prices of different staterooms and find the one that best fits your budget. You'll usually find better rates in the fall and winter, versus the spring and summer. Have fun as you begin to plan! Stop back and let me know if you have other questions before you set sail!