What it is like to remain at Disney’s Riviera Resort

Some Walt Disney World resorts are covered from wall to shower curtain in cartoon characters. Others have actual safari animals roaming about within view. Then there are those with campfire singalongs and cabins set in the woods. Regardless of the specific theme, most Disney World resorts are overtly geared toward families and children.

And then there’s Disney’s Riviera Resort.

Disney World‘s newest freestanding resort opened in late 2019, and it’s both well located (especially for visits to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot) and a world away from what you might expect from a Disney World resort.

At Disney’s Riviera Resort, you’ll find big, family-friendly suites and adult-oriented petite rooms for two. The property has a European and Mediterranean theme that is light on traditional cartoon characters. However, it is rich in gorgeous tile mosaics that feature familiar scenes, high-end bathrooms and rich, soothing colors that are an interior decorator’s brilliant answer to long days at a bright, primary-colored theme park.

After a stay here on opening night in 2019 and a return extended-family stay in summer 2023 across various room types ranging from a Tower Studio built for two to a two-bedroom villa, here’s what it’s like to stay at Disney’s Riviera Resort.

Related: These are the best hotels at Disney World

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No matter which room you want at Riviera, it makes sense to consider booking it using rented Disney Vacation Club points or your own points if you are a DVC member. Stays at Disney’s Riviera start at 10 DVC points per night for a Tower Studio and 14 points per night for a Deluxe Studio that sleeps up to five.

If you are renting your Disney Vacation Club points from an established service such as David’s Vacation Club Rentals at a flat rate per point, then it currently costs $21 per point for stays within seven months and $23 per point for stays seven or more months into the future. You can use the points to book anything from a two-person Tower Studio room up to a three-room Grand Villa, such as the one we have stayed at on rented DVC points at Bay Lake Tower.

Related: How I saved hundreds of dollars at Disney by renting Disney Vacation Club points

If you booked a Tower Studio at 10 points per night, it would cost $210 to $230 per night at David’s current prices. Deluxe Studios would start at around $300 per night at those rented-points rates. Availability can be tight, so this is most useful if you are planning several months out into the future.

We most recently had family in a 2 Bedroom Villa and a Deluxe Studio at Disney’s Riviera Resort, both using rented DVC points. We rented points from a friend at a slightly lower rate than is available via the larger companies, but the premise remains the same with savings that can sometimes be 30%-50% off going cash rates.

Related: These are the best credit cards for your Disney vacation

One of the many great things about Disney’s Riviera Resort is that it’s on the Disney Skyliner route. This system connects Riviera Resort, Art of Animation Resort, Pop Century Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort, Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios via a network of gondola lifts.

Riviera Resort has its own Skyliner station, where you can board the Skyliner gondolas to either go directly to Epcot or to the transfer station at Caribbean Beach Resort. From Caribbean Beach, you can hop off and enjoy the restaurants at Caribbean Beach or transfer to Hollywood Studios or another Disney resort hotel on the Skyliner loop.

If you want to visit the Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom from Riviera, you can use the free Disney bus system that stops in front of the hotel or take a Minnie Van via the Lyft app.

A Minnie Van from the resort to the Magic Kingdom starts at around $40, so save that for when you really need it but know that it takes you right to the front of the park instead of the farther-afield Ticketing and Transportation Center that a regular ride-hailing service would use.

Technically, you could also take the Skyliner from Riviera to Epcot and transfer from there to the monorail that goes to the Magic Kingdom. However, you’ll have to get from the World Showcase back entrance of the park to the front entrance to access the monorail, which isn’t a small commitment unless you want to spend some time at Epcot anyway.

Disney’s Riviera Resort rooms

Disney’s Riviera Resort has over 300 hotel rooms and suites spread out over a few wings — so the direction you head away from the lobby matters if you want to avoid some wasted steps.

Note that when you get your room assignment, the first number will be an eight — that doesn’t mean it’s on the eighth floor, as all the room numbers start with eight. It may be easiest if you ignore that first number, so think of Room 8340 as Room 340 and on the third floor.

Disney’s Riviera Tower Studios

I’d stayed in plenty of rooms with bunk beds, but I’d never stayed in a room that didn’t have an actual dedicated bed. I had no idea whether this would be good or bad, but going into my first stay at Riviera a few years back, I did know that the Tower Studios are the smallest guest rooms in all of Disney World, starting around 220 square feet.

Disney’s Riviera Tower Studios are home to two-person couches, TVs, small desks and chairs.

That’s it. That’s the whole room. Mounted into the wall of each studio is a Murphy bed that comes down to reveal lovely “Peter Pan”-inspired art on the wall.

The bed comes easily down from the wall with a decent tug. You don’t have to be a superhero, but if you have mobility limitations, call housekeeping for assistance.

Pulled down, the bed pretty much fills the space. If you plan to spend hours hanging out in the room, put the bed back into the wall … or consider a larger room.

There are many electrical outlets, including two in a nook right by the bed. The lighting is intuitive, plentiful and dimmable. There are also a small fridge, a microwave and a Keurig coffee machine. A small two-chair balcony overlooks the resort, the Skyliner and evening fireworks from neighboring Epcot.

A few years ago, I experienced a shortage of pillows during my stay in this room type. In this instance, I found two pillows in the closet, but two total pillows in a room for two was half what we needed. If that is still the case, call housekeeping if you like building pillow forts like I do.

The bathroom for this room type is almost as large as the room itself. The full shower and large vanity make for one of the prettiest Disney bathrooms. Also, the entire room, while small, is visually pleasing. I would stay here again on a trip without the whole family at a good cash rate or for a low number of rented DVC points.

Disney’s Riviera Deluxe Studios

This is a more traditional room type at Riviera Resort, sleeping up to five people with the primary bed, a pulldown sofa bed and a pullout single bed under the TV.

It’s perfectly functional, with lots of areas for sleeping and even a small studio kitchen with a built-in microwave, sink and minifridge.

But if I’m being 100% honest, I think it’s one of the plainest looks of all the room types I’ve seen at Riviera Resort and could have benefited from more layered colors and textures, and less white on white.

But you can’t fault the room’s function with elevated beds to store luggage underneath, pullout drawers built into the bed and all the “hidden” sleeping space that can be quickly transformed.

The hidden sleeping spaces have some fun designs that are displayed when pulled down, but the designs in the single bed and double bed don’t really relate to each other. While they are cute, they don’t help in unifying the room themes.

And not to sound too negative, as the room was perfectly adequate, but I was surprised that the bathroom in this Deluxe Studio felt like a step down from what I’d experienced in the Tower Studio with a smaller shower and vanity.

Disney’s Riviera 2 Bedroom Villas

While I was a little let down by the Riviera Resort Deluxe Studio, given my experience opening night with the Tower Studio and higher expectations for a higher room category, I was wowed by the 2 Bedroom Villa.

It has a full-size and fully stocked kitchen with an oven, fridge, stove, dishwasher and all the pots, pans, plates, utensils and more that you are likely to need during your stay. We ordered drinks, snacks and an easy-to-bake breakfast from Vacation Grocery Delivery (run by former and present Disney cast members), and it was waiting for us at check-in, which saved us a lot over paying Disney prices for every snack and Powerade.

In the living room, there’s a full-size Murphy bed which comes down from where the sofa is and a single bed underneath the TV. Both transform very easily, and the kids have certainly never complained about the comfort of either of these beds.

The two traditional bedrooms in this suite are down the hall from each other, so everyone has a nice bit of space to themselves.

The primary bedroom is accessible from both the main entrance hallway and the living room, and features a king-size bed, a desk, a bedside table and a chair.

It also has a nice view out to the large balcony, which was too hot to utilize for our July visit, but could be great in the cooler months.

The primary bathroom is very pretty and is an en suite bathroom, making it easily accessible from the primary bedroom. It has a large soaking tub, oversized vanity and a separate walk-in shower.

Down the main hall from the primary bedroom is the secondary bedroom, which is a bit less ornate but quite functional. It features two queen beds and a bathroom that has both a tub and a shower that can be used at the same time thanks to some strategic sliding doors separating the two portions of the bathroom. Since the suite sleeps up to nine people but only has two bathroom areas, that’s some pretty fantastic engineering to make one bathroom space useful to two people at the same time.

We had seven people share the 2 Bedroom Villa (three adults and four kids), and it worked out beautifully and was a lot more fun than if everyone had booked their own hotel rooms. There are also 3 Bedroom Grand Villas at Disney’s Riviera Resort, but get ready to get out the checkbook for those as they will likely cost $2,000 to $3,000 or more per night if you book with cash and start at 103 DVC points per night. The 2 Bedroom Villas start at just 38 points per night, making that (plus a studio) a more economical option if you don’t mind being a little spread out around the resort.

Related: Why I bought a Disney timeshare

Disney’s Riviera Resort pools

Disney’s Riviera Resort has two main pool areas and a fantastic splash pad.

Let’s start with the littlest poolgoers area, S’il Vous Play. This splash pad takes its inspiration from the public fountains in Europe but presents its water play using Disney’s “Fantasia” characters. It’s within the main pool area but behind its own gate.

The splash area features two slides, including a tunnel slide for the older little kids. There are also multiple little kid-friendly interactive water elements — and no annoying big bucket of water splashing down on everyone and causing tears every 60 seconds, as you find at some other Disney splash areas.

This splash area has some of its own tables and umbrellas, which are useful if this is where your kids will spend a good portion of their day — it can be hard to claim shade for yourself around the main pool.

Speaking of, at the main Riviera Pool, you’ll find a twisting two-story slide from a 30-foot tower and a zero-entry beach area. As with all Disney resorts, this main pool had lifeguards on duty and life jackets that were free to use.

This pool has a lot of energy — squeals as kids (and adults) go down the slide, lively afternoon games run by cast members, and families alternating between the gelato cart and taking a dip in the water. It’s so popular that I recommend going early to get a shaded spot if you need one since the resort is a little short on umbrellas, especially given the pool size.

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While the pool is heated when necessary, if you want a hot tub at night or in the cooler months, there is one of those, too.

The main pool stays busy from morning to night with lots of families enjoying dinner by the pool and watching the evening movie from the water. During our stay, the pool was open until 10 p.m.

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There is also a smaller pool, Beau Soleil, that is equally inviting and a bit calmer without all the slides, snacks or lifeguards. It typically opens earlier than the main pool (7 a.m. compared to 10 a.m. during our visit).

Disney’s Riviera activities and amenities

Gym

If the 15,000-20,000 steps you’ll get at Disney World each day aren’t enough, Disney’s Riviera has a gym on the ground floor near the pools.

Pro tip: There are cool towels, bottled water and sometimes even some small oranges available at no charge in the gym to keep you motivated.

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Lawn games

Behind the Riviera is a large open space between the two pools where you can play chess or bocce, relax on a porch swing or just do cartwheels.

Between the porch swings and the Mediterranean-themed music playing around the resort, this is a place to stop, sit and take it all in, even in the late summer afternoons once the sun falls behind the building.

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Painting, campfire and movies

If you stay at Disney’s Riviera Resort, dedicate some time to being just at the resort. On our recent stay, we had an entire resort day to just stay there, eat, swim and play, which was one of the best days of the trip.

In addition to the pool and play areas, there are outdoor movies at 8:30 p.m. and a nightly campfire where you can make s’mores from 6:30-7:30. There are also painting opportunities, with both instructor-led paint classes and the option to pay a few dollars to use their supplies and create your own masterpiece on everything from a small canvas to a coffee mug.

Evening movies range from “Toy Story” and “Encanto” to “An American Tale” and “Chicken Little,” with a different movie each night.

While not an amenity in the traditional sense, a highlight of a stay at Riviera is unquestionably the two mosaic murals in the walkway tunnel to the Skyliner.

These appropriately pay homage to flight with over 1 million hand-cut tiles to create these true works of art.

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One of the murals is the lantern scene from “Tangled,” and the other has a Neverland theme. They are worth enjoying even if you don’t take the Skyliner.

Disney’s Riviera Resort dining

In keeping with the adults-welcome theme, Disney’s Riviera Resort offers some grown-up dining options.

Le Petit Cafe

In the main lobby, you’ll find Le Petit Cafe, which is both a daytime coffee shop and an evening bar.

The morning menu features coffees and pastries, such as chocolate chip muffins and perfectly flaky croissants ($4.29). You’ll also want to try the chocolate chunk banana bread ($3.99) with the white chocolate Riviera symbol on top.

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There is seating within the cafe itself. You can also wander around the corner to another sitting room or utilize a corner of the attached lobby if the cafe fills up.

In the evening, the vibe transforms, and you’ll find some more adult snacks and drinks, such as the Golden Haze Margarita ($16.50) and an Aperol spritz ($15).

It’s fun to take your evening cocktail just around the corner from the cafe to the slightly hidden lounge. This space does fill up in the late afternoons as people are waiting to check in to rooms, but sometimes you get lucky and have the space to yourself.

Primo Piatto

The primary quick-service restaurant at Riviera is on the ground floor. You can either mobile order or order and pay at Primo Piatto at the counter. In that case, the staff delivers most food to your table, which makes it feel like a full-service restaurant, even though it really isn’t.

Related: Best restaurants at Disney World

On the menu are pizza, salad, pasta and other Mediterranean dishes. I loved the $12.99 grilled vegetable pita so much that it became my lunch and dinner. The spices on the roasted veggies and the coolness of the cucumber yogurt dip were a far cry from chicken fingers and fries.

However, there were still chicken fingers and fries ($8.49) on the kids menu — and in my daughter’s belly.

If you want something a bit more rich and substantial, you’ll also find lasagna on the menu. It didn’t look especially appealing to me, but my teenager loved it.

Topolino’s Terrace

A truly full-service meal at Riviera means a visit up to the top of the resort to Topolino’s (Italian for “baby mouse”). Topolino’s is on the highest floor of the Riviera and boasts views fitting the location.

This is a spot where you’ll want to make advance reservations to dine in Disney’s app starting 60 days before your stay, though you can get lucky with close-in cancellations, so keep checking if you don’t initially get what you want. There are two dining options here: a fancy dinner or a less fancy, but still nice, character breakfast.

Especially at night, Topolino’s is a great reminder that this resort welcomes kids, but it isn’t made just for them.

Beyond a quick peek inside, I haven’t tried dinner at Topolino’s, which features options such as sea scallops ($52) and filet mignon ($56). Still, I enjoyed the character breakfast with Mickey, Minnie and friends in their European-style costumes unique to this location multiple times (adults $45, children $29).

And I won’t hesitate to say that the breakfast is really, really good. In fact, it’s one of the best at Disney World, especially if you want characters with your coffee.

On my last visit, I went for the avocado toast with prosciutto and poached eggs, which was fantastic. The included pot of muffins and croissants is also always a hit, as are the kids waffle dippers and fruit plates.

Don’t be in a rush to get to your next ride in the parks when you dine here, as it takes a while for all four characters to make their rounds. Save this meal for a non-park day or one when you at least aren’t rushing during the morning hours.

Related: These are the best character meals at Disney World

Bar Riva

If you want a beer, cocktail, salad or snack to share in an open-air bar near the pool, Bar Riva is calling your name. During parts of the day, this becomes a vibrant, lively spot where you can enjoy the Riviera’s atmosphere and the pool’s proximity while not having to eat your chicken fingers huddled over a damp pool towel.

What we loved about Disney’s Riviera Resort

• Disney’s Riviera has a festive atmosphere that screams vacation without being all Disney all the time. It’s the perfect spot for families who want to be near a few parks via the Skyliner while also enjoying some more relaxing moments of their trip that aren’t overtly Disney.
• The Skyliner station at the hotel makes for a very fun way to fly to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
• Really good food options at low, medium and high price points with the best on-site character breakfast in all of Walt Disney World.
• Ability to stay on Disney Vacation Club points, starting at reasonable rates for various room types.
• Very kind and attentive cast members, from those checking you in to the food and beverage cast members and beyond.

Reasons it may not be for you

• If you want a hotel that constantly reminds you that you’re at Disney World with bright characters, this isn’t the hotel for you as it is far more subtle in its themes.
• While it is a Deluxe resort, it is not within walking distance of any park. When there are thunderstorms and the Skyliner isn’t running, you are left with only bus transportation as an included park transportation option.
• At times it can feel like the resort wasn’t given sufficient amenities for the number of rooms. For example, the lobby is relatively small and can get very full during the late-morning and afternoon check-in and checkout hours. The pool is also short on shaded areas, leaving guests to claim spaces or wait for other guests to leave.
• The studio rooms don’t have a ton of personality. While the little rooms for two and the larger multibedroom villas have some personality with what comes across as higher-end design, I was a bit disappointed in the styling and (lack of) personality in the studio rooms, which are where most guests are likely to spend their vacations.

Accessibility

All Disney World hotels have wheelchair-accessible rooms and hearing-accessible rooms available. To book those room types, just click the “Accessible Rooms” box when searching for hotels on Disney’s website. And yes, there are even wheelchair-accessible Tower Suites available.

You can make your way around the entire property using elevators and walkways, so whether you have a wheelchair, scooter or stroller, it shouldn’t be a problem. Both pools also have lifts, making them fun for everyone.

If you want a high-end studio with more design touches and personality, look to the Grand Floridian, which wins in the style category as its rooms are renovated. It’s also within walking distance (or a monorail ride) of the Magic Kingdom.

If you want Skyliner convenience at a lower price than Disney’s Riviera Resort, its neighbor, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, can be worth considering. In certain Caribbean buildings, you are just a stone’s throw away from the restaurants and more at Riviera. But keep in mind that Caribbean Beach is a very large resort, so you can also end up quite far from almost everything, a problem that won’t happen at the much smaller Riviera Resort.

Finally, if you like the modern, subdued Disney look at a moderate price point, the Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs Resort also opened in 2019, the same year Disney’s Riviera Resort opened. It is worth considering if you’d like to save a few dollars over Riviera prices and are OK with Disney bus transportation or are bringing a car that you can use to get around.

Checking out

I love Disney’s Riviera Resort. From the Tower Studios to the 2 Bedroom Villa, we’ve stayed here twice, and I’m scheming ways to get back for a third stay. It’s an easy Skyliner ride to two Walt Disney World theme parks, but it feels half a world away … in a good way.

The resort’s overall design is elegant and pleasing to adults, but with thoughtful touches that make kids feel equally welcome.

The tile mosaics are worth a visit even if you don’t stay here, and the Skyliner station makes getting around Disney that much more magical. And the food, well, this ain’t your carnival corndogs and funnel cake. The food at Riviera makes you look forward to Disney mealtime.

If you can catch a deal here by renting Disney Vacation Club points or taking advantage of a good sale and like the idea of a Disney resort with more subdued theming, then put Disney’s Riviera Resort on your Disney World road map and don’t look back.

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