Hard Pass on Riviera Resort

[KAT4DISNEY]

What are the resort amenities you associate with a deluxe?

I put it on par with the moderate Coronado Grand Destino Tower. A similar conference focused hotel with similar amenities. Calling it a deluxe on par with the Grand Floridian or the non Disney Four Seasons or Ritz Carlton is a stretch. Just because someone puts the label Deluxe on it doesn’t make it so. Not to make it all about money, but a true deluxe hotel would charge a deluxe price, otherwise your just running a bad business model. Does anyone think that the reason Swan and Dolphin is not charging the $500+ a night other deluxe resorts charge is because they are being nice?...or is it because it’s really a moderate resort charging a moderate price.

Perhaps it's not good to add such a stretch as I did not state it was a Four Seasons or Ritz Carlton. Neither which is a "Disney deluxe" BTW.

The Grand Destino Tower is brand new and a departure from the Disney moderate. It's been discussed for awhile that Disney is planning to blur the lines from the designations that they had applied to different resorts. To be a "Disney Deluxe" it has been indoor corridors, signature restaurants (really most anything beyond food courts) and then some other various amenties. At Swan/Dolphin it meets those criteria - the restaurants actually exceed many of the Disney run resorts. There's a spa right in the Dolphin, multiple shops, valet, car rentals offered.

Have you stayed at them? Have you stayed at GF?

 

[The Jackal]

Scanning thru the comparisons posted after my question, no one has posted anything that's close to 100% more. Looks to be between 25% and 45% for the most part. Where do you see a 110% or a more than doubling of points for a comparable room?

If you go extremes. A week in a AKV value cheapest season is 60 points. RIV SV is 109 and PV is 134. SV is just below 100% more and PV is just above 100% more. I don’t agree with this comparison. There are not that many AKV value rooms and comparing them to almost any resort uses a bit more points. OKW is 76 points for the cheapest season.

 

[Sandisw]

If you go extremes. A week in a AKV value cheapest season is 60 points. RIV SV is 109 and PV is 134. SV is just below 100% more and PV is just above 100% more. I don’t agree with this comparison. There are not that many AKV value rooms and comparing them to almost any resort uses a bit more points. OKW is 76 points for the cheapest season.

Good point in that if we want to look at cheapest room, there are others. I do think you have to compare resorts that someone might be choosing between so for me, it’s the near park resorts.

I won’t rehash my opinion again, other than to say RIV can be comparable with a few others like VGF, Poly, and BLT LV / TPV and if an owner is strategic can make it comparable to few more.

Whether one sees value in what your getting is a different story. Views are important to some. For me, it’s location and point cost only. Ill never be staying at OKW or AKV, no matter how many points I save.

 

[RivShore]

If you go extremes. A week in a AKV value cheapest season is 60 points. RIV SV is 109 and PV is 134. SV is just below 100% more and PV is just above 100% more. I don’t agree with this comparison. There are not that many AKV value rooms and comparing them to almost any resort uses a bit more points. OKW is 76 points for the cheapest season.

The PP who mentioned the double points was specifically referring to BCV:

That's because they removed a section of Caribbean Beach to build it. It is what it is. Some will love it, others won't. I happen to like the idea of walking over to CBR, but not enough to spend double the points to book there and give up everything that comes with staying at BCV.

Taking a quick look at the point charts, this appears to be yet another wild exaggeration.

 

[KBoopaloo]

I wanted to love the Riviera resort. The Skyliner access to Epcot was appealing and I really, really loved the concept art. We took a tour of model rooms at the sales center back in May. The resort model itself was gorgeous and the rooms were lovely but the sales guide could not open the pull down bed in the model which seemed liked a bad sign plus we noticed some wear on the finishes which again seemed like a bad sign in a model room that no one was actually staying in.

I rode the Skyliner on its opening day mostly to get a closer look at the resort and was honestly disappointed seeing it up close. Of course I know that concept art is never exactly what ends up happening but the exterior of the resort was noticeably less impressive in person than in concept images and seeing the location from the sky view made me realize how non deluxe of a placement it has. One of my favorite things about Disney resorts is that once you are in them you feel removed from the outside world even just the Disney roadways themselves. The Riv feels like it is right on the edge of a lot of busy roadway and I kept wondering if view from some of the higher floors will just be of roads.

I was still excited to see the photos and videos from grand opening but like many others in this thread I was a bit disappointed. Topolino and the bar area on the ground floor look very nice but the pool and outside grounds were totally underwhelming. Honestly the Gran Destino tower at Coronado seemed more impressive. I’ll reserve finally judgment on the inside until I visit myself but to me the price per point and points needed to stay seem just too high for the quality of the resort.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

I totally think they will monitor the pools. They have to especially with Caribbean Beach next door and with a walking path to Riveria. I doubt though, that they might monitor it as hardcore as at BVC. Although, the Riveria pools aren't nearly as exciting to look at as at BCV.

Looking at the pools, it doesn't seem like enough pool space for even the resort guests. Time will tell though.

I am more concerned with the resort possibly being busier since it is so accessible to park guests and other resort guests. It is literally a stop on the Skyliner, so why not get off and look around? Perhaps that is part of DVC's plan in having it placed there. Just like they advertise the MK resorts on the monorail now they can do the same on the Skyliner for Riveria. Although, the park monorail doesn't stop at the resorts, the Skyliner does stop at Riveria making it a quick get off thing to do.

I for one will be visiting this resort on my next visit to WDW. I'm sure it is DVC/WDW's plan to have guests other than those staying at this resort visit, there is a signature restaurant and a character breakfast both located here. I don't think that the guest staying at this resort alone will be enough to keep those two venues as busy as they need to be to stay in business.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

We were at wdw last week. We were apprehensive to add on. However after seeing the room in person and testing the skyliner (we had no issues) we added on. I’ve seen many videos and pictures online but seeing it in person helped us with our decision. Things break down. One can say the same for the monorails. We took both monorails and the skyliner and felt the skyliner was a better mode of transport and more efficient. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It’s best to see it in person and make your own judgement. We also own at ccv which is night and day theming. We love the skyliner and we tested it out knowing it can breakdown however riviera resort has its own dedicated buses as well and doesn’t share with other resorts. The mk resorts buses they share with another deluxe. We have two little ones and love the ease of traveling with the little ones on the skyliner than the monorail. We feel more cramped in the monorails.

This may be the case now but in the future this may not be so. Things change at WDW, beware that nothing stays the same forever.

 

[RivShore]

Except thats not related you need to compare Std to Std. Both categories are a minority of rooms. Then compare p to p.

129 vs 104

I know you and Rivshore love the resort but you need to compare apples to apples.

Lets also look at January and it's BWV 78/107 vs RIV 116/143

As I've noted a few times now, I have yet to walk the resort so, who knows, I may find it underwhelming. We did see the model rooms in person and thought they were perfect for us so that won't change at least (as long as the beds don't try and kill us in our sleep ).

This resort worked for us buying direct mainly due to the incentives, the length of contract, and the ability to stay at new resorts. We are considering the cost sunk and a true prepayment of 50 years of vacations, so resale restrictions didn't bother us.

In my case (and I think Sandi's) we comment on threads like this to try and bring some sanity to the hyperbolic statements like "it costs double the points", to try and point out subjective negatives posted as objective facts, and to try and correct misstatements like the rooms are small, when they are actually the 2nd largest.

I guess it's just standard internet procedure but the wildly divergent opinions on this resort are something! 2 comments posted a few hours apart had one saying it's all bad and would never add points there while the other said it's the best, so glad they bought there. Another 2 on Topolino's, again just a few posts apart had one saying the service was bad and the food was nothing special while another raved about it. You know what they say about opinions...

 

[Ms.Minnie]

I agree, I much prefer the Skyliner to the monorail. Transportation issues can happen anywhere, and we just had a monorail trip from MK to VGF take over an hour on this last trip (have I mentioned I can't wait for the walkway between MK and GF?). We also took the Skyliner several times and it was a seamless experience. Perhaps because we have a double stroller and we pretty much take up the whole gondola, we always got our own gondola. One of the things I dislike about the monorail is how hard it can be to find space for a double stroller on it when it gets busy, and the attitude from other guests who don't want to accommodate us or give us dirty looks for taking up all that space. Loved having our own gondola and not having to worry about other people or fitting the double stroller on.

We did run into the Skyliner going down one day due to wind/lightning within 6 miles which was a bummer, but we took the bus instead and it was fine. It's a covered walkway to the bus stop so it kept us out of the rain.

Hi, just wondering where you got the bus. You mentioned a covered walkway to the bus stop. I don't know where you would have a covered walkway to the bus from IG. Please let us know where you got the bus. Thanks in advance.

 

[Sandisw]

As I've noted a few times now, I have yet to walk the resort so, who knows, I may find it underwhelming. We did see the model rooms in person and thought they were perfect for us so that won't change at least (as long as the beds don't try and kill us in our sleep ).

This resort worked for us buying direct mainly due to the incentives, the length of contract, and the ability to stay at new resorts. We are considering the cost sunk and a true prepayment of 50 years of vacations, so resale restrictions didn't bother us.

In my case (and I think Sandi's) we comment on threads like this to try and bring some sanity to the hyperbolic statements like "it costs double the points", to try and point out subjective negatives posted as objective facts, and to try and correct misstatements like the rooms are small, when they are actually the 2nd largest.

I guess it's just standard internet procedure but the wildly divergent opinions on this resort are something! 2 comments posted a few hours apart had one saying it's all bad and would never add points there while the other said it's the best, so glad they bought there. Another 2 on Topolino's, again just a few posts apart had one saying the service was bad and the food was nothing special while another raved about it. You know what they say about opinions...

You’ve have summed it up perfectly. It’s about having a realistic discussion and looking at things from multiple perspectives.

It still comes down to goals of ones trip and that alone can influence how one views the points charts for any resorts in comparison to others.

It is like when I do solo trips, I will be able to stay in a Tower studio sometimes for a lower cost than BCV/BWV Garden. Do I get a bigger room at BCV and BWV? Sure do! But if I am by myself I don’t need it so in the end it will save me points to choose RIV for those trips.

Point being all these things are relative so saying that it will always cost more to stay at RIV is simply not a true statement, unless you completely take out context of trips. No one does that no matter where you own or stay because if the did, OKW would always win as it has, for the most part, the lowest overall points chart,

 

[Miffy]

To be a "Disney Deluxe" it has been indoor corridors, signature restaurants (really most anything beyond food courts) and then some other various amenties. At Swan/Dolphin it meets those criteria - the restaurants actually exceed many of the Disney run resorts. There's a spa right in the Dolphin, multiple shops, valet, car rentals offered.

@KAT4DISNEY--I thought that to be classified as "deluxe" by WDW, the room had to have a balcony or patio. No?

 

[bakenatj]

Question on RIV, I remember a discussion a while ago that resale for RIV will be restricted to points use only at RIV. Did they implement this on the RIV? Sorry if this has been rehashed many times, I have been dormant for a long while.

 

[Madame]

Question on RIV, I remember a discussion a while ago that resale for RIV will be restricted to points use only at RIV. Did they implement this on the RIV? Sorry if this has been rehashed many times, I have been dormant for a long while.

Yes they did.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Question on RIV, I remember a discussion a while ago that resale for RIV will be restricted to points use only at RIV. Did they implement this on the RIV? Sorry if this has been rehashed many times, I have been dormant for a long while.

Yes, unfortunately, resale RIV can only be used at RIV.

 

[€lairebear]

This may be the case now but in the future this may not be so. Things change at WDW, beware that nothing stays the same forever.

I’m aware of that. If dvc builds another deluxe resort close to riviera I can see bus sharing happening. For now that benefit is a plus to me I know things can change just like how perks change or rides at park, shows at park, hours at park...I can go on forever can change. It still won’t change or make me regret buying into riviera. If I’m going to not be open minded about changes to things I will never be happy and just nit picking about everything which I feel is the case for folks. I won’t be surprise if dvc never applied resale restrictions I may read more people raving about riviera and my mention of dedicated buses will go unnoticed. However I feel there is a group that will justify and try to not pick about everything Rivera and all their post are just negative as opposed to it being balance.

 

[bakenatj]

Yes, unfortunately, resale RIV can only be used at RIV.

Wow, it will be interesting to see the effect it has on value. I like that I can sell pretty much for what I bought for. I don’t think RIV owners will be able to say the same.

 

[ScubaCat]

Taking a quick look at the point charts, this appears to be yet another wild exaggeration.

"Double the bedrooms" is accurate. (triple until they fix the pull down beds. ). I should have issued a formal correction sooner... Apparently this touched a nerve. But you can definitely book a 2BR at BCV or BWV for about the same as a 1BR at RIV.

 

[Pyotr]

"Double the bedrooms" is accurate. (triple until they fix the pull down beds. ). I should have issued a formal correction sooner... Apparently this touched a nerve. But you can definitely book a 2BR at BCV or BWV for about the same as a 1BR at RIV.

I can book a 2 bedroom at CCV for less points than a 1 bedroom preferred at RIV.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

I’m aware of that. If dvc builds another deluxe resort close to riviera I can see bus sharing happening. For now that benefit is a plus to me I know things can change just like how perks change or rides at park, shows at park, hours at park...I can go on forever can change. It still won’t change or make me regret buying into riviera. If I’m going to not be open minded about changes to things I will never be happy and just nit picking about everything which I feel is the case for folks. I won’t be surprise if dvc never applied resale restrictions I may read more people raving about riviera and my mention of dedicated buses will go unnoticed. However I feel there is a group that will justify and try to not pick about everything Rivera and all their post are just negative as opposed to it being balance.

Not trying to be negative but you may see at some time in the future RR sharing with CB. If the Skyliner starts to work the way it should on a consistent basis but you have guests who can't or won't ride it thy will need to be bussed. If this turns out to be a small number of guests and due to the close proximity to CB I wouldn't be at all surprised to see bus sharing between these two resorts.

Don't think that just because your are considered a deluxe resort that you can't share with a moderate or a value for that mater. Just look at the bussing situation when the Skyliner goes down. WDW is routing stranded guests to the front gate or the BW to be bused back to a deluxe, moderate and value all using the bus stop at a deluxe resort. Just sayin things change. Also not saying that those staying at a deluxe resort are any better then a guest staying at a value resort (don't want to get flamed!).

I don't have an opinion of the new RR, I will wait until I see it in person to form my opinion. However I do know that I wouldn't buy at this resort. I already own at an Epcot resort that is within walking distance or a boat ride away. The other issue for me is the fact that resale points for this resort can only be used at this resort. I think this is a very negative feature in the flexibility of this resort. JMHO. Each resort has it's pros and cons and each one of us has our own opinion of what is best for us. To each his/her own.

I hope that you have many years of wonderful Disney vacations and memories. I hope you enjoy all of your stays at RR. Happy New Year!

 

[RivShore]

"Double the bedrooms" is accurate. (triple until they fix the pull down beds. ). I should have issued a formal correction sooner... Apparently this touched a nerve. But you can definitely book a 2BR at BCV or BWV for about the same as a 1BR at RIV.

I can book a 2 bedroom at CCV for less points than a 1 bedroom preferred at RIV.

You both must be comparing preferred RIV to the other resorts. Standard is just 10%-20% more and actually has 25% more capacity which offsets the increase for some.

That of course assumes the beds don't topple on that extra person, in which case you are back to 10%-20% more!!