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News Disney Riviera Resort announced

trainplane3

trainplane3

Well-Known Member
I had a short talk about this place with a DVC CM in the Imagination lounge yesterday.

Of course the whole "would you like to expand your timeshare ownership" kicked it off followed up by then asking if I would like Riviera. Told them my thoughts on the nice grounds and ugly gray block and was surprisingly agreed with without delay. They shared the same thoughts on BLT too without me mentioning it.
 
Clyde Birdbrain

Clyde Birdbrain

Unknown Member
I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but I noticed at the Riviera Resort yesterday that the toilet paper is stamped with the RR logo. I thought that was pretty neat:

IMG_6892.JPG


IMG_6893.JPG
 
pdude81

pdude81

Well-Known Member
Just back from a stay at Riviera and really enjoyed it. Really enjoyed the grounds and the transportation. Plenty of space in the room even with the murphy bed down. I didn't worry about the roof line or fake dormers once during my trip.

I'd try to go back there for part of our split stay in the summer but there is 0 (studio) availability in the 7 month window for my trip, even with the higher point cost per night compared to other resorts.
 
nicb88

nicb88

Well-Known Member
Clyde Birdbrain said:
I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but I noticed at the Riviera Resort yesterday that the toilet paper is stamped with the RR logo. I thought that was pretty neat:

View attachment 449601

View attachment 449602
Click to expand...

I presume this is an embossing stamp the housekeepers use when replacing/tidying up the toilet paper rolls? As opposed to them actually ordering rolls with the RR on them haha. Either way it’s a lovely touch.
 
nickys

nickys

Premium Member
pdude81 said:
Just back from a stay at Riviera and really enjoyed it. Really enjoyed the grounds and the transportation. Plenty of space in the room even with the murphy bed down. I didn't worry about the roof line or fake dormers once during my trip.

I'd try to go back there for part of our split stay in the summer but there is 0 (studio) availability in the 7 month window for my trip, even with the higher point cost per night compared to other resorts.
Click to expand...

If you put in a waitlist request, you may find it comes through. If there’s another declaration before then, that would put more rooms into DVC hands without the owners to book them.
 
pdude81

pdude81

Well-Known Member
nickys said:
If you put in a waitlist request, you may find it comes through. If there’s another declaration before then, that would put more rooms into DVC hands without the owners to book them.
Click to expand...
Thanks, you may be right about that with a declaration. Given the ADR and special events that have to be planned so far in advance, I'll probably just stick with the current plans. Plus if it comes through late in the game I have to sweat banking deadlines. Next time I'll make sure to book in the owner window!
 
V

vader327

New Member
pdude81 said:
Just back from a stay at Riviera and really enjoyed it. Really enjoyed the grounds and the transportation. Plenty of space in the room even with the murphy bed down. I didn't worry about the roof line or fake dormers once during my trip.

I'd try to go back there for part of our split stay in the summer but there is 0 (studio) availability in the 7 month window for my trip, even with the higher point cost per night compared to other resorts.
Click to expand...


I just returned as well. I thought the hotel was great. My wife wished for a better lobby and more options at the QS restaurant. We watched Epcot Forever every night and HPE a couple times from our balcony. Skyliner in and out of Epcot was the best.
 
UNCgolf

UNCgolf

Well-Known Member
Nunu said:
The trend I'm noticing about Riviera, is that most complaints on this thread are about the building's exterior. Looks like many are finding the rooms and most interior common areas, to be quite nice.
Click to expand...

I don't think anyone thinks it's not a nice hotel -- the problem with the exterior AND the interior is that it doesn't really have any theming. The exterior does have some other problems as well, but the real issue is that it could just as easily be a nice Hilton or Marriott just about anywhere.
 
Nunu

Nunu

Wanderluster
Premium Member
@UNCgolf
About theming, I guess that depends on people's tastes. After a long day at the parks surrounded, and constantly stimulated by Disney characters, music, merch, etc., the idea of going back to a resort (and room) with subtle Disney references is appealing to me. The line between themed and busy can be thin, sometimes. Many dislike BLT for the same reasons, but somehow, booking a room there is not that easy.

I haven't stayed at Riviera, just seen the exterior. The building (from outside), lacks charm, imo, but I'd like to experience it sometime so that I can give it a fair personal assessment.

Ooops!, Edit to reply.
 
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TrainsOfDisney

TrainsOfDisney

Well-Known Member
Nunu said:
@UNCgolf
About theming, I guess that depends on people's tastes. After a long day at the parks surrounded, and constantly stimulated by Disney characters, music, merch, etc., the idea of going back to a resort (and room) with subtle Disney references is appealing to me. The line between themed and busy can be thin, sometimes. Many dislike BLT for the same reasons, but somehow, booking a room there is not that easy.

I haven't stayed at Riviera, just seen the exterior. The building (from outside), lacks charm, imo, but I'd like to experience it sometime so that I can give it a fair personal assessment.

Ooops!, Edit to reply.
Click to expand...

I think you’re confusing theme with over the top characters like at art of animation. The best Disney themed resorts have very limited characters.... wilderness lodge, animal kingdom lodge, port Orleans riverside, etc. but they have extremely good theming.

The exterior is the worst part about the resort... even if you like basic towers... it’s hard to forgive that design. The interior is a bit bland but nice enough. I actually kinda liked all the photos of Walt’s travels and such and I loved the mosaic art between the resort and skyliner station.
 
lazyboy97o

lazyboy97o

Well-Known Member
Nunu said:
@UNCgolf
About theming, I guess that depends on people's tastes. After a long day at the parks surrounded, and constantly stimulated by Disney characters, music, merch, etc., the idea of going back to a resort (and room) with subtle Disney references is appealing to me. The line between themed and busy can be thin, sometimes. Many dislike BLT for the same reasons, but somehow, booking a room there is not that easy.

I haven't stayed at Riviera, just seen the exterior. The building (from outside), lacks charm, imo, but I'd like to experience it sometime so that I can give it a fair personal assessment.

Ooops!, Edit to reply.
Click to expand...
The line between busy and themed is only thin if you confuse “theming” with stuff. If the desire was something more minimalist then that should have been part of the story instead of doing a McMansion take on Beaux Arts.
 
UNCgolf

UNCgolf

Well-Known Member
Nunu said:
@UNCgolf
About theming, I guess that depends on people's tastes. After a long day at the parks surrounded, and constantly stimulated by Disney characters, music, merch, etc., the idea of going back to a resort (and room) with subtle Disney references is appealing to me. The line between themed and busy can be thin, sometimes. Many dislike BLT for the same reasons, but somehow, booking a room there is not that easy.

I haven't stayed at Riviera, just seen the exterior. The building (from outside), lacks charm, imo, but I'd like to experience it sometime so that I can give it a fair personal assessment.

Ooops!, Edit to reply.
Click to expand...

Other people have mostly covered it, but since you're replying to me I'll chime in too -- it's not about Disney characters (in fact, throwing in a bunch of Disney characters is almost the opposite of theming). It's about creating a specific setting and following through with it. When I say it could be a random nice Marriott or Hilton, I mean that it would fit basically anywhere because it doesn't really have a theme beyond "luxury". Compare it to other Disney hotels like the Polynesian, the Animal Kingdom Lodge, or even the two at Port Orleans where you can clearly see the theme and it carries throughout the whole resort.

You could drop the Riviera down just about anywhere in the US and nobody would look twice at it because of the lack of theme. It's just a standard hotel.
 
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eliza61nyc

eliza61nyc

Well-Known Member
Nunu said:
The trend I'm noticing about Riviera, is that most complaints on this thread are about the building's exterior. Looks like many are finding the rooms and most interior common areas, to be quite nice.
Click to expand...
It is being well received on many sites both Disney sites and travel sites. Now I don't know how many of those people are into architecture beyond the "it looks nice" but only here have I heard the "it looks like a Marriott".
 

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