Short review of our Riviera stay in December!

[zavandor]

The biggest problem I see with the Skyliner at the moment is that it doesn't start early enough to be at the studios for rope drop and get a boarding group fo Rise of the resistance. With a 7am opening it starts at 6:45 which is not early enough to take it, get through security and be in the park at 7. One may be lucky to get a boarding group at 7:30 and backup groups have been called almost all days, yet I wouldn't risk it and I would take the bus or uber to the park to be there at 6:30.
Maybe this will not be a problem when 8 or 9am openings will become the norm.

 

[kboo]

The biggest problem I see with the Skyliner at the moment is that it doesn't start early enough to be at the studios for rope drop and get a boarding group fo Rise of the resistance. With a 7am opening it starts at 6:45 which is not early enough to take it, get through security and be in the park at 7. One may be lucky to get a boarding group at 7:30 and backup groups have been called almost all days, yet I wouldn't risk it and I would take the bus or uber to the park to be there at 6:30.
Maybe this will not be a problem when 8 or 9am openings will become the norm.

I don’t see 8-9am HS opening becoming the norm for a long time. Most people going to ROTR are using buses or cars rather than chance it with skyliner.
I do wonder whether there will ever be AM EMH hours anytime soon, and if so, whether it is easier or harder to get a BG then.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

Thanks for the detailed review. You gave very good information about this new resort. I'm looking forward to visiting in about two weeks, can't wait to ride the Skyliner just hope it behaves while we are on board!

 

[egraciano]

The pools look small. Do they feel crowded?

 

[kboo]

The pools look small. Do they feel crowded?

Neither one felt crowded, but remember we were there in December...

 

[DduzDis]

Great review @kboo . I'm glad you enjoyed your new toy. I really wish the points were more reasonable. We would love to stay there once. (My 7 yo DD loved the Skyliner too). But, as BLT and BWV owners I can't imagine giving up the walks to spend more points. We've been at BWV the last couple of trips and haven't been home to BLT in a while so maybe down the road a bit we'll give it go at DRR.

 

[kboo]

Great review @kboo . I'm glad you enjoyed your new toy. I really wish the points were more reasonable. We would love to stay there once. (My 7 yo DD loved the Skyliner too). But, as BLT and BWV owners I can't imagine giving up the walks to spend more points. We've been at BWV the last couple of trips and haven't been home to BLT in a while so maybe down the road a bit we'll give it go at DRR.

When we were going through our decision process, I realized that if we had been at all successful in our prior bids on BCV and BWV (back when BWV could be bought under $100 and BCV under $110) we probably would have been happy with what we had. And every trip we think about whether to try at 7mo for BWV (for the BW area) or BCV for SAB. But there is enough at Riviera to keep us staying there for a while. It is easier to get to the BW area from RIV than from BCV, especially with the kids.

 

[TexasChick123]

I feel like Joffrey's, no matter where you get it around WDW, is BLAND. I tried making it double strength in the coffee maker in the room and ...
...
still bland.



Yikes.

In better news - forgot to mention, while the 1br still have a drip coffee maker, they are a new maker with a mesh cone coffee filter. More environmentally friendly, and also I will make note to bring my own coffee next time.*

*I know, having to buy or bring coffee filters it not a big deal, but it was a psychological hurdle I couldn't get over.

Also - does Kona Cafe sell any ground coffee?

We always bring our own coffee. I have specific coffee that I like, so I just bring it with me.

WARNING: Coffee apparently looks like explosives in the X-ray machine, so your bag will most likely be searched. Mine gets searched 90% of the time with coffee, and the TSA agent told me it was because of the coffee.

 

[DduzDis]

When we were going through our decision process, I realized that if we had been at all successful in our prior bids on BCV and BWV (back when BWV could be bought under $100 and BCV under $110) we probably would have been happy with what we had. And every trip we think about whether to try at 7mo for BWV (for the BW area) or BCV for SAB. But there is enough at Riviera to keep us staying there for a while. It is easier to get to the BW area from RIV than from BCV, especially with the kids.

We took a trip on the Skyliner just to sail around for a bit before they were letting people stop at the the Riviera. It will certainly be fun to walk around and try out some new restaurants. I do like how easy it is to get there when the Skyliner is up and running full tilt. Congrats on the purchase and pleasant first stay. I over paid for our BWV without question. But, it was the heart and not the brain that pulled that trigger.