BLT or Riviera for you?

[Dizzydizney]

Both. For the reasons already stated, plus RIV for the longer contract life.

Regarding the skyliner and not enough gondolas left empty for RIV...this is the fault of the people loading at the hub. I’ve counted how many empty ones are sent over...I’ve counted as many as 8 full ones...then one empty......or 2 people that refuse to move over when asked . There should be a letter writing campaign started to Bill about this. It’s ridiculous to have to wait over 30 minutes in the morning. Especially when there is no alternative.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

Resale BLT. Direct I would choose RIV

 

[mort1331]

always loved me a BLT with a pickle on the side,,yum

 

[igrsod]

I think BLT. I love the proximity to MK.
The food options and shops also are a plus to me.
RIV is lovely but doesn't feel Disney enough to me.

 

[Alice-in-wonder]

One of each!!

 

[gregskellington]

Riviera..I own at Poly so I'm not that keen on another monorail resort.

 

[DougEMG]

I'd pick BLT over RIV. I like to walk to parks and the point charts are way better.

 

[kboo]

It's even worse for accessible gondolas. The midpoint is just tough at peak times.

I had to rent an ECV due to an injury last summer and we were *very* late for dinner at Epcot (like 30 min). I sent DH ahead with one kid to let them know the issue. After two more ECVs were waiting behind me they finally got some empty gondolas (which means that the RIV had communicated, but it took a while for the empty gondolas to show up.)

Resale BLT. Direct I would choose RIV

I say both (we own at both). In 2019 I was looking at resale BLT to add on to BLT points we already had, or RIV direct. Given the incentives, we would have paid about $5000 more, total, for - 11 mo privileges at an EP/HS resort, new and 50 year contract + choosing UY and immediate points. No regrets, other than - wishing we had bought more points back then.

 

[kandlsutton]

Gotta vote for Riviera here. We prefer Epcot and Hollywood Studios to Magic Kingdom since our kids are now young adults. The studios are really spacious at Riviera and we didn't feel cramped like we did at BLT and we didn't like the kitchenette layout at BLT. So we would only stay in the 1BR at BLT whereas we would be good with a studio at RIV. and you get fireworks with some standard views.

The biggest issue I had with BLT was hearing the buses and delivery truck beepers all night long from our theme park view studio. And the fireworks view wasn‘t worth it either - the higher fireworks look like they are over Space Mountain, it was hard to see the castle fireworks, and you had to look in two directions due to the side angle.

 

[perchy]

RIV over BLT despite restrictions.

 

[havoc315]

Probably RIV, but I'm astonished it doesn't have more shops than the standard gift shop. And no mid-priced TS restaurant.

Not exactly totally true. BLT has no restaurants -- They are all at the sister property, the Contemporary.
Similarly, Riviera has a casual TS restaurant at it's [unofficial] sister property, Sebastian's.
Also overlooked, Bar Riva is basically a mid-priced TS restaurant -- a small one.

Now, the original concept of Riviera, pre-Covid -- Primo Piatto was going to serve TS-quality meals at dinner. Those got scrapped during Covid. It's possible that Disney decides they don't need to bring them back. But the original menu had true TS-worthy dinner options, served on real dishes, etc.

 

[havoc315]

Personally, while BLT has a fantastic location, I feel it has aged poorly as a resort. Compared to the other properties, BLT's pool is mediocre at best. The rooms, especially the studios, are on the small side. The decor is rather ordinary.

To me, the only significant pros of BLT -- Magic Kingdom location, and second bathroom in the 1BR units.
But subjectively for me, I prefer to be in the Epcot area. So that erases the location advantage of BLT.
So speaking just for myself, it's an easy call to take Riviera over BLT.

 

[Brett Wyman]

BLT is literarily my least favorite DVC resorts. Yeah the proximity is seriously great, but the tiny lackluster lobby, stacks upon stacks of rooms, how dated the rooms are, the tiny pool, tiny studios, and the long walk to any food just do it in for me.

 

[jennyq87]

Funny to see how different opinions are on these resorts! I think you really need to stay at both first and get a feel for both resorts. Personally, I didn't care for the Riviera until I stayed there. Now it's my favorite resort on property! And unlike many others, I LOVE the Skyliner. BLT rooms are pretty, but there's just too much concrete around BLT/Contemp for me. And MK is our least favorite park, so location isn't really a benefit for us. We'd prefer to be closer to Epcot/HS/Disney Springs. It would be RIV hands down for me.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Personally, while BLT has a fantastic location, I feel it has aged poorly as a resort. Compared to the other properties, BLT's pool is mediocre at best. The rooms, especially the studios, are on the small side. The decor is rather ordinary.

To me, the only significant pros of BLT -- Magic Kingdom location, and second bathroom in the 1BR units.
But subjectively for me, I prefer to be in the Epcot area. So that erases the location advantage of BLT.
So speaking just for myself, it's an easy call to take Riviera over BLT.

The 1 and 2 bedrooms at BLT are some of the largest DVC villas and it's 1 of the 3 resorts that have an actual full bathroom for the main living area. AKV Kidani and VGC being the other 2.

Regarding dated decor. Every resort eventually becomes that way.

 

[kanerf]

I own at both. I purchased Riviera direct and BLT resale. I like the location of BLT, but the rooms there are very dated if you ask me. I know they did an upgrade to the Contemporary, but I don't think BLT is due for a while. The rooms at Riviera are obviously very fresh being only a few years old. They are also larger than BLT rooms, if that is what you are into. The split bathrooms at Riviera are great.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I own at both. I purchased Riviera direct and BLT resale. I like the location of BLT, but the rooms there are very dated if you ask me. I know they did an upgrade to the Contemporary, but I don't think BLT is due for a while. The rooms at Riviera are obviously very fresh being only a few years old. They are also larger than BLT rooms, if that is what you are into. The split bathrooms at Riviera are great.

DVC isn't doing well on sticking with their timelines but since BLT opened in 2009 it should be up for a full refurb next year in 2023 or early 2024.

 

[kanerf]

DVC isn't doing well on sticking with their timelines but since BLT opened in 2009 it should be up for a full refurb next year in 2023 or early 2024.

Let's hope for murphy beds at least. Not much they can do with the bathrooms, but tearing out bath tubs and installing dedicated showers in some of the studios would be a good thing for me.

 

[HIRyeDVC]

I own at both. I purchased Riviera direct and BLT resale. I like the location of BLT, but the rooms there are very dated if you ask me. I know they did an upgrade to the Contemporary, but I don't think BLT is due for a while. The rooms at Riviera are obviously very fresh being only a few years old. They are also larger than BLT rooms, if that is what you are into. The split bathrooms at Riviera are great.

When BLT gets its hard refurb in 2024, I think it will be nicer than Riviera. And an extra full bathroom beats a split bathroom any day IMO.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Let's hope for murphy beds at least. Not much they can do with the bathrooms, but tearing out bath tubs and installing dedicated showers in some of the studios would be a good thing for me.

That would make booking way difficult at BLT and divide studios into 6 booking categories. I'd hope not. Otherwise the bathrooms are quite a good size in the studios. I wouldn't expect a change like that. If a walk in shower is required there is the HA category with a walk in shower. Even that was only done in the lakeview category I believe.