The Official Riviera Owners & Info Thread

[brazzledazzler]

It's actually my son, not my grandson , but yes it should be a great weekend! They're performing at Disney Springs but will have a few days in the parks, so should be a fun time. We've been doing Disney since my oldest was 4 and he's now 24 (don't know where the years went...) and we loved every trip - enjoy!!

Oops! I misread! Apologies!

What a cool experience for him. I’m glad that guests at Disney Springs will get to hear his performance. I always love the live music at Disney Springs. Break a leg to him & enjoy the trip!!

 

[iheartglaciers]

Does anyone know if they're still doing the skyliner scavenger hunt?

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Does anyone know if they're still doing the skyliner scavenger hunt?

I have never heard of that! That sounds like it could be cool! I thought I would not be able to ride the Skyliner, as I am not comfortable with heights, but I rode it 3 times last week on my trip, and felt very comfortable and enjoyed it. So I would recommend to others not comfortable with heights to give it a try.

 

[CWTC]

We are staying at BCV next month but have ADRs for Topolinos. Is the Voyageurs’ Lounge open in the lobby if we want to plan on coming a bit early and have a cocktail there??

Thanks!

 

[bigAWL]

Welcome Home, fellow Riviera owners! Find reviews, info and other fans here!

Topolino’s Terrace
Breakfast: 7:30 am - 11:00 am
Dinner: 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Primo Piatto
7:00 am - Midnight

Bar Riva
11 am - 9 pm

Le Petit Cafe
6 am - 10 pm

La Boutique

Riviera Pool & S'il Vous Play
7 am - 8 pm

Beau Soleil Pool
7 am - 11 pm

Athlétique Fitness Center
Open 24 Hours

Eventi Room & Other Activities

I just wanted to point out that the hours of operation of many Riviera venues are currently different from what was posted back when they opened the resort, and still listed in the original post of this thread. Current hours I could find are listed below with updates in red.

Topolino’s Terrace
Breakfast: 7:30 am - 12:15 pm
Dinner: 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Primo Piatto
7:00 am - 10:00 pm

Bar Riva
11 am - 10 pm

Le Petit Café
7 am - 9 pm

La Boutique
8:30 - 10 pm

Riviera Pool & S'il Vous Play
10 am - 10 pm

Beau Soleil Pool
7 am - 11 pm

Athlétique Fitness Center
Open 24 Hours

Eventi Room & Other Activities
3 pm - 10 pm

 

[bigAWL]

We are staying at BCV next month but have ADRs for Topolinos. Is the Voyageurs’ Lounge open in the lobby if we want to plan on coming a bit early and have a cocktail there??

Thanks!

The lounge seems to be open for seating basically 24 hours a day. Grab something from Le Petit Café until 9pm and you should be good to go.

There also should be a lounge upstairs inside Topolino's, but I can't say if they are seating guests there currently. If it's open, and the weather is nice, it might be better to go straight there, and you could take advantage of the outdoor terrace before dinner.

 

[ninafeliz]

The 1 bedroom seems so spacious compared to other resorts! Wow.

When we purchased Riviera we went from the preview room of copper creek directly to the Riviera one. The difference was amazing, kind of walking into a deluxe resort room after being in a value resort room- it was and felt so much bigger. We had thought we would prefer copper creek as far as the room went, but it was the opposite.

Them for our stay on July, we spent one night in a 2BR at BCV before switching to a 2BR at Riviera, and it was similar. Riviera was so much bigger, and also set up better and nicer.

There are certainly things that are better about other resorts, but room size and room setup/amenities are things that the riviera is unmatched in.

 

[TinkB278]

Are they still putting multiple parties in the Skyliner together? If so, is it possible to request your own?

 

[brazzledazzler]

When we purchased Riviera we went from the preview room of copper creek directly to the Riviera one. The difference was amazing, kind of walking into a deluxe resort room after being in a value resort room- it was and felt so much bigger. We had thought we would prefer copper creek as far as the room went, but it was the opposite.

Them for our stay on July, we spent one night in a 2BR at BCV before switching to a 2BR at Riviera, and it was similar. Riviera was so much bigger, and also set up better and nicer.

There are certainly things that are better about other resorts, but room size and room setup/amenities are things that the riviera is unmatched in.

We also toured CCV on the same day we toured RIV. My husband and I love Wilderness Lodge, and I honestly thought we would buy at CCV.

The rooms at CCV feel very tiny compared to RIV. We had very little room for our double stroller in the studio.

RIV, felt huge and luxurious and upscale. The resort felt a lot more intimate than WL. I was impressed by the room designs at RIV and I can’t wait to stay there next year!

2BRs were massive! Enjoy

 

[jamesweikamp]

We also toured CCV on the same day we toured RIV. My husband and I love Wilderness Lodge, and I honestly thought we would buy at CCV.

The rooms at CCV feel very tiny compared to RIV. We had very little room for our double stroller in the studio.

RIV, felt huge and luxurious and upscale. The resort felt a lot more intimate than WL.I was impressed by the room designs at RIV and I can’t wait to stay there next year!

2BRs were massive! Enjoy

Staying in a preferred 2BR in December and can. not. wait. My only basis for comparison is the 2BR at Grand Floridian, which was beautiful.

 

[havoc315]

When we purchased Riviera we went from the preview room of copper creek directly to the Riviera one. The difference was amazing, kind of walking into a deluxe resort room after being in a value resort room- it was and felt so much bigger. We had thought we would prefer copper creek as far as the room went, but it was the opposite.

Them for our stay on July, we spent one night in a 2BR at BCV before switching to a 2BR at Riviera, and it was similar. Riviera was so much bigger, and also set up better and nicer.

There are certainly things that are better about other resorts, but room size and room setup/amenities are things that the riviera is unmatched in.

I think this is what the Riviera-haters miss. Subjectively and objectively, there are different reasons to like/dislike every resort. Theming at each resort is a very subjective preference -- I can totally understand why someone might prefer Copper Creek theming. I can totally understand why someone would prefer the pool and location of Beach Club.

But it's hard to deny that Riviera has among the nicest rooms on property. Again, there is a subjective element but even just objectively looking at size and quality, it would be hard to argue against Riviera being among the top 3 in overall room quality.

 

[brazzledazzler]

I think this is what the Riviera-haters miss. Subjectively and objectively, there are different reasons to like/dislike every resort. Theming at each resort is a very subjective preference -- I can totally understand why someone might prefer Copper Creek theming. I can totally understand why someone would prefer the pool and location of Beach Club.

But it's hard to deny that Riviera has among the nicest rooms on property. Again, there is a subjective element but even just objectively looking at size and quality, it would be hard to argue against Riviera being among the top 3 in overall room quality.

I think that if the resort has no resale restrictions and everyone could stay there with points, there would be less animosity towards the resort.

I also agree with you entirely @havoc315, everyone has different subjective expectations out of a Disney resort. As someone who studied abroad in France, the resort has a very European subdued feel and it’s both luxurious and charming to me. It feels like a place I want to come to annually for 50 years!

That’s not to say other resorts don’t pull at me too (looking at BWV), but there are so many reasons why people buy DVC points at certain resorts. The rooms at RIV + skyliner + ppt + theme + many other reasons sold us.

These rooms are huge, I love it!

 

[havoc315]

I also agree with you entirely @havoc315, everyone has different subjective expectations out of a Disney resort. As someone who studied abroad in France, the resort has a very European subdued feel and it’s both luxurious and charming to me. It feels like a place I want to come to annually for 50 years!

Ironically, many of the Riviera-haters claim that it does not feel like European theming to them, but I think many are looking at a cliche stereotype of how Paris should look, compared to a more genuine understanding of the feel you get through much of Europe. Not saying that Riviera is 100% true to a French/Italian riviera authenticity, but the vibe is definitely there.
With good upkeep, I'm happy going there for many years. Hoping my kids get 50 years out of it... doubt I'll live that long, lol.

 

[bigAWL]

Are they still putting multiple parties in the Skyliner together? If so, is it possible to request your own?

When we were there early Sep, they were putting up to two small parties on the same car, usually two sets of two. I did see one couple ask if they could ride alone. The line was short, and CM said they could do it this time, but would not always be able to accommodate that request.

 

[EYL]

Are they still putting multiple parties in the Skyliner together? If so, is it possible to request your own?

Depends on how busy it is... We were there end of August and they were putting multiple parties in the Skyliner during busy hours, like right after Epcot closed. But if you hang out a bit until after the line gets shorter, they will honor requests to have your own car. We went to Epcot from the Riviera during a non-busy time (around 5pm), and they were putting separate families into separate cars without needing requests.

 

[titaniumfemme]

I’m at the Riviera right now. I love the property, but I’m having an experience I just don’t understand.

Pretty much every day, a staff member comes to the room and says they need to check the room. If we say we don’t need housekeeping, they ask when we’ll be out so they can come back then.

I’ve traveled widely and stayed in a wide variety of hotels, resorts, etc. but I’ve never experienced anything like this. I don’t have anything to hide in the room (certainly haven’t trashed it, for example) but I don’t know what to make of this insistence on coming in the room. Anyone have the same experience or have a better understanding of the purpose of the repeated visits?

 

[EYL]

I’m at the Riviera right now. I love the property, but I’m having an experience I just don’t understand.

Pretty much every day, a staff member comes to the room and says they need to check the room. If we say we don’t need housekeeping, they ask when we’ll be out so they can come back then.

I’ve traveled widely and stayed in a wide variety of hotels, resorts, etc. but I’ve never experienced anything like this. I don’t have anything to hide in the room (certainly haven’t trashed it, for example) but I don’t know what to make of this insistence on coming in the room. Anyone have the same experience or have a better understanding of the purpose of the repeated visits?

It's a daily security check that most hotels implemented after the Las Vegas shootings. I experienced the same when at the Riviera at the end of August; same at Poly 2019. You can arrange for a time for them to return, may it be when you're in the room or out. Mousekeeping is just doing their jobs and they're usually very accommodating.

 

[titaniumfemme]

It's a daily security check that most hotels implemented after the Las Vegas shootings. I experienced the same when at the Riviera at the end of August; same at Poly 2019. You can arrange for a time for them to return, may it be when you're in the room or out. Mousekeeping is just doing their jobs and they're usually very accommodating.

Thanks so much for the information. Although I’m not sure “most” hotels have implemented this- I travel a lot for both business and pleasure (pre COVID) and I’ve never experienced it anywhere else. But I get from your experience that it’s a standard Disney practice, and that’s helpful context.

 

[Dizzydizney]

Thanks so much for the information. Although I’m not sure “most” hotels have implemented this- I travel a lot for both business and pleasure (pre COVID) and I’ve never experienced it anywhere else. But I get from your experience that it’s a standard Disney practice, and that’s helpful context.

Back before that horrific event in Las Vegas, you could put the “do not disturb” sign on your doorknob for your entire stay and not have any staff come into your room.....except on trash and towel day, which used to be the fourth (?) day of your stay. As a DVC member, you were required to take your trash and recycling to the trash room on your floor. On the fourth day housekeeping would come and provide clean towels, replenish soap, coffee, etc. and also take the trash.
That murderer left his do not disturb sign on his door for days so that housekeeping would not enter his room and stumble upon his plans. So Disney’s answer to that was to change the signs to “room occupied” and implement daily room checks along with removing trash and recycling every day. It’s kind of annoying if one member if the family is out and about and another us napping or bathing. You have to flip the security bolt if you don’t want to get walked in on, but then your family member has to call and wake you to unlatch the door.
Mostly likely you haven’t noticed in other hotels you’ve stayed in because housekeeping usually comes in every day to clean and make beds and vacuum.
Glad you liked the resort. Can’t wait to be there again.

 

[titaniumfemme]

Glad you liked the resort. Can’t wait to be there again.

Thank you!