Riviera is the nicest resort I've stayed at so far

[jennypenny]

Not to get off topic, but an earlier post of BWV small studios reminded me of the late-great DIS legend… “Richyams” (do I have that spelling right?)

“You can clean the entire villa with one paper towel”…

"You can reach the fridge from the balcony" ...

I can't imagine what he'd think of the tower/duo rooms. RIP Richyams.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

I have a couple of Tower stays coming early next year, one 3-night and one 4-nigh. But it will just be me so I think it'll be fine!

1 person for sure will be good!

 

[muppets3d]

I have stayed in a tower studio for 8 nights on two occasions. Other than only having one sleeping/sitting surface in the room, it's rather functional. There is plenty of storage for that length of stay.

I think the tower studios are at their best for impromptu 2-3 night stays, say a long weekend or quick midweek solo trip or whatever. The problem is they book quickly so that sort of takes the spontaneity out of it.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

I have stayed in a tower studio for 8 nights on two occasions. Other than only having one sleeping/sitting surface in the room, it's rather functional. There is plenty of storage for that length of stay.

I think the tower studios are at their best for impromptu 2-3 night stays, say a long weekend or whatever. The problem is they book quickly so that sort of takes the spontaneity out of it.

We stayed in the tower for 5 nights for a race weekend for our first Riviera experience. I agree they are functional, but for a trip that involved more resting and time in the room, it was less than ideal (also, that chandelier is AWFUL. Why is the lighting so bad ). I do think it is just fine if you are doing a parks-heavy trip and won't be at the resort much!

 

[tx911]

We stayed in the tower for 5 nights for a race weekend for our first Riviera experience. I agree they are functional, but for a trip that involved more resting and time in the room, it was less than ideal (also, that chandelier is AWFUL. Why is the lighting so bad ). I do think it is just fine if you are doing a parks-heavy trip and won't be at the resort much!

I wish the towers were a little cheaper point-wise. They are not far from a resort-view studio.

 

[muppets3d]

We stayed in the tower for 5 nights for a race weekend for our first Riviera experience. I agree they are functional, but for a trip that involved more resting and time in the room, it was less than ideal (also, that chandelier is AWFUL. Why is the lighting so bad ). I do think it is just fine if you are doing a parks-heavy trip and won't be at the resort much!

I think a race weekend is a great use for the tower studio, although if I were the runner I'd want a tub for soaking after!

 

[SugarSweetLee]

I think a race weekend is a great use for the tower studio, although if I were the runner I'd want a tub for soaking after!

Agree that was another missing component that would have improved my comfort for the use!

 

[SugarSweetLee]

I wish the towers were a little cheaper point-wise. They are not far from a resort-view studio.

For our dates the difference was 4 points/day. I don't know what you feel a fair number would be, but I def don't want to pay any more than we already do for the regular sized studios

 

[muppets3d]

I wish the towers were a little cheaper point-wise. They are not far from a resort-view studio.

I wish everything at Riviera were a little cheaper point-wise, honestly. Especially the 1 bedrooms and the entire preferred view category. Honestly though I think the tower studios are well-priced, much cheaper and they'd be rivaling the beach resorts in the dead of Winter and I doubt Disney wants the optics of that.

 

[tx911]

For our dates the difference was 4 points/day. I don't know what you feel a fair number would be, but I def don't want to pay any more than we already do for the regular sized studios

I was thinking more like less for the towers. Let’s make those rich folks booking Grand Villas pay a tad more.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

I was thinking more like less for the towers. Let’s make those rich folks booking Grand Villas pay a tad more.

Would I like that? Yes. My pessimism over any point rebalancing says the studios would get hit harder though lol

 

[crazywig]

"You can reach the fridge from the balcony" ...

I can't imagine what he'd think of the tower/duo rooms. RIP Richyams.

Yes this is the one I always remember from Rich, "you can grab a beer from the balcony at BWV" or similar.

As long time BWV owners I gave Riv the side eye when it opened. Like a few others, did a tower stay for one night and laughed about that. Life is too short for that room. Last year did a week in a 1br and my mind was changed. I love the quiet pool. Never fighting for a chair (looking at you BWV), plenty of tables and umbrellas. We're heading there again in October in a two bedroom.

 

[Girlstar30]

If I actually love the way it looks and haven't stayed there yet to need my mind to be changed about the resort, I think im in trouble... $$$

 

[TCRAIG]

I was a hater before I stayed there , I was meh when I stayed one night in a TS.

I stayed with my family for a week and I "got it" and now its my #1 choice.

Riviera's charm is not visual , its the relaxed pace, atmosphere, and the level of service. You have to stay to get the difference. I think it is the opposite of Poly in every way: quiet vs loud, calm vs busy, new vs dated, centralized vs spread out. I am always surprised when people list both in their top 2.

I really really wanted to like RIV but I never found it calm - I thought it was always loud and busy with people dropping by to visit from the Skyliner (which I also don’t like - massive fear of heights)…plus the parking is odd and the views are not good…and yes, I’ve stayed 3x - I think I’d take SS over RIV now - SS has Disney Springs within scooting distance plus close parking - which is a huge plus for me.

 

[BamaGuy44]

I sense this too and it piggybacks off the point I made earlier about being predisposed to like where you have spent your money. For DVC "old-timers," they have probably thought to themselves, well, RIV better be something really special if I'm going to have to deal with this pesky resale restrictions. Seeing RIV through that lens you can easily find the negatives - not enough theming, just a glorified Marriott, Skyliner sucks, etc. Take away those resale restrictions, and I think some opinions might be pretty different.

I don't care what anyone likes or doesn't like, and RIV has positives and negatives like anywhere else. But MANY people were 100% looking for reasons to hate it because they were mad about the restrictions. For anyone around the boards at that time it was obvious. Same thing happened with PIT when we found out it wasn't going to look just like the buildings designed 50 years ago.

Again, plenty of legit reasons not to care for it. I happen to love it, but i get why it wouldn't be everyone's vibe. But the people with an ax to grind were (and are) easy to spot.

Disney enthusiasts, which most of us around here are, tend to pre-hate anything Disney announces within 5 seconds before we even know anything about it anyway, and the restrictions just magnified it. Lots of enthusiast groups are like that, just human nature I guess

 

[disneydreamer1980]

I find Riv to be absolutely boring and underwhelming. Tiny, disappointing, underwhelming lobby. Boring pools. Boring theming. Jus meh all around. The murals are nice…but that’s it. Well, maybe that, and the foods ok. But not being near a park for the amount of points they charge, that’s insane. You can call it an Epcot resort all you want, it’s not. It’s the only DVC resort I have absolutely zero interest in ever staying at. And we’re direct owners so the restrictions aren’t effecting my opinion. But everyone’s different and I’m glad other people love it. I may not understand how anyone can love it, lol, but I’m glad they do. Less people competing for rooms at the best resorts-Poly and BWV. Lol.