The Official Riviera Owners & Info Thread

[Lakegirl]

I caught up reading this thread! We bought Riviera direct in Feb 2020, just before COVID became a thing, so we have our first trip coming up! We have a 2 BR Lock-off SV from July 9-17th 2021! Could you add us to you list? I also wondered about our view options. I called MS for a different reason once and the CM there put in a request for me for upper floor Epcot view ( I actually think she said 8th floor). Does this seem like the best request? She said she had stayed there and recommended that view. I realize the exact view is just a request, but are there any terrible views that I should be aware of? When I book with cash (at a deluxe) I usually decide view is worth the extra price, but when it coms to points I got frugal and chose a longer stay so I booked standard. I think which view we get for this first stay will help me decide if I should use more points for a better view - if we get a terrible one I may want to book a better vie win the future despite it taking so many more points! It's just such a huge difference.

We're really excited to stay at this resort, when we visited it it was very nice and the sample rooms blew us away. We were debating between CC and Riv, and after seeing the two rooms side by side we agreed that Riv was the way to go for us even though in general the WL is more our theming/style and we hated the resale restrictions. I found the lobby/shop rather small to my liking compared to pretty much all of the other resorts, which disappointed me, but I'm hoping that once we stay there I'll find that I don't even notice it or that I like it more than I expected to. I am fully expecting to go broke in that shop even though it's small, I want everything in it haha!

Can’t wait to hear your thoughts after you stay.

 

[ChimneyJim]

Plus in theory you will be able to use your direct points at upcoming resorts like DLH Tower. Congrats on the new points - Welcome Home for more/longer trips!

That is our hope! Thanks!

 

[MomOTwins]

Someone just posted in another disboards thread I was following that Monte Cristo is back at Bar Riva. I don't see it on the website menu, but can anyone there confirm? I would be soooooo happy if that is true!!!

 

[DVCsloth]

Hey everyone! Add-on-itis hit, and I now own at RR! I saw the first post and had a question about buses. When/if RR shares a bus with Caribbean, is it the 1st stop or 2nd? I'm mainly wondering how it is getting to DS.

Congrats!

 

[Lorana]

RIVIERA'S BE OUR GUEST LIST
Will you be joining us at the Riviera? Comment on this thread with your dates to be added below!

2022
February
Evita_W: February 10-16
Transferteck: February 13-15, Tower Studio
havoc315: February 18-22, 2-Bedroom LO SV
jamesweikamp: February 28 - March 6, Tower Studio

We will be there, too!
Lorana: February 18-22, 2 Bedroom LO SV

First stay as owners. So excited!

 

[MamaJessie]

We will be visiting Jan 17th - 22nd, our first visit to Riviera - so excited to stay at our home resort!

We were originally booked at a standard view but when the skyliner refurb was announced we were able to move our trip a week earlier, just switched to a preferred view instead.

Do you mind adding me to the be our guest roll call? Thank you

 

[ninafeliz]

Hi! I just looked at the Be Out Guest List at the beginning and noticed I wasn’t added to it. Could I please be added July 9-17 2021 2 BR lockoff SV. It’s coming up fast
Thanks!

 

[jdmccon7]

Are there outdoor grills anywhere at Riviera? We usually like to cook a meal or 2 while on vacation. In my world, all meat should be grilled. Am I out of luck at Riviera? I searched everywhere and don't see outdoor grills.

 

[jamesweikamp]

Are there outdoor grills anywhere at Riviera? We usually like to cook a meal or 2 while on vacation. In my world, all meat should be grilled. Am I out of luck at Riviera? I searched everywhere and don't see outdoor grills.

We have stayed a few times and walked the grounds. I did not see any grills.

 

[PlaneJoy1]

Hi! Riviera owner since Jan 2019 but have yet to actually stay there! We have reservations Oct 16-21 for a studio and are looking forward to our time at our home resort.

 

[Dicentras]

We are finishing up our first Riviera trip today, and this resort has totally grown on me. To be honest, I was underwhelmed and slightly disappointed when we first got here. Nothing specific, it just felt “meh”. But after four nights here, I’m totally hooked and looking to add more points, lol. I love the subtle details and the “feel” of this place, really sad to leave!

 

[jasonplusliz]

Just tried to get reservations for topolinos character breakfast at 60 day mark this morning, and man, it’s impossible! Nothing available the entire week we are there! Is this the new normal?

 

[Akck]

Just tried to get reservations for topolinos character breakfast at 60 day mark this morning, and man, it’s impossible! Nothing available the entire week we are there! Is this the new normal?

Unfortunately yes, but as things open up more, availability may increase. I’d keep checking as some guests likely grabbed a couple of reservations and will cancel one once they figure out which one fits their plans better. Also, it’s best to look at the end of your stay first as you’re competing against less guests.

 

[sethschroeder]

Just tried to get reservations for topolinos character breakfast at 60 day mark this morning, and man, it’s impossible! Nothing available the entire week we are there! Is this the new normal?

Keep trying lots of people cancel I know I will make 2-4 reservations and cancel multiple as we start locking in days.

 

[MomOTwins]

Just tried to get reservations for topolinos character breakfast at 60 day mark this morning, and man, it’s impossible! Nothing available the entire week we are there! Is this the new normal?

Make sure you are searching not just for "breakfast" but also at a few different specific times as well (e.g., 8am, 9am, 10am). Sometimes the website is glitchy.

 

[skshain1020]

Just tried to get reservations for topolinos character breakfast at 60 day mark this morning, and man, it’s impossible! Nothing available the entire week we are there! Is this the new normal?

Keep checking we had gotten one for later in the trip for an early breakfast but really wanted a more "lunch" time since I wanted to try the steak. Husband ended up getting one the night before we went as he just kept checking and then of course we dropped the early one for later, so don't give up hope.

 

[jasonplusliz]

Unfortunately yes, but as things open up more, availability may increase. I’d keep checking as some guests likely grabbed a couple of reservations and will cancel one once they figure out which one fits their plans better. Also, it’s best to look at the end of your stay first as you’re competing against less guests.

I checked all seven days of our trip and nothing was available for breakfast right at 6am this morning - no times at all! Tried inputting individual times as well. I just find it very hard to believe that there is so much demand that all seatings are already filled by people with reservations 60+8 and above- that’s gotta be a relatively small pool of people.

 

[Akck]

I checked all seven days of our trip and nothing was available for breakfast right at 6am this morning - no times at all! Tried inputting individual times as well. I just find it very hard to believe that there is so much demand that all seatings are already filled by people with reservations 60+8 and above- that’s gotta be a relatively small pool of people.

Yes. When we went in December, there were more reservations available and it lasted for 2-3 days. In April, we had little choice and they were gone if you talked it over before completing it.

Keep checking. Some will crop up as others finalize their plans. Just don’t talk it over before completing it. Get it then decide if you want to keep it. We had a dinner reservation and a better time popped up, so I grabbed it and let the first one go. You may also see some pop up the day before as people cancel to avoid the no show fees.

 

[MomOTwins]

I checked all seven days of our trip and nothing was available for breakfast right at 6am this morning - no times at all! Tried inputting individual times as well. I just find it very hard to believe that there is so much demand that all seatings are already filled by people with reservations 60+8 and above- that’s gotta be a relatively small pool of people.

Party size could be a factor too. It might not be true that all tables in the restaurant are booked at 60+8, but it could be the case that all tables the right size for your party are. That could be true with a small or big party. Big parties because they only have so many large tables, small parties because they don’t want to put you at a larger table and have empty seats when they could fill every seat with a larger party and make more money.

 

[havoc315]

I checked all seven days of our trip and nothing was available for breakfast right at 6am this morning - no times at all! Tried inputting individual times as well. I just find it very hard to believe that there is so much demand that all seatings are already filled by people with reservations 60+8 and above- that’s gotta be a relatively small pool of people.

I had major problems at 60+ days at 6am, a few days ago.

For example, the website was telling me, at one point, that there were no restaurants in Epcot with dinner availability at all at 64 days.
But then I refreshed… and 5 restaurants had availability. Refreshed again — no restaurants had availability. Refreshed again — 10 restaurants had tons of availability, almost every time slot. Another refresh— suddenly only 2 restaurants with limited availability. This went on for an hour…

Since we have a large party, I was splitting reservations among 2 DME accounts.
Day 64:
So DME 1: showed Toppolino’s breakfast available for party of 4, at 9:30, 9:40, 9:50, 10, 10:10, etc. nearly wide open availability.
So made the reservation for half our party.
DME2– searched at the exact same time— showed no availability. Refreshed the site 20 times over 10 minutes… then suddenly lots of slots opened up, and I was able to reserve for the other half of my party.

Basically— if you’re seeing no availability for a normal sized party at 65+ days, I’d assume it was a website problem. I’d keep refreshing or calling the dining reservation number.