Riviera or Beach Club in August?

[jacobjennasmom]

Hello,
We are planning a split stay in August with the first three nights at BLT and are having a hard time deciding on our second hotel. We are torn between the Riviera two bedroom villa or a Beach Club one bedroom villa with a connecting studio. We need two bathrooms and a two bedroom villa isn't available at BC. We haven't been since 2019 before the skyliner opened so we have never been able to ride it. We have watched quite a few videos of it and we know we would use it. My question is when we went in 2019 we stayed at BC for the first time and we loved being able to walk to Epcot and HS. We would completely lose that ability at the Riviera. The resort looks so nice though! My other concern is walking in August will be quite warm in the afternoons and we might want to use the pools as well which I'm afraid could be an issue at the BC. I guess I'm leaning towards the Riviera but was wondering if anyone had any experience with August and how bad the heat will be. We usually go at Spring Break but are unable to in 2022 and we desperately want to get a trip in to Disney if we can. Thank you so much for any advice you can give!

 

[sparkle78]

I really think you will be happy at both. We recently stayed at a 2 bedroom Riviera villa for the first time in Nov when Wilderness Lodge and Yacht club weren’t available. It had 3 showers( 1 was a tub/shower combo) 2 toilets, soaking tub, nice kitchen area and tv plus tons of closets for suitcases, shoes, and dirty laundry. The pool was very nice, beautiful view and quickly took the skyliner to Epcot.
Beach club/yacht club. Love the atmosphere in the early morning outside, quick walks are great. pool could be busier.
I’ll let others give their opinions and if you have more questions let me know

 

[Marthasor]

Hello,
We are planning a split stay in August with the first three nights at BLT and are having a hard time deciding on our second hotel. We are torn between the Riviera two bedroom villa or a Beach Club one bedroom villa with a connecting studio. We need two bathrooms and a two bedroom villa isn't available at BC. We haven't been since 2019 before the skyliner opened so we have never been able to ride it. We have watched quite a few videos of it and we know we would use it. My question is when we went in 2019 we stayed at BC for the first time and we loved being able to walk to Epcot and HS. We would completely lose that ability at the Riviera. The resort looks so nice though! My other concern is walking in August will be quite warm in the afternoons and we might want to use the pools as well which I'm afraid could be an issue at the BC. I guess I'm leaning towards the Riviera but was wondering if anyone had any experience with August and how bad the heat will be. We usually go at Spring Break but are unable to in 2022 and we desperately want to get a trip in to Disney if we can. Thank you so much for any advice you can give!

We have stayed at both BCV and RIV and have also traveled frequently in August (used to do it annually until covid hit). I can't emphasize enough how hot it will be. Like, the sun goes down and you are still dripping in sweat hot and humid. Of the two resorts, BCV is my preference (it's, in fact, my favorite in all of WDW). It's just so conveniently located. Not only are you right next to EP and the Skyliner, but the BC QS and the BC bus stop are very close to the BCV building as well. There is also a quiet pool right at the BCV building which is very convenient. I'm just wondering if you are sure you are getting a connecting studio? I'm not sure that's guaranteed? The rooms at RIV are stunning. I just didn't really like the location. The Skyliner is fun, but if it goes down (and with the torrential rain in August, it will be down a lot, I would predict), you lose the Skyliner advantage and will need to take buses everywhere. You have a distinct transportation advantage at BCV since you can walk to EP and walk/boat/Skyliner to DHS. You also have other EP resorts restaurants within walking distance, whereas the dining choices are quite limited at RIV. My vote would be BCV.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

The heat in August is intense, and there are usually afternoon/evening thunderstorms with lightning. From Beach Club, I would walk to Epcot in August, but I would really hesitate to walk to DHS. I have walked from BoardWalk to DHS in August, but it's much shorter than from BC, and it was 8am, so it was tolerable. The Skyliner can and does stop running during storms. In short, it's kind of a toss up for transportation to DHS. Beach Club does have the boat, but I'm not sure if it's currently running.

Do you have a 2-bedroom lock-off booked at Beach Club? Or are you saying you'd have to book a 1-bedroom and a studio? If so, connecting is quite possibly just a request and you may not get it. Also, are you talking about this August? I'm surprised a Beach Club studio is available.

Edit: @Marthasor I typed this out much earlier but hadn't clicked post. I see we said basically the same things.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

We have stayed at both BCV and RIV and have also traveled frequently in August (used to do it annually until covid hit). I can't emphasize enough how hot it will be. Like, the sun goes down and you are still dripping in sweat hot and humid.

The park maps have melted their colors onto my arms before - at rope drop - in August.

 

[Heather07438]

Beach Club does have the boat, but I'm not sure if it's currently running.

Yes the boat is running. We used it in January and loved it.

 

[Marthasor]

The park maps have melted their colors onto my arms before - at rope drop - in August.

LOL! It brings back memories of sitting and waiting for Rivers of Light to start after the sun had already gone down and I was still dripping with sweat.

 

[westie55]

I've gone during spring break where it was honestly just as hot as August. It will be hot, but doable. We stayed at Riviera last August and loved it. The Skyliner is terrific and is so fast and convenient. It was never down during our trip, but we had surprisingly little rain. I wish DH weren't afraid of heights or we'd stay there a lot. I liked the ease of the Riviera's pool for my small kids. They loved the children's splash area. I really hate how you have to exit SAB to get to the water slide. It is too spread out IMO. Since you've already stayed at BC, give Riviera a try! One of my favorite things about Disney is trying different resorts to give our vacations different flavors.

 

[jacobjennasmom]

Thanks everyone for your input! I appreciate it! We ended up deciding on Beach Club and booked a one bedroom villa and a studio. I am trying to see if I can book a two bedroom lock off but otherwise we will have the other two rooms and can hope to have them adjoining. I know it's not guaranteed which is a bummer. I am worried about the heat but it's really the only time of year that we can go right now. We went to DC one year in the summer and I thought I was going to die. It was soooo bloody hot! I figure it we can get through that trip we can handle this. We are planning to just enjoy being in Disney and trying to get on a few rides and eat a few meals. My husband likes to walk and I just worry that being at the Riviera we will miss the walk to Epcot. We loved staying at the Beach Club when we went in 2019 and we will have my 20 year old son with us for the first time in a few years so I want him to experience being close to Epcot as well. You all had great information and I appreciate all of it! I am no investigating ways to stay cool in August! I just ordered the Eddie Bauer Stowaway backpack and plan to lug water with us at all times!

 

[mickeymom22]

Yay for the Beach Club! We love the ability to walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. We have not stayed at the Riviera, but we have visited. None of us were wowed by it. I don't know why really. The main areas were nice, but seemed small. From the Beach Club, you can always catch the Skyliner at Epcot and take a ride.

Happy Planning and you are correct with that water in August! Drink plenty of water!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I am no investigating ways to stay cool in August! I just ordered the Eddie Bauer Stowaway backpack and plan to lug water with us at all times!

Some things that help me to stay cool tolerate Disney World in August:

• Stay hydrated - drink a lot of water, and also some Powerade to replace electrolytes. There are other options on the market; I like Nuun because they have effervescent tablets that pack well and you can just drop the tablet into some water. Dehydration is sneaky and it's easy to get behind on water intake. Some clues that I'm not drinking enough are realizing I haven't been to the restroom in hours as well as drowsiness/feeling sluggish.
• Wear athletic clothes - it dries faster and is sweat wicking. Cotton is not my friend in the Florida heat.
• Have a portable fan or misting fan.
• Have a waterproof bag in your park bag for things that can't get wet, because it rains - hard - almost every afternoon or evening.
• Sun care is important. A hat with a good brim is helpful. I've also learned about UV umbrellas on this board but haven't tried them.
• It's hard with the short Covid park hours, but I like to do early mornings in the park, an afternoon break in the pool or air conditioning, and then return outside for the evening. It's too bad the parks are not open until 1 or 2 in the morning.
• Prepare ahead of time. Acclimate yourself to the summer heat at home as much as possible, including taking walks in the heat and just spending time outdoors.
• Be especially mindful of water intake at Animal Kingdom. Be strategic with air conditioning breaks here; there are very few options. A lunch ADR at an indoor restaurant is helpful.
• Plan on using multiple masks each day. Last August, I packed 2 ziplock bags, one labeled "clean masks" and the other "dirty masks" and I would swap masks out at lunch, dinner, and as needed. I also packed disposable face cleansing wipes. Once I was seated for a meal with my food, I would remove my mask, wash my face with the wipe (yes, at the table since it's the only place to remove your mask ) and then put a fresh mask on after eating. Tide makes "sink packs" that you can use to wash clothing items in a hotel sink; I packed these to wash my masks. I might pack disposable masks this year but I still plan to swap them out and use face cleansing wipes.

In my (somewhat limited) experience, spring break can be just as hot as summer, but I've found the humidity (dew point) is higher in the summer. I've been in temperatures in the 90s at WDW in December and February also, but it didn't feel as bad as 90s in the summer.

 

[brockash]

We have stayed at both BCV and RIV and have also traveled frequently in August (used to do it annually until covid hit). I can't emphasize enough how hot it will be. Like, the sun goes down and you are still dripping in sweat hot and humid. Of the two resorts, BCV is my preference (it's, in fact, my favorite in all of WDW). It's just so conveniently located. Not only are you right next to EP and the Skyliner, but the BC QS and the BC bus stop are very close to the BCV building as well. There is also a quiet pool right at the BCV building which is very convenient. I'm just wondering if you are sure you are getting a connecting studio? I'm not sure that's guaranteed? The rooms at RIV are stunning. I just didn't really like the location. The Skyliner is fun, but if it goes down (and with the torrential rain in August, it will be down a lot, I would predict), you lose the Skyliner advantage and will need to take buses everywhere. You have a distinct transportation advantage at BCV since you can walk to EP and walk/boat/Skyliner to DHS. You also have other EP resorts restaurants within walking distance, whereas the dining choices are quite limited at RIV. My vote would be BCV.

Yes, that was my first thought too...skyliner resort in Aug= not a great benefit. It's most likely going to go down a lot. We went thos past Sept and it seemed like it was down more than it was up and so far it seems like quite a hassle when it goes down.

We love BC anyways, so we'd definitely choose that over Riviera, however I just wanted to bring up the logistics of the skyliner during rainy months. We just returned from CBR and loved the skyliner, but it never went down and we basically had no rain on our trip. I know it would've been a very different story if we had stayed there during our summer trip.

 

[Shellyred8]

Some things that help me to stay cool tolerate Disney World in August:

• Stay hydrated - drink a lot of water, and also some Powerade to replace electrolytes. There are other options on the market; I like Nuun because they have effervescent tablets that pack well and you can just drop the tablet into some water. Dehydration is sneaky and it's easy to get behind on water intake. Some clues that I'm not drinking enough are realizing I haven't been to the restroom in hours as well as drowsiness/feeling sluggish.
• Wear athletic clothes - it dries faster and is sweat wicking. Cotton is not my friend in the Florida heat.
• Have a portable fan or misting fan.
• Have a waterproof bag in your park bag for things that can't get wet, because it rains - hard - almost every afternoon or evening.
• Sun care is important. A hat with a good brim is helpful. I've also learned about UV umbrellas on this board but haven't tried them.
• It's hard with the short Covid park hours, but I like to do early mornings in the park, an afternoon break in the pool or air conditioning, and then return outside for the evening. It's too bad the parks are not open until 1 or 2 in the morning.
• Prepare ahead of time. Acclimate yourself to the summer heat at home as much as possible, including taking walks in the heat and just spending time outdoors.
• Be especially mindful of water intake at Animal Kingdom. Be strategic with air conditioning breaks here; there are very few options. A lunch ADR at an indoor restaurant is helpful.
• Plan on using multiple masks each day. Last August, I packed 2 ziplock bags, one labeled "clean masks" and the other "dirty masks" and I would swap masks out at lunch, dinner, and as needed. I also packed disposable face cleansing wipes. Once I was seated for a meal with my food, I would remove my mask, wash my face with the wipe (yes, at the table since it's the only place to remove your mask ) and then put a fresh mask on after eating. Tide makes "sink packs" that you can use to wash clothing items in a hotel sink; I packed these to wash my masks. I might pack disposable masks this year but I still plan to swap them out and use face cleansing wipes.

In my (somewhat limited) experience, spring break can be just as hot as summer, but I've found the humidity (dew point) is higher in the summer. I've been in temperatures in the 90s at WDW in December and February also, but it didn't feel as bad as 90s in the summer.

This is all such great info!!! We use a lot of these tactics. The "wiping your face with a face wipe before eating" is one I haven't done, but I'm totally stealing the idea for my next trip! I think I'm also going to try the Nuun next trip. I've seen it on the market, but haven't tried it yet. Any recommendations on flavors?

I have a 20 ounce thermos bottle that I bring with me to the parks. I fill it with ice water in the morning and it stays nice and cold. So, after I've been walking around in the heat for a bit, I can take a drink of nice cold water. I find I drink more water when it's cold as opposed to room temp or warmer. After I've drank all the water, I go to a quick serve and get some cups of ice water to fill it back up right away, so it's full when I need it next.

Another fun hydration option at EP is to go to the shops in the world showcase and check out what beverages they have in their gift shops. We went to the gift shop in Japan the last time we were there and they had a cooler of canned beverages that were not something I've ever tried/seen before. So, I bought one that looked interesting. It was actually pretty good! It's not something you would want to do for all day, but it was a nice break from just plain water.

We also take a light weight cooling towel with sometimes. Sometimes I like it, sometimes it's just a nuisance.

In regards to the portable fans, there are some out there now that you wear around your neck and there is a little fan on each side of your face. I haven't tried those yet, but I will be getting one if we plan to do another August trip. Seriously, as others have mentioned, it's HOT and humid in August!!!

To add to the clothing note about wearing athletic wear, make sure it is light colored. Or at least not black. Wearing black athletic wear in the Florida sun almost defeats the purpose of wearing the athletic wear!

 

[Brett Wyman]

We love both resorts for all they have to offer around them. Thats said, even though we have young kids, we prefer Riviera due to the updated rooms, much much much much better QS, and a less chaotic pool experience. Also I don't love our young kids having to leave the gate to ride the pool slide a BCV. At Riviera we can sit on the side with a drink and let them slide until their hearts are content. Plus there is no splashpad at SAB. This is all very personal preference obviously.

 

[jacobjennasmom]

Thank you all for the great info on the heat in August! @Where's Piglet, thank you for your extensive list! I am taking notes and have a list of things to get. I do love the Nuun drops so that will be a great idea to have on hand! And portable fans will be something else I start looking for. I am nervous about the heat, more so for my husband than myself, but am hopeful we can still enjoy ourselves despite the heat. We went to DC a few years ago and it was the hottest weather I had ever experienced. We are from Michigan and we get pretty humid here in August and September but DC that year was insane. Heat indexes were well into the 110s. It was scary hot. So I'm trying to force myself to plan for more leisurely days and to try and get more things done in the morning hours and have breaks in the afternoon. We will see. My best laid plans always seem to get derailed somehow!

We love both resorts for all they have to offer around them. Thats said, even though we have young kids, we prefer Riviera due to the updated rooms, much much much much better QS, and a less chaotic pool experience. Also I don't love our young kids having to leave the gate to ride the pool slide a BCV. At Riviera we can sit on the side with a drink and let them slide until their hearts are content. Plus there is no splashpad at SAB. This is all very personal preference obviously.

I totally understand what you are saying about the SAB pool. I don't have little ones anymore, sadly, but if I did I would be extremely nervous in that pool as well. My daughter and I went in SAB pool once when we visited in 2019. She was 16 at the time and we enjoyed it but we actually liked the quiet pool much more. I'm hopeful that we will be able to get into the quiet pool at BC this August. I have heard there are long waits at SAB and with BC opening up soon I worry that the pools will be too crowded for us to use. For us, we just need the walking proximity to things so for August I felt like BC was the best choice. If we were to go in a less rainy time of year I would definitely love to try the Riviera. It looks so pretty! And we will definitely be taking a trip over via the Skyliner one day to check out the murals. I just love them!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

This is all such great info!!! We use a lot of these tactics. The "wiping your face with a face wipe before eating" is one I haven't done, but I'm totally stealing the idea for my next trip! I think I'm also going to try the Nuun next trip. I've seen it on the market, but haven't tried it yet. Any recommendations on flavors?

I have a 20 ounce thermos bottle that I bring with me to the parks. I fill it with ice water in the morning and it stays nice and cold. So, after I've been walking around in the heat for a bit, I can take a drink of nice cold water. I find I drink more water when it's cold as opposed to room temp or warmer. After I've drank all the water, I go to a quick serve and get some cups of ice water to fill it back up right away, so it's full when I need it next.

Another fun hydration option at EP is to go to the shops in the world showcase and check out what beverages they have in their gift shops. We went to the gift shop in Japan the last time we were there and they had a cooler of canned beverages that were not something I've ever tried/seen before. So, I bought one that looked interesting. It was actually pretty good! It's not something you would want to do for all day, but it was a nice break from just plain water.

We also take a light weight cooling towel with sometimes. Sometimes I like it, sometimes it's just a nuisance.

In regards to the portable fans, there are some out there now that you wear around your neck and there is a little fan on each side of your face. I haven't tried those yet, but I will be getting one if we plan to do another August trip. Seriously, as others have mentioned, it's HOT and humid in August!!!

To add to the clothing note about wearing athletic wear, make sure it is light colored. Or at least not black. Wearing black athletic wear in the Florida sun almost defeats the purpose of wearing the athletic wear!

I use a HydroFlask for water. Pre-pandemic, I'd fill it in the morning at the food court beverage station with a lot of ice and cold water. It stays cool for hours and like you, I top it off with free ice waters from QS restaurants.

For Nuun, I like the Fruit Punch flavor. It's in the Sport line. My local Kroger affiliate sells single tubes for about $7 or so. I tried a few flavors that way, then bought an 8-pack of tubes on Amazon and they were a bit over $4/tube.

I also have packed a small cooling towel. I knew there was something I was forgetting.

Black is a bit hotter, but it doesn't show the sweat so much.