The Official Riviera Owners & Info Thread

[emilymad]

We are looking forward to an upcoming stay at RIV for 2 nights at the end of April. How is the bus service to MK? We'd like to rope drop and are debating whether the bus or driving our car gives us a better chance. Would prefer not to Uber/Lyft.

We just got back. MK opened at 9am on the day we went. We were at the bus stop at 7:30am. We were not the first family in line. First bus came around 8:15am. By then the line for the MK bus was halfway up the lobby. I am guessing families had to wait for another bus. When we drove past the parking lot for the TTC they weren't letting cars in yet so the bus was by far faster given that we got on that first bus.

 

[TheMick424]

We just got back. MK opened at 9am on the day we went. We were at the bus stop at 7:30am. We were not the first family in line. First bus came around 8:15am. By then the line for the MK bus was halfway up the lobby. I am guessing families had to wait for another bus. When we drove past the parking lot for the TTC they weren't letting cars in yet so the bus was by far faster given that we got on that first bus.

Thanks for your report! I was hoping the buses would start a bit earlier than 8:15, but we'll definitely plan to get to the stop at least 90 minutes prior to opening.

 

[Snicky94]

I think the best way is to uber to BLT and walk over to MK. We've done this on easter sunday when we didn't want to wait for the bus.

 

[CarolynFH]

I think the best way is to uber to BLT and walk over to MK. We've done this on easter sunday when we didn't want to wait for the bus.

Just be aware that even rideshare vehicles have been turned away from the BLT/CR parking lot if the passengers didn't have an ADR for the CR. Sometimes the guard will let them in with a mobile order, sometimes not. They've reportedly been pretty strict lately.

 

[Snicky94]

This is helpful as I've not been to Disney since 2019-BC-Before Covid. I know things are probably much different. I'm looking forward to the trip. Hoping the pool at the Riviera is nice as I plan on spending much time there and not so much at the parks.

 

[Dug720]

Just be aware that even rideshare vehicles have been turned away from the BLT/CR parking lot if the passengers didn't have an ADR for the CR. Sometimes the guard will let them in with a mobile order, sometimes not. They've reportedly been pretty strict lately.

And don't count on being able to say/show a mobile order and then cancel it once you're past the guard. I've seen more than one report of the guard requiring people to click "I'm here. Prepare my order." after which it can't be cancelled, so people were stuck with a food order they didn't want. (And I suspect if people start *just* getting coffee they'll put an end to that as well.)

 

[RivShore]

And don't count on being able to say/show a mobile order and then cancel it once you're past the guard. I've seen more than one report of the guard requiring people to click "I'm here. Prepare my order." after which it can't be cancelled, so people were stuck with a food order they didn't want. (And I suspect if people start *just* getting coffee they'll put an end to that as well.)

If this is just a quick uber drop off, what issue are they trying to prevent?

 

[Dug720]

If this is just a quick uber drop off, what issue are they trying to prevent?

I don't know. I don't make the rules, work for Disney, or even live in Florida. I was just reporting what I have seen reported by others.

My guess is overloading the checkpoints and path with people trying to circumvent the system.

 

[ChimneyJim]

Well that's not promising but I'm hoping to be in the wing to right of the front of the hotel. I'm hoping for a higher floor so we shall see. How are you enjoying the resort otherwise? Transportation? etc.

We loved the resort in general. Fantastic food.
The Skyliner is great at off times. We waited a little over 30 minutes in line at CBR to transfer for HS around 9 am on Friday. Thursday night we left Epcot at 830, 30 minutes after close and the line for Skyliner was all the way to BC. It was going to be well over 30 minutes to loading so we just walked into BC and got a Lyft.

 

[Thegoatfeeder]

I am getting increasingly nervous about my September trip over from the UK, I expect we'll both be fully vaccinated by that time but with the new variants I am starting to think its unlikely they'll be much international travel by then.

The trip is booked with banked 2019 and 2020 points (December UY). Am I right in thinking that if I cancel the trip, I can bank the 2020 points into 2021 (providing its done before the July deadline), but the 2019 points I will just lose because they can't be banked a 2nd time?

It's so frustrating since we've just had no opportunity to use them at all and now we're likely going to have to lose them. I get that we can sell them, but, we won't want to cancel the trip until we're right up on the July deadline to give ourselves as much time as possible, and that won't leave much time for them to be sold!

 

[Rileygirl]

Not that I know what I am doing here, but riviera studios are a hot commodity in the fall due to the whole food and wine thing. I think you would be able to rent out the reservation exactly as it is, with just name changes, fairly easily? Especially if the points were reasonable? I think you could sit this one out and make the decision in July without sweating too much. I think you would be able to rent those points and cover your mfs,plus some extra, no problem. Perhaps other seasoned owners can weigh in, ....
And I mean, especially this particular year when getting bookings anywhere in under 7 month window is kinda ugly, I think you could reasonably assume you can rent those points in July.....

 

[DisneyByMarriage]

Does anyone know if staying at Riviera can get you any preferential treatment for Topolino’s breakfast? We are finally going around Thanksgiving this year (over a one year delay) and I know this is one of the hardest to get Reservations right now. The points are a premium the week we are staying and I’m going to be disappointed if we cannot get a reservation while we are staying on property (and yes I know there just aren’t enough to go around).

 

[Akck]

Does anyone know if staying at Riviera can get you any preferential treatment for Topolino’s breakfast? We are finally going around Thanksgiving this year (over a one year delay) and I know this is one of the hardest to get Reservations right now. The points are a premium the week we are staying and I’m going to be disappointed if we cannot get a reservation while we are staying on property (and yes I know there just aren’t enough to go around).

I would say you won’t get preferential treatment. It may be easier to go up on opening and maybe get seated. Your best bet is to try to get your reservation at the end of your stay so your not competing with those who could only book at the 60 day window.

 

[velbels]

Hi Neighbours!

We live in the UK and have been blessed to travel 3 times to WDW. We hoped to return this year but do to travel restrictions this looks unlikely. We have looked at DVC on our last 2 trips but we couldn't go ahead. Having looked at it again we have decided to buy at Riviera. We saw the resort from the Skyliner in 2019 just prior to opening and we love the rooms and location. We hope to have our first Welcome home trip early 2022.

Thank you for all the useful information on here.

 

[Thegoatfeeder]

Hi Neighbours!

We live in the UK and have been blessed to travel 3 times to WDW. We hoped to return this year but do to travel restrictions this looks unlikely. We have looked at DVC on our last 2 trips but we couldn't go ahead. Having looked at it again we have decided to buy at Riviera. We saw the resort from the Skyliner in 2019 just prior to opening and we love the rooms and location. We hope to have our first Welcome home trip early 2022.

Thank you for all the useful information on here.

Hi there fellow UK Riviera (soon to be)owner !

We've not actually been since we bought our Riviera contract thanks to Covid! So we you may actually beat us to a first stay there!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Hi Neighbours!

We live in the UK and have been blessed to travel 3 times to WDW. We hoped to return this year but do to travel restrictions this looks unlikely. We have looked at DVC on our last 2 trips but we couldn't go ahead. Having looked at it again we have decided to buy at Riviera. We saw the resort from the Skyliner in 2019 just prior to opening and we love the rooms and location. We hope to have our first Welcome home trip early 2022.

Thank you for all the useful information on here.

Member services can help you set up your welcome home trip and may be able to get you into a room that may be fully booked for the dates you want to travel. So do take advantage of that! They often can pull from cash rooms to make that happen and give you some pixie dust to make your welcome home stay happen the way you want it!

You said you had been to WDW a few times already, where had you stayed previously? What made you decide to sign up for DVC? Just curious, I love reading's people's Disney stories!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I would say you won’t get preferential treatment. It may be easier to go up on opening and maybe get seated. Your best bet is to try to get your reservation at the end of your stay so your not competing with those who could only book at the 60 day window.

During the week they seem to be able to get folks without a reservation in if they're there early. That's what happened to us, we were there a little after opening hours on a Wednesday and they seated us right away!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I am getting increasingly nervous about my September trip over from the UK, I expect we'll both be fully vaccinated by that time but with the new variants I am starting to think its unlikely they'll be much international travel by then.

The trip is booked with banked 2019 and 2020 points (December UY). Am I right in thinking that if I cancel the trip, I can bank the 2020 points into 2021 (providing its done before the July deadline), but the 2019 points I will just lose because they can't be banked a 2nd time?

It's so frustrating since we've just had no opportunity to use them at all and now we're likely going to have to lose them. I get that we can sell them, but, we won't want to cancel the trip until we're right up on the July deadline to give ourselves as much time as possible, and that won't leave much time for them to be sold!

Aw this is too bad! I hope you can make it and everything will work out. Looks like the US will have vaccines for all adults by end of May, which may mean travel restrictions will be lifted. But yeah, it seems it might depend on those pesky new strains...

It's definitely worth it to contact member services and ask if they could bank your 2019 points if worst comes to worst.

 

[DisneyByMarriage]

During the week they seem to be able to get folks without a reservation in if they're there early. That's what happened to us, we were there a little after opening hours on a Wednesday and they seated us right away!

That’s awesome, since all three of my kids usually always me up at 5:45am I will have no problem with this!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

That’s awesome, since all three of my kids usually always me up at 5:45am I will have no problem with this!

We asked the server if they were busy and he said "are you kidding, at this hour?" So give it a try! If it doesn't work out, at least you tried