Presidential Suite in Grand Destino Tower or Riviera Villa

[BingoJoe]

I am trying to book 2 weeks for next year and have noticed that a Riviera Villa (somewhere I like the look of) is about the same price as the Presidential Suite in Grand Destino.

I can't decide! We have been to WDW a lot but I have never been to Grand Destino and haven't been to Riverside since it was finished.

I love the idea of the location, with the Skyliner, at Riviera. But the Suite seems more exciting, and you get the club level snacks. Is the pool a long way from the tower? Do the better facilities at Riviera swing it?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Hmmm, I’ve stayed in one of the Presidential Suites (there are two) at GDT. Probably one of the nicest rooms on property. It’s sort of over the top to be honest. But I’m not sure I would want to stay two weeks there (in fact, I wouldn’t want to).

Since you’ve never been to GDT, I’d split your stay with Riv so you can a little of both places (if this were were me). When dealing with the more expensive room categories such as suites and larger villas, you definitely don’t want to get locked into something for too long just in case you don’t end up liking it, in my opinion.

You may know this but CL is “temporarily unavailable” per Disney and there is no word on when it will return. Although I do think CL at GDT is fantastic, so hopefully someday...

The main pool is not that far from the Tower, but it’s not “just outside” either. It’s a small walk. Not too long to complain about but long enough you don’t want to forget your sunscreen in the room.

What Riv Villa type are you comparing GDT to? Just curious.

Happy to answer any questions.

 

[Heather07438]

Hopefully by next year CL returns but no guarantee. I'm in love with Gran Destino. A split stay sounds like a good solution here since you have 2 weeks. Get the best of both worlds and try the 2 newest resorts in WDW

 

[BingoJoe]

Unfortunately a split stay isn't an option because there is a hefty, 4k, discount if I buy it as a package

 

[BingoJoe]

What Riv Villa type are you comparing GDT to? Just curious.

Just a 1 bedroom! I can get a one bedroom villa for only 2k less than the presidential suite for two weeks.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Just a 1 bedroom! I can get a one bedroom villa for only 2k less than the presidential suite for two weeks.

GDT Pres Suite if you are more than 2 people. The one-shower, one toilet situation in a Riviera one bedroom vs 2.5 bathrooms? That pres suite common area looks like it has what 5x? At least? the space as 1 bedroom Riv Villa.

I don’t even get why there is a debate here unless you could really use the cash savings. If you can afford it and are more than a couple traveling together if my googling is accurate GDT Pres Suite is 2 full bedrooms, an absurd amount of living space & 2.5 baths vs 1 bedroom, a drop down bed in the living room, a much smaller living room and 1.25 baths. (.25 because the sink + shower off the master doesn’t count to me. I want a freaking toilet to call it even .5 bathroom ). (If someone is taking a shower the toilet can’t be accessed in a 1 bedroom Riv.)

Look, I ADORED the 1 bedroom Riv I stayed at with my fam of 5 adults. But GDT Pres Suite was not in my trip budget. And I would not do two weeks in that 1 bedroom Riv- unless it was just a couple then it would be great.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

GDT Pres Suite if you are more than 2 people. The one-shower, one toilet situation in a Riviera one bedroom vs 2.5 bathrooms? That pres suite common area looks like it has what 5x? At least? the space as 1 bedroom Riv Villa.

I don’t even get why there is a debate here unless you could really use the cash savings. If you can afford it and are more than a couple traveling together if my googling is accurate GDT Pres Suite is 2 full bedrooms, an absurd amount of living space & 2.5 baths vs 1 bedroom, a drop down bed in the living room, a much smaller living room and 1.25 baths. (.25 because the sink + shower off the master doesn’t count to me. I want a freaking toilet to call it even .5 bathroom ). (If someone is taking a shower the toilet can’t be accessed in a 1 bedroom Riv.)

Look, I ADORED the 1 bedroom Riv I stayed at with my fam of 5 adults. But GDT Pres Suite was not in my trip budget. And I would not do two weeks in that 1 bedroom Riv- unless it was just a couple then it would be great.

You are right about the space at GDT - it is massive.

Although I’ll note a relatively big difference between the suite and Villa is having a kitchen, if that’s important to the OP. The suite - despite its size - only has a very small beverage sink and a small/under the counter fridge (the fridge size makes zero sense relative to the size of the room). No plates, utensils, etc. You quickly realize all that common space is perhaps more useful for corporate or VIP entertaining than it is for, say, regular guests. Or one needs to plan to bring/order paper plates, plastic utensils, etc. Or if CL were actually open, that would change things.

But if a guest isn’t going to be eating in the room/doesn’t need a kitchen (or washer-dryer for that matter) and just wants to enjoy a super duper luxurious room, then GDT works!

 

[Alison S]

I agree with basing the decision on how many people are going to be staying in the room.

If CL was open I'd do the pres suite in a heartbeat.

Pools...CSR's pool is okay. It's a bit of a walk from the tower, nothing terrible. I haven't stayed at the Riviera but the pool & atmosphere around the pool seem much nicer there, at least to me.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I have stayed in both and they are both exquisit
I would choose Riviera Much more relaxing and location.
Also think RR will be harder to book DVC & no discounts after these unprecedented times.
Gran Destino cash stay will prob always have some type of discount.
Do you really need that much space to consider Presidential Suite!

 

[BingoJoe]

I don't want to eat in the room, well maybe a bagel and a coffee in the morning that I bring back, but that's it. So a kitchen isn't a big advantage.

There will be three of us, just me and my husband and our 9 year old. For a couple of nights someone will join us so it needs to be able to fit 5.

The ease of getting to the pools and the feel of the resort certainly comes into it. We usually chill in the room until about 10, having gone to bed late, and we will sometimes spend a morning (or rarely most of a day) chilling around the pool and resort.

If the pool at GDT isn't too remote then it is basically lux room vs location. And I can't decide if the Riviera location is that much better than at GDT.

Maybe I should have posed the question differently. If you had $20k dollars for a room for 5 for 14 nights, give or take $2K, where would you stay?

 

[DL1WDW2]

Riviera and splurge with breakfasts & dinners at Topplonos.
Trust me on this.. haha
The only thing that would change my mind would be a bungalow or CC cabin choice!

 

[DL1WDW2]

Hoq upset would you be if the Convenrion business returns with lots of alcohol & smoking & business guests ?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

For 2 weeks, I think the Riv location is better than the GDT location. I love GDT and that room type can’t be beat, but despite its central location it’s still a bit of an island. To me that’s just a really long time in that location for the way we like to bounce around WDW property. I’d want to be somewhere I can move between parks and resorts to expand dining/entertainment options without being tied to buses and driving.

If CL were open I might feel differently.

 

[Farro]

Hoq upset would you be if the Convenrion business returns with lots of alcohol & smoking & business guests ?

Smoking?

 

[BingoJoe]

Hoq upset would you be if the Convenrion business returns with lots of alcohol & smoking & business guests ?

Yes I would be upset. I don’t even like the poly because I think all the non-resort crowds spoil the vibe.

 

[BingoJoe]

For 2 weeks, I think the Riv location is better than the GDT location. I love GDT and that room type can’t be beat, but despite its central location it’s still a bit of an island. To me that’s just a really long time in that location for the way we like to bounce around WDW property.

If CL were open I might feel differently.

We like to move around property as well, we eat somewhere different every night. However I don’t mind, maybe even like, an isolated resort if it is a world on its own. Eg I love Jambo house which is quite isolated. I feel like when you have two weeks in WDW you don’t mind waiting for buses etc so much.

However if the vibe at Coronado is a bit corporate then I think It has to be Riviera.

 

[starry_solo]

Are those the only two options?!

 

[BingoJoe]

Are those the only two options?!

Well there is a 1 bed club suite at poly, but the guest beds are in the main bedroom. The grand Floridian Villa is there but it is another 3k and it doesn’t seem worth it over Riviera.

Nothing at boardwalk or beach club (boardwalk 1 beds only sleep 4).

Contemporary has a garden wing suite, but... I am not sure about the theme.

There is the turret suite at yacht club for 5k more. Is the turret suite worth 5k more the riviera?

At copper creek there is only a cabin, which is much more expensive (10k more)

 

[GADisneyDad14]

If I can ask, approx when is this trip?

 

[doleddanielle]

Well there is a 1 bed club suite at poly, but the guest beds are in the main bedroom. The grand Floridian Villa is there but it is another 3k and it doesn’t seem worth it over Riviera.

Nothing at boardwalk or beach club (boardwalk 1 beds only sleep 4).

Contemporary has a garden wing suite, but... I am not sure about the theme.

There is the turret suite at yacht club for 5k more. Is the turret suite worth 5k more the riviera?

At copper creek there is only a cabin, which is much more expensive (10k more)

I'm a huge fan of the Riviera and the 1-bedroom was fine for a trip of just my boyfriend and me for a week, but if you're looking into other options, have you looked into Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary?