Direct Purchase, Riv VS Poly Showdown, Who wins for us- Riv Review

[PolyRob]

This is a part of why Poly didnt do it for us, especially my husband. We have been to Aulani and Poly felt kind of knock off to us. I should say OG Poly is different than the tower. OG Poly has a tiki room vibe which is very much just Disney, the tower is where we felt it was knock off. Also the cm saying Aloha at Poly was a bit cringey for us.

You have completely sold me on staying at Portofino when we decide to go to Universal. Previously I would have said I will just stay DVC and drive.

We still want to stay at RIV to see how we like it, I think I really would like it. I actually loved Topolinos breakfast, but then again since we are vegan we dont get to experience food the way others do at restaurants at Disney.

I had breakfast at Tangaroa Terrace at The Disneyland Hotel a couple weeks ago and was greeted with, "Aloha," and I wanted to say, "This isn't Hawaii. We're in Anaheim." I have no idea why, but it really hit me the wrong way. Sorry, only Hawaii can pull off Hawaii.

I've caught myself apologizing to CMs for not saying aloha/mahalo back to them at Poly. They're very good about pretending you're in Hawaii

 

[Girlstar30]

OOOH this was the one I was waiting for. WOW! Completely different than I expected.

Those Murphy Beds are mounted extra securely after they were falling on guests opening week LOL (https://wdwnt.com/2019/12/murphy-bed-falls-on-guest-during-opening-night-at-disneys-riviera-resort/)

I am so shocked that you didn’t like Topolino’s breakfast! It’s usually a highlight of the resort. People got a little out of hand with the unlimited entrees Riviera offered for breakfast when it first opened. This is why we can’t have nice things!

The tiny lobby really highlights the number of guests. I personally like the cavernous feel AKL, WL, GF, etc provide.

I’m glad you finally got to experience it after previously touring. Now you have firsthand experience comparing the Skyliner of an Epcot resort to the walkability of a Crescent Lake resort.


Personally for me I know LSL will never be a home resort I purchase. It's too far removed from the MK for me to want to stay there as a "MK" resort.

You really seemed to love Poly. If you want direct points I would buy 150 PVB when you're ready to make the direct leap so you know you have a direct home resort you love. The restrictions of Riviera concerned you and it's pretty apparent LSL will also have the restrictions. Plus you can always use PVB to book something with the home resort advantage and then try to book the same nights with your resale points at the 7-month window if they're still available since they work on PVB and use the freed direct points on other things like RIV, LSL, VDH, etc if you ever wanted.

Ah that makes sense why the bed is so heavy, safeD first!

I was really looking forward to the sour cream waffles at character breakfast and they were just kinda meh. I believe I ordered an eggs Benedict and again felt the same. They weren't bad, just didnt wow me. I love a good character breakfast and Chef Mickeys is still my #1

I guess i noticed the lobby so much because one day I woke up extra early to go downstairs as I usually do for one day at each hotel (7am for me ) to take my obligatory Instagram hotel pictures and videos and it was full of people that seemed to be in a hurry walking everywhere.

Now I understand that there are theme parks to be had, but some of these people weren't leaving it just kind of surprised me all these people hustling and bustling all early Every time I tried to take a picture it seemed like someone was whizzing by long lines at le petit at this ungodly hour and people blabbing loudly on the cell phone in the library lol.

So what you mentioned about LSL is what I dont like about WL. I dont feel like im in the seven seas lagoon bubble, but i already own at blt so I feel i dont need to be.

My greater concerns are the restrictions and this trust that I dont trust. Im just trying to catch up reading on what everybody has been talking about the last month and I came across the topic that said "Survey" where DVC is asking how people feel about paying more for early booking windows and people having extra points having priority booking???

That literally made my blood boil the way sw did when they changed their policy AFTER I bought a bunch of gift cards I bought dvc to have a fair chance at trading into multiple hotels. I'll read more before I continue blabbing, but im hoping maybe older contract Poly has some protections against such blasphemy. Will this be the new resale restrictions they put out for people just buying resale? Sorry to go on that tangent. LsL being a newer resort had me on alert that they might pull some bs loll.

In the end, my whole family really loved Poly. 4 out of 5 preferred it to Riviera and my fancy 11 year old cousin said Riv all the way lol. So majority rules on this one!

 

[Girlstar30]

I've caught myself apologizing to CMs for not saying aloha/mahalo back to them at Poly. They're very good about pretending you're in Hawaii

Come to think of it i just said hi back without thinking much

 

[Girlstar30]

Im almost afraid to ask, are there any other changes DVC seems to be brewing lol

 

[Girlstar30]

Come to think of it, I checked into Riv on a Friday vs Poly on a Wednesday. My peaceful picture day at poly was on a weekday, at Riv a weekend. Had it been the opposite perhaps id be writing about the crowded Poly lobby so I want to disclose that because im seeing more and more how timing makes a difference and a fair comparison would ideally be at the same time of week and same time of month. I know this must be some type of ocd of mine

 

[airjay75]

Im almost afraid to ask, are there any other changes DVC seems to be brewing lol

Just seeing that survey thread now - that is bonkers.

As to other developments, I'm hard pressed to think of anything terribly new or that significant in the past few months. DLR getting rid of EE for resort guests (so, not just DVC). Whether MMB will return for 2026 and, if so, will the cost and/or benefits change. There was some increased ROFR activity at a variety of resorts in July and August which was noteworthy (including the first ever RIV contract). Ability to add-on 25 points at all resorts (some resorts used to be minimum of 50). You may well have heard about all of those developments already, but those were things that came to mind in response to your question.

 

[airjay75]

Come to think of it, I checked into Riv on a Friday vs Poly on a Wednesday. My peaceful picture day at poly was on a weekday, at Riv a weekend. Had it been the opposite perhaps id be writing about the crowded Poly lobby so I want to disclose that because im seeing more and more how timing makes a difference and a fair comparison would ideally be at the same time of week and same time of month. I know this must be some type of ocd of mine

Definitely not OCD - this is the type of information we love! I think Saturdays and Sunday are probably the two most common check-in/check-out days at any resort, and so probably pretty typical to see lobbies more crowded with folks either waiting for their room or waiting for the transportation to the airport.

 

[Girlstar30]

Just seeing that survey thread now - that is bonkers.

As to other developments, I'm hard pressed to think of anything terribly new or that significant in the past few months. DLR getting rid of EE for resort guests (so, not just DVC). Whether MMB will return for 2026 and, if so, will the cost and/or benefits change. There was some increased ROFR activity at a variety of resorts in July and August which was noteworthy (including the first ever RIV contract). Ability to add-on 25 points at all resorts (some resorts used to be minimum of 50). You may well have heard about all of those developments already, but those were things that came to mind in response to your question.

Thank you for the summary!! I hadn't heard about the increased ROFR activity. I read about MMB will be returning for 2026 but that may have been from one of those clickbait sites! I need better incentives than 25 points

 

[airjay75]

Thank you for the summary!! I hadn't heard about the increased ROFR activity. I read about MMB will be returning for 2026 but that may have been from one of those clickbait sites! I need better incentives than 25 points

I think consensus is that it will return, but we just don't have any official information yet. So, we'll see.

 

[PolyRob]

Ah that makes sense why the bed is so heavy, safeD first!

I was really looking forward to the sour cream waffles at character breakfast and they were just kinda meh. I believe I ordered an eggs Benedict and again felt the same. They weren't bad, just didnt wow me. I love a good character breakfast and Chef Mickeys is still my #1

I guess i noticed the lobby so much because one day I woke up extra early to go downstairs as I usually do for one day at each hotel (7am for me ) to take my obligatory Instagram hotel pictures and videos and it was full of people that seemed to be in a hurry walking everywhere.

Now I understand that there are theme parks to be had, but some of these people weren't leaving it just kind of surprised me all these people hustling and bustling all early Every time I tried to take a picture it seemed like someone was whizzing by long lines at le petit at this ungodly hour and people blabbing loudly on the cell phone in the library lol.

So what you mentioned about LSL is what I dont like about WL. I dont feel like im in the seven seas lagoon bubble, but i already own at blt so I feel i dont need to be.

My greater concerns are the restrictions and this trust that I dont trust. Im just trying to catch up reading on what everybody has been talking about the last month and I came across the topic that said "Survey" where DVC is asking how people feel about paying more for early booking windows and people having extra points having priority booking???

That literally made my blood boil the way sw did when they changed their policy AFTER I bought a bunch of gift cards I bought dvc to have a fair chance at trading into multiple hotels. I'll read more before I continue blabbing, but im hoping maybe older contract Poly has some protections against such blasphemy. Will this be the new resale restrictions they put out for people just buying resale? Sorry to go on that tangent. LsL being a newer resort had me on alert that they might pull some bs loll.

In the end, my whole family really loved Poly. 4 out of 5 preferred it to Riviera and my fancy 11 year old cousin said Riv all the way lol. So majority rules on this one!

I can understand that. I do think the Topolinos meals are elevated, but you don’t have the variety of a traditional buffet or all you care to enjoy meal. Topolinos actually adds to a lot of the elevator traffic, especially that first bank.

A bustling resort at 7am really is surprising! I’ve been at GF during the holiday season and I can easily get picture until 8/9am.

I have no evidence of this, but I feel like LSL will be easy to secure in the 7-month window (will transferring out even be a thing? JK I hope) only because of how big it will be. The resort looks massive and I assume the more expensive views will sit for direct points to gobble up outside of peak seasons (similar to RIV preferred).

 

[Girlstar30]

I can understand that. I do think the Topolinos meals are elevated, but you don’t have the variety of a traditional buffet or all you care to enjoy meal. Topolinos actually adds to a lot of the elevator traffic, especially that first bank.

A bustling resort at 7am really is surprising! I’ve been at GF during the holiday season and I can easily get picture until 8/9am.

I have no evidence of this, but I feel like LSL will be easy to secure in the 7-month window (will transferring out even be a thing? JK I hope) only because of how big it will be. The resort looks massive and I assume the more expensive views will sit for direct points to gobble up outside of peak seasons (similar to RIV preferred).

I already know those A frames by the water are out for me. I dont like massive, sprawling resorts that need an internal bus loop. I don't mind a walk like pit to poly or blt to CR at all. If a resort has wide availability, I dont see why I would buy there either. I buy hime resorts for priority unless its a super cheap SAP ala SSR.

There's too many resorts I like that are hard to get that id rather wish I had 11 months priority in.

PIT is hard to book right now for more than a couple days with a cheaper view. Maybe that will change when more rooms open up but a lot of people haven't stayed there yet and once they do i feel like they may want to come back for more.

Tbh, PIT is a no brainer for me. Lowest mf's, part of older deeded real estate with a lot of years left, prettiest fireworks view (imo) lots of restaurants and room types, no restrictions, good food, one of the best pools, big merchandise stores, 2 beds with 3 baths, beautiful themeing, we loved our stay there, I mean what else am I looking for its perfect for us.