Riviera's most overlooked benefit...

[Sandisw]

I would also be interested in @Sandisw 's take on this. RIV is a stand alone DVC resort - there is no cash component other than the points that DVD decides it wants to hold itself. Other DVC resorts that share a bus have hotel sides and so there are more parties involved in transportation decisions.

That said, I also agree with the take that the real plus to RIV is the Skyliner. Bus service is sort of like shared laundry rooms - there's only so nice they can be. And, TBH, as a RIV owner committed to the long-term, if shared bus service helped keep dues in check, I don't know I'd even have a problem with it.

I will say, though, thinking about that covered walkway to the buses with the riviera-esque music playing as you walk to/from the resort - really wish I was there!

DVC doesn’t decide on buses as that is Disney. However, because there is no cash component to RIV, it means that DVC owners will pay the entire cost of transportation once it’s sold out.

There would be no reason to combine the buses with CBR because our dues cover it now.

 

[Sandisw]

Let’s see what happens when it goes out of active sales….

If Grand Floridian has to share busses with Poly….

They share because of the cash side, not because of DVC.

RIV owners already completely fund the buses for declared rooms so not sure how it saves anyone to change it once sold out.

 

[brightmango]

Here be a trick. Skyliner to HS in the morning and you can pick up any or the resort busses there which are normally empty having just dropped off guests at HS. You can take a BLT bus and be walking distance or monorail to MK or a AKL bus and be a short bus ride from AK. I think that at times direct busses to the other parks pick up there too.

This is great for resort hopping as well!

 

[Brian Noble]

OP, if you learn anything from this thread, it is that Riviera is bad and you should feel bad for liking it.

(I'm kdding. I love Riviera, in part because it is the resort many love to hate.)

 

[IMMkXLVI]

OP, if you learn anything from this thread, it is that Riviera is bad and you should feel bad for liking it.

(I'm kdding. I love Riviera, in part because it is the resort many love to hate.)

We don't hate it one bit! Just the opposite really, we rather love it!

 

[JayMass]

We still have not tried RIV yet. How do people commonly get HS? Like is it better to just walk over to Caribbean Beach rather than needing to transfer?

I guess you can walk to CBR, it def crossed my mind, but thought the SL would be faster. We had very little wait at CBR to transfer (none at Riv) both times we rope dropped DHS. Both mornings we were thru security and in line before they let ppl in. Of course this was just last week, not sure how it might be during a more busy period.

I really think making RIV the hub/transfer station rather than CBR would have made the Skyliner even more valuable for RIV guests.

I agree. It’s odd that a moderate has a better perk than a deluxe. But I think geographically it makes more sense. The Pop and AoA folks would kind of have to backtrack if going to DHS if Riv was the transfer station.

OP, if you learn anything from this thread, it is that Riviera is bad and you should feel bad for liking it.

(I'm kdding. I love Riviera, in part because it is the resort many love to hate.)

Riv is amazing. Any resort has its drawbacks. I’ve only stayed DVC twice, the other was BLT. Even though walking to MK from BLT is amazing, I prefer the transport options at Riv. Epcot is my favorite park mostly because of world showcase and SL to the IG from Riv is perfection! I’ve stayed at a good number of resorts and Riv is my current favorite!