Disney's Riviera Resort.........just another high-rise hotel?

[MomOTwins]

The Remy area does not look like French Riviera theming, it looks Parisian. Much like New York City looks very different than Hawaii, even though they are both "American."

Reality is, Riviera does Italian/French Riviera theming about as accurately as any other resort does its theming. I do think part of the problem is people don't know what to expect from the Riviera, but they assume Parisian theming.
And there are plenty of critics among those who are familiar with the Riviera... but the Riviera itself has different elements in different locales. (theming is more a Riviera-located resort, as opposed to the whole Riviera).

For example, the Hotel Royal Riviera in Nice, France:

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And other Riviera located luxury resorts:

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As you can see... Disney's Riviera Resort actually does resemble what luxury resorts in the Riviera look like. (though a bit larger of course)

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I loved this because it’s what I’ve always felt but never had the research to back it up. I had grandparents in Nice, France and have so many fond but very distant memories of visiting them as a child before they passed away. When I walked around the Riviera grounds on my last trip, I got teary eyed because it touched some memory in a way I couldn’t really place. Was it the palm trees? The loungers at the quiet pool? The manicured lawns? The metalwork on the balconys? I don’t know but it felt RIGHT.

Aside from nostalgia, there are many things I love about that I think anyone would enjoy:
1. Two bathrooms in spacious deluxe studio. Rainfall shower. Murphy bed and actual twin size 5th sleeper. I love the room aesthetics and feel the photos do not do justice to how elegant they are, but if you didn’t love the style, you have to admit the rooms have great features.
2. Compact layout: no long walk to rooms on tired feet at the end of the day.
3. Primo piatto—never had a bad meal at that quick service, breakfast, lunch or dinner.
4. Gondola transportation to two parks and direct bus (no interior loops) to others. People complain about the storms affecting it, but the boats are often replaced by buses in storms too and you don’t hear gripes about that. Storms are not often bad in the morning, which is when efficient transport for rope drop matters most.
5. Gelato cart at pool. Nuff said.
6. Look at those mosaics and the pools all lit up at night, and then tell me the resort isn’t beautiful.

 

[PalmettoPath]

We like the theming of the hotel, so I appreciate the Riviera-style attention to detail (having spent a portion of my life living in Nice, France). However, the big "but" for us is that the hotel just feels way too cramped. The lobby is small and cramped (underwhelming), the courtyard is cramped, the pool areas are cramped...the whole thing feels claustrophobic to us. So nice to visit, but will never stay there (for these and other reasons).

 

[gregskellington]

I go back and forth on the tower thing. The practical side of me loves how much easier it is to get to everything. But the less practical side of me prefers the aesthetics and vibe of the sprawling resorts.

 

[BLLB]

We primarily stay at BWV. However, it is now mandatory travel to Riviera for the lemon ricotta pancakes at Primo Piatto.

I do think the lobby is small-ish, but it’s not my “home.” We did tour the rooms, and they are beautiful. DH and DSs refuse to stay at Riviera and GF because, in their words, it’s too ”fancy” for them .

I’m happy that I get to visit, enjoy meals, and view the loveliness. Maybe a trip with the girls is in my future!

 

[havoc315]

I loved this because it’s what I’ve always felt but never had the research to back it up. I had grandparents in Nice, France and have so many fond but very distant memories of visiting them as a child before they passed away. When I walked around the Riviera grounds on my last trip, I got teary eyed because it touched some memory in a way I couldn’t really place. Was it the palm trees? The loungers at the quiet pool? The manicured lawns? The metalwork on the balconys? I don’t know but it felt RIGHT.

Aside from nostalgia, there are many things I love about that I think anyone would enjoy:
1. Two bathrooms in spacious deluxe studio. Rainfall shower. Murphy bed and actual twin size 5th sleeper. I love the room aesthetics and feel the photos do not do justice to how elegant they are, but if you didn’t love the style, you have to admit the rooms have great features.
2. Compact layout: no long walk to rooms on tired feet at the end of the day.
3. Primo piatto—never had a bad meal at that quick service, breakfast, lunch or dinner.
4. Gondola transportation to two parks and direct bus (no interior loops) to others. People complain about the storms affecting it, but the boats are often replaced by buses in storms too and you don’t hear gripes about that. Storms are not often bad in the morning, which is when efficient transport for rope drop matters most.
5. Gelato cart at pool. Nuff said.
6. Look at those mosaics and the pools all lit up at night, and then tell me the resort isn’t beautiful.

I mostly agree with your list of the pros...
On the theming, I think it would be helpful to distinguish between the selection of theming and the execution of theming. A lot of people complaining about the theming of Riviera simply are unfamiliar with the chosen theme. They hear Riviera and falsely expect Parisian. Or maybe they picture Universal's Portofino Bay, which is an excellent execution of one particular Riviera town, but not representative of the entire Riviera.

It's a subjective question, but it's perfectly fine to dislike the selection of the theming. And objectively, Disney invited such criticism by selecting a lesser known theme. Say "African theme" and Animal Kingdom Lodge expectations come to mind. Say "Hawaiian" and the imagination will go to something like the Polynesian. But most Americans don't know what to picture when one says "Riviera." (Similarly, I don't think most people would know what to expect from Saratoga Springs).

My wife really dislikes Wilderness Lodge. Unquestionably, it does a great job executing the theme. But my wife simply doesn't like the theme. Staying in a real northwestern wilderness lodge is not high on her bucket list.

So how well does Riviera execute its theme? Personally, I'd give it a B-. It does feel more sterile than the "real" Riviera resorts. The sight-line to CBR does take away a little bit.
But that's about as well as most DVC resorts execute their theme. Take the very-popular Beach Club. The general architecture does a good job replicating a classic New England style beach resort. But apart from the architecture, the rest of the amenities don't feel very New England-beachy. All of the dining at Riviera matches the Riviera theming. Most of the dining at Beach Club doesn't feel very "New Englandish"
Cape May Cafe is the only primarily-seafood option and it's a mediocre buffet.
Take Grand Floridian -- the architecture is copied from a famous CALIFORNIA hotel, so how is that great execution of a grand FLORIDIAN? While Wilderness Lodge is well executed, the Boulder Ridge Villa building feels to me like generic condos.
So some resorts may execute their theme better than Riviera, some slightly worse. But anyone who says "its just basically a Marriott that could be anywhere" -- that's simply not an honest statement.