Congrats! Did you get them to book your welcome home stay? It's possible for them to get you a room even if the site says it's sold out for your desired dates. Also, did you get a guaranteed week? It doesn't cost you anything for one but it could increase resale value later for multiple reasons.
The Official Riviera Owners & Info Thread
- Thread starter summerw
- Start date
Congrats! Did you get them to book your welcome home stay? It's possible for them to get you a room even if the site says it's sold out for your desired dates. Also, did you get a guaranteed week? It doesn't cost you anything for one but it could increase resale value later for multiple reasons.
Thanks!! No. My guide told me to and then when the RIV wasn’t available for Mardi Gras, I called CS and it was busy for like 3 hours. So I booked the Poly just because I was shocked it was open-that’s always been our favorite resort. Called immediately the next morning and CS told me there’s nothing she could do for me at all since I booked the Poly. So I’m on the waitlist for RIV and booked for Poly. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I’ve had worse problems.
I do think a “Welcome Home should really be your first stay, not your first booking. A bit of a bummer to spend 40k and have them say there will be no bigger welcome on our first stay.
CarolynFH
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2000
The resort provides coffee in filter packets, and you can get more from housekeeping on request. If you want to bring your own grounds and filters, the pots are 10-12 cup drip pots using flat bottom filters. Studios may have the 4-cup pots, but again you can request the larger size from housekeeping. I think the tower studios have Keurig coffee makers.
jennypenny
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 11, 2000
Yes, our 2bd had a cone coffee pot with a reusable basket.
Just back from our third post-covid trip to RR and we've stayed in every room except the grand villa. Some random comments ...
* This is the first trip where we've gotten daily 'safety checks'. I don't mind them in principle, but I wish they'd just be transparent about why they are there. They come to the door and pretend they are checking on the room itself -- literally flicking light switches up and down, turning the water on and off, etc -- instead of just saying they are there to check each room for safety reasons. During covid especially, I wish they'd just come in and quickly check each room instead of touching surfaces and talking incessantly about BS. We complained to management but could tell they didn't agree.
* Skyliner was pretty reliable despite storms (although mileage varies depending on when you visit parks). When it was closed one evening, we were directed to the beach club for a bus. There was ample signage as well as several cast members directing people at the bus depot. My only complaint would be that RR was the last stop on the skyliner resorts bus, so it took almost an hour.
* Food was pretty disappointing all around except at RR. The food there is still great and Bar Riva is my favorite place for a late night snack and drink. I wish they were open later though (after park close) but I have that complaint at every disney resort.
* Most activities are back to normal at the resort.
* We really, really missed FPs (we aren't rope droppers) so we were glad to be at RR where it's nice just to hang at the resort.
* The pools never seemed overly crowded. This was the first time though that we experienced the afternoon pool activity thing at RR, with hula hoop competitions, loud party music, and the like. I didn't like it and it really ruined the vibe in Bar Riva. Why is that stuff necessary at the pools?
* Housekeeping never came except to 'check' on the room. Why not at least drop off some TP??
* The skyliner seemed to have expanded their hours to 1 1/2 hours past closing. Never checked in the morning, sorry.
Overall -- We love the resort but we are an older couple with college age children. I don't know if I would have liked it as much when our kids were little and we were rope dropping parks and taking afternoon breaks. The room is fantastic compared to other older DVC resorts, but I'm not sure if the kids would have been bored at RR or it would have been necessary to rent a car. OTOH, with DME going away and more people renting a car, maybe it wouldn't matter. Dunno.
Also, we agreed we are not going back until disney gets their %$#& together. I don't mind overpaying when we have a lot of fun, but you really notice the prices when the food is bad, the rides go down too often, the ambiance is off, and the crowds are bigger than WDW is currently equipped to handle. Maybe because we've been DVC members for almost 20 years we notice what's missing more than other people. Not sure. But whatever the reason, lower your expectations if you have a trip planned ... RR is great but the rest of disney is still a bit of a letdown.
Just back from our third post-covid trip to RR and we've stayed in every room except the grand villa. Some random comments ...
* This is the first trip where we've gotten daily 'safety checks'. I don't mind them in principle, but I wish they'd just be transparent about why they are there. They come to the door and pretend they are checking on the room itself -- literally flicking light switches up and down, turning the water on and off, etc -- instead of just saying they are there to check each room for safety reasons. During covid especially, I wish they'd just come in and quickly check each room instead of touching surfaces and talking incessantly about BS. We complained to management but could tell they didn't agree.
* Skyliner was pretty reliable despite storms (although mileage varies depending on when you visit parks). When it was closed one evening, we were directed to the beach club for a bus. There was ample signage as well as several cast members directing people at the bus depot. My only complaint would be that RR was the last stop on the skyliner resorts bus, so it took almost an hour.
* Food was pretty disappointing all around except at RR. The food there is still great and Bar Riva is my favorite place for a late night snack and drink. I wish they were open later though (after park close) but I have that complaint at every disney resort.
* Most activities are back to normal at the resort.
* We really, really missed FPs (we aren't rope droppers) so we were glad to be at RR where it's nice just to hang at the resort.
* The pools never seemed overly crowded. This was the first time though that we experienced the afternoon pool activity thing at RR, with hula hoop competitions, loud party music, and the like. I didn't like it and it really ruined the vibe in Bar Riva. Why is that stuff necessary at the pools?
* Housekeeping never came except to 'check' on the room. Why not at least drop off some TP??
* The skyliner seemed to have expanded their hours to 1 1/2 hours past closing. Never checked in the morning, sorry.
Overall -- We love the resort but we are an older couple with college age children. I don't know if I would have liked it as much when our kids were little and we were rope dropping parks and taking afternoon breaks. The room is fantastic compared to other older DVC resorts, but I'm not sure if the kids would have been bored at RR or it would have been necessary to rent a car. OTOH, with DME going away and more people renting a car, maybe it wouldn't matter. Dunno.
Also, we agreed we are not going back until disney gets their %$#& together. I don't mind overpaying when we have a lot of fun, but you really notice the prices when the food is bad, the rides go down too often, the ambiance is off, and the crowds are bigger than WDW is currently equipped to handle. Maybe because we've been DVC members for almost 20 years we notice what's missing more than other people. Not sure. But whatever the reason, lower your expectations if you have a trip planned ... RR is great but the rest of disney is still a bit of a letdown.
Rick195275
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2018
Those activities happen at all disney resorts by the pool mid day from deluxe to value. Sometimes it’s in an area just outside the pool, like at poly they do stuff next to the pool and then take the hula hoops to the beach just outside the gate for more room. I’m not sure for how many of the 20 years you’ve been a member but that’s been my experience in the last 5ish years between dvc and other resorts. Don’t remember them from when I was a kid but maybe I’ve just forgotten lol. Not at all being snarky but maybe you just happened to time it right in the past? Or if you’re a quiet pool person that would explain it also as it’s always by the feature pool.
xfiles3010
WDW Addict
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2007
Does the gift shop sell case or 12 pack of bottled water? If so, how much is the cost? TIA
starfrenzy
Podcast listener & DVC Fan
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2018
The studios have 12-cup coffee makers too.
Helvetica
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2018
They sell Dasani 8 Packs (12 Ounce) for $4.50
https://disneyvacationclub.disney.g...rts/Riviera_Grocery_Order_Form_2019-12-13.pdf
kristenrice
NOT just an ambulance driver
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
We are approaching the 60-day window for our first stay at Riviera and I was thinking about adding a request to our reservation. We have a preferred studio booked and I have used the TouringPlans room request in the past with pretty decent luck. I am not too concerned with location since we are only going to be there for 2 nights, but I am more worried about "noisy" neighbors. That being said, is there any significant difference between a dedicated studio and a lock-off studio as far as noise level goes? I see that the connecting door is in the entryway so it is about as far off from the living area as possible so I assume that helps keep the neighbor noise to a minimum. Is there any other major differences between a lock-off studio and a dedicated studio that I am not considering??
IceSkatingPrincess
Forever mourning the loss of SpectroMagic
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2013
This happened to me too. There was a ~2 week delay to schedule a welcome home call, and by then the 7 month window for a stay (Aulani) I needed opened up. I booked it myself at that 7 month mark, having no idea that would prohibit me from having member services help me book my first home resort stay (Riviera). It was honestly never explained to me that it would be a problem and it never crossed my mind that using the points I paid for that were now sitting in my account would penalize me in some way.
My guide was great and helped me push back (she didn't realize it would be an issue either). In the end member services did assist with my welcome home Riviera booking. YMMV, but just my experience.
IMO it is a silly policy anyway.
xfiles3010
WDW Addict
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2007
Thank you!!
summerw
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2011
Added! Have a great Christmas trip!
Would you like me to add your to our Be Our Guest list in post 3? Congrats and welcome home!
Added! I'd love to hear about how you like the tower room!
What?!? I would love have this list of booked stays!! Added, also I am so jealous.
Added!
Congrats and welcome home!
princessophiali
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 16, 2013
We will be there 11/12-11/19 in a studio. Can we be added to the list as well? We bought in 2019 and this will be our first stay at RR...we can't wait!
Just checked in, our first visit. Delay in our room being ready. Did not get our requested room, instead getting a mediocre preferred view. But gorgeous resort, beautiful room. Had a fantastic first night meal at Sebastian’s next door.
We are here for a week, if anyone has any questions.
We are here for a week, if anyone has any questions.
karen4546
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2012
I think the Tower studios have a Keurig. I won't know for certain until October, but all the videos that I have watched on the Tower studio-Keurig.
starfrenzy
Podcast listener & DVC Fan
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2018
I meant the regular studios.
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