Riviera cash stay

[jolynne28]

Well we broke down and booked two nights in early June for our anniversary, no kids this trip. What are the chances we end up loving this resort and start looking for a contract?

I've seen a lot of people buying RIV direct within the last year, maybe the summer incentives will be really good and finally persuade us to jump in? Although I'm not sure direct makes sense for us since we're nearby and very flexible. But LSL (is that what we landed on for the acronym?) sounds very appealing, we are FW & WL lovers. Basically I want more BWV points and at least one more home resort. We can buy one contract in 2025, and this time of year worked out well in 2024, but the deals just don't seem to be there right now. I am trying to be a patient impatient person, but it's about to kill me.

Stream of consciousness at its finest. Happy Valentine's Day!

 

[intamin]

What room type did you book? The studios at RIV are great but I'd argue the 1BRs very well might be the best on property.

If you need points near Epcot past 2042 it's a great option. LSL.. could be interesting but idk I'm a bigger fan of the skyliner to 2 parks than boat access to just 1 park but that's my personal preference. Not a fan of Poly I presume?

 

[jolynne28]

What room type did you book? The studios at RIV are great but I'd argue the 1BRs very well might be the best on property.

If you need points near Epcot past 2042 it's a great option. LSL.. could be interesting but idk I'm a bigger fan of the skyliner to 2 parks than boat access to just 1 park but that's my personal preference. Not a fan of Poly I presume?

We got a preferred studio, with the AP discount I think it was 1k for 2 nights and the only room type available. I think we'll love the rooms, but I'm not sure I love the resort since theming is such a big thing for me. Hubby likes it though, so I could be persuaded.

I agree with your point about park access, it's why we love BWV so much, the walk to Epcot & HS can't be beat IMO. We tried Poly and didn't love it. Not saying we wouldn't stay there again on SAP, but I don't think we care to own there.

 

[RuntheMouse]

Well, I was a never will I ever on the RIV and now we have 3 contracts there. We didn’t even stay there, just took a tour! It is tied for my favorite with BRV. I love the skyliner, the food there is good and I love how compact the resort itself is.

We are curious about LSL also but if it doesn’t tick the boxes, I’m hoping to add more on to RIV before they sell out.

Just enjoy your trip, if you feel it, you feel it.

 

[JackosinDIS]

I have just bought direct at RIV. Did it make sense financially? Probably not. Am I am happy I can stay there and use my points at other resorts… yes!

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

Well we broke down and booked two nights in early June for our anniversary, no kids this trip. What are the chances we end up loving this resort and start looking for a contract?

I've seen a lot of people buying RIV direct within the last year, maybe the summer incentives will be really good and finally persuade us to jump in? Although I'm not sure direct makes sense for us since we're nearby and very flexible. But LSL (is that what we landed on for the acronym?) sounds very appealing, we are FW & WL lovers. Basically I want more BWV points and at least one more home resort. We can buy one contract in 2025, and this time of year worked out well in 2024, but the deals just don't seem to be there right now. I am trying to be a patient impatient person, but it's about to kill me.

Stream of consciousness at its finest. Happy Valentine's Day!

We fell in love with it and sold our other points and only own there now. Not only are the rooms beautiful, but we love the central location and the Skyliner. So, I'd say chances are good!

 

[BradleyCB]

I have a feeling you will love it. RIV doesn't have over the top Disney theming, but the theming is nicely done. We both like the art around the resort and in the rooms, which has more of a stylized theme on Disney characters and landscapes. Hopefully you can go to Topolino's Terrace for dinner one night - even better if you are there at 9 pm for fireworks. The skyliner makes travel to Hollywood Studios and Epcot so easy and fast. Finally, you have to go down to the quick service restaurant and get a Riveria Cookie.

It's our favorite resort. We almost certainly will be buying DVC there this year.

 

[beccasmom]

We have stayed there 3 times (twice in a preferred studio and once in a one-bedroom) and loved it. The rooms are beautifully furnished and spacious. Before we stayed there we weren’t impressed with it. But that quickly changed!

 

[Jwaire]

I didn't initially care for the theming because it didn't compare to Wilderness Lodge or Polynesian. However, it's the best run DVC resort at WDW I've stayed at in years.

Food and beverage is top notch, maintenance is on point and the cast members go above and beyond including management.

As one told me last month, "We're elevated."

I hope you have as great a stay as we did last month.

 

[disneylandtour]

We got a preferred studio, with the AP discount I think it was 1k for 2 nights and the only room type available. I think we'll love the rooms, but I'm not sure I love the resort since theming is such a big thing for me. Hubby likes it though, so I could be persuaded.

I agree with your point about park access, it's why we love BWV so much, the walk to Epcot & HS can't be beat IMO. We tried Poly and didn't love it. Not saying we wouldn't stay there again on SAP, but I don't think we care to own there.

All of my points are re-sale, but I've rented points to stay at RIV via the DIS rental board. I had both a tower studio (from memory, I think I paid just over $200--though it was mid-week) and a standard studio (around $300, again mid week). So if you're paying $500/night and you still have time, you might check out your options.

Also, I absolutely love Poly (the longhouses more than the tower rooms), so if you only tried the tower, give the longhouses a go. And put in a request for NOT pago pago. Other than that, you should be good. But the longhouses are a better experience IMO than the tower.

 

[disneylandtour]

Food and beverage is top notch, maintenance is on point and the cast members go above and beyond including management.

For me, the food is the highlight of RIV. Quick service is great. The polenta at breakfast. The seared ahi salad for lunch. Topolino's is probably my second favorite signature restaurant on property. Also, it's nice to have an actual cafe. (Disney, would it be so hard to add those to the other resorts?). The big drawback at RIV is that there's not a strong mid-tier food option.

 

[Mouseforward]

I was a never RIV until I stayed there. To be more specific until I stayed there for more than a night. My first stay was in a tower studio for a night, which I did not like. But once I stayed for a week, I was sold. Riviera has the lowest stress level of any resort that has transportation other than bus to the park. You basically get the calmness of Old Key West with the transportation options to Epcot that are valuable to me.

Just stay once at Polly or grand Floridian during the holiday month and you will see what a high stress resort is.

 

[PlutoNotPlanet]

Well we broke down and booked two nights in early June for our anniversary, no kids this trip. What are the chances we end up loving this resort and start looking for a contract?

I've seen a lot of people buying RIV direct within the last year, maybe the summer incentives will be really good and finally persuade us to jump in? Although I'm not sure direct makes sense for us since we're nearby and very flexible. But LSL (is that what we landed on for the acronym?) sounds very appealing, we are FW & WL lovers. Basically I want more BWV points and at least one more home resort. We can buy one contract in 2025, and this time of year worked out well in 2024, but the deals just don't seem to be there right now. I am trying to be a patient impatient person, but it's about to kill me.

Stream of consciousness at its finest. Happy Valentine's Day!

Unless you are going to buy direct before June, buying RIV resale now is probably too late for the June trip.
Even if you love it just because it's a no-kid trip, you will have enough time to decide until the next trip.
Happy Valentine's Day!

 

[intamin]

We got a preferred studio, with the AP discount I think it was 1k for 2 nights and the only room type available. I think we'll love the rooms, but I'm not sure I love the resort since theming is such a big thing for me. Hubby likes it though, so I could be persuaded.

I agree with your point about park access, it's why we love BWV so much, the walk to Epcot & HS can't be beat IMO. We tried Poly and didn't love it. Not saying we wouldn't stay there again on SAP, but I don't think we care to own there.

I mean now that you'll have more points theres nothing wrong with booking 1BR BWV p/g view because that's whats available at 7 months with RIV points til 2042 and then switching to RIV afterwards til 2070. Sure you're paying more points for a 1BR but you're also getting more. You'll probably also be able to waitlist your way into a few nights a year as well more coveted studios like Boardwalk view. Regardless RIV really is lovely resort.

 

[jolynne28]

All of my points are re-sale, but I've rented points to stay at RIV via the DIS rental board. I had both a tower studio (from memory, I think I paid just over $200--though it was mid-week) and a standard studio (around $300, again mid week). So if you're paying $500/night and you still have time, you might check out your options.

Also, I absolutely love Poly (the longhouses more than the tower rooms), so if you only tried the tower, give the longhouses a go. And put in a request for NOT pago pago. Other than that, you should be good. But the longhouses are a better experience IMO than the tower.

I planned on renting, but since we're 3 months out no renters really want to stalk studio availability, so we opted for cash. I did find out last night that hubby's company is going to pay for this, apparently when he hit the 20 year mark a couple years ago they give you a "weekend getaway" as a nice gesture, and we'd never used it.

We only did the longhouses, and weren't big fans. The extra bath space is nice though. Our overall take on the monorail resorts is that they feel very crowded a lot of the time. I would live at WL if I could, but I agree that the boat transportation can be annoying. Honestly I'm not a fan of the busses either, which is one of the reasons why RIV is so appealing to so many people I'm sure.

This is like a disturbance in the force. I have NEVER considered owning RIV, I've practically hated the very idea. I have no idea why this is suddenly a good idea. I hope it's not a brain tumor.

 

[JackosinDIS]

This is like a disturbance in the force. I have NEVER considered owning RIV, I've practically hated the very idea. I have no idea why this is suddenly a good idea. I hope it's not a brain tumor.

So funny… the exact same thing with me this week. No explanation for it other than a disturbance in the force!

 

[jolynne28]

So funny… the exact same thing with me this week. No explanation for it other than a disturbance in the force!

What is wrong with us?! ; )

 

[Brian Noble]

There's a lot of that going around.

 

[Spivey378]

Riviera is extremely relaxing and calm. Except by the bocce ball pitch where there are always kids lobbing balls/getting injured.

 

[BradleyCB]

This IS the resort you are looking for!