Welcome dragn'fly. You are going to love it. You never forget your first cruise. It is just going to be the four of us on this cruise. DD's ex is refusing to allow us to take the grandkids out of the country. We orginally decided to cancel the whole thing,and lose a rather large suite deposit. However,after much thought, and gentle support from our DU agent, we decided to continue with the four of us. So it will be my DH, myself, and our 16 yr old (at sail time)boy/girl twins.
Yup us too! We just booked our flights last week! We got a pretty good price! We are flying into Tampa for a few days because it was cheaper than Orlando and then we are staying at our home resort for a couple days before we cruise. I wonder what Christmas day is like on a Disney Cruise?
Maybe not. As I remember it we were just walking around with our mouths open at everything going on around us. I do remember Christmas day is a sea day. The ship is beautiful with all the Christmas decorations up. On Christmas morning, Santa visited the ship with a gift for every child. We brought the twins a couple small gifts just so it would feel like Christmas. I know they have added alot of other things since then. For example, the tree and decorations at Castaway Cay. I have also heard/read someplace that they have caroling onboard.
It looks like Christmas day was to be in Nassau. I wonder if they switch it and make it like a sea day like you said since the tour operators have the day off? 
It's always nice to see a new family sign on. Gee, I was hoping maybe we would have another family flying with us. You are one brave set of parents. Our two would be left at a mile marker if we had to drive that far One is ADHD,and the other is......well.....a teenage girl First of all let me welcome you to our sailing and your first cruise!
Actually, we had considered driving. We are staying at the Poly for 4 days prior to the cruise, so DH would have had to take more days off work, plus, the twins have mid terms and wouldn't be able to leave early. I'm looking forward to getting to know you guys.
The incentive was that she gets to help drive...but not at night. DS likes to see the country and thought he would get to see more when we flew to WDW two months ago. Alas, we didn't. We have driven to northern Arkansas which was 10 hours so we have a warm-up. We will be staying at the world pre-cruise as well. Don't know where yet...either Boardwalk, Beach Club, Old Key West, something. We wanted to spend some extra time at Epcot because we didn't get to do much. And LOVE the restaurants.Sounds like my family.....DS is ADHD and the other a strawberry blonde teenage girl. That is so hilarious.
We could change our mind and fly. What line are you flying on?
That wasn't our only reason for choosing an early flight( 6:35 am) We haven't ever flown out of DFW,and aren't sure how bad security lines will be. Course now, I imagine us to be stumbling out of bed at 3:00 am so we don't get held up and miss our flight 
We have an early flight on American Airlines. Our thinking is to get to WDW early enough to get a half day in at one of the parks. Now I'm thinking we are going to be wiped out
Are you guys thinking about adding the DDP? I can't decide if it will work for us or not
I think the basic plan at 39.99 pp is a better deal than the deluxe 69.99 pp above 10 years old (I may be off on the prices).When we went in January, we too had an early flight 6:20. We left home around 4:30 and got there around 5 or so. There were more people there than I had expected and we were in the new terminal. It took a while, perhaps 30 minutes to get through security. We walked to the gate, grabbed breakfast at one of the few options open that early, and waited another 5-10 minutes before our group boarded. We were at the back of the plane, so our group was one of the first to board. We were able to do a half day at Hollywood Studios before heading to the luau at the early seating. As for being wiped out...it will happen regardless. That's what coming home is for - catching up on the zzz's. We were all out every night until at least 11 pm or midnight. And we slept great!!
We had the Deluxe DDP last time and stayed at Caribbean Beach. One of the main reasons I did the deluxe was because we did the luau at the Poly and it cost 2 credits. The show was great as was the bread and salad, but the rest of the food was alright. It was going to really limit us for the remainder of our meals. We are DVC members as of February and I am still contemplating whether or not we will do the basic DDP and we stay in a studio or not do it at all and we stay in a 1 bedroom with a kitchen. DH and I want to eat at one of the French restaurants in Epcot and I don't think they are on the plan. Fewer people are on it than they were before. And gratuity is not included like in previous years and appetizer not included in the basic but it is on the deluxe.
It's not as great of a deal as it was before I think. But, I kept receipts and wrote down what it would have cost if we had paid cash. And my kids ordered lobster! Imagine that at Disney price.
