Disney Wish vs. Destiny Concierge Lounge: Which Should You Pick?

How different do the two lounges actually feel?

These are two of my very favorite Concierge Lounges, and while the Wish and the Destiny share the same basic ship design, the Concierge experience definitely doesn't feel identical. The first big difference is the theme. The Wish is a ship built around the idea of enchantment, and the lounge reflects that: a lighter, elegant atmosphere that is refined and sophisticated but still has that subtle Disney storytelling I love. ▶ 1:16

Walk into the Destiny lounge and the personality changes immediately. The Destiny is Disney's heroes and villains ship, and its Concierge Lounge celebrates the Avengers; Disney says the design was inspired by the styling of the Avengers' Manhattan headquarters. If you're a Marvel fan, you'll recognize exactly where the inspiration comes from in the artwork. ▶ 2:05

The physical concept is similar, but the atmosphere is completely different. So ask yourself which lounge you'd want to walk into every morning, and which one you'd want to sit in with a cocktail before dinner, because you are going to use this space a lot. ▶ 4:26

What I noticed walking through each lounge

On the Wish's inaugural sailing, I toured the lounge on deck 12. I loved the door, the flooring, and the view, and there were hidden Mickeys on the lights. There's lots of seating, a children's area with a TV, a bar (one of two), and hand-washing stations. ▶ 0:42 ▶ 2:16 At the time, the Wish was the largest ship with 73 Concierge staterooms, which is why there are three coffee makers. ▶ 5:28 I also spotted a replica of the ship and an inaugural Wish ornament on display. ▶ 5:51

On the Destiny's maiden voyage, the Avengers theme was everywhere: beautiful ceiling tiles, rust colors, marble, leather at the bar, and a display of the Infinity Stones. ▶ 2:29 ▶ 4:28 ▶ 6:28 The Destiny also has three coffee machines, and the head server, Glennice, showed me a special touch: a gold backdrop at the coffee station, which is the first time I've seen that in a Concierge Lounge. ▶ 2:53 There's a kids area here too, plus Concierge merchandise; on my maiden voyage the cap was gold and there was a blue Concierge shirt. ▶ 2:06 ▶ 6:51

What food is in the Wish and Destiny Concierge Lounges?

Both lounges offer substantial food throughout the day, and the rhythm is the same on both ships. Breakfast has hot selections along with pastries, fruit, yogurt and lighter choices, and yes, you can have Mickey waffles and Mickey churros. I love this on a port morning: breakfast and a specialty coffee in the lounge, and I'm off. ▶ 2:51 Lunch brings hot selections, lighter options and snacks, and in the evening there are hot selections, appetizers and small plates around dinner time. ▶ 3:13 ▶ 3:37

Here is something families underestimate. Imagine you spent all morning at the pool, the kids are hungry, everyone is tired. Instead of going downstairs to look for lunch, you walk into your private lounge, sit down, order off a hot menu, eat, relax, and head back out when you're ready. That convenience has value. I'm not suggesting you skip rotational dining, but if you're headed to a show first or your children are hungry now, this is the answer. ▶ 3:13 ▶ 4:01

On the Wish's inaugural sailing, lunch at the food station included lemongrass marinated shrimp, beef tenderloin, a grilled chicken sandwich, California veggies and rainbow rolls, and the cast member served us: you tell them what you want and they plate it. ▶ 2:43 The dessert spread was above and beyond, from Oreo cookie cheesecake, tiramisu and strawberry and vanilla panna cotta to Oreo cookies on a stick and kids celebration cupcakes. ▶ 5:03

On the Destiny's maiden voyage, there was a Concierge lunch menu you order from, plus a served station in the back. I ordered one of everything: garlic shrimp sauteed with chili and pimenton, an all-American slider with wagyu beef, a wild mushroom and avocado vegetarian option, a tuna panini with guacamole, pesto and arugula on whole grain ciabatta, and miso soup with tofu. ▶ 1:19 ▶ 3:38 ▶ 5:09 The station had lobster salad, Sicilian caponata, bell pepper and beef ragout, portobello mushroom sandwiches and a summer BLT. ▶ 2:07 My surprise favorite was the pizza from the children's menu, with ham, prosciutto and bacon: don't save it just for kids. ▶ 5:57

Wish vs. Destiny Concierge sundeck

Directly connected to each lounge is a private Concierge sundeck upstairs. On the Wish, look how much private outdoor space you have: plush loungers, places to get out of the sun, private water features to cool off, your own dedicated bar, incredible ocean views, and the included smoothie machine. ▶ 7:08 ▶ 7:34

On the Destiny, the sundeck is on deck 13, through the Avengers door and up the stairs from the lounge. On my maiden voyage it had a beverage refrigerator, complimentary Dole Whip and raspberry smoothies, lounge chairs that swivel, two hot tubs, a wading pool, two showers, towels, and complimentary SPF 50 sunscreen, an Evian spritzer and Sight Savers. ▶ 9:07 ▶ 10:49 ▶ 12:50 ▶ 11:15 The bar up there was a pay bar during the day, with the complimentary happy hour from 5 to 10 p.m. ▶ 9:31 ▶ 9:55 Both two-story Royal Suites open right onto this sundeck. ▶ 10:49 ▶ 14:04

On the Destiny there's also a private outdoor area right off the deck 12 lounge, where I love to take my coffee and listen to the horns at the sail-away party, so it really feels like two sundecks. ▶ 14:30 Why does this matter so much? Wish-class upper decks can be very active, with pools, slides, activities and music, and then you come up here to your own private retreat for Concierge guests only. To me, that is luxury. ▶ 8:00

Where the lounges sit, and why I care for your stateroom

Both lounges are positioned in the forward portion of the ships, and I pay very close attention to that when I help my guests choose a stateroom. You're going to use this lounge more than you think, so I'm not just looking at what's available; I'm looking at where the stateroom is and how you plan to use the ship. ▶ 6:44

On the Destiny, guests often ask me about deck 13 versus deck 12. A deck 13 room gives you the best access to the sundeck, and you walk down the stairs to reach the lounge; there are two key-access restrooms up on deck 13, one of them handicapped accessible. If you need handicapped access to the lounge itself, that's something we talk through. Both decks have their pros, and it comes down to whether you want to be near the lounge or near the sundeck. ▶ 7:38 ▶ 8:24 On the Wish, the lounge stairs also lead up to the sundeck and the deck 13 Concierge rooms. ▶ 6:15

The Concierge hosts are the same heart on both ships

On both the Wish and the Destiny, the Concierge cast members are the heart of the experience. The onboard team can help with dining reservations and changes, spa treatments, nursery stays, itinerary updates, celebrations and other special requests. They learn your family's names and what you like, so when you need something, you have someone who already knows you. ▶ 4:49 ▶ 5:11

Before you ever board, I send in your Concierge wish list 130 days before sailing so you're ready to book everything on it. I call that two layers of concierge service: me before your vacation, and your Disney Cruise Line Concierge hosts on board. ▶ 5:58 ▶ 6:20

So which should you pick, Wish or Destiny?

The biggest difference comes down to three things: the theme, the dining experience and the overall atmosphere. The lounges and sundecks share the same Wish-class DNA, but once you're living in these spaces, each ship has its own personality. ▶ 8:48

Pick the Wish if you'd rather have a lighter, enchanted, classic Disney feel. Pick the Destiny if your family loves Marvel and would enjoy the Avengers theme every morning and every cocktail hour. Either way, I wouldn't choose based only on which lounge looks prettier. Look at the entire vacation: who is traveling, which itineraries you're considering, which Concierge staterooms are available and where they're located, and which ship personality speaks to you. Contact me and let's talk it over. ▶ 9:12