kboo
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2014
- Messages
- 4,783
Finally fixed the pictures, also added one where you can see the cubbies on the side of the Murphy bed with regular and USB outlets.
We recently returned from a 4-night stay in a 1br standard at Riviera - for the week before, we were in a 1br standard at VGF, so some of our comparisons are most directly to VGF.
While we still love VGF and have no intention of selling our points there, we also very much enjoyed our stay at RIV and it may be our favorite resort now. Back when Riviera was first announced, someone had heard a guide say it would be like "if BLT and VGF had a baby," and we were all like, wahhhhh? We own BLT and VGF as well, and I can see that they took some of the positives of each resort and created something with a European feel. I will admit that when the resort was first announced, I thought the pictures looked underwhelming and I thought I'd get a small resale contract on the cheap to use only at Riviera if the 7mo window proved to be too painful, since all our other points are pre-1-19-19. For various reasons I've talked about before, we decided to buy direct instead of adding more BLT points, and we are very happy we did.
VILLAS
Pros
Cons
RESTAURANTS
Pros
Cons
TRANSPORTATION
Pros
Cons
OTHER
Pros
Cons
And yes - the resale restrictions are a serious consideration for anyone thinking of buying here. At the same time, nothing is stopping people with qualified points from booking at 7mo, or renting points to stay here. We very much enjoyed our stay. While we would have preferred to be able to walk to EP/HS rather than take the skyliner, we liked the rooms at RIV much better than the rooms at BWV or BCV. But when the Skyliner is running, it's a breeze, literally, and Topolino's is worth a visit even if you're not staying there. I have no idea how full the rooms were, but the hallways were *very* quiet.
We recently returned from a 4-night stay in a 1br standard at Riviera - for the week before, we were in a 1br standard at VGF, so some of our comparisons are most directly to VGF.
While we still love VGF and have no intention of selling our points there, we also very much enjoyed our stay at RIV and it may be our favorite resort now. Back when Riviera was first announced, someone had heard a guide say it would be like "if BLT and VGF had a baby," and we were all like, wahhhhh? We own BLT and VGF as well, and I can see that they took some of the positives of each resort and created something with a European feel. I will admit that when the resort was first announced, I thought the pictures looked underwhelming and I thought I'd get a small resale contract on the cheap to use only at Riviera if the 7mo window proved to be too painful, since all our other points are pre-1-19-19. For various reasons I've talked about before, we decided to buy direct instead of adding more BLT points, and we are very happy we did.
VILLAS
Pros
- They're shiny and new!
- Very spacious and a good use of space. In addition to a queen murphy and a twin murphy, there are 2 chairs and rolling ottomans with storage. So even with the 2 murphys open, there is still seating. At the entry, there is a shelf we used for our magicbands, and 4 hooks for jackets and ponchos, and a spacious hall closet. The MBR closet is smaller than the walk-in closet at VGF, but had shelves that we used more than the high shelf in the VGF closet. Bigger dresser in MBR, more shelves in bathroom.
- Murphy beds are very comfortable and on either side of the queen murphy in the 1br there's hidden little cubbies and shelves where you can plug in your devices, keep a glass of water, put your glasses and a book, etc. (this doesn't seem to be the case with the murphy beds in the standard and tower studios; maybe someone who's stayed in a studio can confirm?)
- More outlets, and with USB ports
- Smart TVs with the ability to easily screencast Disney+ and other Chrome-enabled apps, some Disney movies and shows available on demand, and "storytime" on the TVs in the early evening (did not try it, just saw that it was available)
- Excellent views from higher floors - our standard room had a view of Spaceship Earth and MK fireworks behind it. Some West Wing standard rooms will have views of Epcot fireworks. Preferred rooms will largely have HS and/or EP fireworks, and skyliner views. While there is a busy road nearby, it's not noticeable from the resort (but you will see it from the skyliner)
Cons
- Point costs for standard are roughly comparable to BLT lake view and a little less than VGF standard. I don't really see this as a con, because I think the fireworks views from the resorts and standard villas are roughly comparable.
- Hallways are a little narrower than VGF, but to me, the small touches re: storage and flow, and the open plan kitchen/LR offset this.
- Balcony is a little smaller than VGF (it's set up like BLT 1br balcony, with a slider from the MBR and a door from LR)
- Dryer is a little loud.
- They're still completing some punch list issues - the MBR closet light did not turn off when the door was closed. DH called and someone came to fix it right away. (The Murphy bed issues in the first couple weeks seems to have been resolved at RIV but not at SSR. No idea what is up with that.)
RESTAURANTS
Pros
- We loved our breakfast and dinner at Topolino's. CMs seem energized and excited to work there, have come from other signature restaurants on property, and are quite knowledgeable about the menu and wines to choose. Topolino's itself has tables widely spaced, so you don't feel like you're on top of everyone else. It feels like a European-influenced California Grill. Fewer tables have views, but we liked the food at Topolino's better than Cali Grill. The characters at breakfast (Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy, interact with each other frequently, and spent quite a bit of time with our girls.)
- Primo Piatto (pool level)- the QS - has mobile ordering and healthier choices. The tuna salad nicoise was very good, as were the kids' pastas ($6.99) - they tasted like fresh rather than dried pasta. As others have noted, the layout for ordering there is kind of a pain, but the mobile ordering station is set apart - in other words, mobile order, mobile order, mobile order. Also they have freestyle soda machines (as does VGF), so there's also yummy ice water. There is a lot of indoor seating space, but I'd much prefer to mobile order and eat outside, or poolside.
- Le Petit Cafe (lobby level) - the chocolate chip banana bread was very good, the blueberry muffin was decent. The lounge attached to Le Petit Cafe is like a little museum of European Disney artifacts and serves drinks and apps in the evening. We only had pastries there on checkout morning, and I had made coffee in the room, so can't comment on the coffees. The TV in the lounge plays Disney cartoons and there are checkers, dominoes and Scrabble to play as well.
Cons
- Topolino's is expensive! Timing of the courses is still a little off at dinner - dessert took a while; everything before that was pretty timely.
- Primo Piatto layout/ordering is kind of a mess. People didn't really know which order to enter the line, and the line got very long. Also it was sort of slow.
TRANSPORTATION
Pros
- Skyliner, when it's running, is so fast and convenient! On every occasion but one, our family of 4 had a cab to ourselves. The one time we shared, it was a couple who looked like they were in the middle of a fight. Awkward. My kids love the skyliner and treat it like it's an attraction in the park. Riviera - Epcot is 8 minutes. Riviera - CBR - HS is about 13 minutes. Because it's continuous loading, the line moves quickly.
- Note - side by side double strollers need to be folded, but single wides do not.
- Dedicated buses to DS and each park (including EP and HS, for those who don't want to ride the skyliner). Even on very crowded days, everyone gets a seat.
- Covered walkways/hallways to buses and Skyliner to CBR (EP one boards on on the far side, so there's a short uncovered walk).
- Separate stops for each bus (at the park and at RIV), so it's not a big mess when there's a lot of people waiting.
Cons
- Skyliner isn't 100% running. On the worst day, we saw it stopped for about half an hour from Topolino's breakfast. We went down to that station and there was a short line; after we waited for a while, they told us to take the bus to HS because they were offloading everyone currently on the Skyliner and didn't know when it would be back up again. Returning from HS several hours later we were told at the station that the Epcot line was not running. We took the bus, but in the future I think we'd take it to CBR and walk from there, because ...
- Buses can take a while - we waited about 30 minutes for an MK bus on 12/30. Granted it was VERY packed that night, but ...
- Screens don't tell you when the next bus is due. And it always feels like 3 buses going to another park pull in while you're waiting for yours.
- There is also no way to know if the Skyliner is down and if so, how long it is down for, unless you're at the station. I mean, if the cars are stationary, then it's a pretty good bet it's down, but it could be just slowed to get an ECV on. Likewise, they day it was shut down for at least half an hour, it looked like it was running normally, but they were only running it to let everyone off and weren't loading any new passengers. Again, you wouldn't know unless you were at the station talking to a CM. Even a color-coded, green (running well), yellow (delays/just coming back online), or red (not running) on MDE would be helpful for planning.
OTHER
Pros
- I like the open back area that faces CBR. It's really conducive to strolling and hanging out, and enjoying some relaxed resort time.
- The elevators being set down the hallways from the main lobby helps reduce the number of people feeding into the lobby. i.e. you don't *have* to walk through the lobby to get where you're going.
- The 2 separate wings have different appeal - the West Wing is closer to the skyliner, and has better views of Epcot and HS. The East Wing has easier access to the restaurants, including Topolino's, and the feature pool. Tower studios are in the west wing. So it seems that families with kids might prefer to be in the East Wing, while travelers without children, or guests planning more time at the Epcot festivals, would prefer the East wing.
- The "quiet" pool is just over 25 yards - good for laps.
- Fitness center is not in Siberia - it's just off the lobby staircase on the ground floor.
- Fairly subtle theming. I really like the artwork, the European posters for Disney movies, and the European Disney memorabilia in the lounge off of Le Petit Cafe.
Cons
- The lobby is smaller and not as "grand" as many resorts. I like it, but recognize that many might not. It did make me want to spend more time sitting outside than in the lobby.
- Theming will face the same complaints that BLT gets.
And yes - the resale restrictions are a serious consideration for anyone thinking of buying here. At the same time, nothing is stopping people with qualified points from booking at 7mo, or renting points to stay here. We very much enjoyed our stay. While we would have preferred to be able to walk to EP/HS rather than take the skyliner, we liked the rooms at RIV much better than the rooms at BWV or BCV. But when the Skyliner is running, it's a breeze, literally, and Topolino's is worth a visit even if you're not staying there. I have no idea how full the rooms were, but the hallways were *very* quiet.
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, but I can see kids running headlong and losing grip, as well as older patrons who are unaware of the potential issue.
And spot on about the Skyliner - when it works, it is awesome; and I sure hope they get the kinks worked out before summer temps return.
