Older couples no parks - VGF or RIV?

[Princess Tess]

Starting to look at a Fall 2023 stay for a long weekend with some friends. We originally thought a split stay but the more we think about it we realize we don’t want the hassle of being homeless and having to move, so it’s either RIV a or VGF. I’ve always wanted to stay at the GF but DH and I visited the RIV this past October and thought it was beautiful, we didn’t spend too much time there - we walked around a bit, had lunch in the cafe and moved on but it really felt more like a luxury hotel than a Disney hotel…..all the DVC resorts are luxury resorts but this one felt more adult like and I thought it might be a nice stay without kids (or grandkids). I’m torn with the fact that the VGF has the Spa and your right on the monorail for a quick trip to the Top of the World Lounge (one of my favorite things to do while at WDW) both are beautifully decorated….it’s a hard choice….first world problems! Can anyone tell me more about the RIV and advantages to staying there?

 

[CarolMN]

If you are not going to the parks (and not going to the Food & Wine Festival), my choice would be the VGF. You have easy access to several good restaurants at VGF, Poly, & CR. If the Boat is running between the WL and the CR, you can get to Geyser Point, Whispering Canyon & Artist Point. If you want to go elsewhere & don't have a car, the MK Hub can easily get you to any WDW resort. We're not pool people, so someone else can compare those.

OTOH, the Skyliner gives you access to the Boardwalk and the many resort restaurants in the BC/YC/BCV complex, the Swan, Dolphin & Swan Reserve. There's also a mini-golf course in the area. Topolinos at Riviera is a highly rated restaurant and has some nice views of the surrounding area. If you want to get to other resorts, you can take the Skyliner to DHS and board a resort bus. IMO, the Riviera studios have a better layout than the VGF resort studios, but are comparable to the VGF Deluxe studios. All are quite nice, though.

FWIW, if you are a DVC Member or planning to rent DVC points, the VGF would probably be easier to get than would the Riviera. F&W festival time books quickly at the EPCOT resorts., and Riviera has less studios than does the VGF.

IMO, they're both good places for a resort-only vacation. Have fun deciding.

 

[sethschroeder]

RIV:

• Skyliner is IMO better than the Monorail including no security lines (to get on the Monorail you will be going through security all the time)
• More resorts easily accessible
• Better food when you consider you can easily get to places like Yacht Club, Swan/Dolphin, and even walk over to Sebastian's
• Nicer walking areas (you can make loops around the lake)
• Closer to Disney Springs (not saving a ton of time but there is some time savings)
• Boardwalk area at night now has entertainment supposedly (haven't been there super recently but from what I heard)
• Primo is the best QS at any resort IMO

 

[Princess Tess]

If you are not going to the parks (and not going to the Food & Wine Festival), my choice would be the VGF. You have easy access to several good restaurants at VGF, Poly, & CR. If the Boat is running between the WL and the CR, you can get to Geyser Point, Whispering Canyon & Artist Point. If you want to go elsewhere & don't have a car, the MK Hub can easily get you to any WDW resort. We're not pool people, so someone else can compare those.

OTOH, the Skyliner gives you access to the Boardwalk and the many resort restaurants in the BC/YC/BCV complex, the Swan, Dolphin & Swan Reserve. There's also a mini-golf course in the area. Topolinos at Riviera is a highly rated restaurant and has some nice views of the surrounding area. If you want to get to other resorts, you can take the Skyliner to DHS and board a resort bus. IMO, the Riviera studios have a better layout than the VGF resort studios, but are comparable to the VGF Deluxe studios. All are quite nice, though.

FWIW, if you are a DVC Member or planning to rent DVC points, the VGF would probably be easier to get than would the Riviera. F&W festival time books quickly at the EPCOT resorts., and Riviera has less studios than does the VGF.

IMO, they're both good places for a resort-only vacation. Have fun deciding.

Thank you I really appreciate your insight - I didn’t realize you could take a boat over to WL - that’s another check in VGF box.

 

[Princess Tess]

RIV:

• Skyliner is IMO better than the Monorail including no security lines (to get on the Monorail you will be going through security all the time)
• More resorts easily accessible
• Better food when you consider you can easily get to places like Yacht Club, Swan/Dolphin, and even walk over to Sebastian's
• Nicer walking areas (you can make loops around the lake)
• Closer to Disney Springs (not saving a ton of time but there is some time savings)
• Boardwalk area at night now has entertainment supposedly (haven't been there super recently but from what I heard)
• Primo is the best QS at any resort IMO

All good points too! Decisions…decisions….the food at the lunch cafe we ate at was the best food we had during that whole week!

 

[RoseGold]

If you're adults not going to parks, I wouldn't stay at Disney at all. All of these hotels are overrun with kids and you can do a lot better for the money.

 

[maxbuffmelvin]

If you are not going to the parks (and not going to the Food & Wine Festival), my choice would be the VGF. You have easy access to several good restaurants at VGF, Poly, & CR. If the Boat is running between the WL and the CR, you can get to Geyser Point, Whispering Canyon & Artist Point. If you want to go elsewhere & don't have a car, the MK Hub can easily get you to any WDW resort. We're not pool people, so someone else can compare those.

I agree. I prefer the MK resorts over the EPCOT resorts. In addition to the MK boat to WL, the boat goes to FW for Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue, Trails End Restaurant, or Crockett's Tavern.

Also, if you have a car, I would choose VGF, and if you want to visit the EPCOT resorts without dining reservations, you drive to DHS to park and take the Skyliner or Boat to the EPCOT resorts.

 

[Princess Tess]

If you're adults not going to parks, I wouldn't stay at Disney at all. All of these hotels are overrun with kids and you can do a lot better for the money.

I probably should’ve said this but thought I was on a DVC board (sorry). We are all DVC members we will definitely stay on property. We will split a 2 bdrm between us So the $ isn’t bad at all.

 

[Princess Tess]

I agree. I prefer the MK resorts over the EPCOT resorts. In addition to the MK boat to WL, the boat goes to FW for Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue, Trails End Restaurant, or Crockett's Tavern.

Also, if you have a car, I would choose VGF, and if you want to visit the EPCOT resorts without dining reservations, you drive to DHS to park and take the Skyliner or Boat to the EPCOT resorts.

I don’t think we will rent a car but I always feel like I’m saving $$$ by not going in the parks so I’m certainly not opposed to using a ride-share service.

 

[sethschroeder]

I want to add there is construction both next to VGF with the new Poly tower and in the atrium at VGF this year.

For the atrium not sure there is specific dates of the construction.

 

[kc51570]

I’ve stayed at both. One of my last stays was a split stay between both to hit up the parks off the skyliner from RIV and then Magic Kingdom from VGF. If I were not going to parks I would definitely choose the Riviera. The pool without the slide is more relaxing, hardly any people there-the kids are in the pool with the slide which is close by, but that is not crowded either. The quick service is a lot better, a lot more variety and you aren’t freezing if you want to eat inside there. There is also less traffic in the common areas of the resort-less cash guests since it is just DVC without the added hotel guests and not as many people who are not staying there are passing through. I stayed at VGF in December which I have wanted to do for years, but the lobby and other common areas were complete madness-that wouldn’t be the case in the fall but still lots of people just passing through the resort. The rooms also felt newer even though VGF recently had a refurb. Plenty of restaurants are just a skyliner ride away which is quicker and cleaner than the monorail. If you wanted to eat at restaurants at other resorts off the monorail, Uber or Lyft are reasonably priced.

 

[CarolynFH]

Thank you I really appreciate your insight - I didn’t realize you could take a boat over to WL - that’s another check in VGF box.

Just to clarify, there's a boat that runs between MK and WL. The boat that used to run the circuit CR-WL-FW hasn't returned (yet, and no one knows whether it will or not).