Disney Treasure Concierge: Family Verandah 3A vs. One-Bedroom 2B

How much more space does the One-Bedroom Suite really give you?

Disney lists the category 3A Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah at approximately 296 square feet including the verandah, and it accommodates up to five guests. The standard category 2B One-Bedroom Suite on Disney Treasure is approximately 608 square feet including its private balcony, so you're getting roughly double the space. ▶ 1:32 ▶ 1:57

Both are beautifully Lion King themed. In 3A #12518 you walk in and see Pride Rock, and the artwork shows the Pride Lands; I think Disney did a fantastic job, because it feels Disney without being childish. Suite #12522 carries the same Lion King theming through the living room and bedroom. ▶ 1:20 ▶ 1:02

But for me, the bigger luxury in the 2B isn't simply square footage. It's privacy. ▶ 2:23

Where does everyone sleep?

In 3A #12518, Scott and I had a gorgeous king-size bed with the upgraded Concierge linens, and there's room underneath to store luggage. ▶ 9:24 Your third, fourth, and fifth guests sleep on a sleeper sofa, a pull-down upper berth, and a bed that comes down out of the wall, each a little smaller than a twin and perfect for your kiddos. The upper berth has a bed rail, its own little light, and a genie overhead, and the maximum weight is 265 pounds. My son Clay loves sleeping over on that side. ▶ 2:09 ▶ 2:58 ▶ 3:45

What separates parents from kids in the 3A is a drape that pulls all the way across. Once it's closed you have two separate living areas, so you don't have to worry about lighting or disturbing anyone, and the kids' beds have their own USB ports and light. ▶ 10:37 ▶ 4:09

The 2B gives you a real separate bedroom. Suite #12522 has a door here and a door there, and both close, so mom and dad are in the master and the kids are out in the living room, where the sofa comes down as a sleeper. There's even a closet in the main living room so the kids have their own space for their things. ▶ 1:51 ▶ 1:25 ▶ 3:47

That changes the way a family uses the suite. Someone can get up early, someone can stay up late, and you can watch television without disturbing someone who's sleeping. After several days together on a cruise, a door can be a luxury. ▶ 2:48

How do the bathrooms compare?

Disney Cruise Line designs with families in mind, so the 3A has its bathroom split in two and two guests can get ready while the others wait. The first room has a tub with a rain shower and a handheld shower under a beautiful Lion King mosaic, plus a sink and a full-length mirror; if you have a little one, it's great to have that tub. The second room has another sink and mirror and the toilet. ▶ 11:49 ▶ 13:05 ▶ 13:55

The One-Bedroom Suite gives you two full bathrooms. The main bathroom has double sinks with a mirror all the way across, a beautiful rain-style shower, a separate tub, and the toilet behind frosted glass. The second bathroom has one sink and its own shower, so that's two showers in the suite. Disney also includes a walk-in closet. ▶ 3:13 ▶ 3:22 ▶ 4:10

If you have four or five people getting ready for dinner, this matters. For a family of four or five, two full bathrooms can be a game changer, let me tell you. ▶ 3:13 ▶ 8:14

What about the verandah?

The 3A verandah at #12518 has two chairs and a table, and it's where Scott was reading and enjoying a beer in Port Canaveral on our anniversary. These verandahs can connect: your Concierge stateroom host can open the partitions, and you could have three rooms that connect into one large verandah. I chose #12518 on purpose because it does not connect to any other room. ▶ 16:46 ▶ 17:09

Moms with little children ask me all the time whether they should have a verandah at all. The lock on the verandah door is very high up; I have to stand on my tippy toes to reach it, so a child would have to drag a chair over to get to it. In my eyes that is totally safe, and once the kiddos are asleep you can sit out there with your drinks. ▶ 17:57 ▶ 18:21

The verandah at One-Bedroom Suite #12522 is double size, with two chairs on one side and two chairs on the other, so a total of four. ▶ 4:32

Can you actually eat dinner in the suite?

This is my third big difference. The One-Bedroom Suite has a dedicated dining area with a real dining table, and Disney officially lists it among the suite's design features. Imagine you've had a huge day, the children are exhausted, everyone has showered, and instead of getting dressed and heading back out, you enjoy dinner together right there with your ocean view. ▶ 3:59 ▶ 4:21

Don't underestimate that table when you aren't eating, either; for a family it becomes one of the most useful spaces in the suite. The suite at #12522 also has a bar area and a dorm-size refrigerator I can arrange to have stocked for you. The 3A is extremely comfortable, but it doesn't give you a dedicated residential-style dining space. That's why I say the One-Bedroom isn't simply a bigger Concierge stateroom. It starts to feel like a home at sea. ▶ 4:43 ▶ 1:25 ▶ 5:07

Do you need the suite to get the Concierge experience?

Absolutely not. A category 3A guest is still a Concierge guest. You have the beautiful Concierge lounge with food and beverages throughout the day, cocktails during select hours from 5 to 10 each evening, specialty coffee, your Concierge host, and the spectacular private Concierge sun deck. ▶ 5:07 ▶ 5:30

The perks list in the drawer of my 3A also included early access to the Walt Disney Theatre, complimentary popcorn before showtime, and a 24-hour continuous internet package for everyone in the stateroom. The 3A has the Concierge robes and slippers, and its refrigerator was waiting with the sparkling water, flat water, and sodas I'd arranged ahead of time. ▶ 7:48 ▶ 14:42 ▶ 6:08

And whichever category you choose, the Concierge hosts become your onboard go-to team for dining, activities, reservations, celebrations, and itinerary questions. Over the course of your sailing, they get to know you. The lounge is wonderful and the sun deck is magical, but the people are what make Disney Cruise Line special. ▶ 6:17 ▶ 6:39

Which one should your family pick?

If I were a couple, or a family that spends very little time in the stateroom, I'd seriously consider the 3A. You still get that wonderful Disney Treasure Concierge experience without paying for space you may not use. ▶ 8:39

For a family of four or five who values privacy, two full bathrooms, a separate bedroom, a living room, a dining room, and the ability to truly use the suite as part of the vacation, the 2B One-Bedroom Suite is a substantial upgrade. ▶ 8:39 ▶ 9:02

There isn't one right answer for everyone. The questions I walk through with my guests are the real ones: Will your family be perfectly comfortable in a 3A? Would a separate bedroom dramatically improve your vacation? Do you have teenagers, young children, or grandparents? Do you need two full bathrooms? Would having dinner in your suite be valuable to your family? Contact me and let's talk it over. ▶ 7:03 ▶ 7:26