disney cruise concierge embarkation lunch

Is Disney Cruise Concierge Worth It?

If you’re dreaming of a luxurious vacation with Disney Cruise Line’s concierge service, you may be asking yourself if the high price is worth it.

My family and I sailed in this exclusive Concierge Level on the Disney Magic where we had an amazing time. The concierge benefits were so much fun to experience! However, during the trip, my husband and I had several conversations about whether or not the perks were worth the high price tag .

After all, the concierge prices often equal what you would pay for two separate cruises in a regular stateroom. Still, you can’t deny that the upgraded cabin accommodations, extra amenities, and special service you get with concierge status isn’t worth something.

In the post below, I will discuss the Disney cruise concierge perks that are included in your cruise fare. I’ll also provide my honest opinion on whether the concierge level is worth it and if our family would pay for this upgrade again .

How We Paid for Concierge Level

Disney Cruise Line offers a special, luxury level of service known as the concierge level. When you are booking your Disney cruise, you will see the staterooms and suites that are categorized as concierge. These rooms range from a Family Oceanview Stateroom with a Verandah to the Concierge Royal Suite, which has multiple bedrooms and bathrooms.

On my family’s concierge cruise, we had originally booked a Deluxe Inside Stateroom. However, about a week before sailing, my husband and I decided that we would really like to have a room with a verandah.

I checked the DCL website and saw that it was going to cost roughly $1000 more to switch to a verandah room. We ultimately decided to just wait and inquire about upgrading our room at the port .

For a full rundown of how this works, you can read all about our experience in this post – Disney Cruise Upgrade at the Port . Long story short, when we inquired about changing rooms on embarkation day, the cast member told us we could upgrade to a concierge stateroom for around $2000.

Since we had already paid roughly $4000 for our inside stateroom, we ended up paying $6000 total for a concierge cabin. This seemed like a great deal to us since the non-concierge rooms with a verandah that I had looked at before our trip were around $5000 total.

Disney Cruise Concierge Benefits

When we upgraded to the concierge level, we were not given a list of benefits that came with it. So, I am pulling this information on concierge amenities from our experience and my research. If you know of an additional perk offered in concierge that I missed, please comment below and let me know!

Early Access to Booking Activities

If you book a concierge stateroom rather than upgrade to one at the port, you can book activities in advance before they sell out. One of the most sought after amenities on a Disney cruise is a cabana on their private island , Castaway Cay . These typically sell out really quickly.

Concierge guests, who are paid in full, are able to book activities 130 days before sailing by calling the Shoreside Concierge Team or 123 days prior to sailing if booking online . This means your odds at getting a cabana or another popular activity increase significantly.

Since we upgraded to concierge at the port, we did not get to experience this benefit. Luckily, I was able to book all the port adventures and onboard activities we wanted during my online check in anyway. So, this wasn’t a huge deal for us.

Early Port Arrival Time

Concierge guests also receive the earliest port arrival times available on embarkation day. Once you arrive at the cruise terminal, you get to experience priority check in by entering a separate line that is set aside for concierge level guests. This means you get to bypass any long lines that have formed at the regular check in stations.

Priority Boarding

In addition, you will receive priority boarding so that you are one of the first guests allowed to board the ship . After we upgraded our room at the port, the supervisor updated our Key to the World Cards to reflect our new stateroom information. This supervisor also gave us a new boarding card with Group #1 listed on it.

It was around 11:45 at this time, and boarding had just started in the Miami terminal. My family and I were able to walk right over to the gangway and board the Disney Magic immediately after checking in.

We had originally been assigned to Boarding Group #2, so this wasn’t a huge difference for us. However, it was nice not having to kill time in the cruise terminal with our two little kids in tow!

Exclusive Concierge Embarkation Lunch

We usually like to eat near the pool deck on embarkation day because my kids are always eager to swim. However, while checking in at the port, we were given a letter with information about a special embarkation lunch for concierge guests . So, instead of eating our embarkation lunch at Cabanas or on the pool deck, we headed to Rapunzel’s Royal Table for the special concierge lunch.

The host at the door checked our name off his list and showed us to a table. A server came by to hand out menus and to take our drink order. Alcoholic beverages were available for no additional charge.

As we ate, one of the concierge hosts came over to introduce herself. She gave us a packet of information with an itinerary showing everything we had previously booked for the cruise. We didn’t have plans to book any extra items, but the concierge host let us know that we should contact her if we needed to change or add anything .

Room Benefits

One major concierge perk for us was that our stateroom was available immediately after boarding. Typically, the cruise cabins aren’t open until around 1:30, which is right in the middle of my toddler’s nap time. Since we were concierge guests, we were able to go straight to our room after lunch (around 12:30) . This allowed me to put our one year old down for her nap at her regular time.

In addition to gaining early access to your stateroom, the concierge rooms come with higher quality touches as well. Robes and slippers were available inside our stateroom closets. Also, our cabin refrigerator was stocked with bottled waters and canned drinks.

We also had two TVs in our stateroom : one across from the bed and one across from the couch. I had read about a pillow menu where concierge guests are able to choose which type of pillows to have on their beds. I did not see this menu, and this amenity wasn’t important to us, so I didn’t ask. We all slept really well on the beds and pillows provided.

Free Alcohol

Readers often email me to ask if Disney Cruise Line concierge level includes alcohol. The short answer is that it does, but there are limitations . We were offered alcoholic beverages at our embarkation lunch as mentioned above. In addition, the concierge lounge provides a happy hour each evening with a bartender .

My husband and I would swing by the concierge lounge every evening before dinner to grab a glass of wine for each of us. We were able to take these with us to the dining room rather than ordering (and paying for) a glass of wine at dinner.

Additionally, the concierge bartender also served us drinks in the lounge before the nightly Broadway style shows. Since she knew that we were going to the theater, the bartender put our drinks in glasses that fit inside the cup holders of the theater seats .

Free Drinks and Food

In addition to getting adult beverages for the theater shows, we also used the lounge to grab snacks for the kids. Each evening, the concierge lounge provided popcorn, gummy bears, and drinks for our daughters to take to the show .

The lounge had specified times for snacks and desserts each day too. (You can refer to the photo in the section above to see the schedule from our sailing.) Beside this buffet of offerings, the lounge has a huge refrigerated section full of bottled waters and soft drinks . Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate were also available at all times in the lounge.

Access to Concierge Lounge

As mentioned above, concierge guests receive access to the concierge lounge. This lounge is a huge perk in and of itself! Since this area is only for those cruising concierge, you must use your Key to the World Card to unlock the door to the lounge. Once inside, you will find tables and chairs for relaxing and enjoying the food and beverages available.

There is also a private sun deck that concierge guests can access via the concierge lounge. This sun deck holds additional seating, and it was always pretty empty and really quiet during our cruise. Plus, you’ll find hot tubs on these sun decks on some of the other Disney cruise ships (Fantasy, Dream, Wish).

Sunscreen and pool towels are also available for guests on the sun deck.

Special Treats and Gifts

Concierge guests receive special gifts from the team throughout their stay . One of the first items we received was a fruit basket , which was waiting in our stateroom for us when we first arrived.

We also returned to our room one evening to find Mickey Mouse Rice Krispie Treats for our two kids. In addition, on the last evening of our cruise, the concierge team left a beautiful lithograph showing Disney characters as a departing gift.

Guests sailing in a regular concierge stateroom with Disney Cruise Line receive the basic WiFi for free for 24 hours. If you are sailing in a 1 or 2 bedroom Concierge Stateroom, you receive the basic internet package for your entire sailing. Guests in the Royal Suite receive the premium internet package for the duration of the cruise

In Room Dining

If you book one of the roomier Concierge Suites, your cabin includes a dining table. This allows you to order meals from the main dining room to enjoy in the comfort of your stateroom.

So, if you don’t want to go to dinner one night, you can have it delivered right to your stateroom. Again, this in room dining perk is only available in suites and NOT in the Concierge Family Oceanview Staterooms with Verandahs.

Concierge Team Services

One of the biggest perks to sailing concierge is that you have a concierge team who provides exceptional service. The concierge team on our cruise consisted of three main hosts who went above and beyond to make our vacation memorable. They seemed to immediately know all of our names, and they were always so friendly and eager to help.

At our embarkation lunch, the concierge team let me know that any requests I had should go through them. They even gave us a special number to dial on our phone if we needed anything at all. This meant that I never needed to stand in line at Guest Services on the ship.

↓↓ Check Out My Etsy Shop ↓↓

I had planned on borrowing a stroller from Guest Services on embarkation day. When I mentioned this to the concierge host, she assured me that one would be brought to me. At the end of our cruise, I did not have to return the stroller to Guest Services. Instead, they asked that I just leave it in our stateroom.

In addition, I didn’t have to stand in line to book a placeholder at the future cruise desk. The concierge hosts took care of booking my future cruise right inside the Concierge Lounge. (Note that the Disney Cruise Navigator App is supposed to allow you to book this directly on the app now. For some reason this feature wasn’t working on my App, so the Concierge host took care of it.)

Private Dining Table

This was another perk that we really enjoyed! I always request a private table in the main dining rooms prior to our Disney cruises. However, I always stress that this request won’t be granted. When you are a concierge guest, you automatically get your own table at dinner .

Also, our table each night seemed to be in a priority location in the dining rooms . For example, our table in Rapunzel’s Royal Table was right in front of the stage. So, we had an excellent view of the entire dinner show!

Priority Tendering

This concierge perk came in really handy during our sailing because one of our ports of call was Grand Cayman. When visiting Grand Cayman , cruise ships stop just offshore, and guests ride to the island on tender boats.

You can see the tender boat in the bottom right of the photo. Disney Cruise Line has a whole process for moving passengers to the tender boats; however, we did not have to get tickets or wait in line for this. Instead, one of the concierge hosts walked us down to Deck 1 where we were able to bypass the line and board the tender .

Special Character Meet and Greet

Concierge guests are treated to a private reception with beverages and entertainment during one day of the cruise. A Disney character also makes an appearance at this reception. This means your family can take photos with a character without waiting in one of the ship’s typical character lines.

During the concierge reception, we were served mimosas and smoothies . Entertainment was also provided in the form of a pianist playing popular Disney tunes and carolers singing Christmas songs. (We were on a Merrytime themed cruise in December.) Pluto was our special character guest. He walked around the room and spent time with each family.

Priority Seating at Shows

If you are sailing in the concierge level on the Disney Wish, you can arrive at the Walt Disney Theater 45 minutes before the nightly show to choose your seats before other passengers arrive.

Priority Disembarkation

Much like priority embarkation, concierge guests are also able to disembark first. The morning of debarkation , we met the concierge team inside the lounge. One of the hosts escorted us all down to the gangway to disembark the ship.

In addition, the concierge team checked us in for our flights the day before we arrived back in Miami. Our printed boarding passes for our flights were waiting for us in our room the day before we were scheduled to leave.

Concierge Tipping

Gratuities are an additional cost during any Disney cruise. DCL automatically adds $14.50 per person per night to your account to cover tips for your servers and room host. It’s important to note that Disney Cruise Line updated their guidelines and now recommend concierge guests pay $15.50 per person per day in gratuities .

In addition to paying $15.50 per person per day for your dining servers and stateroom hosts, Disney Cruise Line encourages concierge guests to pay $8.00 per person per day for the concierge lounge team .

You are welcome to tip your concierge team in addition to these recommended gratuities. We really enjoyed the concierge team, and they felt like good friends of ours by the end of our cruise. Plus, they were incredibly helpful and really made our family vacation run smoothly.

Is it worth it?

Now, the million dollar question…. Is Disney Cruise Line’s concierge level worth it? Like the subject of tipping, this is completely subjective, but I will give you my family’s candid thoughts.

We LOVED the concierge team , and they made our trip run more smoothly because it was like having a personal assistant taking care of our errands for us. In addition, we really liked the lounge and the availability of adult beverages and snacks for the nightly shows . So, the service was exceptional!

Our concierge level stateroom was not anything special, though. In fact, I prefer the regular staterooms on the Disney Fantasy, Disney Dream, and Disney Wish to our concierge stateroom on the Disney Magic. The couch, curtain, and carpeting all looked dated to me – clean, but dated.

So, don’t book a concierge family oceanview stateroom on the Disney Magic merely for upgraded finishes in the room because you may be disappointed. After deciding for myself whether or not concierge was worth it, I asked my husband what he thought.

Surprisingly he had the exact same answer that I had come up with. We both agreed that it probably wouldn’t have felt “worth it” to us if we had paid full price for it. However, we both felt that the price we paid to upgrade at the port was worth i t!

How about you? Do you think the Disney cruise concierge perks are worth the price? Comment below and let me know!

Shari is an experienced planner and organizer for Disney vacations, cruising, and U.S. travel. Her family vacation information, reviews, and tips provide insight for moms and dads everywhere. You can read more about her story, including her journey through breast cancer, in the about me page.

Similar Posts

Disney Magic Cruise Ship Pools and Picture Tour

Ways to prevent getting seasick on cruise vacations.

25 Best Disney Cruise Tips for First Timers

Disney Cruise to Grand Cayman (Excursion Mistakes to Avoid)

How much does a disney cruise cost (planning on a budget).

Disney Cruise Disembarkation Time and Options

12 comments.

I was very blessed to not only sail on the Disney Wish in August (one of the first sailings) but also got a concierge spot–waited over a year on their waitlist. There were a few hiccups as we were not on the concierge level so there was a barrier getting to our room, less than stellar service at the Hyperspace Lounge, and no private firework area. But we were able to squeeze our youngest son into the It’s A Small World Nursery as much as we needed and they went out of their way to accommodate us at the live shows. They gave us booster seats for my kids so they were able to see as they were taller people blocking their view. The staff were AMAZING with making sure my kiddos have chocolate muffins each morning whether we got room service, stopped by the lounge, and even had them waiting for us in the room. They were also genuine and treated us like family. It was worth every penny, especially for embarkation and debarkation days. I wished that I got a placeholder as I am going on the Dream in concierge for the Merrytime Cruise.

Hi Jessica,

Thank you so much for sharing your recent experience on the Disney Wish. It sounds like you had a wonderful trip once you were all settled. I hope you have an amazing time on the Dream! Thanks again for taking the time to provide a review for other readers!

Hi, Shari! Great article, thanks for the info. Have a question about the dining staff when sailing concierge: is there a separate concierge wait staff? We sailed the Wish twice in Feb (both 4-night cruises) with the first non-concierge and the second was concierge. Since we fell in love with our wait staff and family was joining us the next week, we requested a table with them for the second (concierge level) cruise. Thanks! Sherry

It sounds like you had a great time on the Disney Wish! I’m not positive that concierge guests have a separate wait staff, but I *think* they do. When my family and I sailed concierge, our wait staff only served other families in concierge. I’m not sure if that’s always the case though. That being said, we have always loved our Disney Cruise Line servers whether we were in concierge or a regular room! Hope that helps!

Thanks for the article! We’ll be concierge on the Wish in May (woo hoo!). Was that a typo of $20 per day for the bartender? I’m curious why he/she/they gets so much more than everyone else. The whole lounge team would get $32 for a 4 night cruise but that bartender gets $80? That just seems off to me.

Hey Leslie,

Tipping is such a hard topic, but I’ll try to answer your questions as best I can. So, Disney Cruise Line officially “recommends” that you tip the Concierge team $8 per day/per guest in your stateroom. Following these recent tipping recommendations, Disney Cruise Line is suggesting that my family of four would tip the Concierge team $32 per day, which would total $128 on a 4-night cruise.

Since those guidelines weren’t around when my family and I sailed Concierge, we had no idea what to tip. So, we chose to tip the Concierge team $100 per day for 5 days, which totaled $500. In addition to that, we tipped the bartender $20 per day, which totaled $100.

My brother-in-law recently sailed Concierge and basically doubled what we had tipped. H! So, each family kind of does their own thing. Personally, I would at least follow the $8 per person per night guidelines. If you feel that the Concierge team and/or bartender deserve more than that, you can add an additional amount.

Sailing concierge on the Disney Wish sounds like a dream come true! I hope you have an amazing vacation! 🙂

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful in-depth review. We’ve booked a Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah on the Disney Magic next March and are wondering if we should opt in for the early or late dining as concierge guests. Did you prefer the early dining experience?

Hi Jennifer,

You’re going to have the best time on the Disney Magic! I think the best dining time really depends on who you are cruising with. I have little kids who are used to eating early, so the 5:30-5:45 time works best for us. If your kids are older or if you are traveling from a different time zone, the later time may not seem as late to you. Hope that helps and have a great trip!

Thanks for the review! Were you able to go to the shows early for best seating? This will be our first cruise! Any food on the dream that is a must-get or skip?!?

Hi Danielle,

I’m so glad you liked the review! To answer your question, we were not able to go to the shows early as this was not an included perk when we sailed in the concierge level. I believe Disney Cruise Line now allows concierge guests to arrive at the shows 30 minutes early to choose seats. In regard to the food, my family and I love all the dining options onboard the ships! We recently sailed with Royal Caribbean and really missed the dining rooms and food from Disney Cruise Line. Hope that helps! You’re going to LOVE your first cruise!

Hi Sherri! We are going on the magic this December and wondered if meet & greets are back? We had heard with covid they had to be socially distanced. Loved this write up!

Hey Jessica,

You are going to LOVE the Disney Magic at Christmas time! I believe the meet and greets are back, and I’ve even seen recent photos of families posing with Santa! Hope you have the BEST time on your vacation!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Disney Cruise Food Guide What You Need To Know

Sharing is caring!

Disney Cruise Food is a huge part of your enjoyment of your cruise experience. One thing is for sure. You will never go short of food on a Disney Cruise.

Here we share the Ultimate Guide to Disney Cruise Food. You will find the most comprehensive guide to Disney Cruise Food out there. Including lots of Disney Cruise food pictures and menus.

• Food on a Disney Cruise

Join my Disney Cruise Group for Tips and Exclusive Free Giveaways!

Disney Cruise Embarkation Lunch

Disney cruise concierge embarkation lunch, disney cruise food allergies, disney cruise rotational dining, disney cruise dining times, disney cruise dinner seating arrangements, disney cruise restaurants, disney cruise animators palate, disney cruise enchanted garden.

• Disney Cruise Tiana's Place
• Tiana's Place Menu

Disney Cruise Royal Palace

Disney cruise royal court.

• Rapunzel's Royal Table
• Disney Cruise Triton's Restaurant
• Disney Cruise Lumiere's Restaurant

Disney Cruise Cabanas Buffet

Disney cruise pirate buffet, disney cruise character breakfast, disney cruise palo, disney cruise remy, duck-in diner, sweet on you, vanellope’s sweets & treats, pinocchio’s pizzeria, eye scream treats, frozone treats.

• Pete's Boiler Bites
• Daisy's De-Lites

Senses Juice Bar

Disney cruise room service, disney cruise cove cafe, disney cruise food late night snacks, disney castaway cay food.

You will usually board your Disney cruise at around lunchtime. Often the very first thing that people want to do is eat! There are a number of alternatives for your Disney Cruise Embarkation Lunch.

This is pretty much the busiest that you will see the Cabanas buffet for the whole of your cruise. Everyone wants to get their first test of Disney Cruise Food.

If you want a sit-down lunch from an a la carte menu this is also offered. On the Fantasy and the Dream you should head to Animator’s Palate if you want the sit-down embarkation lunch.

This is located on Deck 3 Aft of either ship.

On the Disney Wonder, you should go to Triton’s. On the Disney Magic Lumiere’s is the place to be. These restaurants are on Deck 3 of each ship, very close to the place where you will most likely walk on to the ship.

If you are fortunate enough to travel as a Disney Cruise Concierge Guest your embarkation lunch will be separate from the rest of the ship’s guests.

If you are a sailing Concierge with Disney Cruises you can go to Enchanted Garden on the Disney Dream and Fantasy.

If you are sailing on the Wonder you can go to Tiana’s Place . On the Disney Magic, you can go to Rapunzel’s Royal Table for your embarkation lunch.

You can also dine in the general embarkation lunch location. You can have snacks in the Concierge Lounge. Or you can go to the Cabanas Buffet. You have so many choices of Disney cruise food!

Disney cruise lines are exceptional in handling any food allergies which guests may have. I have sailed when on a Gluten-Free diet and was very well cared for.

When you book your Disney cruise you can ask for it to be noted that you have food allergies.

Items are marked as Gluten Free or Dairy Free on the Disney Cruise menus. However, you should always talk with your server to see if there are any additional menu options.

Your servers will always bring you Gluten-Free Bread if you request it.

In the Cabanas Buffet, you should always tell a crew member about your food allergy. They will help you and show you the items which are safe for you to eat.

If you have food allergies you can be confident that Disney cruise lines will do all they can to help you.

Disney Cruise lines do things slightly differently to every other cruise line. They have what is known as Rotational Dining.

What is Disney Rotational Dining? Each of the Disney Cruise ships has three main restaurants. You will visit each Disney cruise restaurant at least once during your vacation.

The unique element is that you will rotate around the restaurants and visit a different one each night . This is such a brilliant idea.

Not only do you get to experience all the different main dining restaurants on a Disney cruise, and your servers will rotate with you.

This is such a simple idea, but it makes dining on a cruise so much better. You will have the same servers who will get to know your dining preferences.

Having the same servers every day means that they will know if you always want a certain drink. It will be waiting for you at your table when you arrive.

Your servers can get to know your dining preferences so that they can recommend the best options for you from the Disney Cruise Menus.

Disney servers are particularly brilliant with the kids as well. Don’t be surprised if they cut up their food for them or serve out a Mickey-shaped ketchup portion!

There are two set times for Disney cruise dining in the rotational restaurants. Main seating starts from 5.45 and 6.15pm. Second Seating begins between 8.00 and 8.30 pm.

On most sailings, Main Seating will start at 5.45 pm and Second Seating at 8.15 pm. The later times tend to be on the Alaskan and Mediterranean Disney cruise itineraries.

You can request which of these dining times you want when you book your Disney cruise.

The Main Seating is the most popular of the Disney Cruise dining times. Quite often when you book, you will find that this Main Seating is no longer available to request online.

What do you do if you want to change your dining time on a Disney Cruise? If you do not get your first request when you book, there are two things you can do.

The first is to call Disney cruise lines or ask your travel agent to call and request that you are waitlisted for the time that you would prefer.

You can also ask for a specific table size and even request a certain server if you know who you want.

Your Key To The World will tell you which Disney Cruise dining time you have. If it still isn’t what you want when you board the ship, you can ask for it to be changed.

You will see on your Disney Cruise Navigator where the dining staff will be located. Go to that location and ask if it is possible to change your Disney cruise dining time.

The Disney cruise dining team will always accommodate your request if they possibly can.

Families with young children particularly like the Main Seating time. It is late for a young child to start to eat at 8.00 pm.

However, Disney has thought of something that will help families who have second dining. The young ones are served first.

There will be members of the Kids Club team waiting in the restaurant at a certain time to take your children to the club once they have finished eating. You can then enjoy the rest of your meal without the children. This service is currently suspended due to covid.

I always used to want the Main Dining on a Disney cruise. However, I have recently converted to enjoying the Second Seating.

I enjoy seeing the show before dinner. Your servers also have a little more time to chat with you at Second Seating.

Another advantage of the Second Seating is that you have the later breakfast on your final morning. This means that you can sleep in for a bit longer!

What are the table sizes on a Disney cruise? You do have the chance to request a certain table size.

Whilst it cannot be guaranteed, Disney always does it’s best to accommodate any requests for specific table sizes.

The table sizes in the Disney Cruise Restaurants are generally for 4, 6 or 8 people. Usually, Disney will seat you will another family unless you request that you do not want to do this.

It can be a great way to meet people. Disney is great at matching people who have similar interests. Often, if you have children you will be seated with a family with kids of the same age.

However, not everyone wants to share a table. If you would prefer to just be seated with your own party then you can call Disney and have them note this on your special requests. Your Disney Travel Agent can do this for you if you have one.

You can request a table for 2. Every time we have done this there hasn’t been a problem. We have been seated at a table for 4 people, so there are 2 empty spaces.

Disney will also accommodate parties with more than 8 people. They will put tables together so that you can be seated together.

For more information about Disney Cruise Dining Times Click Here .

On each of the Disney ships, there are three main dining restaurants. These are the restaurants where you will enjoy rotational dining .

All of the Disney Cruise ship restaurants have a theme and many of them have special shows and character appearances. These restaurants have some of the very best Disney Cruise food on the ship.

All of the Disney ships have Animator’s Palate restaurant. This is the only restaurant that is available on all of the Disney ships.

I am also betting that the new Disney Cruise Ships which will be launched in 2021, 2022 and 2023 will each have their own Animator’s Palate.

Here we will highlight each of the Disney cruise restaurants so that you can see what to expect on each ship.

Each of the restaurants has its own menu on each Disney ship. You will, however, find some overlap.

For example, all the Animator’s Palate menus are the same whichever ship that you dine on. Royal Court, Royal Palace, and Triton’s also have the same menu.

In addition to the standard menus in each Disney cruise restaurant, they have some special menus which are served on certain itineraries.

For instance, the Alaskan cruises have some special menu items. The longer cruises such as the Panama Canal and the Transatlantic Cruises also have their own special menus.

Another special menu that will be served on all Caribbean, Bahamian and Mexican cruises is the Pirate Night menu.

Star Wars at Sea and Marvel Day at Sea also have special themed menus.

Animator’s Palate is the only restaurant that is on all four of the ships. It is one of the most popular (although Tiana’s Place and Rapunzel’s Royal Table are now pretty close in the popularity stakes).

Walt Disney said, “I only hope that we don’t lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse.” Animator’s Palate celebrates Disney’s foundations and celebrates the animated movies of its past and present.

The first thing that you will notice is the television screens which line the walls of Animator’s Palate.

If you are sailing on the Disney Fantasy or the Disney Dream take some time to walk around the restaurant and look at the numerous shelves of animation memorabilia.

There are two dinner shows in Animator’s Palate. This restaurant is all about getting the diners involved in the immersive experience.

One show on the Disney Dream and the Fantasy will have you talking with Crush from Finding Nemo.

Yes, he really can hear what you are saying at your table. If you are one of the lucky ones you will get to have a conversation with him during your dinner.

The other Animator’s Palate show tests your drawing skills. You will be given a special piece of paper to draw a character on.

Make sure you follow the guidelines on the paper so it shows up the best on the screen. You Servers will take the paper and at the end of your meal, your own very individual animation will be brought to life on the screen.

Animator’s Palate is a whole lot of fun. We particularly like it on the Disney Wonder where Mickey Mouse himself makes an appearance.

If you are not on a 7-night sailing you will not get the chance to do both of the shows. Just another reason to always do at least a 7-night cruise on a Disney ship!

The Disney Cruise Enchanted Garden Restaurant is one of the most stunningly beautiful of all of the rotational dining venues. Enchanted Garden is located on Deck 2 of the Disney Fantasy and the Disney Dream.

The design is modeled after the Gardens of Versailles. The first thing that you will notice as you walk into Enchanted Garden is the seven-foot-tall Mickey fountain which is the centerpiece of the room.

On each side are the much-coveted Enchanted Garden booths. There aren’t many available and they are the most popular seating in Enchanted Garden.

They seat up to four guests. You can add a special request prior to your cruise by calling Disney Cruise Lines.

The decor is a beautiful combination of greens and whites. The lighting is a very important part of the effect. There are numerous glass flowers that open as the sky becomes darker as you progress through the meal.

Enchanted Garden is one of the most elegant of all the Disney cruise dining venues. Enchanted Garden on the Disney Dream serves breakfast and lunch on select days.

The Disney Fantasy is different as it does not serve breakfast or lunch in Enchanted Garden. It uses Animator’s Palate instead.

Dinner is served in Enchanted Garden every day of your Disney cruise on the Fantasy and the Dream.

Click Here for an Enchanted Garden Menu.

Disney Cruise Tiana’s Place

Tiana’s Place is the newest restaurant on the Disney Wonder. It replaced the much-beloved but rather dated Parrot Cay. Tiana’s Place is probably the best of all the Disney Wonder Restaurants .

The theme is taken from the movie The Princess and The Frog. It is particularly apt of course because Princess Tiana opens her own restaurant in the movie.

The attention to detail is stunning. The table is set with beautiful china wear. It even has a lily pad decoration.

There is plenty of entertainment in Tiana’s Place – just like in the movie. You will get the chance for plenty of quality time with Princess Tiana. She appears with The Crawfish Crooners to sing such favorites as “Dig a Little Deeper”.

Tiana spends most of her time walking around the room and visiting every table. It is a great opportunity to meet Princess Tiana. The whole atmosphere in the restaurant is just one big Madri Gras celebration.

The one thing which is not so great about Tiana’s Place is that they do not seem to have set the sound levels correctly. It is loud. So loud it can be really difficult to hear what your tablemates are saying.

Tiana’s Place Menu

The style of the cuisine is, of course, New Orleans.

I particularly like Mama Odie’s Creamy Tomato Soup with chopped Cilantro as an Appetizer. Eudora’s Artichoke Ravioli with Sautéed Spinach, Lemon Butter, Sage and Pecorino Cheese is a favorite entrée of mine.

Choosing a dessert is of course easy. It has to be the Beignets!

The Royal Palace is one of the rotational dining restaurants on the Disney Dream.

The inspiration is, of course, the Disney Princesses. The decor is very rich and opulent with lots of deep reds and gold. The carpet is a luxurious blue pattern. All the decor comes together to make a restaurant fit for a Princess and her Prince.

With every Disney rotational dining restaurant, the servers have a different costume. One of my favorites is at the Royal Palace.

The servers are all dressed in an outfit that is reminiscent of the coachmen in Disney’s Cinderella movie.

One of the most enchanting details is the breadbasket which is in the shape of Cinderella’s Carriage. If only they sold these in the Disney store!

This is the almost identical restaurant to the Royal Palace, but it is located on the Disney Dream. The decor is very similar and the menus are the same.

Rapunzel’s Royal Table

This is the newest of the Disney Cruise restaurants. Rapunzel’s Royal Table is located on the Disney Magic. It replaces the short-lived Carioca’s.

After the success and popularity of Tiana’s Place, Disney cruise lines wanted to celebrate another of the Disney Princesses with a themed restaurant on one of their ships.

Rapunzel’s Royal Table is an example of Disney Cruise lines at it’s very best. Imaginative, immersive themed restaurants where you can meet the characters from a popular Disney movie.

One of my very favorite Disney movies is Tangled so this has to be one of my favorite restaurants.

When the Disney Wish launches in 2022 there will be a Frozen-themed restaurant.

Click on and watch the video below to get an idea of just what is on offer at Rapunzel’s Royal Table on the Disney Magic.

The decor is beautiful. There are 240 Wish Lanterns included in this Bavarian Castle-themed restaurant. You will get the chance to sing along with all of your movie favorites such as “I’ve Got. Dream” and the classic “I See the Light”.

You also get to meet your favorite characters Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder. They are joined by the Snuggly Duckling Thugs!

Naming menu items after our favorite characters and movie themes just makes it seem so much better.

Who can resist the Flynn Rider Platter with grilled smoked pork loin served with roasted smoked pork belly, braised red cabbage, fried potato dumpling, and a wine jus? Or the Oktoberfest Lemon and Thyme Roasted Chicken?

Tangled Pasta (Angel Hair — ha!), Oktoberfest Lemon and Thyme Roasted Chicken, Pan-seared Sea Bass Filet, and the Flynn Rider Platter Tangled Pasta (Angel Hair — ha!), Oktoberfest Lemon and Thyme Roasted Chicken, Pan-seared Sea Bass Filet, and the Flynn Rider Platter with grilled smoked pork loin served with roasted smoked pork belly, braised red cabbage, fried potato dumpling, and a wine jus.

Disney Cruise Triton’s Restaurant

Triton’s restaurant is exclusively found on the Disney Wonder cruise ship. It is located just off the atrium on Deck 3. It is themed after Ariel The Little Mermaid. The thumbing is subtle and it may take you some time to see all the small details.

Triton’s decor is made to make you feel as though you are under the sea. At the far end of the room, you will see a huge mosaic that depicts Ariel and her father King Triton.

Triton’s serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Triton’s is also the restaurant on the Disney Wonder where you can have an a la carte embarkation lunch as an alternative to the buffet at Cabanas.

You may want to start your day in Triton’s on the Disney Wonder as it has a sit-down breakfast every morning.

Triton’s on the Disney Wonder is a beautiful restaurant. Perhaps the most grown-up of all the dining rooms, it has some excellent choices on the dinner menu.

The food at Triton’s is said to be inspired by French cuisine. It shares many dishes with the Royal Court and Royal Palace on the Dream and Fantasy.

On the appetizer menu, you will find escargot, duck confit, and French onion soup.

One of my favorite appetizers in Triton’s on the Disney Wonder is the Iced Lobster and Jumbo Shrimp.

This picture of the Breaded and Deep Fried Brie shows that sometimes the presentation isn’t great. However, it tastes really good and is one of the things I always look forward to ordering again.

Disney Wonder Triton’s Entrees include Oven Baked Salmon Royale. The Truffled Cauliflower Puree is excellent.

The French influence can also be seen in the deserts which include creme brûlée, grand mariner soufflé, and brioche and panettone pudding.

Triton’s menu has one of my very favorite desserts. This is the Grand Marnier Souffle which is served with Grand Marnier Creme Anglais. I actually think that this is better than many of the Palo dinner deserts.

Disney Cruise Lumiere’s Restaurant

Photo Credit Lumiere’s is exclusive to Disney Magic. It is themed for Beauty and the Beast.

It is interesting to see how much Disney cruise restaurant design has evolved over the years. Triton’s and Lumiere’s are the original restaurants on the Classic Disney Ships.

They were beautifully themed, but do not have the extent of the immersive experience which you now have at Tiana’s Place on the Wonder and Rapunzel’s Royal Table on the Disney Magic.

Lumiere’s serves the embarkation lunch. It also serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of your cruise.

Make sure that you try Lumiere’s breakfast at least once during your Disney cruise.

This was the Mornin’ Tug Boat – a blend of strawberries, Bananas, Almonds, Raisin Granola, and Low-fat yogurt.

If you are like most of the guests on a Disney cruise you will be looking forward to the food at the buffet. It’s included in the cost of your Disney cruise. There is a lot of choices, it’s good quality and it is all you can possibly eat!

As soon as you board your Disney cruise ship you will be encouraged to visit the buffet for lunch.

As you have seen, there are different sit-down a la carte options available, but most guests immediately head for the buffet as soon as they board a Disney cruise.

The buffet on all the Disney ships is now called Cabanas. The names used to be different, but now all have been brought under the same name of Cabanas.

The buffet is open for breakfast.lunch and dinner. Remember that if you have any special dietary needs this can be accommodated. Just tell one of the Cast Members at Cabanas and they will help you out.

There is a huge amount of choice at the buffet. The problem is not finding something to eat. Rather it is not finding too much to eat.

Just be careful as it is very easy to pile on the pounds very quickly no matter how many times you go to the gym onboard!

The buffet used to be self-serve but now Cast Members will serve you from the buffet stations. It is still all you can eat – you can go back as many times as you want!

There is sometimes a special buffet in Cabanas on Pirate night. Just when you think you really cannot eat anymore, you discover that you really can eat some more buffet food if you try!

In recent times it doesn’t seem to be possible to predict whether the buffet will actually be on your sailing or not.

At the moment this seems to be a thing of the past as Pirate Night is different than it used to be since covid restrictions. Do not rely on their being a buffet as most likely it will not happen.

On a recent sailing of the Disney Wonder, I was told that even the Cast Members never seem to be able to predict when the Pirate Buffet will be held or not. It really is a huge amount of food, at a time when most people really don’t want it.

Every Caribbean, Bahamian and Mexican cruise has Pirate Night. If it is going ahead, the Pirate Buffet will be held in Cabanas from 10.30 until 11.15.

Since covid, there are two fireworks displays, but there isn’t a deck party at the moment.

If you are sailing on a Disney cruise of 7 nights or longer there will be a chance to attend a character breakfast.

If any of you have had a character breakfast in one of the Disney parks you know that this is a great opportunity to meet the Disney characters.

You will also know that a character breakfast in the Disney parks can be an expensive experience. You will be paying around $150 for a family of 4 in the parks.

The wonderful thing about a Disney cruise character breakfast is that it is included in the cost of your cruise .

You do need to know that a Disney cruise character breakfast is included, but you do need to get a ticket so that you can attend the breakfast.

Tickets to the Disney cruise character breakfast are available online in your Cruise Personalizer. As soon as you are able to book activities online, you should go to your Cruise Personalizer and get one of the character breakfast tickets.

If you do not get a ticket before you sail, there may be some available by visiting Guest Services as soon as you board your Disney Cruise.

However, you need to know that these tickets are highly sought after and may not be available. Always get one online before you cruise if you possibly can.

Disney Cruise Palo Restaurant is an adult-only premium dining venue on all of the Disney Cruise ships. You have to be over 18 to dine at Palo.

Palo offers dinner every night of your cruise and Palo Brunch is offered on Sea Days.

You really should indulge in at least one Palo dining experience on your cruise. Both Dinner and Bruch at Palo cost $45 per person. Gratuity is extra.

At Palo Bruch, this includes a glass of sparkling wine or a Mimosa. An extensive wine list is available for both Palo Brunch and Palo Dinner.

Palo Brunch used to be a combination of buffet items and an al la carte menu.

However, since Disney cruises resumed sailing the buffet has not been available. It has been replaced by the Servers bringing anti pasti to your table.

I really hope that this is not a permanent change and that the self-selection buffet is reintroduced.

Below is an example of the fabulous seafood which used to be available.

You can also order from the Disney Palo menu. The entrees are both breakfast and lunch items. You can order as much or as little as you want.

A Disney Cruise Palo Dinner is served a la carte.

There are plenty of menu items at Palo dinner to tempt every guest. The first course is always antipasti which is served to you tableside.

The service at Palo is exceptional. Somehow the Palo servers know when you need them. And when you don’t.

One of the most popular Palo desserts is the melting chocolate cake. It’s the perfect way to round off your meal at Palo.

Many people, including me, prefer Palo Brunch over Palo dinner. It is a close call as both experiences are special.

However, Palo dinner means that you have to miss one of the Rotational Dining experiences. I love the rotational dining restaurants so would prefer not to miss them.

For more on this, you can read our Palo Dinner v Palo Brunch guide.

If you are sailing onboard the Disney Fantasy or the Disney Dream then you will have the opportunity to dine at one of the very best restaurants at sea. Remy is themed after the Pixar movie Ratatouille.

There can’t be many restaurants named after a rat, but Disney always does things slightly differently. Anyone Can Cook may be the theme of the Ratatouille movie.

However, if you dine at Remy you will know that not just anyone can cook to this high a standard!

If any of you have been lucky enough to eat at Victoria and Albert’s in Walt Disney World you will know that Disney restaurants can be exceptional. To achieve this standard at sea is an even greater feat.

The menu as you would expect is French. The menu is created by not one, but two renown chefs. Chef Scott Hunnel of Victoria and Albert’s and advising Chef Arnaud Lallement a 3 Michelin starred acclaimed owner of l’Assiette Champenoise restaurant in France, each create the menu.

The Remy menu changes frequently. The emphasis is on using only the best ingredients which are in season at the time.

Remy is beautifully and very subtle in its Ratatouille theme. If you dine at Remy take some time to look at the themes in the decor.

The chair backs have everyone’s favorite rodent carved into the design.

Remy restaurant on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy offers four different dining experiences. These are Remy Champagne Brunch, Remy Dinner, Remy Dessert Experience, and Petites Assiettes de Remy.

Remy Champagne Brunch is a very indulgent experience. Costing $75 per person with an additional $30 if you have the optional champagne pairing, this is not an inexpensive experience.

However, we feel that everyone should experience a Remy Brunch at least once.

You Champagne Brunch will begin with some time spent waiting in the Meridian Bar. This is one of those places that you do not really discover unless you dine in either Palo or Remy.

The Meridian Bar is located between both of the adult dining restaurants on the Fantasy and the Dream. It is the perfect place for a pre-meal drink.

Your Brunch experience then continues when you will be taken into the Remy restaurant with a group of your fellow diners.

You will be served a small plate of amuse bouche and a complimentary glass of champagne. If you want more, you have to add the champagne pairing.

Your server will then show you to your table. You can’t fail to be impressed by the beautiful table setting and the wonderful views of the ocean. There is even a designated stool for you to rest your purse!

The waiter will then talk about the menu selections so that you have the best choices.

Another option in the Remy restaurant is the Remy Dessert Experience. If you enjoy desserts you will love this 5-course dessert menu served with coffee. This Remy experience is $60 per person. The wine pairing adds $25 per person.

Petites Assiettes de Remy is available for a charge of $50 per person and this includes the wine pairing.

For this Remy experience, you combine small plates with a 6-course wine tasting. The Petites Assiettes de Remy is hosted by the Executive Chef and the Sommelier of Remy. It is only available on the first day of your Disney cruise sailing and is held in the early evening.

The main event in this premier Disney Fantasy and Dream restaurant is the Remy dinner. This is available on every day of your cruise.

Remy Dinner a splurge at $125 per person. Add another $105 if you want the wine pairing.

However, dining at Remy is an experience which you really should indulge in at least once in a lifetime.

Disney’s Remy is an exceptional restaurant. Even though the charge seems high it is very reasonable if you compare Remy with the value that a similar standard restaurant has on land.

Disney Cruise Quick Service Snacks

In addition to the restaurants and room service, there are a number of other locations where you can find food on the Disney Cruise ships. One thing is for certain. You will not go short of food on a Disney Cruise!

All of the food is included in the cost of your Disney cruise unless otherwise stated.

This is located on the Pool Deck 9 of the Disney Magic. This is a great new dining venue that serves fresh shawarma. You will also find your classic American favorites of hamburgers and hot dogs.

This is one of the newest options on the Disney Fantasy. If you have a sweet tooth this will be your favorite place to be. It offers ice cream and sweet treats for an extra charge.

This is the equivalent of Sweet on You but is located on the Disney Dream. Everything is an additional charge, but it sure is tempting!

Flo’s Cafe

Flo’s Cafe is available on the Disney Fantasy and the Disney Dream. This Disney Cars inspired pool deck eatery is home to Luigi’s Pizza, Tow Mater’s Grill and Fillmore’s Favorites. Here you will find burgers including veggie burgers and fish burgers, hot dogs, salads, sandwiches, and pizza.

This is on the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic. Here you will find pizza. There is always a vegetarian option and a gluten-free pizza is available on request.

No prizes for guessing that idea cream is available here. Self serve soft ice cream is available.

You can order specialty smoothies here for an additional charge. You can even get the famous Dole Whip here for a small fee.

Pete’s Boiler Bites

This is available only on the Disney Wonder Pool Deck 9. Classic American food such as burgers, hot dogs and tacos are available here.

Daisy’s De-Lites

This is one of my favorites on the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic. It offers salads, sandwiches, fruit, and wraps. It is located on the pool deck just outside Cabanas.

This is unique to the Disney Fantasy and the Disney Dream. This offers smoothies and healthy drinks for an additional charge. It is located just outside the gym and close to the lobby of the spa.

This is located outside the Walt Disney Theater on all of the ships. It is mostly a bar, but it also sells candy and popcorn to watch during the show. They always have really cute refillable popcorn buckets for sale. These can be purchased and then used for discount popcorn for the duration of your cruise.

Another great thing about Disney Cruise Lines is that Room Service is available 24 hours a day. Most of the Room Service Menu is included in the cost of your Disney Cruise.

Although the food is free remember to tip your server. You can do this either in cash or by adding an amount to the check which they will bring you. It will have no charge unless you have ordered one of the items on the Room Service Menu which does have a charge.

One thing which we always like to order, particularly for the Sail Away, is the All Hands on Deck platter. This has cheese, crackers, and fruit.

You can order such things as New York Steak Panini with Caramelized Onions and Horseradish or a Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Panini. The cake of the day is also usually a good option!.

If you want to order breakfast you can fill in the card which you will find in your room and order breakfast for a set time in the morning.

This is another one of my favorite places to sit and relax. The Cove Cafe is available on all of the Disney ships in the over 18 adults only section.

Cove Cafe charges for specialty coffee and adult beverages. However, there is always a selection of pastries and cakes available for free.

If you need a late-night snack, Disney has you covered. Disney Cruise food is available late at night in select locations!

On the Disney Magic, you will find late-night snacks in O’Gills pub and the Promenade Lounge. On the Disney Wonder, it is in the Crown and Fin and the Promenade Lounge. Usually, the hours are from 10.45 to 11.30.

If you want a late-night pizza, Pinnochio’s Pizzeria is open on both the Disney Magic and the Wonder from 9.30 until midnight.

On the Disney Dream, the late-night snacks will be located in The District from 10.45 until midnight. On the Fantasy the snacks are found from 10.45 until midnight in La Piazza.

On the Disney Dream and the Fantasy Luigi’s Pizza is open from 9.30 and closes at midnight.

Remember that Room Service is available 24 hours a day if you really need a snack at 2 am!

Photo Credit

One of the highlights of your Disney cruise may be a port stop at Disney’s Private Island Castaway Cay . If you are sailing on a Disney Bahamas or Caribbean cruise Castaway Cay will be one of your port stops.

You do not need to go back on to the ship to eat. A barbecue lunch is served on Disney’s Castaway Cay. Food is served from 11.30 until 2.00.

There are three barbecue lunch locations on Disney’s Castaway Cay. Cookies One is usually the least busy and it’s also the closest to the ship. Cookies Too is located closest to the Family Beach on Castaway Cay.

Both Cookies One and Two serve the same food. It is typical barbecue fare of burgers, salads, chicken, fish, hot dogs corn on the cob, fruit, and cookies. Self serve ice cream is also available.

There are soda stations that are free, just like on the Disney ship. If you want an alcoholic beverage there are plenty of bar locations on Castaway Cay.

Remember that if you have food allergies you should talk to your Server the night before your Castaway Cay visit and they will make sure that there is something available for you on Castaway Cay.

The third food venue on Castaway Cay is the Serenity Bay BBQ. This is located on the adults-only beach, Serenity Bay .

I prefer this venue but of course, you can only go there if everyone is over the age of 18.

The only place you can get barbecue ribs on Castaway Cay is the Serenity Bay BBQ. I always think that the food tastes a bit better at this location. Possibly because they are catering to fewer people. There isn’t much seating available here but I have never had a problem getting a table.

Which is your favorite Disney Cruise Food? Let us know in the comments below!

Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando.  In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.

Disney Wonder Virtual Tour - EverythingMouse Guide To Disney

Thursday 2nd of April 2020

[…] will always find a huge selection of items at the Cabanas buffet. But you might prefer the Disney Cruise Food at the restaurant […]

Disney Cruise Change Dining Time - EverythingMouse Guide To Disney

Monday 16th of March 2020

[…] I would say only do this if dining later really will not work for you. The Disney Cruise Dining Experience is one not to be […]

Best Disney Cruise Ship For Toddlers - EverythingMouse Guide To Disney

Monday 2nd of March 2020

[…] are so many great choices of food on a Disney Cruise you will not know where to begin! However, we all know that toddlers are not always the easiest of […]

Palo Brunch Menu - EverythingMouse Guide To Disney

Friday 14th of February 2020

[…] though there is an upcharge I think that it is more than worth it. The quality of the food and the service are extremely high. And you certainly will not be going […]

Disney Cruise Dining Tips - EverythingMouse Guide To Disney

Saturday 8th of February 2020

[…] food on a Disney Cruise is a huge part of your vacation […]

• Search forums
• Media New media

• Disney Cruise Line
• Disney Cruise Line Forum

Embarkation Lunch - Where do you go?

• Thread starter Cfabar1
• Start date Mar 30, 2024

Where do you typically go for Embarkation Lunch?

Main dining room sit down embarkation lunch, concierge embarkation lunch, buffet (cabanas/marceline market) embarkation lunch, tend to skip embarkation lunch.

• Total voters 191

DIS Veteran

• Mar 30, 2024

So, I am curious how everyone wants to start their cruises. Lots of different options - but wondering which one people tend to think is the best way to start their cruise!  

I didn't cast a vote as it would depend on if I'm staying concierge or not. Either way, it will always be the seated lunch. The buffet is mass chaos - no thank you!  

Cabanas. Every time. It is our routine. We know our cruise has officially started when we have our first cabanas meal!  

Sit down lunch - we like it as a relaxed start to our vacation! We also generally don’t like Cabanas when it’s busy, so that’s a hard no for me. If we didn’t want the sit down lunch we would probably just get pool deck food.  

cvjw said: Cabanas. Every time. It is our routine. We know our cruise has officially started when we have our first cabanas meal! Click to expand...

happycamper47

DW has to hit the crab legs on the buffet to make it official.  

Retired and living 2 miles from The Castle.

We prefer a sit down lunch for embarkation day. If we are not sailing concierge that trip then we go to whichever MDR is serving lunch. We enjoy being waited on and not having to carry around a tray of food looking for a place to sit.  

Sit down lunch. Cabanas on embarkation day is a zoo. No thank you!  

Mouseketeer

Sit down lunch. At least they have a clearly marked vegan option. Cabanas is too chaotic. And it’s easier leaving your carry-on at the sit down restaurant. Don’t do concierge, it’s not within my budget.  

We're mostly Cabanas. But when we've traveled with parents we've done MDR to avoid the hectic crowds at Cabanas.  

Only have done 1 cruise so far, got 2 more booked. My friend and I went to Animator Palate on Fantasy. We got on the ship around 1 pm. Read that Cabanas can get super busy so we went for sit down lunch since we had carry on luggage. Time we got done, the rooms were open. Did the opposite leaving the ship, went to Cabanas. The Oreo cheesecake was delicious.  

Attachments

For us, it depends on a number of factors. Did we have breakfast and how large was it? Do we have our carry on bags with us? What do we feel like eating? On our January cruise, we ate at Cabanas. On our September cruise, we ate from the offerings on the pool deck a little later after dropping our bags off in our stateroom. January 2023, we ate at the MDR. No real pattern or set plan; each cruise is different.  

We've done 4 cruises. 1 cruise we just did some pool deck food as we had a big breakfast and a late PAT, so rooms were ready shortly after we boarded. The other 3 were the sit down lunch. We find it very relaxing and a great start to our cruise.  

We always head straight to Cabanas! Need to eat our fill of crab and shrimp! Our first cruise after Covid was our one and only concierge cruise, and we could not pass up lunch at Cabanas. It has become such a ritual since our very first cruise. Would not feel right without it.  

I have a food allergy, so sit down is way easier.  

Sea days are just so relaxing!

We have become sit down people. Just easier with bags and so on. I do miss the Parrot Cay buffet. We did that on our first two cruises on the Wonder and loved the buffet but with less crowds.  

We've done both and prefer the sit down option for a couple of reasons. It's much less crowded than the buffet and the food is just as good. Also, you have plenty of chances to go to the buffet for lunch throughout the cruise and the food is usually all the same. The Embarkation Lunch Menu is obviously only served on one day so it's nice to mix it up.  

CamColt said: I'll second this! Plus once getting on board a ship I don't want to be cooped up in a restaurant. I want all the big windows to see the water, other ships, etc.... We had been platinum so for many cruises when we got BG 1, we went right there (often had to wait for them to open) and had the place pretty much to ourselves for most of the meal. When that stopped it got hectic there, but now being Pearl we get on early and it's back to being a nice relaxing experience. Click to expand...

It’s funny, I never understood why you would want to start with Cabannas? Now I know but To me, taking time for a sit down meal was a waste of “fun” time. Of course I had kids ready to jump right in the pools/ ride the auquaduck/ ride the Mickey slide as soon as possible!!  

PrincessShmoo

Dis veteran.

Cfabar1 said: but wondering which one people tend to think is the best way to start their cruise! Click to expand...

Share this page

Dis news & updates.

• New Sigma Beauty 'The Little Mermaid' Collection Coming Soon
• Is This a Thing? Everglazed's Maple Double Bacon Donut
• Three New PINs to Add to Your Disney Collection!
• Luisa & Isabela from Disney's 'Encanto' Heading to Disneyland
• Save on Rooms at Select Disney Resorts This Fall & Holiday Season

New DISboards Threads

• Kimberly Williams
• 28 minutes ago
• UK Trip Planning Forum

• 48 minutes ago
• Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies
• Today at 2:11 AM
• Disney Resorts
• Today at 12:50 AM

• ElevationNotice
• Today at 12:03 AM
• Community Board

• Yesterday at 10:48 PM
• Transportation

• Walt Disney World News
• Walt Disney World Articles
• Disney Cruise Line News
• Disneyland News
• General Disney News

GET UP TO A $1000 SHIPBOARD CREDIT AND AN EXCLUSIVE GIFT!

Latest posts

• Latest: GollyGadget
• 9 minutes ago

• Latest: 2goofycampers
• 10 minutes ago

• Latest: Pea-n-Me
• 12 minutes ago

• Latest: kyton
• 18 minutes ago

• Latest: katiec786
• 20 minutes ago

The Disney Cruise Line Blog

An unofficial disney cruise line news, information, weather, and photo blog..

Main Dining Room Lunch Menus

These lunch menus can be found in the each ship’s marquee restaurant off the atrium lobby during posted lunch hours.

There are a rotation of 6 sit-down lunch menus updated in April and October 2021 and offer much more than the embarkation day menu and the concierge embarkation lunch option.

The following menus began appearing on the ships during the spring of 2017. The date codes suggest these were finalized in February 2017. Based on the number coding on them be are speculating there are at least seven variations of the lunch menu.

November 2019 – Updated Menus with some plant based options such as the Impossible Burger.

Summer 2015 11-Night North Norwegian Fjords and Iceland Cruise on Disney Magic

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Our Concierge Disney Wish Cruise Review

Robin Hutson

I’ve been delighted to sail the Disney Wish twice since it set sail the summer of 2022. I was delighted that I finally got to experience  Disney Concierge  this past summer on our second sailing with Captain Minnie.   Our most recent cruise, before our two Disney Wish sailings, had been on the Disney Magic, Disney’s first ship, so seeing the evolution of the guest experience and ship amenities was impressive.

The Disney Cruise Line fleet is expanding, and the Disney Treasure is set to launch during the 2024 Christmas holiday from Port Canaveral. She will resemble the Wish in the same way that the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy are like sibling Disney ships: one devoted to shorter itineraries to the Bahamas and Castaway Cay and one devoted to week-long itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

STOP! JOIN OUR  LUXURY HOTELS & RESORTS FOR FAMILIES , A FACEBOOK GROUP FOR SEEKING ADVICE AND INSPIRATION FOR THE BEST LUXURY FAMILY BREAKS.

Of all the cruise lines, Disney delivers a luxury experience for families with young children that cannot be beat. They are very well-designed ships for adults, teens, tweens, and those with special needs, too.

Disney Wish Cabins

The cabins on the Disney Wish have various themes all related to popular films: The Little Mermaid, Tangled, and Sleeping Beauty. Our concierge-level, one-bedroom suite had a Tangled theme and there were different decorative details relating to Rapunzel and additional characters throughout the cabin.

 We sailed in a wheelchair-accessible suite to meet the needs of a member of our party. Our sleeping arrangements included a queen bed in the master bedroom area as well as a pull-down twin bed in the entry area, and a double-size sofa bed in the living room. There was a dining room table for four had we chosen to have room service for a meal or snack, too. 

A veranda, accessed by two doors (one with a ramp for wheelchairs) extended the length of the room. We did not have a tub as the bathroom was designed to make it more adaptive and friendly for those with mobility needs. We had a second full bathroom  also with shower and a walk-in closet.

Disney Wish Concierge Perks

The perks of sailing Concierge on the Disney Wish are numerous. The majority of my clients do sail in a Concierge cabin so I’m very familiar with, both as an advisor and as a guest, the many ways in which it can enhance your Disney Cruise vacation . Only in the Concierge section can a family reserve a suite or a specialty suite with multiple bedrooms. (Otherwise, I book non-Concierge adjoining cabins for extra space.)   The biggest perk for booking Concierge is to have first access to booking port experiences, including the coveted cabanas on Castaway Cay. We secured the first cabana which is wheelchair friendly.  

One drawback of the Wish is that Disney increased the number of Concierge cabins. This means, for example, that there are many more Concierge guests now than there are Castaway Cay cabanas. It is no longer a guarantee that you will secure a cabana by sailing Concierge the way it used to be (or could continue to be so if you sail on an earlier ship).

As an advisor, I work with the Concierge desk to prearrange exclusive experiences, such as the Royal Gathering and Olaf’s Royal Picnic, Disney’s character meet-and-greet experiences. We can also secure tables first at the Palo brunch (which often sells out) in the adults-only dining section.  

Concierge guests are allowed to arrive at the Port Canaveral cruise terminal on their own schedule, and there’s a dedicated station for Concierge guests’ check-in which makes the process very expedited. Many guests arrive in the Concierge section right when the port opens (and starts checking people in) around 10:30 AM. These guests may wait in one of two lounges adjacent to the boarding gateway of the ship and are allowed to board first.

Compared to other lines I’ve sailed, such as the Norwegian Haven out of Miami, there are no additional perks in this lounge like a breakfast buffet or snacks.   Concierge guests are invited to a special lunch as you board the ship in the 1923 restaurant, and there are complementary beverages at this welcome lunch that are not typically included thereafter. After lunch, most guests head to the Concierge lounge, or start exploring the ship, where you’ll have access to the AquaMouse water slide. This is also a great time to attend the open house of the kids’ clubs and register your children if they will visit them during the cruise.   The Concierge lounge has ready-made options for additional food service as well as menu items prepared to order. Everything is served on a small plate, as the portions are snacks meant to supplement between primary meals, instead of acting in place of. Guests who enjoy wine and cocktails appreciate that the Concierge lounge serves complementary alcoholic beverages and specialty coffees throughout the day.  

My friend’s daughter had some specific dietary requirements to make the sailing comfortable and practical, and we were very impressed with how prepared the Concierge hosts were to deliver everything we needed. What’s great about a Concierge host is, even if they aren’t the actual solvers of the problem, they reach out directly to the appropriate staff person on the ship for a quick resolution.    The two-level Concierge lounge also has outdoor spaces that include a small pool and hot tubs as well as an outdoor sundeck that’s well shaded, too. An added perk was the access to special rows of seats in the Walt Disney Theater for shows and performances.  

Concierge also offers expedited embarkation off the ship on port days. And, on the  final  day of the cruise, this expedited exit allows Concierge families to avoid standing in the long, winding line to disembark, with luggage in hand and tired, sad kids who don’t want to get off the boat.

Dining Options on the Disney Wish Cruise Ship

The main dining rooms on this newest ship are actually my favorite part of the Disney Wish. The Worlds of Marvel-themed restaurant is a very clever dinner show, and it was even modified slightly from both sailings to remain as amusing the second time. The rotational dining on the Wish, wherein you move nightly to differing venues but stay with the same serving staff, includes Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure, the California cuisine-inspired 1923 restaurant, and Worlds of Marvel. 

The sing-along portions with the cast of Frozen during the Arendelle dinner were great fun. During this Frozen dining adventure there were also mini-concerts and dances to the soundtrack’s most popular songs. 

Marceline Market is the large breakfast and lunch buffet restaurant adjacent to the pool deck. What’s different about the poolside dining on the Wish, compared to other Disney cruise ships, is the food court-like area with Tex-Mex, BBQ, pizza, burgers, and the ever-popular soft serve ice cream. There are ample vegetarian alternatives compared to the older ships.

There is an Inside Out-themed dessert bar with baked goods, candies, and ice cream, too. Soft drinks are available all day in the drink machines on the pool deck areas as well as coffee and tea, but picky coffee drinkers will want to know a better option. My favorite spot on most Disney cruise ships is Cove Cafe which isn’t included in the cost, but this café, in the adults-only section, is always serene in the morning after watching the sun rise.

The new spaces designed for the adult restaurants are stunning.  Palo Steakhouse, the new Rose Bar, and Enchantée by chef Arnaud Lallement are elegant and exclusive spaces for any luxury traveler. 

The pool deck on this new ship is slightly different than others in the Disney Cruise family. There are two pools in the main area that have a large movie screen (and a stage for Pirate Night, a party with live music and fireworks during one evening of the sailing).

A new feature on the Disney Wish is the AquaMouse, a waterslide combined with a narrative story shown on the inside of the tunnels. This first-of-its-kind hybrid with inner tubes is something to check off your list on the cruise. But note that you have to be thoughtful as to when to show up to avoid long lines.

The Toy Story Splash Zone is a cleverly shaded area for smaller children that has a much smaller waterslide for those slowly learning to see if they like such a thing or not.   There’s a pool, somewhat out-of-the-way, at the front of the ship that is my favorite due to the smaller crowds and the partial shading offered. The adult pool area is always a welcome respite from larger crowds and the infinity pool at the aft of the ship is a lovely place for some kid-free time.

Disney Wish Kids Clubs

But Disney has always been great about providing age-appropriate entertainment, both in their kids clubs and nursery as well as their tween club and teen club. This is one of the strengths of Disney’s cruise programming that makes them unrivaled.

I think the biggest change between the Disney Wish and the previous ships can be found in the kids clubs. Many parents know, that if you have children around ages 8 or 9, that they often feel “too big” for a traditional kids club pleasing more the 4 to 7 year-old crowd.  

Past guests of Disney will recognize the Oceaneer Club and the It’s a Small World nursery, but they’ve greatly expanded other kids club offerings. There are numerous interactive activities scattered throughout multiple rooms, including a mini Walt Disney Imagineering lab where children design their own roller coaster rides.

There’s a Star Wars room and an Avengers-themed room that each have the magical feeling of a movie set. There are many character meet-and-greets in which families can participate, and parents who are Star Wars or Marvel fans might ask their kids if they can go in to explore the spaces in detail. 

Family Fun on the Disney Wish

Family fun on the mega-resort that is a Disney cruise ship takes many forms. Families will enjoy the character interactions during the open houses at the various kids and teen clubs during the day. The Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge is a must; try a galactic and colorful concoction and watch the show of various spacecraft flying by behind the bar.

Families can also enjoy Disney cruise classics like bingo and trivia throughout the lounge spaces. We also attended a family “silent disco” where guests wear headsets. We are not big dancers outside of our kitcehn, but we tried it.  

For those more athletically-inclined, the Hero Zone is a large gymnasium space for basketball as well as some scheduled physical competitions. There are also foosball and ping pong tables in this area for families to enjoy. 

Wellness Aboard The Disney Wish

The Rainforest pass is one of my favorite parts of sailing the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. However, on the Wish, the spa area is configured very differently than those other ships. Rather than featuring large floor-to-ceiling windows with sea views from both the hot tub and lounging areas, the Rainforest area on the Wish is enclosed with delightful tropical design.

Truthfully, I missed the sea views during my spa day. The Tangled hair salon, separate from the spa and adjacent to the shops near the grand hall, offered fantastic blowouts at each of my two appointments.

My Disney Wish Cruise Review

Our Concierge Disney Wish Cruise Review gets high ratings for the spacious staterooms, personalized service, and perks of convenience. I was particularly impressed with the specialized service the concierge staff provided to accommodate our party. My friend really felt like it was a true vacation with all of the service she received. While the staff would have tried to meet our special requests had we not been sailing Concierge, I do believe the experience would have been different as we would have had to pursue what we needed from each department on our own.

Planning your first (or 4th) Disney cruise?

If you are considering a European or Alaskan adventure, or short stay at the Disney theme parks before your cruise, Luxe Recess can plan  everything  as we are the luxury Disney experts. We can book all cruises, park tours, hotels, and transfers, so you can focus on getting excited for your vacation! We can help ensure Disney is the best line for your family or if an ultra luxe line is better.

Request a quote or a consultation call.

The Two Ritz Carlton Naples Resorts: Which One Do You Choose?

Nayara tented camp, nayara springs, and nayara gardens: a costa rica resort guide.

12 Benefits of Disney Cruise Concierge Level

In the booking process for your Disney cruise, you’ll have the option to choose a Concierge stateroom or suite. Understanding the benefits of the Disney Cruise Concierge Level will help you decide whether it’s worth the extra cost. Here are the 12 benefits of Concierge Level to help you decide.

What is Concierge Level on Disney Cruises?

Disney Cruise Line’s Concierge Level offers various services and amenities that may appeal to guests looking for a more luxurious and personalized cruise experience. For an additional cost, Concierge Level guests can enjoy perks such as priority boarding, access to a private lounge, concierge assistance, enhanced amenities, and other premium services. 

Want personalized assistance with Concierge Staterooms?

Concierge Level Disney Cruise Benefits

Let’s now look at Disney’s Concierge Level’s 12 benefits.

1. Pre-Arrival Services

Disney Concierge guests can take advantage of pre-arrival services that help smooth the vacation planning process. Additionally, you’ll get priority bookings on Disney Cruise Line.

Concierge Guests can go online and pre-reserve many onboard activities and services up to 130 days before the sail date. You can inform the Concierge Team (or your Disney travel agent ) of your preferences. As soon as the 130-day booking window opens, the Concierge Team will make the bookings on your behalf. This way, guests can relax and enjoy themselves, knowing that all details have been taken care of.

Pre-Arrival Services for Concierge guests:

• Port Adventures
• Specialty Dining and Character Dining reservations (Palo, Remy, Royal Tea, etc.) , spa treatments, and nursery stays
• Requests for dining room seating
• Celebrations and special occasions
• Special requests ranging from pre-arrival to post-cruise

Whether booking a table at Palo or securing a cabana on Castaway Cay , the Concierge Team is ready to assist guests in any way possible.

If you have questions about upgrading to Concierge or wondering how much it will cost , it’s time to contact The Vacationeer .

They can provide up to $1,000 in FREE Disney onboard credit , Disney’s best available pricing on some of the industry’s top cruise ships, and expert planning advice and assistance. They can also help you select the best stateroom for your needs.

And, their services are completely free to use — no itinerary planning fees!

2. Priority Boarding and Disembarkation

Concierge Level guests have access to an exclusive check-in area on embarkation day, bypassing the long lines for regular guests and being the first to board the ship when it’s ready. Concierge passengers can also disembark before regular passengers as soon as the ship docks.

This perk can save you time, avoid crowds, and let you fast-track your tired or impatient children onto the ship. The Concierge Level may be worth it if you’re looking for a more relaxing and hassle-free cruise experience.

3. Private Disney Concierge Lounge

A private lounge is available to Concierge Level guests on Disney cruises. The Concierge Lounge is the perfect place to relax with a drink in hand or to enjoy a light meal or snack. It’s rarely crowded and a great place to meet other Concierge Level guests. Plus, there’s always at least one Concierge Host in the lounge to answer your questions.

Concierge Lounge Hours

The Concierge Lounge is typically open as early as 7:00 am and remains available until around 10:00 pm.  Operating hours can vary based on port times, itinerary, etc.

Food at Concierge Lounge 

The Concierge Lounge serves food throughout the day.  Here’s a typical schedule:

• 7:00 am to 10:30 am : Continental breakfast items
• 11:00 am to 4:30 pm : Lunch offerings
• 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm : Dinner offerings
• 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm : Desserts

Concierge guests can choose from various light bites, hot a la carte menu items, and non-alcoholic beverages daily from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. Bottled water, soft drinks, milk, juices, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are always available. Packaged popcorn is also often available to take to your stateroom, the movies, the shows, or to enjoy in the lounge.

Reminder: All Concierge Lounge food and drinks are complimentary, including alcohol.

Open Bar at Concierge Lounge

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm: Complimentary selection of beer, wine & spirits

An open bar in the Concierge Lounge runs continuously from 5–10 pm daily. Guests can take their drinks anywhere on the ship, including to dinner.

4. Private Sun Deck

Disney Cruise Line concierge guests have privileges to a secluded sun deck, accessed through a private entrance from the Lounge area. These quiet, hidden outdoor spaces make them the perfect place to relax and enjoy the stunning ocean views.

Concierge sun decks feature comfortable lounge chairs, umbrellas for shade, complimentary suntan lotion, towels, and refreshing drinks. There are hot tubs on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy sun decks, while you can find a hot tub and wading pool on the new Disney Wish.

5. Special Gifts

On a Disney cruise, concierge guests often receive special gifts throughout their cruise. These gifts vary but may include items like a fruit basket, a bottle of champagne, or fresh flowers in your stateroom. Plus, your nightly turndown service will include special cookies or chocolates.

Guests can expect a more substantial souvenir from your Concierge Host on the final night. These gifts are usually exclusive Don “Ducky” Williams prints, but sometimes there are other surprises. While they aren’t guaranteed, these special surprise gifts add a touch of magic to your Disney Cruise Line vacation.

6. Upgraded Stateroom Amenities for Disney Concierge Level

Depending on the ship, Concierge staterooms range from a regular Category 4 type that sleeps five to a giant Royal Suite that sleeps seven. They all have upgraded amenities, including upgraded linens and sofas/chairs that are more comfortable than you find in standard staterooms. Guests can also choose which type of pillow they want to use: feather, hypoallergenic, or therapeutic memory foam.

Upon check-in, you will discover soft, comfortable bathrobes and slippers in the Concierge Level staterooms to use during your cruise. All staterooms have upgraded toiletries and a refrigerator stocked with complimentary bottled water and sodas of your choice (restocked every day). These amenities make cruising with Disney even more special and add an extra touch of luxury.

Have questions about stateroom categories?

7. Priority Cabana Reservations on Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay beach cabanas are a hot ticket. Concierge guests (and Pearl/Platinum Castaway Club members) can book a Cabana at Castaway Cay before anyone else. Other guests often have no chance to reserve a cabana before they are all booked.

If a Cabana at Castaway Cay is a top priority, you may consider upgrading to Concierge. The Concierge Level does not guarantee a cabana, but it gives you a much better chance of getting one.

8. Free Internet for Disney Cruise Line Concierge Guests

On most Disney ships, guests staying in a Concierge stateroom get at least one day — if not an entire cruise’s worth — of free onboard Wi-Fi service . This means you can stay connected to your friends and family at home without worrying about racking up a hefty bill.

Note : Guests staying in the super luxurious Royal Suites always get unlimited internet access.

9. Exclusive Character Meet-and-Greet

Concierge guests typically have the opportunity to enjoy a private Disney character meet-and-greet in the lounge. The characters will be more accessible, and you’ll be able to take some great shots without competing with non-Concierge passengers.

10. Priority Seating at Shows

Concierge-level guests now have the option of entering the Walt Disney Theater early to ensure the best seats.

It works this way: The Concierge guests will gather in the Concierge Lounge approximately 30 minutes before the show. Then they will be guided to the theater via a backstage pathway to avoid long lines outside.

As Concierge guests enter the theater, they can select their preferred seats before the doors open to the rest of the audience. Gourmet popcorn is also available as a complimentary treat for Concierge guests.

11. Special Dining Opportunities 

If you stay in a Concierge stateroom with a dining table, you have the option of having dinner delivered to your stateroom from the main dining room. Palo delivery is even available to the Royal Suite guests.

On the last morning, Concierge guests can order breakfast from room service. Room service closes at 1:30 am for all non-Concierge guests.

12. Concierge Host  

Concierge Hosts are available exclusively to Concierge guests during their stay aboard the ship. Your Concierge Host can assist you with any needs you may have rather than waiting at the guest services desk . It’s like having your own personal assistant on vacation!

Concierge Hosts can assist you with checking excursion availability, booking shore excursions , depositing funds into your account, handling your laundry/dry cleaning, changing a dining reservation at Palo or Remy, and booking placeholders for your next Disney cruise. If you have questions, they are also there to answer them.

These Concierge Hosts are exceptional and remarkably attentive to your needs. There is nothing too much trouble for them, and they always do it with a smile. Don’t forget to tip !

Ready to book? The Vacationeer can help!

What Disney Concierge Does NOT Offer (but We Wish It Did)

Disney Cruise Concierge is great but costs a lot of extra money. Here are a few things we wish were included with Disney Cruise Concierge to make it even more magical:

• Having a separate restaurant just for Concierge guests would be ideal.
• A dedicated area on Castaway Cay for Concierge guests might be an excellent addition.
• Concierge guests could benefit from priority escort through customs.
• While waiting for embarkation, Concierge guests should have access to a nice area at the port with food and activities. We are glad to hear that there will be a new Concierge Lounge at Port Canaveral soon!

Is Disney Cruise Concierge Level Worth It?

With so many perks, it’s easy to see why sailing Concierge Level is such a popular choice for cruisers. If you’re looking for a truly magical vacation experience, sailing Concierge Level is the way to go. But is it worth the significant extra expense?

As prices vary according to the season, route, ship, and occupancy, it is hard to determine whether the Disney cruise Concierge Level is worth it. There is no way to calculate the value based on numbers, but logically, a larger room will be more expensive .

As cruise ships charge per person (rather than per room), the value will depend on your family size and priorities. Some are attracted to the open bar, while others want priority reservations for the Cabanas at Castaway Cay or expedited boarding. It is well worth the money if you add priority access and all the additional amenities.

Disney Cruise Concierge level is worth it for families with small children. Extra space, special treatment, and amenities make the experience more pleasant. We recommend upgrading to the Concierge level if you’re looking to book a cruise and have young children (and don’t mind paying extra).

Disney Cruise Concierge Level may not be the best option if you are on a tight budget. However, suppose you don’t mind paying more for priority boarding, reservations, seating, additional space, upgraded amenities, and extra perks such as the lounge and sun deck. In that case, upgrading to Concierge is absolutely worth the money!

Not to mention, you’ll have access to some of the best Cast Members who are always happy to help make your cruise vacation perfect.

Thanks for reading our 12 Benefits of Disney Cruise Concierge Level. Have a wonderful trip!

How to Book Disney Cruise Concierge Level

Do you have questions about the Concierge level? Are you ready to book your Disney Cruise? The Vacationeer can assist you!

If you need help planning and booking your magical Disney Cruise Line vacation, please contact our friends at The Vacationeer. They are always willing to help you, and their services are free !

Related Posts:

Share This Page: Choose Your Platform!

About the author: joshua powell.

Related Posts

Doesn’t disney ship provide snacks all the time e even if you don’t have concierge level. I heard that you can get the ice cream that concierge provides if you just ask for it. Is popcorn free for all passengers or just concierge members when there’s a movie entertainment at night? Do you get a special dinner free or discounted to Remi or other special words restaurants when you book concierge. Does everybody on Disney get free tree or chocolates every night on their pillow or just concierge?

Hi Kathryn, thanks for your questions. – Snacks: You usually won’t find anything “prepackaged” (bags of chips or candy, for example) without paying for them at shops such as Preludes or through Room Service. Some ships also have “sweet shops” or cafes that charge for bakery items. But for most of the day you have the option to go grab something “heavier” such as chicken fingers, burgers, fries, etc. at no charge either up on the pool deck or through room service. You also might find hors d’oeuvres in the nightclub/entertainment district in the evening. – Ice Cream: You can usually request Mickey Premium Ice Cream bars through room service at no additional charge (other than a tip for the server). You can also get free unlimited soft serve ice cream at the pool deck most of the day. Some ships also have an onboard sweet shop that sells gelato for a fee. – Popcorn: To my knowledge, popcorn is sold (not free), and can be found at Preludes near the onboard cinemas and/or Walt Disney Theatre. – Restaurant Discounts/Freebies: The only “free” signature/adult-exclusive dining I’m aware of is that Platinum-level Castaway Club Members (multi-repeat cruisers, unrelated to Concierge) get a free dinner at Palo. Concierge staff can, however, be a big help in securing tough-to-get reservations at places such as Palo and Remy. – Chocolate on Pillows: I’ve *usually* received a chocolate or two during my nightly turndown service even when not staying in Concierge. Hope that helps!

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Is Disney Cruise Line concierge level worth it? We tested it to find out.

When you sail on a Disney cruise, everyone gets access to included food, good service and great entertainment. But there's a class of cabins and guests that get a little bit of extra pixie dust — Disney Cruise Line concierge guests.

Disney Cruise Line sits toward the pricier end of the cruising spectrum, even in the most basic of staterooms. But let's assume you've already decided that the cost to cruise with Disney — with the Disney characters, access to an included rotating dining room schedule and evening Broadway-caliber Disney shows — is worth it for you.

Looking at the cabin and amenity options available on Disney cruise ships, you may eventually go further down the rabbit (er, mouse) hole and wonder if Disney Cruise Line's concierge-level rooms and service are worth an additional premium.

To answer this question, we've sailed in a concierge-level room (twice) to see what exactly all that extra cash gets you on Disney Wonder and, more recently, on the new Disney Wish . Here's what we found out about Disney Cruise Line concierge-level rooms, benefits, service and lounge, and whether or not the perks are worth the additional cost.

What is Disney Cruise Line's concierge level?

Disney Cruise Line's concierge level is similar in some ways to a club-level room at a Disney World or Disneyland resort hotel. You pay more for this type of accommodation in exchange for access to a lounge, more attentive service and additional benefits. But the extras for concierge service on a Disney cruise ship actually go much further than the added benefits of a club room at the Disney parks.

Those who decide to spend the extra cash for a concierge-level room will be spoiled with earlier booking dates for excursions and activities, special onboard meals and offerings, the ability to book cabanas at Disney's Castaway Cay private island before others, early access to the theater in the evening to nab the best seats and a private lounge to utilize on the ship.

To access the concierge level on a Disney cruise, you have to book a concierge room type, and the benefits and upgraded service then convey with that cabin type. It's not an add-on you can tack onto an otherwise non-concierge stateroom.

Stateroom types within that concierge class of rooms start at the verandah-level room (i.e., a cabin with a private balcony) and go up in price and size to include a variety of suites. If you're already thinking you want to book a suite, you don't also have to decide about concierge level; you will automatically get Disney Cruise Line's concierge service included with your premium accommodations.

However, if you plan to book a cabin with a balcony, you will need to decide whether you want a room with the standard inclusions or if you want to upgrade to a concierge room with a balcony and all the extra Disney Cruise Line concierge benefits. The difference can be thousands of dollars.

When I priced out Disney Cruise Line concierge rooms, cruise fares started at just over $3,000 for a short sailing for two people. Prices go up to tens of thousands of dollars for concierge level for the larger suites or on longer sailings.

FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

Related: Best credit cards for cruises

Disney Cruise Line concierge benefits

Booking a concierge-level room on a Disney cruise brings many perks beyond access to the physical concierge lounge. Here's a quick summary of some of the Disney Cruise Line concierge benefits.

• Priority booking of activities and excursions 120 days before sailing.
• Priority boarding — be among the first on the ship.
• Access to the concierge lounge with included food and drinks.
• Complimentary wine, beer and spirits in the concierge lounge in the evenings.
• Free popcorn in the movie theaters.
• Priority seating for the evening shows.
• Priority walk-off on debarkation day.
• Room service ordering of hot breakfast or dinner from the main restaurants.
• Access to knowledgeable and helpful concierge hosts.

To appreciate the value of these perks, you have to understand how activity bookings work on a Disney cruise. Most cruise lines, including Disney, have an elite status pecking order in terms of when you can board, book premium onboard restaurants, make spa appointments, secure shore excursions and schedule onboard activities.

On Disney Cruise Line, first-time cruisers can make those bookings starting 75 days before sailing. That sounds like plenty of time, but unfortunately, those who have sailed with Disney before can make the bookings 90 to 120 days before setting sail, depending on their Castaway Club status .

However, if you book concierge level, the concierge team asks for your activity preferences via email 125 days before your sail date. They put in your requests precisely when the 120-day booking window opens, so essentially no one can book anything before you. This jump-start increases the odds that you get the spa times, onboard tastings, adults-only restaurant reservations and excursions you want.

Notably, if you want to book a private cabana at Castaway Cay, you basically have to sail in concierge level or have a high tier of status within the Disney Cruise Line program to snag one, as they book up quickly. This strategy works better on Disney's smaller ships; Disney Wish has so many concierge rooms that there's no guarantee you'll get a private cabana if everyone else is vying for the opportunity, as well.

Those in a concierge-level suite can also order from an expanded room service menu that includes meals from a main dining room on the ship. This is the only way to get a hot breakfast delivered to your stateroom.

Disney Cruise Line concierge guests also get priority tendering to ports, when required. Thanks to priority boarding times on embarkation day, we were the third family to come aboard when we sailed on Disney Wonder, which meant we got several more hours on the ship than we did on our first cruise. Boarding first also meant we had the pools and slides to ourselves for a long time.

Port Canaveral, the departure port for several Disney cruise ships, offers an entire lounge with a stocked fridge where concierge guests can wait before boarding starts for that group. Your special treatment starts before you even walk on board.

Once onboard, plan on stopping by the exclusive embarkation-day lunch for concierge-level guests, so you can avoid the lunchtime crowds and get to know your concierge host team. While it's not mandatory to attend, the lunch is a good way to kick off your cruise (before or after you've gotten in any early swimming you want to do).

Pro tip: Get the welcome-aboard sundae if it's on offer.

For me, the best part of the concierge magic is the final thing the concierge staff can do for you on the last morning of your sailing.

On our first cruise, getting off the ship literally took hours. We burned off our "vacation high" in a hurry. But when you cruise in the concierge level, you can enjoy a light breakfast in the lounge, and then the staff can take you and your luggage down a private elevator and straight to the walkway off the ship. Debarkation takes mere minutes.

This may not sound impressive until you've done it the other way, battling thousands of cruisers also ready to disembark. I'm here to tell you that experiencing no lines, no stress and no regrets as the concierge staff escorted us off the ship made for an easier transition back into the real world.

Inside the Disney concierge lounge

The physical concierge lounge is a tangible hallmark of Disney Cruise Line's concierge-level service.

On Disney Wonder, the lounge is located midship on Deck 10, which is almost as high as you can go on the ship. On Disney Wish, the concierge lounge is on decks 12 and 13, which was also one of the topmost decks on that ship.

You must use your keycard to get into the lounge. Near the entrance, concierge staff are waiting to assist you; they will quickly get to know you over the course of the cruise. The staff are basically your cruise fairy godparents. (On the flip side, they'd totally know if you tried to bring in a non-concierge guest, so don't do that.)

The lounges themselves each have a food and beverage area (with a great coffee machine!), along with various seating areas. On Disney Wish, the lounge had a good-sized bar, plus hot tubs and a small pool deck just for concierge guests.

Except on debarkation day and for a private Disney character meet-and-greet when we sailed on Disney Wonder in early 2020, the lounge was rarely crowded during our visits.

In the concierge lounge, you'll find light snacks and small plates that rotate throughout the day with some treats you can only get in this lounge.

On Disney Wish, we enjoyed the lunchtime sushi rolls that we only found in the concierge lounge. We loved to pop in for a snack or dessert for the kids. Since the lounge was so close to the concierge rooms on Wish, it was logistically simpler to grab a quick breakfast or snack there rather than heading over to the main onboard restaurants.

Related: How we made our second cruise better than the first

But what I truly loved about Disney's concierge lounge was the help-yourself-fridge. We stocked the mini-fridge in our stateroom from this main fridge, as well as loaded our backpack before shore excursions.

Each evening, complimentary beer, wine and spirits are served in the lounge by bartenders who seemed to know everyone's names by the second evening. Don't worry if you don't drink or you want something for your kids, mocktails and alcohol-free "daiquiris" were available upon request.

Disney Cruise Line concierge rooms

Disney Cruise Line concierge rooms generally start at the oceanview with verandah level, and they will be clearly labeled as concierge rooms when booking. Disney Wish also offers a few 357-square-foot family oceanview rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows without verandahs within the concierge class, too.

If you're looking for more space, the ships have one-bedroom, two-bedroom and specialty suites (like the insane 1,966-square-foot Tower Suite on Disney Wish). As previously mentioned, all Disney Cruise Line suites come with included concierge access and services.

On Disney Wish, we qualified for concierge access by sailing in a 608-square-foot one-bedroom suite that was just a few doors down from the concierge lounge. It had a master bedroom with a king-sized bed, gorgeous bathroom with a Tangled-inspired mosaic over the bathtub, living room with a couch that converted to a bed and a dining area with a table for four. The divider between the living and dining spaces contained a Murphy bed that pulled down into an additional single bed. The suite more than comfortably slept my two kids, my mom and me.

On Disney Wonder, we had a slightly larger 614-square-foot one-bedroom suite that also conveyed concierge benefits. This suite actually felt more spacious than the one on Wish, though clearly has a more classical look. In both cases, we were royally spoiled with space and service compared to a more standard cruise cabin.

Related: How to choose a cruise cabin

How much do Disney Cruise concierge rooms cost?

Cruise prices vary dramatically, and that's especially true when you start layering in concierge benefits with Disney Cruise Line.

Looking about a year out on a short three-night Disney cruise from Florida to the Bahamas (including a stop at Disney's Castaway Cay), prices for an interior stateroom start at $1,554 for double occupancy or $2,555 for a family of four. On the same cruise, a non-concierge verandah room starts at $1,950 for two or $3,051 for four.

The lowest-level concierge stateroom (with verandah) starts at $3,180 for two or $4,411 for a family of four.

For that extra $1,500 to go up to concierge level, you get access to a little more time on the ship, are likely able to book exactly what you want with no stress, enjoy included evening drinks in the lounge, have snacks at the ready, get free popcorn at the movies, order hot room service breakfast (if you book a suite) and more.

Will almost doubling the cost of the cruise for those extras be worth it to everyone? Absolutely not.

In fact, I recommend against it for your first sailing on Disney Wish unless money is no object. That's because you'll feel compelled to spend your leisure and meal times in the concierge lounge when you should be out exploring all the ship has to offer and experiencing the food and entertainment at Disney's included restaurants.

For travelers who really enjoy lounges, streamlining all the processes, having access to free-flowing drinks and want the highest level of service, I'd argue that a concierge-level cabin can be worth it for a special occasion or once-in-a-lifetime Disney cruise.

On the other hand, for a seven-night Alaska cruise for a family of four, prices start around $7,000 for an interior stateroom, a verandah room is more than $11,000, and a concierge room currently starts at a staggering minimum of over $30,000. In that case, you'll probably never find me in a concierge room simply due to the cost.

Related: How to book a cruise using points and miles

Is Disney Cruise concierge level worth it?

You don't need to spend the extra money to book a concierge room to have a great cruise with Disney. It's already a premium cruise experience. But if you are debating whether concierge level is worth it, I'll try and help you decide.

For us, the biggest perks were the advance booking for meals and activities that wouldn't have been easy for a regular Disney cruiser to secure. The evening lounge drinks, free popcorn at the movies, available sunscreen and help from the concierge staff when our plans would change at the last minute (which happened a few times) were also pretty great.

The private deck on Disney Wish was nice, too.

I'd 100% book Disney concierge level again and would say it can be worth it — mostly on the shorter cruises where every minute matters more than it would on a seven- to 10-day cruise. Additionally, on those shorter cruises, you are more likely to have the stamina to not miss the evening lounge happy hours and to drop in a few times to try some of the snacks.

Those shorter cruises are also when there are fewer opportunities to fit in the adults-only restaurants, spa treatments, drink tastings and onshore activities, making the booking window advantage more important. I'd seriously consider buying up to Disney's concierge level on a three- or four-night sailing where I care about accessing specific restaurants and activities.

If you do get the chance to book a Disney Cruise with all the concierge perks, you're in for a treat. Start packing your cruise bag and planning those excursions and don't look back.

Related reading:

• 11 ways to save money on a Disney Cruise
• Why Disney cruises aren't just for kids
• 9 things you can only do on Disney Wish
• Disney's next ship to be named Treasure
• Comparing Disney, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines

The Disney Cruise Family Travel Blog

Travel and Fun Things To Do

• Disney Wish Menus
• Updated Disney Wish Concierge Lounge and Room service Menu
• Disney Cruise Breakfast Room Service Menu
• Disney Cruise Beverage Tasting Pricing
• Disney Wish Thanksgiving Meal
• Update: Disney Wish Room Service Menu
• Disney Cruise Updates the Worlds of Marvel Menu
• Disney Wish The Marceline Market
• Disney Wish Luna Menu
• Disney Wish Concierge Embarkation Lunch Menu
• Booking a Reservation in The Hyperspace Lounge on the Disney Wish
• Disney Wish Sit Down Breakfast Menu
• Pirate Night Menu
• Disney Wish Allergy Friendly Dinner Menus
• Disney Wish Lunch Menus
• Disney Wish Room Service Menu
• Enchanté Dessert Experience Menu
• Disney Wish Concierge Amenities, Room Service and Pillow Menu
• Menus from the Wishing Star and Enchanted Sword Cafe
• Disney Wish Nightingale’s Menu
• Disney Wish The Rose Menu
• Disney Wish Cove Café Menu
• Disney Wish The Bayou Menu
• Disney Wish Kid’s Dinner Menus
• Disney Wish Palo Steakhouse Dinner Menu
• Disney Wish Hyperspace Lounge Menu
• Disney Wish Keg & Compass Pub Menu
• Disney Wish Palo Steakhouse Brunch Menu
• Disney Wish Menu Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure
• Disney Wish Worlds of Marvel Menu
• Disney Wish 1923 Menu