The Best Staterooms in Each Category Onboard a Disney Ship

So you’re looking for a stateroom? I have suggestions! There are very few okay staterooms; many, many good staterooms; and a few great ones. After staying in almost every category on every ship, I have suggestions for each one below.

Some general guidelines I follow – I won’t recommend accessible staterooms (unless you specifically need one), and if I’m stopping at Castaway Cay, I pick starboard for the views. Otherwise, port or starboard doesn’t matter too much.

Here are my recommendations by class of ship. The sister ships in each class have identical stateroom layouts, numbers, and locations. The Magic-class ships are the Magic and Wonder. The Dream-class ships are the Dream and Fantasy, and the current Wish-class ships are the Wish, Treasure, and Destiny.

1. Category 1 (1A Concierge Royal Suite with Verandah on the Magic-class ships and Concierge Tower Suite on the Dream and Wish-class ships, 1B Concierge 2-Bedroom Suite with Verandah on the Magic-class ships, Concierge Royal Suite with Verandah on the Dream-class ships, and Concierge 2-Story Royal Suite with Verandah on the Wish-class ships, 1C Concierge 1-Story Royal Suite with Verandah on the Wish-class ships) – Category 1s are the crème de la crème, the nicest staterooms onboard. I’ve stayed in almost every one, and no choices here are bad! I’d choose the 1A’s on the Magic-class if possible, starboard side if visiting Castaway Cay. On the Dream-class ships, I’d choose the Tower Suite if I have a big group; otherwise, the Royal Suites are spectacular. There is a slight difference between the two suites. In 12002, the primary bathroom has floor-to-ceiling windows, and the primary bedroom is interior. In 12502, they are flipped, and the bedroom has the floor-to-ceiling window while the bathroom is interior. Choose whichever one you’d prefer to have natural light in. On the Wish-class ships, I’d choose the Tower if I had a big group, and I’d be hard-pressed to choose between the 1- and 2-story suites. I’d choose a 2-story if I want to be close to the Concierge Lounge, but otherwise I’d pick a 1-story because the views on the verandah are amazing.

2. Category 2 (Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite with Verandah) – The 1-Bedroom Suites on every class of ship are spacious and lovely. On the Magic-class ships, I do think the 2As are worth a little more. The 2As are staterooms 8032, 8034, 8532, and 8534, and they are more of a sideways setup than the 2Bs. The living room feels bigger, and the extra beds are in better locations. I choose them every time. On the Dream-class ships, there is only one 2A, stateroom 12000. It’s all the way forward between the two Royal Suites. It has the exact same layout as the 2Bs, but the verandah is huge, and the views are spectacular. If I was picking a 2B, I would choose 12006, 12012, 12506, 12512, 11002, or 11006 because they are on the bumpout and the verandahs are bigger. I do prefer deck 12 to deck 11 because of the proximity to the Concierge Lounge. On the Wish-class ships, in addition to a bigger verandah, the 2As are actually bigger inside than the 2Bs. If you want more space, choose those if you can. If you get a 2B, those on deck 13 are more convenient to the Concierge Sundeck, and those on deck 12 are more convenient to the Concierge Lounge. There are stairs in the lounge that make both decks easy to go between if stairs aren’t a problem for you.

3. Category 3 (3A Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah on all ships, 3B Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom on the Wish-class ships) – On the Magic-class ships, there are no bad options, but I like to get closer to the midship elevators for access to the Concierge Lounge. On the Dream-class ships, 12008, 12010, 12508, 12510, and 11004 are on the bumpout, so they have bigger verandahs. I do prefer deck 12 over deck 11. On the Wish-class ships, two 3As have bigger verandahs – staterooms 12002 and 12502. The Wish-class ships are the only ships that have category 3B staterooms, which are some of my favorite staterooms onboard. There are only 7 of them, and they don’t have verandahs, but the incredible floor-to-ceiling windows and views more than make up for it. I like all of them, but 11000 is dead center, which is great, and 11006 is a secret suite, which is even better. There’s a huge living room and an actual door that shuts the bedroom off from the living area. It’s my favorite option.

4. Category 4 (Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah) – Category 4 staterooms are created pretty equally on the Magic-class, although the 4Es do have a whitewall verandah, which just means everything under the verandah rail is solid medal. Not a huge deal, but something to be aware of if you don’t want that. The far aft 4Es on the Dream-class ships have whitewall verandahs, but the verandahs are huge with gorgeous views, so those are my pick every time! 7688, 7190, 8682, and 9670 have extra big verandahs, but no split bath or tub. On the Wish-class ships, I pick the staterooms on the center of the bumpouts for the biggest verandahs, but the real gems here are 6196 and 6696, which are secret suites! They have an actual door to close off the bedroom from the living area. I love them!

5. Category 5 (Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah) – On the Magic and Dream-class ships, there aren’t any hidden gems in the category 5s; they’re all good. On the Wish-class ships, I choose staterooms on the edge of the bumpouts for a slightly bigger verandah, or 6198, 6698, 8192, or 8690, which are all far aft with great views and huge verandahs.

6. Category 6 (Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah) – On the Magic-class ships, these have whitewall verandahs, but I’d pick 6652, 6650, 6648 on the starboard side or 6152, 6150, 6148 on the port side in that order. They have huge verandahs! On the Dream-class ships, 6188 and 6688 also have great views and large verandahs. The Wish-class ships have a couple of interesting staterooms – 8192 and 8690 have large verandahs, but they’re a little smaller inside. Small enough that they don’t have a couch, only fold-out chairs, which is super unusual!

7. Category 7 (Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator’s Verandah) – Only on the Magic-class ships are these truly enclosed verandahs (with a cut-out porthole), and if you want that, any of them are great! If you would like a more normal verandah for a little less than other verandahs, there are a few, 6134, 6634, 7120, and 7620, that are obstructed but not fully enclosed. On the Dream-class ships, 5188 and 5688 have large verandahs; I’d pick those. On the Wish-class ships, deck 6 is less obstructed than deck 7.

8. Category 8 (Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms) – Category 8 staterooms do not exist on the Magic-class; Disney underestimated the need for less expensive staterooms that sleep 5. They corrected that on the Dream-class, and the 8As in particular are huge with double portholes. They are all set up a little differently, some with a dividing wall between the living area and bedroom, some with tubs, some without. My favorites have a dividing wall AND tub, and those are 5020, 5022, 5520, and 5522. There are no standouts on the Wish-class; they are all pretty equal.

9. Category 9 (Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom) – The oceanviews on the Magic-class ships are fairly spread out, so pick a higher deck if you prefer that, and avoid Deck 1 where there are two small portholes instead of one large one. On the Dream-class ships, I find Deck 2 particularly convenient, but 7006, 7504, 8006, and 8504 are on the corners and large, so they’re my preference. On the Wish-class ships, 7006, 7504, 8006, and 8504 are similar. Large and on the corners.

10. Category 10 (Deluxe Inside Stateroom) – The Magic-class ships have the only exciting options here. Those are 5020, 5022, 5024, 5520, 5522, and 5524, which are secret porthole staterooms. Originally categorized as oceanview staterooms, Disney downgraded these because of the obstructed views. They’re a great option for a partial view and natural light for less than other oceanview staterooms. Category 10s are pretty equal on the Dream-class and do not exist on the Wish-class.

11. Category 11 – (Standard Inside Stateroom) – Category 11s are the smallest staterooms onboard, and the only ones that do not have split bathrooms. The Magic-class ships have some that are set up in a sideways layout on decks 5 and 6, which some people think makes them feel more spacious. On the Dream-class ships, I still think deck 2 is very convenient, and on the Wish-class ships there are no standouts.

What do you think? Did I miss any? Do you have any questions? Let me know in the comments!