If you feel that time is money and you have money to spare, Disney Cruise Line’s Concierge level is worth every penny.
I had been eager to research Disney Cruise Line’s Concierge level for myself ever since I saw it as an option when selecting my first stateroom. Unfortunately, it was never quite in our family budget, but between April 2018 and April 2019, I was lucky enough to travel with friends who were willing to give it a try. Over the course of three cruises, I experienced sailing in a Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah on the Disney Dream, a Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite with Verandah on the Disney Magic, and most recently, the amazing Walter E. Disney Suite (a Concierge Royal Suite with Verandah) on the Disney Dream.
Note that the Disney Magic is the sister ship of the Disney Wonder, while the Disney Dream is the sister ship of the Disney Fantasy. Although there are some differences, especially between the sundecks on the Magic and the Wonder, for the most part, the experience is very similar between sister ships.
If you would like to experience Concierge level for yourself and have flexible travel dates, please let your travel planner know. Each sail date has its own price structure, and you may be pleasantly surprised to find that this luxurious experience is not always a complete budget-buster. I’m always happy to help my clients find the itinerary that best meets their party’s needs without breaking the bank.
Concierge Family Staterooms and Suites
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and I suppose the frame rate of video footage makes that number even higher, so I won’t go into too many stateroom/suite details here. Instead, here is a link to my YouTube video walk-throughs for each of the staterooms.
Concierge Family Stateroom with Verandah on the Disney Dream
Stateroom 8602 (accessible 1-Bedroom Suite) on the Disney Magic
Walter E. Disney Suite on the Disney Dream
Note that the Disney Magic is the sister ship of the Disney Wonder, while the Disney Dream is the sister ship of the Disney Fantasy. Although there are some differences, especially between the sundecks on the Magic and the Wonder, for the most part, the experience is very similar between sister ships.
Experienced Disney Cruise Line Guests will notice that these rooms are a little more elegantly appointed than the standard rooms, with a more plush sofa, lush carpeting, and warm wood finishes. The toiletries are also taken up a notch with Elemis White Lotus & Lime soap, shampoo, conditioner, bath & shower gel, and lotion. A Ginger Bergamot Spongellé (soap-infused flower-shaped sponge) is also provided.
Each Concierge stateroom and suite includes a Dream Pillow Menu for the ultimate in customization. We thoroughly enjoyed having options, and the menu descriptions helped each “Sleeping Beauty” find the perfect match for her slumber style.
I did have to laugh at the fact that a scale was stored in the bathroom, but when I asked our Concierge hosts about it, I was informed that it was to assist Guests wishing to weigh their luggage at the end of the cruise. It was not, as I suspected, a subtle reminder to think about skipping dessert — or the complimentary Mickey Bars that were in the freezer of the Walt Suite!
Concierge Level Service Begins Before the Cruise
While we did not book our Concierge sailings early enough to take advantage of these pre-cruise services, several of my clients have. Although I would have been happy to help them with any Port Adventures or activities they wished to reserve, the Shoreside Concierge Services Team is able to provide a service that even the most dedicated travel planner cannot: early access to the most in-demand reservations. Concierge cruisers and Platinum Castaway Club members have access to reserve Port Adventures (including the limited number of cabanas on Castaway Cay), Palo and Remy adult-only dining times, nursery stays, spa and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique appointments, and meet-and-greets with select Disney character friends 120 days in advance of sailing. This is a huge advantage over Gold Castaway Club (105 days), Silver Castaway Club (90 days) and first-time Disney Cruise Line Guests (75 days). The thing that gives Concierge Guests an even greater leg up is the ability to contact the Shoreside Concierge Services Team up to five days before that 120-day mark to let them know which reservations they are hoping to score. Those who are unable to log in at midnight Eastern to complete their online check-in process and book these reservations themselves can rely on the Shoreside Concierge Team to get the job done. For cruisers celebrating something special, the Shoreside Concierge Team can also help you think outside the box to create a magical moment or two. They can also assist with normally-not-guaranteed main dining room requests, such as small table size or preferred dining room locations and rotations.
Checking in at the Port
Unlike other cruisers who request a designated Port Arrival Time as part of their online check-in process, Concierge Guests are welcome to arrive at the cruise terminal any time after it opens at 11:00 AM. After going through security, they can proceed directly to the Concierge Check-In desk on the far side of the terminal, bypassing the long lines for first-time and Castaway Club cruisers.
A near-empty terminal at Port Canaveral 
The same scene during the busiest check-in time for non-Concierge cruisers
As you check in, every member of your party will have their photo taken and digitally linked to their Key to the World cards. Non-Concierge cruisers receive blue key cards while Concierge Guests receive gold ones emblazoned with the Disney Cruise Line Concierge crossed-keys logo shown below. Castaway Club members receive their appropriate welcome-back lanyards at this time as well.
After check-in is complete, early Concierge arrivals can wait and relax in an exclusive seating area near the viewing balcony. Once the port authority clears Disney to allow boarding to begin, Concierge cruisers are the first to embark. At Port Canaveral, this unfortunately means bypassing the fun “Mickey ears” themed entryway, but this is a small price to pay for getting to the fun as early as possible.
Welcome Aboard
Once aboard your Disney Cruise Line ship, the magic truly begins for Concierge Guests. Having spent other embarkation days frantically running around the ship to take care of dining changes, obtaining celebration buttons, signing up for the Castaway Cay 5K, and generally taking care of business, it was a true luxury to be able to visit the Concierge Lounge or the welcome luncheon and know that our Concierge Team would be able to take care of all of our needs while we relaxed and enjoyed the start of our vacation.
On my first Concierge sailing, we went directly to the lounge since the welcome luncheon was not yet an offering. (It was started slightly later in 2018.) Having sailed on the Disney Dream only a few weeks earlier and remembering how hectic my day had been with making changes and last-minute arrangements, I was most impressed when one of our hosts sat down with us to go over our itinerary. I had been a late addition to my friends’ stateroom, so I was not slated to experience the same dining time or rotation. I also did not have a Palo reservation, and all three of us wanted to register for the 5K. While this would normally require two or three stops to visit with the various departments in person, our Concierge host was able to seemingly wave her magic wand and take care of it all behind the scenes.
Spa treatments were not on our agenda, but we did see Senses Spa staff members in the lounge who went from table to table to assist with appointment scheduling. We also saw the friendly yellow-and-blue-striped-shirt-wearing Youth Activities staff assisting families with children who needed to register for the Oceaneer Club and Lab. Although my children have since aged out of the clubs that require parental paperwork, I definitely recall having to take time out of our embarkation day to handle that. It’s certainly a valuable perk for young families to have the Youth Activities staff come assist with sign-ups while Mom and Dad enjoy bottomless welcome mimosas!
On my second Concierge sailing, I enjoyed the Welcome Aboard Lunch at Rapunzel’s Royal Table on the Disney Magic after first visiting the lounge to go over our itinerary with our host. It was my first time in the remodeled dining room, so I delighted in the chance to take photographs of the entire restaurant without loads of people in the background. And the food was delicious as well. What a relaxing experience when compared with the more hectic nature of the embarkation day buffet at Cabanas.
On my most recent sailing, the luncheon was held in the Royal Palace on the Disney Dream. Since this is right off of the lobby atrium, it was easy to make this our first stop and swing by the lounge later. As Royal Suite Guests, we thoroughly enjoyed going over our itinerary with our host, who graciously told us about several perks we hadn’t quite anticipated. As a vacation planner, every cruise is a working vacation for me, so I was absolutely thrilled when she mentioned the unlimited internet access that came with the Walt Suite. It was such a luxury to be able to be in touch with my clients (and, yes, my family as well) the entire time we were on board without worrying about the cost of those valuable megabytes. When not sailing in a Royal Suite, Concierge Guests enjoy 100 complimentary MBs of data per stateroom. This may be combined with the Embarkation Day Special offer of 50 free MBs per person, so be sure to take full advantage.
The Concierge Lounge AKA “Food, Glorious Food” — and Drinks!
Before I experienced it for myself, I always thought it was funny that the edible offerings were listed as a Concierge perk. Anyone who has ever cruised before knows you certainly won’t go hungry even if you don’t have a Concierge Lounge to visit! However, I have since changed my tune.
The lounge opens at 7:00 AM every day (6:45 AM on disembarkation day) and offers continental breakfast until 10:30 (8:30 on debark morning). Several of these offerings did not seem to appear elsewhere on the ship, which made me feel truly spoiled. Nutella-filled doughnut holes were my favorite example, but the Mickey-shaped cinnamon rolls were probably the most Instagram-worthy.
The fancy coffee machine below really helped with my morning caffeination needs.
Lunch snacks are offered from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM, with afternoon offerings from 2:30 until 4:30 PM. These offerings included adorable Mickey-themed snacks like the one below.
Dinner snacks (think small salads and hors d’oeuvres) are served from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, while dessert offerings are presented from 9:00 until 10:00 PM.
The hours from 5:00 to 10:00 PM are considered to be a nightly Concierge Cocktail evening reception. Our Dream voyages also featured an Afternoon Soiree one day, where drinks were served from 4:00 to 5:00 on the sundeck. Until I experienced these receptions for myself, I would have expected happy-hour type watered-down “well drinks,” but I was once again proven wrong. Check out these top-shelf options:
The non-drinkers in our party enjoyed the bartenders’ attentiveness as well, and they seemed to welcome the challenge of creating unique mocktails for them. Speaking of soft drinks, canned and bottled beverages are available throughout the day as well. On the Dream, our in-room beverage chiller was stocked with our favorites, while a selection of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, and Evian greeted us when we arrived on the Magic. We were always welcome to swing by the lounge for replacements.
Another edible offering deserves special mention: complimentary bagged popcorn was available upon request from our Concierge hosts. I delighted in taking a glass of sparkling wine from the lounge to the Walt Disney Theatre or Beuna Vista Theatre and pairing it with this salty treat.
A (Semi) Private Oasis on Board and on Deck
The lounge makes for a quiet refuge throughout the day. The Disney Magic lounge isn’t quite as spacious as that on the Dream, but it features a view of the Quiet Cove Adult Pool on deck 9. The lounge on the Disney Dream is fully interior, but a skylight helps let in natural light from above.
Both ships feature exclusive sundecks for Concierge cruisers. On the Dream, this is located one deck above the lounge, with staircase access from the lounge or key-card access from deck 13 forward. The sundeck does not have an ocean view, but the whirlpool spa more than makes up for this, in my opinion. The dome on the right side of the photo below is the skylight that looks down into the lounge.
Whirlpool spa 
My favorite place to be 
Complimentary sunscreen, Evian mist, and screen cleaners 
Self-service beverage station
On the Disney Magic, the sundeck is located just outside the Concierge Lounge. You may access it from the lounge or via key-card from outside on deck 10.
Covered seating 
Pool view 
Towels and complimentary sunscreen
Exclusive Opportunities and Perks for Concierge Guests
Each of my three cruises featured a special event just for Concierge Guests. On the Dream, this was a meet-and-greet with “one Disney friend” on Pirate Night. We had a blast with Pirate Stitch on the Concierge sundeck and enjoyed the special decorations in the lounge.
Pirate Night display inside the lounge 
Towel animal showcase on the sundeck 
Pirate Stitch!
Our Disney Magic voyage was a Very Merrytime Cruise. (And yes, I’m embarrassed to admit that it took me quite a while to catch onto the play on the word “maritime.”) As a result, our Special Concierge Party featured a private performance by the Dickens-inspired carolers in Keys piano bar. I had made attending their performances a must-do throughout the cruise, so it was fantastic to have the opportunity to see them in a smaller setting. And at the end of their set, we were greeted by none other than Minnie Mouse herself!
When we sailed in a suite, we had the option of visiting the dining rooms for our dinner rotation or having dinner brought to us. It was so luxurious to be served our multi-course meals in quiet privacy! While all Disney Cruise Line Guests have 24-hour room service (not featuring the main dining menus), this benefit does not extend to debarkation day. Concierge cruisers have one last perk, however. Continental breakfast can be delivered to your stateroom or suite between 5:00 and 7:30 AM if your order is placed with the Concierge team the night before.
Finally, at the end of the voyage, the Concierge staff has one last surprise waiting in your stateroom after turn-down service. A lithograph, suitable for framing, is provided with unique artwork. The current featured artist is Don “Ducky” Williams, who had been with the Disney company since 1980 but has recently retired.
While all of these opportunities and perks are delightful, it’s truly the Concierge Team that makes the experience. I was most impressed with the level of service provided by Rodrigo, Danny, Angeline, David, and Mariana on the Disney Dream as well as Alina, Amanda, and Emanuela on the Disney Magic. They answered each of our questions with confidence and competence and met all of our requests with a can-do attitude. From assistance with a lost item to modifying our Remy reservation when weather created an itinerary change to procuring emergency sundries on a day when the gift shops were closed, they came to the rescue in ways both large and small. Perhaps my favorite request was one that they had never had before: taking our portrait while we watched the sunset from our verandah. David happily took my friend’s camera to Deck 13 and proved himself to be an excellent photographer!
“Now It’s Time… to Say Goodbye… to All Our Company”
While debarking is always the saddest part of any Disney Cruise Line vacation, the Concierge team takes special care to ensure this process goes as smoothly as possible for their Guests. One of the busiest locations on the ship the final night is Shutters photography. Guests like to wait until all of their photos have been taken before making their buying decisions, and picking up your prints or memory stick can be a hassle when everyone else is trying to do the same. Concierge Guests can notify the team of any photo packages they have ordered, and the team will collect them and have them ready for pick up in the lounge at 7:00 AM. While this process has changed a few times for non-Concierge Guests, in April 2019, it appeared that memory sticks needed to be collected in the Lobby Atrium as Guests debarked. It’s certainly a perk to not need to join the crowds on such a busy morning.
After enjoying one last breakfast in the lounge, Concierge Guests receive one final velvet-rope moment. From 7:15 until 8:00 AM, a Concierge host provides priority debark assistance. For anyone who has ever waited in line to debark a ship, this may sound like the most appealing perk of all. One elevator becomes key-access only for those 45 minutes, and the host escorts Guests to the gangway. And yes, because all of the other cruisers are waiting in line, there is an honest-to-goodness velvet rope. Nothing like having one last “celebrity” moment before heading off to Realityland!
The Bottom Line
Before I experienced Concierge level for myself, it was hard to justify the additional cost. I have sailed in almost every other category of stateroom, from Standard Inside Stateroom on up, and have always received top-notch service and had many magical moments at sea. As a result, it was hard to imagine just how much more the Concierge hosts would be able to do for us and whether it would be worth that hefty price tag. Now that I know just how special you are made to feel from several days before your online check-in window opens until the moment you go through Customs, I can definitely see the value. However, if the cost difference is so tremendous that a Concierge level stateroom would require cutting back in other areas of your life or even (gasp!) reducing the number of cruises you are able to take, I would recommend selecting a different category of stateroom. The splurge is wonderful but it just isn’t worth creating any long-term financial problems.