Disney Cruise Concierge: Magical Perks or Money Pit?

We all like to splurge on vacation. After all it is our time to step away from normal life to relax, but is disney cruise concierge worth the extra money? Recently we decided to indulge for my daughters 18 birthday trip and see if  concierge level disney cruise was worth the hipe. Let me dive into benefits of concierge on disney cruise, the room, and the disney cruise concierge service.

Disney Cruise Concierge

Have you ever wondered if the Disney Cruise Concierge service is worth the extra cost? The answer can be quite personal, as what one person values may not be the same for someone else. I wanted to share our experience with the Concierge perks to help others decide if it’s a good fit for their family.

From priority boarding to exclusive lounge access, Concierge service offers a level of comfort and convenience that can enhance your trip. The personalized service can make a significant difference, allowing you to make the most of our time on board and at the ports. Whether it’s the special dining reservations or the attentive staff, these perks can create a truly memorable experience.  If you’re considering Concierge for your next cruise, I hope our insights will help you weigh the benefits.

We have lots more articles to help you plan a family cruise, explore Disney vacations, or enjoy a Disney cruise vacation!

benefits of concierge on disney cruise

You can break the Disney Cruiseline Conceirge perks into 3 categories:

• Planning window opens first so you get your choice of excursions, cabanas, spa appointments, Palo reservations, etc.
• VIP treatment onboard with ships by being first on the ship, choice of seats in Walt Disney theatre, first off the ship at debarkation, etc.
• Access to Concierge lounge exclusive food  and evening free drinks plus the friendliest castmembers whose whole job is to make you feel special and attend to any issues that come up

concierge disney cruise benefits

Pre Embarkation

Before you even get on the ship the expanded service begins. You make a wish list and the conceirge team will help plan your magical extras head of time. While these are all things you can book yourself, if you joined a cruise last minute and things are alerady full this was a great perk. We were able to book Palo brunch and Royal Gathering even though they showed online as full. They can also help you book spa services and secure the dining rotation, dining team, or table location you want. For Port Excursions and Cabana reservations there is a limited number of guests so there isn’t much they can do if they are full if you book a last minute cruise. But if you book your cruise ahead, Conceirge guests are the frist to get access to all reservations, so you should get everything on your wish list. Being able to communicate with the concierge team before the cruise begins is a huge perk. My opinion. It is deffinetly more convenient. Plus if you book last minute, there is a big advantage. But everything they can snag for your can be snagged by most guests who are on top of booking things as soon as their booking window opens up, except for maybe a Cabana. But for the huge price increase this perk alone would not make it worth it to me.

The idea is that from the moment you arrive at the port, guests notice a different, more exclusive experience. Guests in the concierge category enjoyed a separate check-in area that streamlined our start to the cruise. No long lines or crowds! Plus, except for back-to-back cruisers,  you will be the first guests onboard the ship giving you free range over a (momentarily) uncrowded ship.

Embarkation

Conceirge guests are first on the ship. We could arrive at the port any time from 10:45am onwards. The cast members strictly enforce boarding times; they won’t even let you in the terminal until they call your boarding group. It is a nicw perk to not have to wait in long lines in the heat and be the first people through all the ID checks and into the air conditioned waiting area. What time you actually get on the ship depends on the local port and when the ship has been cleared for the next sailing. Generally you can expect to be on the boat by 11:30am.

Being first on the ship after the family of the day and back-to-back sailers was very special!  It is less crowded and you have choices. You can explore the ship right away, get your spot by the pool, head straight to the conceirge lounge, or head to concerige embarkation lunch that they plan for you.

So for comparison if concierge is right for you – can you get into the port earl without concierge? If you have accrued some status, you can get an earlier boarding group. Another way to get that coveted early boarding time is to book a back-to-back cruise as back to back guests get on before even conceirge. The final work-around is to book Disney shuttle to the port, or in some cases a hotel & shuttle. While slightly more expensive that doing it yourself, this perk gives you boarding group 3 which is so close to the conceirge #1 – it is worth considering. Transfer guests even get on the ship before Platinum! So while it is nice to feel like you are at the front of the line, there are cheaper ways to get almost the same perk.

Concierge Embarkation lunch

Conceirge guests enjoy a private meal on embarkation day in the main dining room on deck 3. If you’ve ever done a Disney cruise you know the public spaces get really chaotic really quickly as everyone is getting on the boat, exploring, and doesn’t have access to their room until 1:30pm. Having a conceirge lunch gets you out of the hussle and bustle! The lunch menu is the same as for everyone else with a couple notable exceptions: better cut of steak, lobster, lava cake for desserts, and alcoholic drinks.

This perk wasn’t a big one for us. We love getting to dine in the themed room on embarkation, jump into line for the Aqua Mouse, or explore the ship so this was a big time hog for us. The service was really slow, none of our concierge team was there to make introductions, and the wait staff wasn’t particularly friendly. The service was so slow the table next to us left before their dessert was served. The value just wasn’t there for us. Other Concierge guests skipped it and went straight to the lounge where they could get lite bites instead.

disney cruise concierge room

Now concierge rooms are ready before everyone else’s rooms which was nice. Immediatley after lunch they are ready – so 12:30. Let’s talk about the accommodations. Concierge guests rooms are the same “bones” as the verandah staterooms uncless you book the exclusive 1 or 2 bedroom suite. But there rooms have been made a little nicer and a little more luxurious. They have extra amenities like Elemis bath products, wood panneling on the inside of the stateroom, marble countertop in the bathroom, more comfortable couch, and options with a pillow menu. The atmosphere feels much more exclusive and upscale, which added a whole new dimension to our vacation.

As a conceirge guests you have a stateroom host and an assistant stateroom host to make sure your room is made up quickly every time. We never had to wait, they were like ninjas!

Your stateroom fridge is pre-stocked with bottled water and soda for you to enjoy. If you need more, conierge will fill it up for you. These are the same free drinks you can get all day long in the concierge lounge. It is worth noting they are the same offerings as you can get in the free drink dispensors, but these are canned so you can take them with you more easily to shows, water on port excursions, and enjoy in your stateroom.

Is it worth it? They did feel nicer and we got a nice fruit basket in our room upon arrival, but unless you need the 1 or 2 bedroom suite, the rooms themselves are not that much of an upgraded in my opinion. The Elemis bath products are nice, but I love the normal Sea Marine line bath products. They forgot to tell us about the pillow menu until halfway through the cruise – so if you are interested make sure you ask your stateroom attendant.  Traditionally concierge guests were on deck 11 and 12 forward on the Disney Dream but during a recent refurb they added concierge rooms on deck 10. We had these rooms and were dissapointed. On deck 11 and 12 the entrance to the rooms is woodpaneled and feels exclusive, but those of us with concierge on deck 10 did not have the nice upscale feel. In addition, deck 10 rooms are right below the pool deck and were loud, and our balcony had more obstructions to the view with frequent traffic by cleaning crews that used the railing (that limited our view) to move the window washing crew.

disney cruise concierge service

One of the biggest values in sailing conceirge is the dedicated concierge team. They take Disney’s world class servie to the next level. You will not have to wait in the guest services line for anything – you will just see concierge who is always ready to tend to any need big or small that comes up.  In addition they can change around reservations, add new ones, help with any issues that come up, and will generally treat you like royalty. They will get to know you by name and will be eager to hear about your day and make sure you have everything you need.

concierge level disney cruise

Concierge lounge

One of the standout features of concierge service is the private lounge. This beautifully designed space offers a calm retreat from the hustle and bustle of the ship. It was such a relief to have a dedicated quiet zone where I could always find a seat and unwind away from the chaos. You can read, play games, grab a bite, or chat with other guests or staff from 7am-10pm daily.

Concierge Food

The food in the lounge was wonderful — it was so nice to have constantly changing food options to indulge in.  Every 2 hours or so there is a new array of sandwiches, fruit, cookies, pastries, etc. No long lines to deal with made this perk truly special for us. On the Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy the food is cold. In the newer Triton class ships there are hot food offerings in the lounge.

I also loved the coffee machines, which allowed me to make as many cups of fancy coffee with free syrups all day long. They aren’t topped with characters like on Cove Cafe, but it is free and a really nice coffee matchine that makes everything from mocha, latte, cappachino, plan coffee, hot chocolate, and so much more! As a coffee aficionado, having access to this lounge perk really made my experience even better. We frequently took advantage of the soda and water fridge, making it easy to grab a can for shows and other activities.

After 5 PM, guests can enjoy unlimited complimentary drinks in the concierge lounge. This includes beer, alcohol (including real champagne), smoothies, cloudem, bellini, mocktails, wine, and more. The bar staff made amazing non-alcoholic drinks for the kids so they felt like royalty as well. Plus they were generous, often filling my glass a little extra for me to take to dinner or the show.

Concierge Sundeck

The sundeck was also a huge perk. The main pools were PACKED, but there was always lots of space in the Concierge sun deck. I had my choice of comfy loungers and day beds, a hot tub, upgraded towels, and a cool drink in the cooler on the sundeck. Our particular ship offered smoothies on sea days, but the newer wish class ships have free dole whip! Plus all guests have access to free sunscreen on deck so no need to bring it with you or worry about getting a sunburn.

So, is the lounge and sun deck worth the conceirge price tag? This was the biggest perk for my family! The perk of dedicated, uncrowded space 24/7 was huge. Having unique food availale throught the day was really special. They actually have cookies other than chocolte chip plus dessert options throughout the day. There is never a time where food was not available.  Whether you drink alcohol, coffee, or want to take a soda with you to the show – the free drinks is an undeniable perk!  Now instead of spending money on concierge you could spend money on drinks in the lounges and sweet treats at the sweet shop on board which may come out cheaper – but only you know how much you will use it.

disney cruise line concierge

I think one of the biggest advantages relates to the shows. Many guests line up an hour early to get in line for the show – this is especially true of the newer ships and shows. As concierge you just sgo to the lounge 40 minutes before show time and they will escort you down into the theatre before the doors open to everyone else.  You get your pick of any seat you want!  When they open the doors for everyone else, the theatre is already 1/5 full of conceirge guests – all in the BEST seats. Which is discouraging if you’ve waited in line for an hour to get the best seat. In addition, you get free popcorn and you can bring your free soda from the Concierge lounge.  It is a very nice perk of traveling Conceirge.

I should note, you only get in early for the three broadway style shows. Also, if you did the math you probably realized you are needing to arrive 40 minutes early to the show just like you would if you were not conceirge. The difference is instead of waiting in a line, you wait in the lounge and then in your seat – your pick of seats. I do wish it was more dedicated seating block so we coudl show up just minutes before the show, but I guess this way you can choose the front and center or box office in the balcony.

THis was a nice perk for sure. Are the three times you use it worth the perk – you decide. I should also mention your concierge key to the world card also gets you free popcorn anytime you want – before movies, or just as a nice afternoon snack.

concierge level disney cruise line

Here are some of the other perks worth noting:

• Best seating at dinner – Conceirge guests get amazing seating at all the restaurants – literally right next to the stage for dinner shows with completely unobstructed views! You can only get these premium tables as conceirge guests! In addition you can request your preferred dining rotation and wait staff as well. This perk is best on the ships that have a dinner show!
• Once during your cruise there is an exclusive meet-and-greet for concierge guests in the lounge. It was nice, but again only once. The team made it special for us by serving frozen hot chocolate and handing out packaged rice krispie treats too. Character is a surprise and they wont tell you ahead of time.
• Upgraded amenities- Elemis bath products, pillow menu, upgraded furnishings, ask for more padding on bed, etc.
• 1 bed and 2 bedroom suites are available for larger families or more space
• 1 and 2 bedroom suite guests can order hot breakfast and items from the dining rooms menu straight to the suite. This includes Palo
• Concierge exclusive merchandise (ask your concierge team for current availability)
• Uncrowded view of the fireworks from the conceirge lounge for cruises with fireworks
• Each guest sailing concierge gets a free 24-hour of shipboard internet – use it when you choose.

concierge level on disney cruise

Disembarkation

The last perk is pretty great. The lines to get off the ship are usually crazy. Concierge has their own dedicated line and they are brought down straight from the lounge to walking right off the ship – no wait, no line! So you are first on the shuttles, first to get taxis, first to get your car and get on the road!

Disney concierge Cost

So prices do vary depending on the ship, itinerary, and dates you choose. The longer the cruise, the more it tends to cost to sail concierge. Certain itineraries like Alaska and Europe also tend to pay a larger premium for concierge rooms. Finally, the newer the ship, the more prices are on that ship in general.

So – what does sailing concierge cost. Generally you can expect to spend double the cost of an oceanview/verandah stateroom.

• 3 day San Diego cruise on the Wonder, your family of 2 adults and 2 children could pay: Inside $2369, Oceanview $ 2,369, Verandah $3144, and Concierge $ 5,403
• 7 day – Caribbean on Dream in the fall, your family of 2 adults and 2 children would pay: Inside $ 6,356, Oceanview $ 6,552 , Verandah $ 7,154, Concierge $ 12,735
• 7 day – Caribbean on Treasure in January, your family of 2 adults and 2 children might pay: Inside $ 7,883, Oceanview $ 8,456, Verandah $ 9,321, Concierge $ 18,978
• 7 day – Caribbean on Destily in June, your family of 2 adults and 2 children could pay: Inside $ 9,790, Oceanview $ 10,489, Verandah $ 11,660, Concierge $ 20,471
• 7 day – Alaska on Magic in July, your family of 2 adults and 2 children might pay: Inside $ 7,313, Oceanview $ 9,384, Verandah $ 13,242, Concierge USD $ 26,142

disney dream concierge

We sailed the dream concierge. Again, they all offer the same service and similar dedicated spaces, but the exact space size and offerings may vary slightly between ships. You can read more about the Disney Dream and our Norweigan Cruise!

Is disney concierge Worth It?

It is a personal decision! For some families they take fewer vacations and when they do they want to go all out, so I get their viewpoint. It was truly magical, with lots of nice touches. We felt known and special. Lots of the extras: coffee, popcorn, alchohol in the lounge – are included.

But for us, it just felt like for at least 2x the cost – sometimes more depending on which rooms are left, it seemed overpriced. The customer service was for sure way better, the perks were nice – expecially the food and drinks in the lounge, but worth going on 2 cruises nice?!?! Disney’s customer service is legindary at any level, even if you have to wait 10 minutes in the regular line. We still went by the pool because that is the only funnel vision so the lounge sundeck had limited appeal. We still had to get to shows early, just in more comfort. There are ways around the boarding group number by using Disney transportation, getting status to book excursions and Palo early.

But it is truly a special upgrade to a Disney cruise, one that your family will remember and talk about for the rest of their life!