We Upgraded to Disney Cruise Line Concierge — Was It Worth It?

I’ve sailed on the Disney Wish several times, and I can’t believe I never really knew about the Concierge level. Okay, maybe I knew it existed, but I definitely didn’t know everything it included.

If you aren’t familiar with the Disney Wish, the ship has absolutely spectacular shows, rotational dining, and all those little Disney details packed into every corner. Concierge, though, was on a whole other level. I assumed it mostly meant larger staterooms and a few extra convenience perks. I never expected everything that came with it—especially from a foodie perspective.

We were lucky enough to receive a surprise upgrade to Concierge for this sailing, and I started experiencing the perks within the first hour of stepping onboard. It completely changed the pace of our vacation, especially when it came to the food.

If you’re wondering whether Disney Cruise Line Concierge is worth it, I can already tell you my answer: we will most certainly be booking it again.

What Disney Cruise Line Concierge includes

Concierge is basically Disney Cruise Line’s extra-special version of the cruise experience. You get Concierge Hosts who can help with things like dining reservations, spa appointments, and Port Adventures, plus you get some really nice perks once you’re onboard. There’s priority boarding, reserved seating for the shows, an exclusive Concierge Lounge, a private sun deck, and a bunch of little extras that make everything feel easier.

The Disney Wish already has so much going on that it can be hard to fit everything into one trip. There are themed restaurants, big shows, adults-only areas, pools, and food everywhere. Concierge somehow makes all of it feel a little less rushed and a lot more enjoyable.

Lunch at 1923 was the perfect way to start the cruise

One of my biggest issues on previous Disney Wish sailings was always that food options felt somewhat limited immediately after boarding. You’re excited to start vacation, but nothing is open. Concierge completely changes that.

We were invited to enjoy an exclusive embarkation meal inside 1923, one of the ship’s fanciest restaurants. Inspired by the founding year of The Walt Disney Company, the restaurant celebrates Disney’s early animation history with gorgeous artwork and a noticeably quieter atmosphere than the busier dining locations around the ship.

We were so excited to order since it felt so exclusive. (My daughter was over the moon excited.) Warm rolls arrived first, followed by fresh salads and flaky beef empanadas served with chimichurri. The menu also featured smoked salmon, seafood and chicken gumbo, roasted beef tenderloin, lobster salad, grilled salmon, and pasta, making it feel much more like a specialty restaurant than a simple first-day lunch. We finished with the Welcome Aboard Sundae which was vanilla bean ice cream, pecan-caramel cupcake bites, butterscotch sauce, and whipped cream.

It was the perfect way to start the vacation.

The Concierge Lounge became our favorite spot on the ship

Once our stateroom was ready, we wandered into the Concierge Lounge just to see what it was like.

The first thing I noticed was how peaceful it felt. While the rest of the ship buzzed with excitement (and tons of people), the lounge stayed calm and uncrowded, with comfortable seating overlooking the ocean. 

Then, of course, I had to check out the food. Large refrigerated cases were filled throughout the day with freshly made sandwiches, wraps, salads, fruit, cheeses, pastries, cookies, desserts, and rotating snacks. It seemed as if new items were added every time I turned around. There were also coolers stocked with bottled water, sodas, juices, and other drinks available whenever we wanted them.

As a coffee lover, my favorite feature was the pair of self-serve specialty espresso machines. Every morning started with a latte that honestly rivaled what I’d order at a coffee shop back home. Even better, everything was included.

We constantly stopped in for a quick snack before heading to the next activity or grabbed a few treats to enjoy later on our balcony. Since our room was only steps away, it became incredibly convenient.

The exclusive events made the experience feel even more special

Between all the eating, we also made time for several Concierge and Disney Vacation Club events around the ship. One of my favorites was a Disney Vacation Club member gathering where we were welcomed with a gorgeous bright blue specialty drink that almost looked too pretty to sip. It was one of those fun little surprises that Disney does so well. While we enjoyed our drinks, we learned about upcoming Disney Vacation Club news, chatted with other members, and picked up a few exclusive member perks along the way. As Disney Vacation Club owners, we always appreciate the extra touches onboard, and this event made us feel like we were getting something special.

There is one dessert that I need to replicate at home

I’ve eaten a ton of desserts over the years while developing recipes, so it takes quite a bit to genuinely impress me. One dessert from the Concierge Lounge absolutely did.

The chocolate raspberry caramel tart may honestly rank among the five best desserts I’ve ever eaten. I loved it so much that I packed one into my bag before leaving the lounge because I was already thinking about recreating it in my own kitchen.

Staying onboard at Castaway Cay ended up being one of our favorite decisions

On one of the days at sea, most guests headed to Castaway Cay, but we decided to spend the afternoon enjoying one of Concierge’s most underrated perks: the private sun deck. It felt like we had discovered our own hidden resort.

The deck was super quiet, with a bunch of loungers available and none of the crowds you’d normally expect around a cruise pool. In fact, we were the only people there.

Before heading outside, we stopped by the Concierge Lounge and picked up an assortment of macarons to snack on while relaxing in the sun. Then it was time for my favorite afternoon treat: unlimited raspberry smoothies and DOLE Whip slushes. Both were absolutely delicious and tasted even better while lying out in the sun.

Concierge made snacking so easy

One thing I never anticipated loving quite so much was how convenient the lounge made every single day.

Instead of planning around restaurant hours or making a long walk through the ship every time we wanted something small, we simply headed to the lounge. We’d grab sandwiches, sushi, desserts, pastries, or fresh fruit and head right back to our room.

One evening, we skipped the scheduled dinner altogether and brought sandwiches and sushi from the Concierge Lounge back to our room, with a slice of room service cheesecake for dessert. It turned into one of our favorite meals of the cruise.

If you’re someone who likes grazing throughout the day instead of sticking to scheduled meals, Concierge makes that incredibly easy.

Even the smaller perks made a difference

Beyond the food, there were dozens of little conveniences that added up over the course of the cruise.

Priority embarkation meant vacation started faster. Reserved seating made the themed shows stress-free, and we even got complimentary popcorn. Priority debarkation made the final morning surprisingly relaxing, and before leaving the ship we enjoyed one last light breakfast inside the Concierge Lounge instead of dealing with larger breakfast crowds.

Is Disney Cruise Line Concierge worth it?

Before this cruise, I probably would have said no because I didn’t understand everything that was included. Now I completely understand why people become loyal Concierge guests.

Yes, the dedicated service is wonderful. The priority boarding saves time. The reserved show seating is convenient. For me, it all came back to the food. Having access to specialty coffee every morning, bakery-quality desserts throughout the day, fresh sandwiches whenever we felt hungry, an exclusive embarkation lunch, smoothies by the private pool deck, and easy access to snacks just steps from our room completely blew me away.

If you’re a foodie, Disney Cruise Line Concierge is absolutely worth experiencing at least once.