Getting Into Riviera to Eat?

[kwwdw]

Hello Everyone! We've got a trip coming up and are considering Primo Piatto for dinner on our arrival day. We are not staying at Riviera, nor on the Skyliner route. My question is... is Riviera one of the resorts still turning people away if they don't have a reservation? We have a back up plan for getting there (using WDW transportation), but it would obviously be a lot easier for us to just drive ourselves. Thanks for any information or insight you can share!

 

[eticketplease]

They are pretty protective of their parking lot. You can always see if you can schedule a DVC tour and then they would let you park. Although not sure how late in the day you could schedule since you are planning to have dinner.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Yeah, they have to be. It would be second only to BC for EP parking/drop offs if they weren’t. Take Disney transport.

Good news is anyone can get a rideshare from RIV so it’ll be quick getting back to your hotel.

 

[SL6827]

Yep, go from AK or MK via a bus to Riveria. It is worth it.

 

[fla4fun]

I stayed at Riviera in September and was surprised at how tiny their parking lot is. I imagine they have to be diligent about keeping non guests out so that actual resort guests can park.

Since it’s your arrival day, and you won’t already be at a park, I would probably take Disney transport from your resort to DHS and catch the Skyliner from there. I think that would be faster than going to a park where you would have to wait to catch a second bus to Riviera, since the skyliner runs continuously so long as the weather is good.

We really enjoyed the food at Primo Piatto and it would be worth it to us to stop there for a meal. You should also check out the menu for Bar Riva, if you haven’t already.

 

[gharter]

We have never had an issue parking there when we had an ADR at Topolinos. However, if you are trying to dine at a restaurant without an ADR, you have a good chance of being turned away.

 

[beccasmom]

The Riviera is a very nice resort. We recently stayed there (first week in November) and we do enjoy Primo Piatto. I like their pizzas and they have a very good tiramisu . They have a variety of sandwiches and salads as well.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

We have never had an issue parking there when we had an ADR at Topolinos. However, if you are trying to dine at a restaurant without an ADR, you have a good chance of being turned away.

The first time we went to Riveria to eat at Topolinos, we paid to use valet parking. When we saw the actual parking situation, we decided to try self-parking the next time. We will continue to use self-parking in the future whenever we have an ADR for Topolinos, since the walk from the parking lot was not much different than the walk from the valet parking location.

This is quite different from our experience at the Grand Floridian. There, we always use valet parking, since the self-park location is so far away from the entry to the resort buildings.

 

[Skippyboo]

If you’re onsite, you can drive to Hollywood Studios park there for free and take the Skyliner to Riviera. HS to CBR is a short route, just switch to Epcot line and get out at Riviera

 

[wdwnomad]

Enter through Caribbean Beach and drive around. The resorts are connected.

 

[eticketplease]

Enter through Caribbean Beach and drive around. The resorts are connected.

I knew you could walk between the resorts but didn't realize that you could drive it without going through the guard shack.

 

[CarolynFH]

I knew you could walk between the resorts but didn't realize that you could drive it without going through the guard shack.

I don’t think you can. Looking at the map, it appears there is a roadway all around both resorts, but to get into the Riviera parking lot requires that you go through the guard gate.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I don’t think you can. Looking at the map, it appears there is a roadway all around both resorts, but to get into the Riviera parking lot requires that you go through the guard gate.

I think that's the roadway you see CBR buses on when standing at the RIV bus stop?

 

[CarolynFH]

I think that's the roadway you see CBR buses on when standing at the RIV bus stop?

Could be - I've never tried to use that roadway, just looked at Google Maps satellite view.

 

[Skippyboo]

CBR isn’t going to let you either without a dining reservation.

 

[SL6827]

CBR isn’t going to let you either without a dining reservation.

Most likely not. Pop Century might.

 

[wdwnomad]

Enter through Caribbean Beach and drive around. The resorts are connected.

Yes, you do have to get through the guard at CBR. They just let you through if you say you are eating. Head towards the Martinique area as that is the direction of Riviera. The roads go through as Riviera was built on CBR and they never changed them.

 

[fla4fun]

Most likely not. Pop Century might.

But if you are going to have to take two separate Skyliner routes from Pop to Riviera you might as well park at the Studios, where you know you won’t be turned away. As a resort guest, the parking at the Studios is complimentary. There are a few times when Pop is more strict with who they allow in, although it’s not as often as resorts closer to the parks. With my luck, I would be trying at Pop on one of those days . . .

 

[Beachmom0317]

We've always gotten asked to show our driver license and verify our ADR. They seem pretty strict. We have APs and have parked at DHS and taken skyliner over if we didn't have an ADR