News Disney Riviera Resort announced

[the.dreamfinder]

You can’t fix things like bad massing with applied ornament.

In animation, Disney especially, there’s a lot of talk about the importance of appeal. In themed entertainment, harmony could be its equivalent.

Personal taste aside, the problem with the two Chapek era towers is how they break the harmony of the space they inhabit. They’re just dropped down into these preexisting areas that had strong thematic identities.

Disney resorts need to be themed environments that are a continuation of what guests experience in the parks. You can’t charge what they want to charge long term with a branded hotel, think Hilton, Marriott.

 

[lazyboy97o]

In animation, Disney especially, there’s a lot of talk about the importance of appeal. In themed entertainment, harmony could be its equivalent.

Personal taste aside, the problem with the two Chapek era towers is how they break the harmony of the space they inhabit. They’re just dropped down into these preexisting areas that had strong thematic identities.

Disney resorts need to be themed environments that are a continuation of what guests experience in the parks. You can’t charge what they want to charge long term with a branded hotel, think Hilton, Marriott.

It’s not just these towers, most Disney projects for too long now are just things dropped down. The Skyliner just cuts through with no concern. Ratatouille and TRON plopped down. The Toy Story Lands. Expansions to Hong Kong Disneyland, Walt Disney Studios Park and Tokyo DisneySEA. Most of Shanghai Disneyland is a loose collection of things dropped down along a perimeter. The new “Egg” festival center in Epcot. Everything is just dropped down. There is no crafting and carving of space to tell a spatial story the way tiny New Orleans Square feels like an old city.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

The issue isn’t theming. It’s a Vegas casino tower, and all that that implies.

IMO Vegas casino towers are better. I'll take Wynn/Encore over Riviera any day.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

IMO Vegas casino towers are better. I'll take Wynn/Encore over Riviera any day.

I was thinking more 90s era towers like The Venetian or Paris.

 

[HauntedPirate]

It’s not just these towers, most Disney projects for too long now are just things dropped down. The Skyliner just cuts through with no concern. Ratatouille and TRON plopped down. The Toy Story Lands. Expansions to Hong Kong Disneyland, Walt Disney Studios Park and Tokyo DisneySEA. Most of Shanghai Disneyland is a loose collection of things dropped down along a perimeter. The new “Egg” festival center in Epcot. Everything is just dropped down. There is no crafting and carving of space to tell a spatial story the way tiny New Orleans Square feels like an old city.

The "Skyliner cutting through" is a complaint my wife had when they were still building them, and then again after they opened (and after riding all three lines in March, I completely agree with it). Because they had to clear a path along the Skyliner route, it opens up sightlines to things that used to be hidden. For example, you can see a hotel building walking out of the Studios now that you couldn't before. Ruins some of the magic.

 

[nickys]

Disney resorts need to be themed environments that are a continuation of what guests experience in the parks. You can’t charge what they want to charge long term with a branded hotel, think Hilton, Marriott.

The thing is, they can. People will pay to stay onsite. So where’s their incentive to spend more?

Both towers serve a purpose. The Gran Destino is aimed at conventioneers, and suits the bill from what I see. A step up from the rest of the rooms at CSR and more “appropriate” for more senior people.

Riviera is a wholly DVC property. Those who have bought there, and those who will over the next couple of years, will in the main be able to pick from all the other DVC resorts if they want a change, dependent on availability obviously. There’s a broad range of options and there are many, many members who love SSR and stay there often. Not much in way of theming there at first glance. DVC is meant to be a “home from home” for a few days. Of course some people would prefer something like AKL or WL or the Poly, but every resort is a favourite of someone. My “boys” in their twenties would choose Bay Lake first every time, they love the modern decor there. So BLT and somewhere else is what we do. They also loved Kidani and BCV, but BLT remains their #1 choice.

And back to your quote above, to me the look of Riviera is infinitely preferable than that of any of the tower condos around Orlando. Theming doesn’t have to be “in your face”; I love the videos of the rooms at Riviera, marble bathrooms, the artwork, the light fittings, the mirror, the stable door feature, the metalwork on the balcony.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Theming doesn’t have to be “in your face”

This in no way addresses many of the complaints regarding both towers that go beyond theme to more foundational issues of composition. Making big, bare exit stairs a focus point of the design, random railing placement or obviously fake Mansard roofs habe nothing to do with theming thats not “in your face.” Even then, the inspiration for the Riviera is highly ornate and if that is somehow inappropriate then a different subject shold have been chosen.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Well, nice to see that Riviera will get it's own IP...

Pixar Officially Announces ‘Luca’ Their Newest Original Film

Pixar Animation Studios announced today that its next feature film release will be Luca. Directed by Academy Award® nominee Enrico Casarosa (La Luna). Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian…

thedisinsider.com

 

[GoofGoof]

Well, nice to see that Riviera will get it's own IP...

Pixar Officially Announces ‘Luca’ Their Newest Original Film

Pixar Animation Studios announced today that its next feature film release will be Luca. Directed by Academy Award® nominee Enrico Casarosa (La Luna). Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian…

thedisinsider.com

Perfect fit. When do the scooter rentals start at Riviera All joking aside, a scooter ride around the lake actually sounds great right now.

 

[Haymarket2008]

Excellent! Maybe they'll replace all the artwork that has 100% nothing to do with the resort's theme!

 

[Flynnwriter]

Theme? Art work? The Riviera is a joke. The hospital-like, zero Disney storytelling is like saying Olive Garden reminds you of Rome. Disney built a huge, generic, on the cheap tower then slapped on a minimum level of “theming” as an afterthought. And for anyone’s who has been to the real Riviera, it’s an insult.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Cool, now we can start new Italy pavilion rumors.

I forgot about that. Disney only makes movies based in a real-world nation so as to put a ride in a corresponding World Showcase Pavilion!

 

[Flynnwriter]

The thing is, they can. People will pay to stay onsite. So where’s their incentive to spend more?

Both towers serve a purpose. The Gran Destino is aimed at conventioneers, and suits the bill from what I see. A step up from the rest of the rooms at CSR and more “appropriate” for more senior people.

Riviera is a wholly DVC property. Those who have bought there, and those who will over the next couple of years, will in the main be able to pick from all the other DVC resorts if they want a change, dependent on availability obviously. There’s a broad range of options and there are many, many members who love SSR and stay there often. Not much in way of theming there at first glance. DVC is meant to be a “home from home” for a few days. Of course some people would prefer something like AKL or WL or the Poly, but every resort is a favourite of someone. My “boys” in their twenties would choose Bay Lake first every time, they love the modern decor there. So BLT and somewhere else is what we do. They also loved Kidani and BCV, but BLT remains their #1 choice.

And back to your quote above, to me the look of Riviera is infinitely preferable than that of any of the tower condos around Orlando. Theming doesn’t have to be “in your face”; I love the videos of the rooms at Riviera, marble bathrooms, the artwork, the light fittings, the mirror, the stable door feature, the metalwork on the balcony.

Saying it’s better than the theming of any “tower condos around Orlando” is a pathetic bar to aim for - and that shouldn’t be enough for Disney.

 

[WeWantsTheRedHead]

It's too bad that Disney didn't stick with separate resort properties for DVC such as OKW and SSR. Barring that they could've gone with the concierge concept and turned floors of existing buildings into DVC wings. At least Boardwalk Villas kept with the theming of the main resort. When they razed a large beach to stuff DVC into GF, ruined the sight lines at the Polynesian to build a handful of units on the water, and demolished the garden wing of the Contemporary to build BLT, the writing was on the wall. The Walt Disney Company originally had 30,000 acres to play with, DVC resorts could've easily been kept as separate entities and not disturbed existing resort properties. Riviera could've been sited in the southwest corner of CBR where the Skyliner station is or in the woods between CBR and the DHS parking lot. It would not have required the demolition of Barbados and what were very nice boardwalks through the woods. In the undeveloped corner of CBR, Riviera could've had a lengthy beachfront opposite Trinidad and been in its own spot instead of being dropped on the property. The Skyliner could have gone through it (ala the monorail at the Contemporary) and the gondolas could be stored inside during inclement weather. And it would have had excellent views of the fireworks.

I wonder how the architects at Fugleberg Koch would feel about their design getting partially demolished for a tower that doesn't fit into the theme they created.

 

[Flynnwriter]

It's too bad that Disney didn't stick with separate resort properties for DVC such as OKW and SSR. Barring that they could've gone with the concierge concept and turned floors of existing buildings into DVC wings. At least Boardwalk Villas kept with the theming of the main resort. When they razed a large beach to stuff DVC into GF, ruined the sight lines at the Polynesian to build a handful of units on the water, and demolished the garden wing of the Contemporary to build BLT, the writing was on the wall. The Walt Disney Company originally had 30,000 acres to play with, DVC resorts could've easily been kept as separate entities and not disturbed existing resort properties. Riviera could've been sited in the southwest corner of CBR where the Skyliner station is or in the woods between CBR and the DHS parking lot. It would not have required the demolition of Barbados and what were very nice boardwalks through the woods. In the undeveloped corner of CBR, Riviera could've had a lengthy beachfront opposite Trinidad and been in its own spot instead of being dropped on the property. The Skyliner could have gone through it (ala the monorail at the Contemporary) and the gondolas could be stored inside during inclement weather. And it would have had excellent views of the fireworks.

I wonder how the architects at Fugleberg Koch would feel about their design getting partially demolished for a tower that doesn't fit into the theme they created.

At some point, Disney decided to turn their backs on their own design rules and go for broke.

 

[floydbeatle]

I thought this building was a response to the “luxury builds” of Four Seasons, J W Marriott. It’s not luxury but it is luxury feel. I don’t think that building was cheap. Did you see the tile mural? I see it as a much nicer addition than say Bay Lake tower. This is far nicer than that. So I see an improvement in the construction of this tower. Conversely, the “sterilization“ of World of Disney, etc., depresses me.

I remember speaking with my DVC guide a year or two ago, and was told Riviera would be on par with the Four Seasons. I have not been to the Four Seasons Orlando or Riviera, but the pool pics alone put the Four Seasons on top. But I have stayed at the Grand and other Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and it is simply not comparable. I doubt Riviera compares well either.

 

[The_Jobu]

and was told Riviera would be on par with the Four Seasons

I haven't been to either, but from what I've seen online, that sounds like hot nonsense.

 

[Magic Feather]

I remember speaking with my DVC guide a year or two ago, and was told Riviera would be on par with the Four Seasons. I have not been to the Four Seasons Orlando or Riviera, but the pool pics alone put the Four Seasons on top. But I have stayed at the Grand and other Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and it is simply not comparable. I doubt Riviera compares well either.

Riviera was intended to match Disney's modern definition of a luxury hotel. It failed on almost every level.

Thankfully, the "blueprint" failing has made the likelihood of follow through on some projects meant to emulate this lower.

 

[Rescue Ranger]

Does this resort have ground floor rooms?

I never thought I'd consider staying here. While it is very nice, it just doesn't have that overall Disney feel to it due to its cookie cutter every-other-resort design of the building. From videos/pictures anyway.

We'll try to transfer from Polynesian to Beach Club next year(while dvc, all the closures and work going on there doesn't make sense for us to stay). However if we can't get Beach, we might go for Riviera for something new.

 

[UNCgolf]

Riviera was intended to match Disney's modern definition of a luxury hotel. It failed on almost every level.

Thankfully, the "blueprint" failing has made the likelihood of follow through on some projects meant to emulate this lower.

I was looking at hotel prices yesterday -- not because I am going to go any time soon, but because they are offering up to 30% off rooms for residents of southeastern states and I was just curious what that would look like.

Rooms at the Riviera were either the most expensive or slightly less expensive than the Grand Floridian and were over $500 a night even with the 30% discount. Rooms at the Yacht Club were like $130 less per night. I would never in a million years stay at the Riviera at those prices; it would probably have to cost less than Port Orleans before I'd even consider staying there.