Mickey Chick's Magical Adventures

    The name Disney is synonymous with service that goes above and beyond, and Disney Cruise Line is well-regarded throughout the industry for raising the bar on guest service. Regardless of age or stateroom category, every guest onboard a Disney ship is treated like royalty. So when guests book a Concierge level stateroom, they are in for a real treat!

Suite Dreams: The Lion King themed Concierge stateroom on the Disney Treasure.

The VIP treatment starts with spacious vanities and a fresh welcome amenity waiting in your suite.

  

The famous Disney split-bath design, upgraded with custom mosaics and double vanities for Concierge guests.

     Disney Cruise Line has some of the biggest stateroom designs at sea, and their Concierge level cabins are no exception. The famous split-bathroom design, upgraded amenities, and spacious accommodations are just the beginning. Your room becomes a true retreat with a pillow menu for personalized comfort and a mini-fridge stocked with your favorite beverages. For those staying in a one-bedroom suite or higher, you can even skip the morning rush and enjoy a full hot breakfast delivered right to your suite’s dining table. 

Elegant small bites: A curated selection of savory and sweet offerings change throughout the day.

       Disney Concierge level also includes access to the Concierge Lounge, which opens as early as 6:00 AM. There is a serving area offering specialty coffee, beverages, and small bites throughout the day. 

      One of our favorite perks here was the pantry; a simple request for small snacks to bring on shore with us yielded items like chips, granola bars and trail mix. In the lounge area, a curated menu is available with elegant offerings for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as a happy hour every evening that spans the dinner and theater rotations. The lounge also hosts an exclusive character meet-and-greet, allowing for photos without the long lines found elsewhere on the ship.

An exclusive enclave: The multi-level Triton Class sun deck features a private bar and plenty of quiet space

      For many, the defining feature of the Triton Class concierge is the massive, multi-level sun deck (see above). On ships like the Wish and Treasure, this exclusive enclave offers its own bar, multiple hot tubs, and a serene atmosphere. All of these exclusive spaces offer plush loungers, cooling face-towels, sunblock, and some self-serve beverages. On the Dream, Fantasy, Magic, and Wonder, you’ll find a serene, elevated sun deck on the port side. 

The best way to enjoy the sun deck? With a signature Dole Whip cocktail in hand!

     While these newer ships offer a prime vantage point for the fireworks on Pirate Night,  our personal favorite Triton Class perk was the dedicated Dole Whip Station! Whether you prefer it as a simple refreshment or as part of a "grown up" cocktail, having this signature Disney treat available on demand on the exclusive sun deck was pure magic. 

A private retreat on the sand— complete with comfortable seating and a stocked fridge.

    One of the biggest advantages of "Suite Life" actually starts before you leave home. The Shoreside Concierge team is at the ready to assist with booking difficult-to-reserve activities. Right after the booking is finalized, guests should be on the lookout for a Welcome Aboard email from the shoreside concierge team. The email outlines the special privileges and amenities available to concierge guests and opens the line of communication for any questions or special needs a guest may have regarding their upcoming voyage. There will be a number of contacts throughout the pre-trip period introducing the ship, providing information about the stateroom accommodations, and encouraging guests to peruse the port adventure offerings for their sailing. 

The ultimate concierge perk: Securing  a private family cabana on Castaway Cay!

Nothing beats a day at the beach when you have a private cabana as your home base!

 

    The team will reach out again, this time encouraging guests to compile their requests for the priority booking window. While other guests are waiting for their windows to open, the concierge team will be working on your behalf starting at the 130-day mark. This is the "secret weapon" for securing the much-beloved (and coveted) Castaway Cay Cabanas, as well as Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or spa appointments, onboard activities like the Royal Gathering and adult-only dining reservations such as Palo Brunch. 

The elusive Palo Brunch: Secured effortlessly thanks to the Concierge shoreside planning team

      Once onboard, the team remains available throughout the day to handle any schedule changes or challenges. For instance, on our last sailing, the ship was diverted to a Western Caribbean sailing due to a hurricane in the Atlantic. While other guests onboard were scrambling to schedule shore excursions for the new itinerary, a quick trip to the concierge lounge had our desired port adventures secured before the revision to the app went live.

The quiet elegance of 1923 while the rest of the ship boards.

    

     The VIP treatment begins the moment you arrive at the port, where Concierge guests are led to a special waiting area with comfy seating and refreshments. Once the ship is cleared for boarding, you are among the first guided onboard for a private welcome lunch in one of the ship’s beautiful rotational dining venues. While thousands of guests head to the pool-deck buffet, Concierge guests enjoy a multi-course sit-down meal in a serene table-service environment complete with a welcoming flute of prosecco! 

Fresh starts: Enjoying a chilled seafood appetizer

     After lunch, the lounge provides a relaxing environment to await your stateroom—which typically opens to Concierge guests earlier than the rest of the ship. You’ll find your stateroom’s mini-fridge stocked with water and soda, which can be replenished via the open fridges in the concierge lounge. 

A serene retreat: The Disney Treasure Concierge Lounge offers plush seating and a quiet atmosphere for guests to unwind.

     Other exclusive perks include priority seating and popcorn at each evening’s main-stage performance, as well as for movies in the theater. 

Prime views for 'Moana'—one of the many perks of priority theater seating for Concierge guests.

     You’ll also receive a starter WiFi package to check in with folks at home and enjoy priority boarding for tenders in port. 

    From the shoreside planning to the final morning on the ship, Disney Concierge ensures every moment is as seamless as it is magical.

  

There's no night like Pirate Night!

     If you'd like to learn more about the Concierge experience or sailing on Disney Cruise Line, leave a question or comment. I'd love to hear from you!

 

Mickey Chick is a passionate traveler who has explored various corners of the globe. As a travel advisor for FamilyTale Vacations with years of travel experience, she enjoys sharing her tips and insights to help fellow explorers make the most out of their journeys. She believes that travel is not just about sightseeing but also a transformative experience that opens doors to new perspectives and enriches our lives. You can follow her adventures on her blog and social media channels.

What about those “last-minute” cruise deals?

     On a recent back-to-back sailing on the newly re-imagined Disney Wonder, Mickey Chick had the good fortune to view the new Broadway-quality stage show, Frozen: A Musical Spectacular not once, but twice.

        On a recent back-to-back sailing, Mickey Chick took a tour of all the the refreshed and refurbished areas of the re-imagined Disney Wonder. We found so many exciting new features, that I had to break it down deck-by-deck. Today we'll take a look at the lively kids' spaces that span Deck 5.

        Let's start with the littlest ones. Unfortunately we started cruising long after my daughter was nursery age, so we never had the opportunity to take advantage of Flounder's Reef Nursery. I have to say, I was slightly jealous seeing the babies brought out at night with red lipstick kisses on their foreheads. (I later learned that they had been tucked in by Snow White herself.) Who wouldn't want to nap in this darling, dimly lit area in the newly redesigned and re-dubbed It's a Small World Nursery?

Mickey Chick w/the Main Mouse in D-Lounge

      On a recent back-to-back sailing, Mickey Chick explored just about every corner of the fresh-from dry dock Disney Wonder. There was so much to share, that I needed to break it up into a deck-by-deck tour. Today's blog takes us from aft to fore along deck four:

Shutters' Portside Seating Area

       The most prominent change can be found on the port side, where Shutters has taken its cruise photo program into the 21st Century. Gone are the days where passengers crowd into the limited space searching for familiar faces on the walls. And, while the photobook library system on the Dream class ships are a more civilized step up, guests still needed to contend with a crowd in a cramped space while vying for a table to peruse their photos. The new Shutters does away with the printed pics in favor of more streamlined digital kiosks and comfortable porthole seating areas.

Disney Wonder: Shutters Re-imagined

      With a simple tap of the Key to the World card, guests can scroll through their photos, make minor edits, save their favorites, and order prints, photobooks, or flash-drives with as many or as few pictures as they wish. Package prices appear on the welcome screen and options are offered as you explore. Checkout is super simple, as the charge is made directly to the stateroom. It's also quite easy to find any pictures that haven't appeared in the account for whatever reason. By simply choosing the date, the approximate time, and the location, guest's can scroll through the photos until the wayward picture is found. We actually used this feature a few times and were able to locate every one of the photos that we remembered had been taken.

Shutters' Digital Photo Kiosks

       Due to the shorter itineraries, we decided it would be more economical to have our few favorites printed, rather than pay for a 10 print package or photobook. (We adore the photobooks and have chosen to have them made the last few times we sailed on the Fantasy, when the itinerary was longer and we had more varied photos to choose from.) We actually ordered our photos through the kiosk on debarkation morning and were able to pick them up at the guest services desk before disembarking.

Shutters' Service Desk

Shutters' Portrait Studio

    Of course there are several Shutters employees in the shop area to help guests with any questions, issues, or special purchases.

Shutters Portrait Studio

     Just forward of the photo shop we find a brand new offering: Shutters Portrait Studio. While a bit cozy, guests who would rather not wait in long lines, want pictures sans characters, or just want a more quiet, intimate, private place to have family portraits made, the new studio fits the bill. There are contact cards and brochures available for guests who might be interested in this service.

Mickey Chick posing at Shutters

Re-imagined D-Lounge

D-Lounge Carpet

       A few steps more and we reach the newly redubbed D-Lounge - formerly known as "Studio Sea." The name change is part of the homogenization of the fleet, eliminating distinctive monikers for a more streamlined presentation of offerings.

Disney Wonder D-Lounge

     The room is brighter and more open than its predecessor, with clean modern design, and flexible seating. While there are numerous nods to the emblematic tri-circle, the room does lack the thematic touches of the original. Be sure to check out the carpet, however, which has references to classic Disney stories throughout the room.

Princess Gathering from Deck 4

       Exiting D-Lounge via the forward exit brings us to the atrium balcony.

At the port side, cruisers can visit the DVC desk for information about the popular timeshare program. At starboard, just past some cozy booths perfect for passing the time on an embarkation

Deck 4 Starboard Lounge Area

morning, guests can contemplate their next Disney adventure at the Disney Vacation Planning Desk.

Disney Vacation Planning Desk

       If you've ever cruised with Disney before, you know that their future booking desk becomes busier as the days go by. While I believe the superb service and attention to detail motivates families to want to repeat the Disney Cruise experience, I'm sure the incentive flyers in staterooms outlining the 10% off plus onboard credit of $100 or more towards a future cruise doesn't hurt. The desks get so busy, that Disney has implemented a new feature only on the newly re-imagined Disney Wonder: The Check-in Kiosk.

Using the Vacation Planning Check-In Kiosk

Future Cruise Booking Slip

 
     It's very simple and intuitive to use - allowing folks to relax and enjoy their time, rather than waiting untold hours for their turn with the Vacation Planning cast member.  Guests who aren't quite sure what they want, or who don't care to wait, can fill in a booking slip and drop it in the box at the desk.  A DCL representative will send confirmation via email when the booking or placeholder reservation has been made.

Disney Wonder Shopping and Theater District

Mickey's Main Sail

White Caps

   The shopping hall opens to the expansive lobby of the Walt Disney Theater.

Walt Disney Theater Red-Carpet Ready for Golden Mickeys

     The tastefully appointed venue is host to Disney Cruise Line's most highly-anticipated Broadway-quality production, Frozen: A Musical Spectacular. As you'll find in my next blog post, the name does not disappoint.