News Disney Riviera Resort announced

[GoofGoof]

In addition to.

Interesting. Good news. That’s the first I have heard that. Actual details have been hard to find but everything I’ve seen had said rooftop table service restaurant with lounge along with a poolside snack bar and the possiblity of a grab and go location. Speculation has been that the refurb and expansion of CBR food options was partially to upscale offering for Riviera guests.

An addional counter service restauarant would be nice for guests, especially for breakfast which is when I think a lot of people want to grab something quick.

 

[peter11435]

Interesting. Good news. That’s the first I have heard that. Actual details have been hard to find but everything I’ve seen had said rooftop table service restaurant with lounge along with a poolside snack bar and the possiblity of a grab and go location. Speculation has been that the refurb and expansion of CBR food options was partially to upscale offering for Riviera guests.

An addional counter service restauarant would be nice for guests, especially for breakfast which is when I think a lot of people want to grab something quick.

The refurb and expansion of offerings at CBR was for CBR guests. Contrary to speculation from a few posters on here Riviera will have its own amenities. The two will not share.

 

[GoofGoof]

The refurb and expansion of offerings at CBR was for CBR guests. Contrary to speculation from a few posters on here Riviera will have its own amenities. The two will not share.

It will be a short walk anyway so it will add additional options for guests staying there. The walk from Riviera to Old Port Royale will be about the same as the walk from certain rooms at BW and the actual boardwalk. The new additions at CBR seem pretty nice too. Win/win for everyone either way.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We've been owners from the beginning at BLT so know it well. Practically speaking, those staying at BLT can easily saunter over to Contemporary's pool. That proximity isn't really there with Riviera and CBR pools.

While DVC members can pool hope widely, how much do they really? I know we never have in 12+ years -- except occasionally the Contemporary pool while at BLT. With the small number of rooms and two pools, I guess I'd be surprised if "you can hop to CBR's pool" is a big draw for anyone staying at Riviera -- DVC owner or not.

The rooftop lounge at BLT is tiny. We've been there twice since the place opened. I thought the Riviera setup was to be more extensive?

 

[Bocabear]

We've been owners from the beginning at BLT so know it well. Practically speaking, those staying at BLT can easily saunter over to Contemporary's pool. That proximity isn't really there with Riviera and CBR pools.

While DVC members can pool hope widely, how much do they really? I know we never have in 12+ years -- except occasionally the Contemporary pool while at BLT. With the small number of rooms and two pools, I guess I'd be surprised if "you can hop to CBR's pool" is a big draw for anyone staying at Riviera -- DVC owner or not.

The rooftop lounge at BLT is tiny. We've been there twice since the place opened. I thought the Riviera setup was to be more extensive?

Everytime we visit BLT there is always a wait for a table in the lounge...So I would think they learned from that and made a larger lounge....

 

[GoofGoof]

We've been owners from the beginning at BLT so know it well. Practically speaking, those staying at BLT can easily saunter over to Contemporary's pool. That proximity isn't really there with Riviera and CBR pools.

While DVC members can pool hope widely, how much do they really? I know we never have in 12+ years -- except occasionally the Contemporary pool while at BLT. With the small number of rooms and two pools, I guess I'd be surprised if "you can hop to CBR's pool" is a big draw for anyone staying at Riviera -- DVC owner or not.

The rooftop lounge at BLT is tiny. We've been there twice since the place opened. I thought the Riviera setup was to be more extensive?

Riviera is supposed to have a rooftop restaurant not just a lounge. I assume that means table service and possibly a signature one (like CA Grill). It’s not known if it will be DVC only like BLT or open to the public.

I’ve never pool hopped either in all my DVC stays. I wonder if that’s more of a local owners thing for people who have a trip where they stay in a room but don’t visit the parks. I could see maybe doing it then, but most of the pools I would consider hopping to are blacked out.

I doubt that many people will buy based on the right to hop to CBR pools, but the sales rep may mention it depending on how extensive the facilities are at the Riviera pool. CBR also has multiple pools. There is a satellite pool right next to Riviera. If someone wanted a quieter more adult pool with no water slides or kids fountains they might find that a valid option. The main pool isn’t too far either. It’s slightly further than BLT to CR.

BLT:

Riviera and CBR at the same zoom on the map:

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I remember extensive discussions on another board right after the announcement about whether it would have a full restaurant and be DVC only.

I was of the opinion that it would have to have one given its lack of deluxe anchor, and that it would make no sense to have it be DVC only. I can’t imagine people buying just because they’d have “exclusive” access to one restaurant, and why limit your ability to have the thing booked solid every day by limiting your potential customer base?

 

[xdan0920]

The refurb and expansion of offerings at CBR was for CBR guests. Contrary to speculation from a few posters on here Riviera will have its own amenities. The two will not share.

You keep saying this in such a vague way. We know Riviera will have it's own amenities. We also know they are likely to be limited in scope. Unless you are here to say that Riviera is going to have a Deluxe level quick service. Is that what you are saying?

Riviera is literally surrounded by CBR. CBR is getting a massive upgrade on the Food and Bev front at the same time Riviera is being constructed. That's not a coincidence.

 

[peter11435]

You keep saying this in such a vague way. We know Riviera will have it's own amenities. We also know they are likely to be limited in scope. Unless you are here to say that Riviera is going to have a Deluxe level quick service. Is that what you are saying?

Riviera is literally surrounded by CBR. CBR is getting a massive upgrade on the Food and Bev front at the same time Riviera is being constructed. That's not a coincidence.

Riviera will have its own quick service, table service, pool bar etc. Everything it needs to be a standalone resort.

CBR is getting the upgrades because Riviera demolished the custom house and required refitting OPR to accommodate those services. OPR was also aging and in desperate need of upgrades and was home to a failing restaurant that needed a new identity.

Nothing done at CBR was done with the intent of servicing the Riviera guests.

 

[flyerjab]

Can't figure out why this is such a huge issue in this thread. We stay at GFV and eat at Jiko in AKL, or at Trails End at the campground. Or maybe we stay at Kidani Village and eat every meal at the new offerings in DS. There is - and has been - major construction projects going on simultaneously across WDW for the last several years. The fact that Riviera is being built and CBR was refurbed might be coincidentally connected from a timeline perspective within the multitude of projects but still be considered completely separate of one another. Who cares? It is beneficial to guests staying at either location next year.

 

[HauntedPirate]

We've been owners from the beginning at BLT so know it well. Practically speaking, those staying at BLT can easily saunter over to Contemporary's pool. That proximity isn't really there with Riviera and CBR pools.

While DVC members can pool hope widely, how much do they really? I know we never have in 12+ years -- except occasionally the Contemporary pool while at BLT. With the small number of rooms and two pools, I guess I'd be surprised if "you can hop to CBR's pool" is a big draw for anyone staying at Riviera -- DVC owner or not.

The rooftop lounge at BLT is tiny. We've been there twice since the place opened. I thought the Riviera setup was to be more extensive?

Pool hopping DVC owner? *Raises hand* With 4 kids who love to swim (well, 3 now, the oldest isn't as apt to swim these days as the others, but he still will), we've pool hopped many, many times. We've even managed to pool hop at Stormalong Bay once or twice.

 

[GoofGoof]

Pool hopping DVC owner? *Raises hand* With 4 kids who love to swim (well, 3 now, the oldest isn't as apt to swim these days as the others, but he still will), we've pool hopped many, many times. We've even managed to pool hop at Stormalong Bay once or twice.

Now that I would do. When we stayed there they had the place locked down pretty good with the wrist bands.

 

[GoofGoof]

Nothing done at CBR was done with the intent of servicing the Riviera guests.

I wasn’t saying that Riviera guests could enjoy CBR as a knock on Riviera. It’s a plus in my opinion to have other options nearby. Honestly, if you told me the only counter service outside of the pool bar was at CBR I would be perfectly fine with it. Having 2 options plus an additional sit down restaurant makes it even better.

I have no inside information on why Disney did what they did at CBR, but they took rooms out and enhanced dining options. It seems to me that they at least envisioned some guests from Riviera eating there. Maybe that combined with excess guests from the gondola lines stopping in. Or maybe they plan to jack rates up when gondola opens so they wanted better food choices.

I remember extensive discussions on another board right after the announcement about whether it would have a full restaurant and be DVC only.

I was of the opinion that it would have to have one given its lack of deluxe anchor, and that it would make no sense to have it be DVC only. I can’t imagine people buying just because they’d have “exclusive” access to one restaurant, and why limit your ability to have the thing booked solid every day by limiting your potential customer base?

I can see an argument both ways and maybe there’s a compromise solution. If the restaurant is DVC only like BLT’s top of the world that makes for an exclusive offering. It will have views of both Illuminations and DHS fireworks. Guests staying there are going to want to go up there to view. The down side is there may not be enough customers to keep the place open.

The major advantage to keeping it open for everyone is you have guests a short stroll away at CBR or a quick gondola ride from AoA who could easily and conveniently eat there not to mention anyone coming in from DHS, EPCOT or Crescent Lake resorts. If it’s open to the public it will fill up much easier and be a financial success. The down side is guests at the hotel may have to deal with crowds in the lobby, more riders at their gondola stop and lack of availability for them, especially for fireworks viewing.

I think a good compromise would be to open the restaurant to all but only if you are seated at a table. No stragglers just standing around waiting for foreworks. You would just check in in the lobby and they wouldn’t let you up the elevator without a reservation. Similar to CA Grill. Then have an outdoor patio area like BLT that’s open to DVC members only. This way you please DVC members with an exclusive spot but still keep the restaurant open and profitable. Win/win for everyone.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Now that I would do. When we stayed there they had the place locked down pretty good with the wrist bands.

We got wrist bands and weren't staying there, we did not know anyone who was, and we did not know any of the CMs working there. I can't say more, but it's possible.

I'm now curious as to what the Riviera pools will be like. Personally, I'd love another "destination" pool like Stormalong Bay, but I doubt anything even remotely close to that will be built, at least under Iger and/or Chapek.

 

[nickys]

We got wrist bands and weren't staying there, we did not know anyone who was, and we did not know any of the CMs working there. I can't say more, but it's possible.

I'm now curious as to what the Riviera pools will be like. Personally, I'd love another "destination" pool like Stormalong Bay, but I doubt anything even remotely close to that will be built, at least under Iger and/or Chapek.

We kinda know what the pools will be like, they can be seen on the aerial photos of the resort. No SAB-like pools for Riviera.

The original (2011 ?) plans for the “River Country” resort showed a lazy river. Whether they keep those plans is anyone’s guess, but I think some kind of nod to the site’s history wrt the pool area would be a nice touch. Here’s hoping anyway.

 

[GoofGoof]

We got wrist bands and weren't staying there, we did not know anyone who was, and we did not know any of the CMs working there. I can't say more, but it's possible.

I'm now curious as to what the Riviera pools will be like. Personally, I'd love another "destination" pool like Stormalong Bay, but I doubt anything even remotely close to that will be built, at least under Iger and/or Chapek.

It won’t be that epic, but there’s plenty of room there to make an above average pool area with slide(s), pool bar and kids play area.

 

[Bocabear]

It won’t be that epic, but there’s plenty of room there to make an above average pool area with slide(s), pool bar and kids play area.

It will surely be as basic as they can get away with...I think the era of amazing destination pools is long past... With the exception of Stormalong Bay and the Polynesian pools, all of the Disney Resort pools are fairly basic...I would think people would expect more...

 

[GoofGoof]

It will surely bne as basic as they can get away with...I think the era of amazing destination pools is long past... With the exception of Stormalong Bay and the Polynesian pools, all of the Disney Resort pools are fairly basic...I would think people would expect more...

There’s a lot of ground between what they have at Beach Club and being as basic as they can get. I’m sure the actual result will fall somewhere in the middle. This is an all DVC resort so the owners do need to pay for upkeep of the pool area through maintenance fees. They should certainly have all of the amenities that makes a pool area fun for the whole family but it won’t likely be over the top elaborate. I could be pleasantly surprised and due to the resort having a French Riviera beach inspired theme maybe there will be extra focus on the pool area.

 

[correcaminos]

Now that I would do. When we stayed there they had the place locked down pretty good with the wrist bands.

The only time we haven't been checked was when it was really cold out. Like in the 50s. We had the pool to ourselves. I was wrapped in towels on the side though watching my guys play LOL

 

[Rteetz]