Wish - Concierge or not?

[CeCe0906]

The paradox of Concierge is that it allows you to book way more activities early than you can get as a first time cruiser or even silver—but then you have so much to do you’ll spend even less time using the Concierge areas onboard. Compared to “Suite class” on other lines, it also doesn’t help you out with priority disembarkation on port days, or enhanced dining.

I really want to do a cabana on castaway cay so I plan to book Concierge for our next major celebration cruise—but we have now done 4 cruises (3/3/5/7) and never have I felt like I had enough time to do all the things I want on board, and I can’t think of any activities I would have rather skipped to be at the lounge (maybe a trivia or two where I did humiliatingly poorly?)—but we do like to chill on the adult sundeck—so perhaps the Wish would be the right ship—but then I’ve heard there are so many concierge rooms on the Wish that you’re not even that likely to get a cabana! Does anyone know if you can cancel/move/downgrade your cabin if you get shut out of cabanas on booking day?

Sent my request at the stroke of midnight, and didn't get the cabana; fingers crossed for the waitlist, but I don't have much hope. While I'm going to miss the cabana relaxing, I'm really bummed about missing the golf cart transpo - we are going to WDW prior to cruise, then doing Atlantis in Naussau, my knees are not going to be happy with more walking, especially in sand!

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Sent my request at the stroke of midnight, and didn't get the cabana; fingers crossed for the waitlist, but I don't have much hope. While I'm going to miss the cabana relaxing, I'm really bummed about missing the golf cart transpo - we are going to WDW prior to cruise, then doing Atlantis in Naussau, my knees are not going to be happy with more walking, especially in sand!

Oof, I hope you make it off the waitlist. I keep thinking with the crypto implosion, stock market slump, tech layoffs, “woke” boycotts, etc. that maybe demand for high end Disney experiences will become less intense, but I see no actual evidence of it happening so far. To the contrary, I’m contemplating doing the VIP park tour this winter before I’m priced out of it at some subsequent major price increase.

 

[dianerroy]

We sailed on the Wish last September concierge and are sailing concierge in May-the Americana coffee in the concierge lounge is the best coffee I have ever had-even better than abroad. I have no idea what they do to get black coffee to taste like a latte but it is amazing. I also love relaxing and having a drink in the lounge before dinner, and then afterwards before the show. Still gives you time to go to the other great bars on the ship as well. Lets face it, it comes down to $$ and if the perks are worth it to you.

 

[CeCe0906]

Oof, I hope you make it off the waitlist. I keep thinking with the crypto implosion, stock market slump, tech layoffs, “woke” boycotts, etc. that maybe demand for high end Disney experiences will become less intense, but I see no actual evidence of it happening so far. To the contrary, I’m contemplating doing the VIP park tour this winter before I’m priced out of it at some subsequent major price increase.

I don't know what your priced out point is, but I did one in August 2021 on a Thursday and it was 550/hr, I'm gifting one to my daughter in law and grandkids who are going this May, and I was quoted $750/ hr. Now it's a Sat, but not a holiday or anything.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

I don't know what your priced out point is, but I did one in August 2021 on a Thursday and it was 550/hr, I'm gifting one to my daughter in law and grandkids who are going this May, and I was quoted $750/ hr. Now it's a Sat, but not a holiday or anything.

Yeah-- I thought it was around $700/hr, and it's hard to justify spending one day on what could be an (off season) week on DCL...but I do want to do it once, and it has already jumped nearly 50% in the past 2 years. My originial plan was to wait for a reward for my (currently elementary school) kids for straight As in high school or a college acceptance, but now I'm telling myself we'll do it once soon and then say "not again until you guys start crushing it in middle school." Then I'll just have to hope either my or my husband's careers keep up with Disneyflation (or my kids aren't good students, lol).

 

[Sakura1017]

I agree worth it is subjective. As a silver member being concierge helped booked things that were impossible when it was heavily platinum. I somehow found an opening for concierge on the MV. I didn't get a cabana because I switched last minute from family ocean verandah. However, I was able to get palo brunch and enchante brunch. In addition, a reservation for hyperspace lounge, which is now no longer needed.

It was a great way to go to the lounge and relax and be away from the crowds. I loved the perk of entering the theater 30 minutes to watch all the new shows. In addition, the lounge offered different food options and you can order off the menu as well. I wasn't able to get my drink before main dining because the line was long, but they were able to bring me a drink to the rotation I was at one day, which was nice.

I didn't spend much time on the sun deck because of the weather, but with the right temperature it would be a great area to relax.

But any issues you have you get help with the concierge hosts. You don't have to go wait in the standard guest services lines. They were able to help me out with some issues regarding the spa.

Also it was nice that you get boarding group one at the port as well. So you didn't have to worry about if you got there way too early.

 

[PinkPixel]

We have sailed concierge on all five ships. I love them all, but it's a world apart on the Wish. Honestly, you hardly ever have to leave that beautiful lounge. The hot food kitchen, the full bar with multiple bartenders, the outdoor space and views - the only thing I didn't like was the itinerary. The "not-worth-it" comments are both spot-on and also very subjective. The extra dollars spent will never equate to the special food, drinks, etc. from a monetary standpoint - but every family's vacation budget is different as well. My husband and I both feel that the additional service and relationships made with the concierge team enhances our vacation a lot, and we are willing to save more for vacation and go less often as a tradeoff. Neither way is wrong - just a preference. But the Wish concierge is definitely something worth experiencing at least once if you can swing it!

Once we got off, I remember thinking this was probably a one-and-done since the itinerary is so blah for us. But when I reflect back on the vacation as a whole, I wouldn't mind a repeat some day if no other itineraries were appealing to us. It really was a fantastic cruise.

Did you do the 3 night or 4? Thanks

 

[PinkPixel]

We sailed on the Wish last September concierge and are sailing concierge in May-the Americana coffee in the concierge lounge is the best coffee I have ever had-even better than abroad. I have no idea what they do to get black coffee to taste like a latte but it is amazing. I also love relaxing and having a drink in the lounge before dinner, and then afterwards before the show. Still gives you time to go to the other great bars on the ship as well. Lets face it, it comes down to $$ and if the perks are worth it to you.

What dinner seating do you do? Also is the coffee from the machines in the lounge or somewhere else? thanks

 

[lscrivan18]

Does the Wish concierge lounge welcome children? What about the sundeck?

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

As long as the children are in a concierge room, they are fine in the concierge spaces.

 

[DCLMP]

Oof, I hope you make it off the waitlist. I keep thinking with the crypto implosion, stock market slump, tech layoffs, “woke” boycotts, etc. that maybe demand for high end Disney experiences will become less intense, but I see no actual evidence of it happening so far. To the contrary, I’m contemplating doing the VIP park tour this winter before I’m priced out of it at some subsequent major price increase.

It's a very small percentage of people that can afford that type of stuff to start with and they are not hurting in this economy. I don't think demand will decrease for the high end stuff. Just the normal folks will be priced out.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

It's a very small percentage of people that can afford that type of stuff to start with and they are not hurting in this economy. I don't think demand will decrease for the high end stuff. Just the normal folks will be priced out.

Yes, just in case it wasn’t clear, that was my point as well.

 

[John VN]

It's a very small percentage of people that can afford that type of stuff to start with and they are not hurting in this economy. I don't think demand will decrease for the high end stuff. Just the normal folks will be priced out.

Yes, just in case it wasn’t clear, that was my point as well.

r.e. bold -- Always wondered just who the normal folks actually are who sail DCL. Are they *inside cabin* or *in a cabin with a porthole* or *a verandah cabin*??? We once considered ourselves *regular no frills 'normal' cruisers* who preferred a verandah until we went DCL Concierge and then it was just fewer cruises due to way higher costs.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

r.e. bold -- Always wondered just who the normal folks actually are who sail DCL. Are they *inside cabin* or *in a cabin with a porthole* or *a verandah cabin*??? We once considered ourselves *regular no frills 'normal' cruisers* who preferred a verandah until we went DCL Concierge and then it was just fewer cruises due to way higher costs.

I can’t speak for the other poster, but I understood the context to mean “normal folks” are people whose total wealth is less than a several million dollars or whose income is less than about $750k (the 1% threshold for American wealth and income, respectively)— it wasn’t about how they spend it but that people with huge amounts of money jockeying for the most expensive experiences at Disney were insulated from the employment trends and inflation. I think that thesis is still generally correct but I also think a lot of top 2% (or top 5%?10%?) families were booking concierge as well because there are many more concierge cabins available for sailings in the next six months than there were in 2022 and 2023. I wonder if @CeCe0906 ever made it off their cabana waitlist.

 

[DCLMP]

r.e. bold -- Always wondered just who the normal folks actually are who sail DCL. Are they *inside cabin* or *in a cabin with a porthole* or *a verandah cabin*??? We once considered ourselves *regular no frills 'normal' cruisers* who preferred a verandah until we went DCL Concierge and then it was just fewer cruises due to way higher costs.

I would say the majority of people cannot afford a Disney cruise at all. I would guess people that cruise DCL a lot do it offseason or live in Florida.
As for myself I've done every type of cabin. I'm more interested in the ports than cabin type and I'm always looking for deal.

 

[John VN]

I can’t speak for the other poster, but I understood the context to mean “normal folks” are people whose total wealth is less than a several million dollars or whose income is less than about $750k (the 1% threshold for American wealth and income, respectively)— it wasn’t about how they spend it but that people with huge amounts of money jockeying for the most expensive experiences at Disney were insulated from the employment trends and inflation. I think that thesis is still generally correct but I also think a lot of top 2% (or top 5%?10%?) families were booking concierge as well because there are many more concierge cabins available for sailings in the next six months than there were in 2022 and 2023. I wonder if @CeCe0906 ever made it off their cabana waitlist.

r.e. bold -- WOW, I understand the desire to be loyal to DCL but those figures are WAY FAR AWAY from this almost 74yo geezer's neighborhood and I guess that's why we abandoned DCL.

We just had another 4 Day Cruise end yesterday and did a walk off. Our Butler came to our cabin, walked us past seriously - 1000+ people already on line to exit the ship and we were FIRST to walk off. We had dinner in our Private Restaurant every night except for our 51st Anniversary Dinner when we ate at a Specialty Restaurant for free thanks to Level Perk. Walked off with 2 bottles of wine + other Level Perks. I was sooooo bad at one dinner I drank the whole bottle of Organic Red Wine the Sommelier brought that night. All drinks are free throughout the ship and on the Private Island.

A higher level of Concierge than DCL that is often priced at a WISH Verandah and thus the reason we jumped ship. Understanding that destinations can be a priority, we simply want a CHILLED OUT experience.

 

[Lucien Franciosa]

When it comes to concierge and whether it's of value on a dollar bases, I'd have to say no. I did concierge on the Dream in a Family Stateroom with Verandah in December and was much more than a regular verandah not in concierge. I also have a 1 bedroom concierge suite booked in April 2024 on the Fantasy for 3 of us. The cost of the cruise in 2024 is almost as much as our 10 night cruise with Regent Seven Seas last month in March for my wife and me.

But the reason I book concierge is not because I find it a value compared to how much I spend, it's because the other benefits are of value to me and what I'm willing to pay to receive. While I love DCL, the atmosphere, the ships, the shows, and the Disney experience, I am not a fan of the MDRs food or service. I use concierge to book Remy for dinner twice, Palo for dinner twice, Palo brunch, port adventures, on board activities and tastings, and a cabana on Castaway Cay. Being able to get on the ship with little fuss is an added bonus. The same is also the case with using the lounge, having a private sundeck and hot tubs, snacks and drinks, early access to the shows, not needed to go to guest services, and easy disembarkation. For many, concierge is just not worth it to do, and I certainly understand where they are coming from and their opinions. For some, such as myself, it's the way I prefer to cruise when I do a Disney cruise.

This. I read all the analyses based on cost and how many drinks one can consume and for my wife and I that just misses the mark. No it's not worth it from a money point of view. But it is worth it (for us) from a peace of mind and just getting to relax point of view. Unlike Disney World where you have to spend months planning and studying and researching how to optimize your time in the parks... with concierge they take care of virtually everything for you. Want a cabana (and we love ours to relax in), concierge is the way to go. On the boat first. Off the boat first. Dinner reservations, concierge. Drink courses, concierge. Need to make a change? They do it. There is a value to no lines for us, we are old (and feel we have earned concierge lol).

Sure, 30 years ago I would be the person running around to explore everything, now I am content to go at my pace and leave something to explore next cruise. In the meantime, I can sit in the lounge sipping a mai tai and thinking just how good life is. Cheers concierge!

 

[noahsmom]

We just booked concierge on Wish for July 2025. We haven’t sailed since 2019. Where can I find a list of tastings and Palo menu (sounds like that has changed).

 

[RedHead0186]

We just booked concierge on Wish for July 2025. We haven’t sailed since 2019. Where can I find a list of tastings and Palo menu (sounds like that has changed).

Palo menu, you can check out Disney Cruise Line Blog: https://disneycruiselineblog.com/. You can also look there for old navigators to get a sense of what tastings might be offered. But, if you want to know specifically what tastings will be offered on your sailing, you'll need to contact Shoreside.