The Official Riviera Owners & Info Thread

[PixiePlns]

My thoughts go out to everyone trying to figure out what to do with their cancelled trips.

We bought in January and our "welcome home" trip was supposed to be the first week in June. We cancelled it and moved it back to October and then eventually settled on February 2021. Everything is just so up in the air with the university I work at and my son's high school, it was too hard to do long-term planning for the fall. We're hoping a vaccine might be out by February too.

We're so sad though not to be going to Disney in 2020, but trying to start building out anticipation about being at the Riviera next winter. How ironic--the year we finally decided to become DVC members, is the year we don't get to go! I know we're not the only family in this position.

That's pretty much the same as my family. My husband and I bought into Riviera on a trip to WDW in December. I immediately booked our "Welcome Home" trip for June 2020 for our son's 16th birthday. We were going to be leaving tomorrow (June 20). We also have an October trip planned since we love fall, but everything is so unknown with my job (as a teacher) I don't feel like I can go on an October trip either. So - we'll be waiting until 2021 to finally have that actual "Welcome Home". I'd like to plan a trip for April 2021. But - we'll see.

 

[i<3riviera]

͏

 

[Pyotr]

I just cancelled my October Food and Wine stay at the Riviera. I was really looking forward to staying there and trying to convince the wife to do an add-on. Oh well, maybe next year.

 

[summerw]

Wanted to thank the OP for the great info and bump this thread for any who, like me, might be looking for it. We were offered a free change to Riviera in exchange for a CSR gran destino reservation during the closures in July. I’m researching whether to keep the reservation or cancel it, so I am glad to have additional info.

Agreed! @summerw did a great job.

Thanks to both of you!! I’ve learned so much on the DIS and enjoyed so many hours of researching and reading trip reports, I was excited to be able to contribute something. I’m so glad it is helpful!

And pepperandchips: did you decide yet? Will you be there after the park opens or before? I think the Skyliner will be so key during this time. No other transportation method allows families to ride alone. Even if you are on the fence over rooms or amenities, I think the Skyliner will help you have a lower-stress trip at a time when things will be so different. And then everything else that’s amazing about Riviera.

We are thinking of staying here instead of the Villas at the Contemporary. Can anyone help with a comparison?

Never stayed there but most people say Bay Lake Tower villas feel smaller, but I also don’t know that I’d turn down being able to walk to a park right now.

be careful if you decide to stay at Riviera, it can get really expensive ... you’ll fall in love with it and end up becoming a Riviera DVC member or adding on at Riviera if you’re already a DVC member

Love it!

I just cancelled my October Food and Wine stay at the Riviera. I was really looking forward to staying there and trying to convince the wife to do an add-on. Oh well, maybe next year.

I’ve had to cancel two trips now so I totally feel you. I’m sure it will be easier to convince her if you go once all this has passed. I rescheduled for October, but I feel unsettled about it and am not sure if I will ultimately cancel. It’s hard to imagine this new world of Disney.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Never stayed there but most people say Bay Lake Tower villas feel smaller, but I also don’t know that I’d turn down being able to walk to a park right now.

The BLT studios actually are smaller. It's a good set up though.

The 1 and 2BR's at BLT are pretty incredible - larger than many.

 

[pepperandchips]

And pepperandchips: did you decide yet? Will you be there after the park opens or before? I think the Skyliner will be so key during this time. No other transportation method allows families to ride alone. Even if you are on the fence over rooms or amenities, I think the Skyliner will help you have a lower-stress trip at a time when things will be so different. And then everything else that’s amazing about Riviera.

We are keeping it! (Barring reports of anything insane as the resorts reopen this week). The villas look gorgeous and it will be a great time to visit and not worry about transportation or anything else. I tried the skyliner and remain a bit phobic but as we’ll be there before the parks open that is no problem! I am also looking forward to the number of great dining options that will be available. We already tried Bar Riva and loved it, as well as the Topolino breakfast (A+)

The only thing I remain worried about after reading through about half of the great information here is pool capacity. We are going to be at the Riviera July 2-5 following a stay at PVB to use up the last of our 2019 UY points that I missed the booking deadline for. I’m worried that every guest will be wanting to go to the pool since no parks will be open, and I doubt the pools can accommodate that many guests. No way to know in advance though, so I will be keeping an eye out for reports and will continue to explore potentially visiting Volcano Bay or Aquatica.

 

[summerw]

We are keeping it! (Barring reports of anything insane as the resorts reopen this week). The villas look gorgeous and it will be a great time to visit and not worry about transportation or anything else. I tried the skyliner and remain a bit phobic but as we’ll be there before the parks open that is no problem! I am also looking forward to the number of great dining options that will be available. We already tried Bar Riva and loved it, as well as the Topolino breakfast (A+)

The only thing I remain worried about after reading through about half of the great information here is pool capacity. We are going to be at the Riviera July 2-5 following a stay at PVB to use up the last of our 2019 UY points that I missed the booking deadline for. I’m worried that every guest will be wanting to go to the pool since no parks will be open, and I doubt the pools can accommodate that many guests. No way to know in advance though, so I will be keeping an eye out for reports and will continue to explore potentially visiting Volcano Bay or Aquatica.

Yay!! That all sounds so nice. I’m jealous for sure. I hope you’ll post about your experience!

Since last I checked there was still plenty of availability in DVC rooms, let alone the undeclared ones, I think it will probably be ok at the pool. However a trip to Volcano Bay sounds good.

 

[pepperandchips]

I’m officially all caught up on the posts from after the resort opened through now and really looking forward to our upcoming stay. I sound like the greediest person ever, I’m sure, but I’m not-so-secretly hoping to be upgraded to a one bedroom when we arrive. We are already planning to bring heavy snacks and refreshments for the room to help with social distancing and it would be wonderful to have a full size kitchen. We will do just fine in the studio though! I thought if others, like me, are looking forward to an upcoming stay, it would be nice to add my photos from our resort visits in January.

Anyone remember the day Rise of the Resistance didn’t come online until 2:00 pm or so in January? I think it was the first day it was delayed that badly. Yeah, that was the day we were first attempting it. And we got a super low boarding group so it was torturous to be waiting around on our BG to be called! We decided to SkyLiner over to RR for lunch and check out Bar Riva. I was terrified of the SkyLiner but my D.H. talked me into being brave

Everyone posts about how breathtaking the mosaics are in the breezeway leading to/from the SkyLiner but there’s just no way to capture it in photos. I tried anyway!

My sister really loves Tangled/Rapunzel and these gorgeous mosaics are almost luminescent. I can’t wait until she gets to see them (she lives in Portland so it might be a while until she’s back)

We headed to Bar Riva, which I’d been wanting to try ever since I first saw the menu. I was surprised by the setup but we had no problem snagging a table and were tasked with our first difficult choice - beverages!

I had the Il Tramonto while D.H. went for the Aperol Spritz (he’d never had one). My drink was delightful - though you can pretty much guarantee that if a bar has an elderflower/St. Germain cocktail on the menu, I’m ordering it. Both drinks were well made and not too sweet.

For lunch, I had to have the Monte Cristo:

We chose fruit as our side. I have read mixed reviews on the Monte Cristo, so it seems to depend on the freshness of your sandwich. Ours was hot and fresh and delightful! Of course it probably goes without saying, but this is a very filling option. I think we finished it all but can‘t remember. It helped that we were visiting in January and not in July. I’m not sure we‘d manage fried sandwiches before returning to the pool or something

We also ordered the spicy Italian sandwich with soup as our side - that day it was a tomato bisque. We also very much enjoyed this sandwich, but the soup stole the show. We loved it - fresh and bright and perfect on a cool January day.

Drinks and lunch ran us $55 - not exactly a bargain, but it definitely felt like table service (it was, we had a great server) and we will return. I am pleased that it feels nice and upscale but is open to the elements as we will be comfortable eating there in early July, even while we are wary of returning to indoor dining locations.

After lunch our waiting finally paid off, as our Boarding Group for RotR was finnnnaaaalllly called.

The view leaving the Riviera station, soaring over CBR before returning to DHS.

Worth it!

A few days later, we returned to Riviera with our extended family to enjoy breakfast with the best character interaction we have ever had (or at least tied for first!)

Our 3 year old nephew was beside himself - he fell in love with Daisy Duck and left with a plush.

D.H. and I shared the steak and the waffles:

I definitely recommend this if your party is willing to share. We thought both options were great. I also highly enjoyed the jam and epi bread (mini baguettes). My mother in law ordered the hash and sent it back because her poached egg was inedibly undercooked - this is not the first time we have had this problem with Disney signature restaurants. I guess the chef’s idea of what is a “cooked” poached egg just doesn’t agree with what our idea is. None of us can stomach an uncooked egg white. Here’s her dish after she mixed it up a bit

Several of our family members also ordered the bagel and smoked salmon and enjoyed it. I hope that the full menu returns to Topolino’s soon.

After brunch, we went out to enjoy the terrace:

The views are breathtaking and we loved looking for some landmarks and towards another favorite resort of ours (Bonnet Creek). On the way back through the restaurant to leave, we were treated to an empty dining room so I had to grab some photos.

We enjoyed visiting and I am very much looking forward to our stay!!! I hope everyone else is looking forward to a countdown or making a new countdown as booking reopens for all guests.

 

[TexasErin]

I’m officially all caught up on the posts from after the resort opened through now and really looking forward to our upcoming stay. I sound like the greediest person ever, I’m sure, but I’m not-so-secretly hoping to be upgraded to a one bedroom when we arrive. We are already planning to bring heavy snacks and refreshments for the room to help with social distancing and it would be wonderful to have a full size kitchen. We will do just fine in the studio though! I thought if others, like me, are looking forward to an upcoming stay, it would be nice to add my photos from our resort visits in January.

Anyone remember the day Rise of the Resistance didn’t come online until 2:00 pm or so in January? I think it was the first day it was delayed that badly. Yeah, that was the day we were first attempting it. And we got a super low boarding group so it was torturous to be waiting around on our BG to be called! We decided to SkyLiner over to RR for lunch and check out Bar Riva. I was terrified of the SkyLiner but my D.H. talked me into being brave

Everyone posts about how breathtaking the mosaics are in the breezeway leading to/from the SkyLiner but there’s just no way to capture it in photos. I tried anyway!

My sister really loves Tangled/Rapunzel and these gorgeous mosaics are almost luminescent. I can’t wait until she gets to see them (she lives in Portland so it might be a while until she’s back)

We headed to Bar Riva, which I’d been wanting to try ever since I first saw the menu. I was surprised by the setup but we had no problem snagging a table and were tasked with our first difficult choice - beverages!

I had the Il Tramonto while D.H. went for the Aperol Spritz (he’d never had one). My drink was delightful - though you can pretty much guarantee that if a bar has an elderflower/St. Germain cocktail on the menu, I’m ordering it. Both drinks were well made and not too sweet.

For lunch, I had to have the Monte Cristo:

We chose fruit as our side. I have read mixed reviews on the Monte Cristo, so it seems to depend on the freshness of your sandwich. Ours was hot and fresh and delightful! Of course it probably goes without saying, but this is a very filling option. I think we finished it all but can‘t remember. It helped that we were visiting in January and not in July. I’m not sure we‘d manage fried sandwiches before returning to the pool or something

We also ordered the spicy Italian sandwich with soup as our side - that day it was a tomato bisque. We also very much enjoyed this sandwich, but the soup stole the show. We loved it - fresh and bright and perfect on a cool January day.

Drinks and lunch ran us $55 - not exactly a bargain, but it definitely felt like table service (it was, we had a great server) and we will return. I am pleased that it feels nice and upscale but is open to the elements as we will be comfortable eating there in early July, even while we are wary of returning to indoor dining locations.

After lunch our waiting finally paid off, as our Boarding Group for RotR was finnnnaaaalllly called.

The view leaving the Riviera station, soaring over CBR before returning to DHS.

Worth it!

A few days later, we returned to Riviera with our extended family to enjoy breakfast with the best character interaction we have ever had (or at least tied for first!)

Our 3 year old nephew was beside himself - he fell in love with Daisy Duck and left with a plush.

D.H. and I shared the steak and the waffles:

I definitely recommend this if your party is willing to share. We thought both options were great. I also highly enjoyed the jam and epi bread (mini baguettes). My mother in law ordered the hash and sent it back because her poached egg was inedibly undercooked - this is not the first time we have had this problem with Disney signature restaurants. I guess the chef’s idea of what is a “cooked” poached egg just doesn’t agree with what our idea is. None of us can stomach an uncooked egg white. Here’s her dish after she mixed it up a bit

Several of our family members also ordered the bagel and smoked salmon and enjoyed it. I hope that the full menu returns to Topolino’s soon.

After brunch, we went out to enjoy the terrace:

The views are breathtaking and we loved looking for some landmarks and towards another favorite resort of ours (Bonnet Creek). On the way back through the restaurant to leave, we were treated to an empty dining room so I had to grab some photos.

We enjoyed visiting and I am very much looking forward to our stay!!! I hope everyone else is looking forward to a countdown or making a new countdown as booking reopens for all guests.

So I have to ask as a fellow panicky person....how was riding on the Skyliner? The views looked nice! Great pix, by the way. Thanks for sharing!

 

[pepperandchips]

So I have to ask as a fellow panicky person....how was riding on the Skyliner? The views looked nice! Great pix, by the way. Thanks for sharing!

It was not as bad as I was expecting. The winds were causing some swaying (January!) and when we momentarily paused a few times my anxiety unreasonably told my brain we were going to be stopped for hours I do not normally have a fear of heights, it was more about getting stuck. The views are amazing and I’m sure I will ride it again... someday I appreciate the convenience and the gondola system itself, I’m just not sure it’s for me as a primary transportation mode.

 

[pepperandchips]

Wow, just wow!!! We got upgraded to a one bedroom villa at check in and this room is just gorgeous! We just arrived a few hours ago but I already love it. I never want to leave this villa!

 

[RivShore]

Wow, just wow!!! We got upgraded to a one bedroom villa at check in and this room is just gorgeous! We just arrived a few hours ago but I already love it. I never want to leave this villa!

View attachment 506106

How did you check in and how did the upgrade happen?

 

[pepperandchips]

How did you check in and how did the upgrade happen?

We did online check in but did not head immediately to the room. I needed to take care of switching my payment card for the balance due at check in, so we stopped at the “front desk” to handle that. We were talking with the absolutely amazing cast member and discussing how we’d been moved from Gran Destino. I (rather obviously) mentioned we were just the tiniest bit sad to have lost our king room and wondered if any rooms with king beds were available. She said she would check with a supervisor to see about their availability and magically upgraded us. FWIW the resort seems like it is at very low occupancy and I never would have made such an obvious upgrade request if that weren’t the case, but I strongly suspect this room would have been vacant if we hadn’t practically asked for it. That pixie dust goes a long way. We are elated! Given some other disappointments with limited offerings during this initial reopening (not at Riviera) this upgrade really pleased us and brought a lot of magic to our stay!

 

[pepperandchips]

Quick live update while pools are cleared for a storm. There is a recreation cast member assigned to the Beau Soleil (leisure/quiet) pool who monitors the capacity and cleans chairs when they are vacated. Since these loungers don’t really tip forward, she is asking today that you completely lay your chair flat when you leave so that she and the custodial cms can wipe down vacated chairs for the next guest. I was worried about pool capacity before our trip and the feature pool was indeed hopping today, but loungers and umbrellas remained available earlier when we were at the Beau Soleil pool. Every CM I’ve encountered has been so fun, helpful, outgoing, and excited. It’s a great level of service and I feel appreciated. Primo Piatto and Bar Riva have limited menus right now. These few choices would get old were we not staying just a few nights. We have not checked as to whether Topolino’s is offering the full menu outside on the terrace (we are only comfortable with outdoor dining at the moment). Our room overlooks the Beau Soleil pool courtyard - meaning we have a view of many other balconies. It doesn’t appear too many are occupied though I can’t tell enough to hazard a guess of the percentage. Today was definitely busier than yesterday and Thursday. It looks like there are some locals here as well based on UCF and other local clothing and masks. We are still loving the resort and the room. Will post some food photos in a moment.


I loved this Peter Pan art but did not see it available to purchase from the print on demand kiosk


Hoping to use the tub before we depart!




Shelf perfect for face covering storage (as is the hanger/rack/hooks on opposing wall)




Had the pool entirely to ourselves for about 30 minutes yesterday! Bliss.






Pool “crowd” today - most spots occupied

 

[pepperandchips]

More photos...
Italian sandwich in Bar Riva with fruit as the side. Sandwich: 9/10, fruit: 3/10


Chocolate thingamajigs from Petit Cafe - they are like super moist brownie bites and are made in wine cork molds or something. Scrumptious. 10/10


Wings from Bar Riva with a subtle lemon and garlic flavor, topped with crunchy bits. The chicken is smoky throughout and fall off the bone tender. 10/10. Shaved carrot garnish: 1/10.


Madeleines: lightly lemony and moist. 8/10 (Le Petit Cafe)


Picture sideways and can’t figure out how to rotate but these are our face covering masks on the hook at the front door

 

[Cinderbrella1]

Thank you for sharing your pictures! The resort looks beautiful! Congratulations on the upgrade! The one bedroom looks like it has a ton of space! I love all of the art work!

 

[mouselovenfamily]

Hello all! Just booked here for September and wondering if this is the best thread to be on for information regarding the Riviera Resort. So excited to stay here, got a wonderful deal and hope our trip happens!

 

[jamesweikamp]

Hello all! Just booked here for September and wondering if this is the best thread to be on for information regarding the Riviera Resort. So excited to stay here, got a wonderful deal and hope our trip happens!

I would say this thread (particularly the first post) as well as this one https://www.disboards.com/threads/rivera-rooms-with-a-view.3782418/ are going to be your best sources of information.

Hope you love it as much as we do!!

 

[Lizzards]

Well I just moved to the Riviera from Beach Club for our Thanksgiving week stay. Since there isn't an opening date for Beach Club, I thought it would be a great time to try this new resort out. We booked a 1 bedroom Villa. Read through the posts and it looks like a beautiful place to stay. Excited and hoping we get to go in November!!!!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Well I just moved to the Riviera from Beach Club for our Thanksgiving week stay. Since there isn't an opening date for Beach Club, I thought it would be a great time to try this new resort out. We booked a 1 bedroom Villa. Read through the posts and it looks like a beautiful place to stay. Excited and hoping we get to go in November!!!!

That's awesome. We have a stay for the first week of December. I'm hoping we will feel safe enough to go then, we are watching the situation closely. Fingers crossed!