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Disney Wish is Disney Cruise Line’s newest, largest and undeniably fanciest ship. In the summer of 2022, Wish joined the fleet as Disney’s fifth ship, and since then, I’ve become an unabashed fan. The beautiful, modern floating resort is so impressive that it can even win over non-cruisers.
I’ve been lucky enough to sail on Wish twice. During my first sailing, I was an invited guest of Disney on a media preview cruise and stayed in a stateroom with a veranda. More recently, I sailed as a paying passenger on a regularly scheduled sailing in a one-bedroom suite.
A suite is obviously more luxurious and spacious than a standard room, but arguably the best things about Disney Cruise Line‘s version are the numerous concierge perks that come with it.
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On Wish, there is a concierge lounge, complete with a private sun deck and hot tubs. Plus, you’ll enjoy complimentary evening cocktails, hot room service breakfast, access to earlier onboard and port activity reservation times, and a dedicated team that handles any needs or logistics that arise on your voyage, among other perks.
The Disney Wish concierge lounge. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
If you’re considering a cruise on Disney Wish in a concierge-level cabin, here’s a look at what you can expect — and when paying extra is and isn’t worth the cost.
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Disney Wish concierge basics
Concierge lounge access and services on Disney Wish are available to passengers with bookings in the Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom category and above.
Measuring 300 to 350 square feet, these entry-level concierge rooms include a private balcony (in some cases) and can sleep up to five people. While they are essentially standard cabins in terms of size, they have the added benefit of touches like a down duvet, a plush robe and slippers, a pillow menu and included Wi-Fi access, according to Disney.
The suites on the ship, ranging from the one-bedroom suite we booked to the over-the-top Tower Suite located in the ship’s forward (fake) funnel, also come with concierge access and perks.
Disney Wish Tower Suite. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Concierge rooms are admittedly pretty pricey when compared to most standard cabins, and they typically sell out before the other room types.
For the least expensive three-night sailings on Disney Wish, expect to pay at least $3,700 for double occupancy or around $5,300 for two adults and two children in the same cabin.
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However, it can easily cost more than double that price to sail in a concierge room during peak holiday dates, when the price of the suites quickly crosses the $10,000 mark for a family.
Disney Wish has roughly double the number of concierge cabins of the other Disney ships, with a total of 76 located across decks 11, 12 and 13. This increase in total number of concierge passengers comes with it its own list of pros and cons that I’ll address shortly.
Related: 11 ways to save money on Disney Cruise Line
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Disney Wish concierge perks
The magic of the Disney concierge benefits starts well before you board. Most of these perks are the same regardless of which Disney ship you’ve booked, though how they play out varies a bit based on the ship and port(s).
Early booking for dining and activities
Starting 130 days before you sail, you can inform the concierge team of your booking preferences for things like onboard dining, spa treatments, port adventures and bookings at Castaway Cay. Then, 120 days before you set sail, that team does its best to secure the reservations you want.
Disney Wish at Castaway Cay. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
That’s an earlier booking window than other cruisers get. Typically, passengers can start booking activities 75 days out for first-time cruisers, 90 days for those with Silver Castaway Club status and 105 days for those with Gold Castaway Club status.
The early access period for concierge cruisers is the same window as those with Platinum Castaway Club status — the highest elite tier in Disney Cruise Line’s loyalty program — receive. You don’t earn this top-tier status until you’ve completed at least 10 sailings with Disney, so this head start on booking is a huge benefit for concierge room guests.
This early booking benefit can be the difference between getting that coveted brunch or dinner reservation at the adults-only restaurants, premium spa treatment time or a highly sought-after cabana on Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island.
The adults-only Palo Restaurant on Disney Wish. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Early ship boarding — and a private lounge at Port Canaveral
Some concierge perks come when it’s time to sail.
You get the earliest port arrival time, which often means you’ll rub elbows with fewer people in the terminal and end up spending more time on the ship. We were able to arrive at the port starting a little before 10:30 a.m., which is an hour or two earlier than most passengers.
There were no crowds at all in the Port Canaveral terminal, which is Wish’s home port, and we didn’t have to wait in any measurable lines to have our documents or carry-on bags checked.
A sticker was put on our shirts to denote that we were concierge passengers to the staff, which literally opened doors for us.
SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
By 10:40 a.m. we were in the private lounge reserved for those in concierge cabins and back-to-back cruisers who were enjoying a second consecutive sailing.
The Disney Cruise Line concierge lounge at Port Canaveral. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
The lounge wasn’t over-the-top nice but did have spots to sit, charge your phone and sip on a cold drink from the minifridge.
Shortly before 11:30 a.m., we found ourselves walking on board the still mostly empty ship.
SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Onboard welcome lunch
The pools and AquaMouse waterslide weren’t yet open when we got onto the ship because it was so early in our sailing. However, I highly recommend using this extra time to head to those the minute they are available. Since we had just cruised on Wish a few weeks earlier, we decided instead to check out the Grand Hall and attend a leisurely concierge welcome lunch in the 1923 restaurant.
SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
This was a good time to get to know the concierge team and ask them about essential tips, like making your booking for the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge before the times are all snapped up. Minutes seriously matter on that one, so make the booking the moment you get on the ship’s Wi-Fi and can access the Disney Cruise Line app.
Embarkation day lunch on Disney Wish. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
We were also told that our suite should be ready by the time we were done with our meal of smoked salmon, empanadas, and the epic welcome aboard sundae with vanilla bean ice cream, pecan-caramel cupcake bites and butterscotch topping — and that proved correct.
Related: What it’s like to eat in the ‘Frozen’ restaurant on Disney Wish
The concierge lounge
Now we’re getting to the good stuff. Located on Deck 12 forward (Deck 13 for the sun deck), the concierge lounge is a showpiece of why you sail in this class of Disney Wish cabin in the first place.
This is where you will find the kind, knowledgeable, personal and gracious team of four concierge hosts. It’s also where you can enjoy small plates of snacks throughout the day; access a fridge full of complimentary juice, water and soda; and visit the included bar in the evenings from 5 to 10 p.m.
Disney Wish concierge lounge. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
This particular concierge lounge is massive when you factor in all the indoor space, the outdoor terrace and the entire sun deck.
We enjoyed the sailaway out of Port Canaveral from this deck and would visit each day for small plates of food that you don’t usually find on other parts of the ship, such as sushi. We’d also come here to load up on bottled water and some sodas for the room and shore excursions.
Disney Wish concierge lounge. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Whatever you do, make sure you don’t miss the evening happy hours in the lounge. You can get wine, beer, mixed drinks, cocktails and basically anything you can dream up at no extra charge to enjoy there or elsewhere on the ship. Our kids loved the mocktail strawberry daiquiris.
The Disney Wish concierge lounge. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
On the sun deck, there are two hot tubs and a small pool available exclusively for concierge guests. There’s more than enough seating up here and even an unlimited Dole Whip smoothie machine, if you find yourself craving Disney’s iconic treat. It sounds better than it tastes, but the odds are high that your kids will have fun with it.
The Disney Wish concierge sun deck. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Hot in-room meals for breakfast and from the restaurants
Everyone on Disney Cruise Line can order room service to their stateroom at virtually any time of day for free. However, in most staterooms, room service breakfast choices are limited to continental options such as cereals, doughnuts, pastries and fruit. In concierge suites, you can order hot room service options, too.
To place an order, fill out the order card the night before. The next day, you’ll find yourself starting your day with pretty delicious menu items such as Mickey waffles, avocado toast and breakfast sandwiches, all in the comfort of your room.
At night, most stateroom guests can choose from room service basics such as chicken fingers, hamburgers and chicken wings. But in concierge accommodations, you can also have a meal from the sit-down restaurants brought to your room.
I’d love to say we tried that and show you some pictures of fancy food, but after several rich and involved meals, the chicken fingers and fries were all we wanted on the one night we dined in.
Related: 7 things that surprised me on Disney Wish
Early seating for evening shows
There are no assigned seats for the Broadway-caliber shows (think: “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin”) on Disney Wish, but those who are staying in concierge rooms do have their first choice of seats, as you can meet one of the concierge hosts at a special entrance about five minutes before the other guests are let into the theater. This translates to getting your first pick of seats.
These first-come, first-served seats are not in a reserved section, so you do still need to get to the theater pretty early. You’ll need to ask the hosts exactly what time they are meeting before the show, but if you want that front-and-center spot, it’s a nice perk.
Free popcorn
While watching the evening shows or a movie — or really whenever you get a craving for a snack — you can get free popcorn with your concierge stateroom keycard. It’s a small way that the concierge label makes everything feel a little bit easier.
Get walked off the ship at the end of the cruise
On our first Disney cruise, getting off the ship on the final morning was a total nightmare. There were epic queues for the over-stuffed elevators and a seemingly never-ending line to walk off the ship.
If you stay in a concierge accommodation, you don’t have to deal with any of those headaches. At certain times in the morning — the final available time to do this on our recent cruise was around 8:15 a.m. — one of the hosts will let you get into a special elevator that quickly brings you down to the deck to disembark without a wait. It’s a magical way to end the trip.
Express disembarkation on Disney Wish. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
You’re on your own for the regular line for clearing customs, but getting off the ship itself is a dream that you don’t want to end.
Related: What it’s like to eat at the Marvel restaurant on Disney Wish
Inside our 1-bedroom suite on Disney Wish
Like the rest of the ship, our one-bedroom suite was lovely, albeit a little plain in certain areas.
First, the highlights, of which there were many: The king-size bed was absolutely heavenly. Given how tight sleeping quarters can be on ships, it was a massive luxury to have such a large bed while on Wish.
The “Tangled”-themed mural on the wall in the bathroom was also breathtaking.
Frankly, the entire bathroom was divine and felt far more like what you’d find in a hotel than in a cruise cabin, thanks to its spacious layout.
Off the living room was another full bathroom that lacked a tub like the primary bathroom, but it still had a shower that was extremely generous in size, especially given it was the suite’s secondary shower.
In the living room, there was a small Murphy bed that came out of an awkward divider between the dining and sitting areas. The couch also converted into a bed courtesy of the stateroom host each evening.
Disney Wish one-bedroom suite. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
That made for a total of three sleeping spaces in this suite.
Disney Wish one-bedroom suite. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Disney Wish’s layout was a bit different from what I’d found when staying in a one-bedroom suite on Disney Wonder, where suites have smaller single beds in the bedroom instead of the living room. That worked better for me at the time with younger kids, but I can see how Wish’s arrangement may be ideal for those with older kids.
Either way, the primary bedroom area was mostly occupied by the bed, so there wasn’t much room for anything other than a side table and a dresser.
Disney Wish one-bedroom suite. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Another key difference that I’m not sure was an improvement was the use of space between the primary bedroom and bathroom. On Disney Wonder, there was a desk there that was perfect for working, putting on makeup, or organizing and charging all your devices.
On Wish, that hall was instead used for storage, which was OK but a little awkward, especially because the doors were so tough to open that my 7-year-old couldn’t always do it without help. Younger kids certainly wouldn’t be able to access it on their own. If someone happens to pull out the keycard that allows the lights to come on inside — which happened to us during our cruise — heaven help you, as it is pitch black and almost creepy in there.
Other than the eye-catching light fixture, the dining area also felt a little uninspiring, given how grand the bathroom was. Some art on the walls, perhaps from “Tangled” to continue the theme, would have been nice.
Disney Wish one-bedroom suite. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
That said, our private balcony was perfect for morning coffee and evening sunsets.
All-in-all, the one-bedroom suite was a lovely space that certainly benefited from the modern decor and bedding, but I’m not 100% convinced it is an overall better use of physical space than what you’ll find on the older Disney ships. Still, my two kids, grandma and I were comfortable throughout our cruise.
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SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
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Is concierge level worth it on the new Disney Wish?
Now that you have a sense of the suite and what type of magic a concierge-level booking unlocks on Disney Wish, let’s talk about when it is — and maybe isn’t — worth the splurge.
When concierge level on Disney Wish is worth it
If you simply want to be in one of the ship’s suites (and have the funds for it), then you’re going to default to having concierge access and perks. You’ll not only have more space in your cabin but also all the perks that come along with it.
For what it’s worth, my favorite onboard suite is not the most expensive one in the funnel but rather the two-story “Sleeping Beauty”-inspired Royal Suite. Sure, it’ll set you back at least $15,000 per sailing, but it’s beautiful — to say the least.
Concierge level is also worth it if you want the best service that Disney Cruise Line has to offer.
For example, if you are only ever going to sail once, paying up for all the bells and whistles may be the way to go. That way, you can have someone on hand to magically handle all the logistics and requests and be available for any onboard questions and assistance.
On shorter cruises, like the three- and four-night options on Wish, the concierge can also help you maximize your time by letting you on as early as possible. Additionally, it’s a fantastic category to book if you really enjoy lounges when you travel and plan to make the most of the ones on and off the ship.
On Wish specifically, you have the added benefit of the private sun deck with hot tubs. If you think you’ll use those, then it’s a real value-add.
And of course, when the price differential between the more standard cabins and concierge rooms is smaller — let’s say $1,500 or so, it’s obviously more worth it than when the price differential is thousands and thousands of dollars.
Disney Wish concierge sun deck. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Finally, if you have hard-to-get reservation requests (like the perfect Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique time slot) and don’t otherwise have Platinum Castaway Club status, which allows you to book it at the first available moment, then being in a concierge room increases your odds of snagging those valuable timeslots.
The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on Disney Wish. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
When concierge level on Disney Wish isn’t worth it
As mentioned, if funds are not an issue and you want the best of the best, then great, book a concierge cabin on Disney Wish. We eagerly await the postcard you send us from your fabulous vacation.
However, for most of us with finite vacation budgets, there are trade-offs requiring us to maximize each decision. As a result, having concierge access on your first Wish sailing may not be the best use of money.
Having sailed both in and out of these accommodations on Wish, I found myself enjoying more of the ship itself when sailing without concierge access.
On your first Wish sailing, you already have three new-to-you restaurants to enjoy, which makes dining at the adults-only specialty restaurants less of a priority since doing so means you’ll need to skip one of the included restaurants. If you don’t eat in the adults-only spots, you don’t need help getting those coveted bookings, meaning you’ll get less out of the pricey concierge experience.
The Rose lounge on Disney Wish. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
The on-deck food, like Marceline Market, is also worth visiting on your first Disney Wish cruise, but you may find it harder to work it in when you have access to the concierge lounge.
The same applies for drinks. Since drinks were included in the concierge lounge each evening, I felt silly going to the ship’s fantastic bars, such as the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge and The Rose, because of the out-of-pocket costs attached to those cocktails.
The Hyperspace Lounge on Disney Wish. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Even with concierge perks, you may also find yourself out of luck in getting some highly sought-after benefits. This happened to me with one perk I was really looking forward to: the hard-to-book cabanas on Castaway Cay.
Because there are more concierge cabins on Disney Wish than there are cabanas on Castaway Cay, you are not guaranteed the ability to rent one. Athough we requested one as soon as possible, we were not one of the lucky ones to snag a cabana.
If you decide to skip the extra expense of concierge level, that means you’ll have more money to put toward the new offerings on board, such as cocktails with popsicles in tasty flavors in the adult-only pool area.
Drinks that are only available in the adults-only area on Disney Wish. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Bottom line
There’s no question that sailing with concierge access on Disney Wish is a fantastic experience, but you probably could have guessed that. It improves an already low-stress vacation so it becomes an essentially stress-free getaway with magical moments at every turn. The concierge team can grant virtually every wish you could dream up.
Sipping evening cocktails on the private deck while sailing away into the sunset was simply phenomenal, and having a lounge to pop into for treats, drinks or reservation assistance was a convenience I could get used to.
However, magic comes at a cost.
Disney Cruise Line is already more expensive than most family-oriented cruise lines, and Disney Wish is the most expensive of the Disney ships. Add concierge access on top of that and, well, it’s certainly not cheap. If you are going to have to take fewer trips over the course of a year or two to afford a concierge-level room on Disney Wish, then you’re probably better off skipping it on your first sailing. After all, part of the fun of being on Disney Wish is checking out all the one-of-a-kind facilities you’ll only find on this ship.
Related: Comparing Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Disney for a family cruise
Disney Wish atrium. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Once you’ve tried all the restaurants, found your favorite bars and explored every corner of the ship, a concierge accommodation is absolutely worth considering — if you have the means to make it happen. The upgraded stateroom, concierge lounge and other perks provided with these rooms are a treat to experience while cruising.
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Featured photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy.