News Disney Riviera Resort announced

[Magic Feather]

I expect a lot more towers. WDW is running out of land that they can *easily* use for new resorts. If WDW wants more sprawl, they will have to pay big bucks to buy up preservation offsets and then refurbish swampland before they even begin building.

With Riviera and Coronado, we just saw sprawled out rooms (and ancillary buildings) demolished in order to build towers. Don't see that stopping.

Just like when any small town starts to become a big city... you start building up.

Definitely, but height wise, I think Destino will remain the exception, and not the rule.

 

[Flynnwriter]

The Riviera is Disney World’s biggest failure and eyesore of a hotel. Like California Adventure, Studios Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland, it will be a touchstone of when Disney stopped being Disney and did it on the cheap.

 

[britain]

The Riviera is Disney World’s biggest failure and eyesore of a hotel. Like California Adventure, Studios Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland, it will be a touchstone of when Disney stopped being Disney and did it on the cheap.

Ahem, Swan & Dolphin! Hello!

 

[MisterPenguin]

The Riviera is Disney World’s biggest failure and eyesore of a hotel. Like California Adventure, Studios Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland, it will be a touchstone of when Disney stopped being Disney and did it on the cheap.

Ahem, Swan & Dolphin! Hello!

This is the first I've ever heard of Swolphin being "cheap".

Got a source for that?

 

[JoeCamel]

This is the first I've ever heard of Swolphin being "cheap".

Got a source for that?

Cheaper than the Dis places around it

 

[DVCakaCarlF]

There’s a lot to unpack and respond to here, haha. I even transferred my laptop for this.

A lot of modern, luxury hotels rely on upscale materials and minimalist design in order to convey their sense of value. This is usually met with a crazy roster of activities and top notch service to meet it. And, while these resorts usually are minimalist, they still have some sense of architectural balance and a sense of place. Now that we have our expectations, let's go down the line to see how Riviera would not meet buyer's standards.
1) Upscale Materials- Riviera looks relatively cheap inside and out, with the most "upscale" areas being the lobby tile and Voyager's Lounge
2) Minimalist Design- THis one Riviera kind of gets, but its minimalist design fails on architectural balance which we'll get too in a second.
3) Crazy Roster of Activities- I'll give Riviera credit for pretty much nailing their dining slate, but their pools leave a bit to be desired (even by guests).
4) Top Notch Service- As great as Disney's service is compared to most of the world, Riviera is no Four Seasons
5)Arch. Balance and Sense of Space- This is where Riviera fails the most. For starters, this building attempts to mimick the architecture of the French Riviera, but instead of following that theory of architecture (like how the GF follows the style format of Victorian architecture) is instead maps closer to Sullivan’s Skyscraper theory (like GF’s DVC) in which the ornamentation is almost entirely limited to the top and bottom floors, while the middle is full of constant, simple, repeated ornamentation. By following this style, Riviera has a disproportionate roof compared to its supposed inspiration, and loads of blank areas that lack texture. While most guests may not articulate it like that, there is feedback that indicates many guests find the exterior to be bland. As for sense of space, they awkwardly plopped this down on the banks of Caribbean Beach, which is a stylistically very different resort. Riviera guests have complained about seeing CBR and CBR guests have complained about seeing Riviera, largely because they are incredible close and they clash. There is a reason why Poly and GF have a bunch of transition room, and why places without transition room (Art/Pop and Yacht/Beach/Boardwalk) all make a conscious effort to blend with similar influence. The only “theme” these two resorts have in common is the water, and even the shorelines/way they connect to the water are different.


Your right about location being a priority, which is why Port Orleans is super safe. And the non-DVC side of Disney absolutely wants DVC building stuff from the ground up so non-DVC resorts can piggy back off of it. Think about DVC paying a disproportionate amount of the Reflections or Skyliner bills when both were mixed use.

Admittedly, I was going off of late 2019 numbers, so if it had a spike in early 2020 then good for it (shrugs). A lot of the complaints I brought up earlier were a reason for poorer sales. Funnily enough, the Skyliner is what has been proppig up interest in the resort. Guest satisfaction for it has been crazy high.

I know @pheneix popularized the notion that the Poly tower was next on the agenda before Poly's refurb was scaled back, but I have confirmed with two unrelated people that Poly tower was not even close to next. In fact, it was an older proposal, that none of us had heard of since 2015 that didn't appear to be up for recycling any time soon.

Next on the agenda (for refurb definitely and I think DVC, but I'm less sure on that one) was Grand Flo 2: Electric Boogaloo, but because the NBA already has the Grand Flo staffed, they plan to leave it open (Disney doesn't want to reclose resorts, as I've already brought up, or else Yacht would not have reopened and Coronado wouldn't reopen). So, if they wanted to leave a deluxe closed, their options were down to non-DVC Beach Club, Non-DVC Wilderness, and Non-DVC Poly, all of which were pushed indefinitely. So, since Wilderness just wrapped a light refurb of its non-DVC wing (or maybe it's already in progress?), and so did Beach Club, only Poly was left to receive a refurb while staying closed. Personally, I don't think we would have seen this Poly refurb until post-50th if COVID hadn't happened.

Eh... that's generous to Riviera imo. I’d compare it’s style of theming you something more out of Pigeon Forge or Branson than Vegas (at least there they lean into the skyscraper aspect).

Great post and your ability to write complete sentences is appreciated.

 

[britain]

This is the first I've ever heard of Swolphin being "cheap".

Got a source for that?

Cheap, no. Eyesore, yes.

 

[easyrowrdw]

There’s a lot to unpack and respond to here, haha. I even transferred my laptop for this.

A lot of modern, luxury hotels rely on upscale materials and minimalist design in order to convey their sense of value. This is usually met with a crazy roster of activities and top notch service to meet it. And, while these resorts usually are minimalist, they still have some sense of architectural balance and a sense of place. Now that we have our expectations, let's go down the line to see how Riviera would not meet buyer's standards.
1) Upscale Materials- Riviera looks relatively cheap inside and out, with the most "upscale" areas being the lobby tile and Voyager's Lounge
2) Minimalist Design- THis one Riviera kind of gets, but its minimalist design fails on architectural balance which we'll get too in a second.
3) Crazy Roster of Activities- I'll give Riviera credit for pretty much nailing their dining slate, but their pools leave a bit to be desired (even by guests).
4) Top Notch Service- As great as Disney's service is compared to most of the world, Riviera is no Four Seasons
5)Arch. Balance and Sense of Space- This is where Riviera fails the most. For starters, this building attempts to mimick the architecture of the French Riviera, but instead of following that theory of architecture (like how the GF follows the style format of Victorian architecture) is instead maps closer to Sullivan’s Skyscraper theory (like GF’s DVC) in which the ornamentation is almost entirely limited to the top and bottom floors, while the middle is full of constant, simple, repeated ornamentation. By following this style, Riviera has a disproportionate roof compared to its supposed inspiration, and loads of blank areas that lack texture. While most guests may not articulate it like that, there is feedback that indicates many guests find the exterior to be bland. As for sense of space, they awkwardly plopped this down on the banks of Caribbean Beach, which is a stylistically very different resort. Riviera guests have complained about seeing CBR and CBR guests have complained about seeing Riviera, largely because they are incredible close and they clash. There is a reason why Poly and GF have a bunch of transition room, and why places without transition room (Art/Pop and Yacht/Beach/Boardwalk) all make a conscious effort to blend with similar influence. The only “theme” these two resorts have in common is the water, and even the shorelines/way they connect to the water are different.

Thank you for the detailed reply. I really appreciate the insight.

 

[Heppenheimer]

5)Arch. Balance and Sense of Space- This is where Riviera fails the most. For starters, this building attempts to mimick the architecture of the French Riviera, but instead of following that theory of architecture (like how the GF follows the style format of Victorian architecture) is instead maps closer to Sullivan’s Skyscraper theory

This was the most disappointing aspect of the resort to me. The French Riviera could have provided so many wonderful design examples for inspiration. Having been to the actual Riviera, almost nothing about Disney's hotel evokes that region's distinct architecture. It looks practically interchangeable with any business-class hotel elsewhere in Florida. Nothing against business-class hotels, but I don't go to Disney to stay in a Hyatt or Hilton.

 

[Bocabear]

Cheap, no. Eyesore, yes.

Actually it is original architect from a very famous architect and designer...A post modernist architectural fantasy, designed to be a little shocking and stand out from everything else around it...Yes, 30 years after their debut they may seem a bit dated in ways, but still amazing to see in their uniqueness and jaw dropping scale...
The style may not be your cup of tea, but every ground breaking architect's vision faced criticism... Parisians hated the modern Eiffel Tower, Frank Lloyd Wright's work was considered shocking when it was new... Michael Graves and Frank Gehry's architecture is unique and fascinating...and like a lot of things, may feel dated in the moment (now) but history will see them differently... And really, do you want another plain box tower with minimal decor further cheapening the groundbreaking architectural legacy of Walt Disney World?

 

[Notes from Neverland]

The Riviera seems to miss the mark across the board. We aren't DVC, but we have checked out regular pricing for guests. There isn't anything that draws us there outside of the Disney Skyliner access, which is a feature found at more affordable properties. There just isn't an allure to stay there for us compared to other resorts. When your arguably best feature isn't even a feature of the resort itself, there's some big problems.

 

[britain]

Actually it is original architect from a very famous architect and designer...A post modernist architectural fantasy, designed to be a little shocking and stand out from everything else around it...Yes, 30 years after their debut they may seem a bit dated in ways, but still amazing to see in their uniqueness and jaw dropping scale...
The style may not be your cup of tea, but every ground breaking architect's vision faced criticism... Parisians hated the modern Eiffel Tower, Frank Lloyd Wright's work was considered shocking when it was new... Michael Graves and Frank Gehry's architecture is unique and fascinating...and like a lot of things, may feel dated in the moment (now) but history will see them differently... And really, do you want another plain box tower with minimal decor further cheapening the groundbreaking architectural legacy of Walt Disney World?

Oh I know all about Michael Graves. And the Swan and Dolphin would’ve been fine anywhere that doesn’t intrude on the Epcot skyline.

 

[Heppenheimer]

Actually it is original architect from a very famous architect and designer...A post modernist architectural fantasy, designed to be a little shocking and stand out from everything else around it...Yes, 30 years after their debut they may seem a bit dated in ways, but still amazing to see in their uniqueness and jaw dropping scale...
The style may not be your cup of tea, but every ground breaking architect's vision faced criticism... Parisians hated the modern Eiffel Tower, Frank Lloyd Wright's work was considered shocking when it was new... Michael Graves and Frank Gehry's architecture is unique and fascinating...and like a lot of things, may feel dated in the moment (now) but history will see them differently... And really, do you want another plain box tower with minimal decor further cheapening the groundbreaking architectural legacy of Walt Disney World?

On the other hand, some styles that were considered ground-breaking in their day are now despised, like Brutalism and some of Le Corbusier's ideas for urban planning (ie, nobody goes to Paris to see the suburbs beyond Le Perpherique).

 

[lazyboy97o]

On the other hand, some styles that were considered ground-breaking in their day are now despised, like Brutalism and some of Le Corbusier's ideas for urban planning (ie, nobody goes to Paris to see the suburbs beyond Le Perpherique).

Regards towards styles tends to be cyclical. Brutalism is starting to be a bit more appreciated. Modernist urban planning was generally just bad and will hopefully not be revived.

 

[Bocabear]

On the other hand, some styles that were considered ground-breaking in their day are now despised, like Brutalism and some of Le Corbusier's ideas for urban planning (ie, nobody goes to Paris to see the suburbs beyond Le Perpherique).

Those movements are still highly regarded in art circles...and is still considered a genius.. Tourist visiting Paris usually want to see La Belle Epoch everywhere... But Corbusier wasn't designing to attract tourists, but as expressions of art and design...
Graves buildings were designed with a playful colorful aesthetic and a massive scale...Meant to be eye catching and a bit provocative...I remember in the 90s thinking the old Tomorrowland looked stale...Amazing how years later we yearn for that and see the genius of John Hench's clean modern styling.

 

[Heppenheimer]

Those movements are still highly regarded in art circles...and is still considered a genius.. Tourist visiting Paris usually want to see La Belle Epoch everywhere... But Corbusier wasn't designing to attract tourists, but as expressions of art and design...
Graves buildings were designed with a playful colorful aesthetic and a massive scale...Meant to be eye catching and a bit provocative...I remember in the 90s thinking the old tomorrowland looked stale...Amazing how years later we yearn for that and see the genius of John Henchman's clean modern styling.

OK, let me rephrase that... the suburbs outside of Le Perpherique aren't exactly desirable real estate for residential living either.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Tourist visiting Paris usually want to see La Belle Epoch everywhere... But Corbusier wasn't designing to attract tourists, but as expressions of art and design...

Plan Voisin would have torn that sort of stuff down for rows of towers like a New York City housing project.

 

[DCBaker]

"To help mark the resort’s first anniversary, Disney Vacation Club commissioned The LEGO Group to create a spectacular model of Disney’s Riviera Resort, created in consultation with Disney Imagineers who helped bring the resort to life.

LEGO Master Model Builders spent more than 300 hours designing and assembling the intricately detailed model, which weighs in at 100 pounds and contains more than 45,000 LEGO elements. The model includes many of the resort’s most distinctive features, including miniature recreations of the Disney Skyliner transportation system, the resort’s feature pool and waterslide, and its signature “RR” monogram.

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse were among the first to admire the model’s faithful details (even seeing themselves depicted outside the Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera rooftop restaurant) when the 84-inch-by-66-inch sculpture made a brief appearance at Disney’s Riviera Resort. "

Disney’s Riviera Resort Celebrates First Anniversary, Unveils LEGO Model

To help mark the resort’s first anniversary, Disney Vacation Club commissioned The LEGO Group to create a spectacular model of Disney’s Riviera Resort, created in consultation with Disney Imagineers who helped bring the resort to life.

disneyparks.disney.go.com

 

[Seanual757]

View attachment 519165

"To help mark the resort’s first anniversary, Disney Vacation Club commissioned The LEGO Group to create a spectacular model of Disney’s Riviera Resort, created in consultation with Disney Imagineers who helped bring the resort to life.

LEGO Master Model Builders spent more than 300 hours designing and assembling the intricately detailed model, which weighs in at 100 pounds and contains more than 45,000 LEGO elements. The model includes many of the resort’s most distinctive features, including miniature recreations of the Disney Skyliner transportation system, the resort’s feature pool and waterslide, and its signature “RR” monogram.

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse were among the first to admire the model’s faithful details (even seeing themselves depicted outside the Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera rooftop restaurant) when the 84-inch-by-66-inch sculpture made a brief appearance at Disney’s Riviera Resort. "

View attachment 519166

Disney’s Riviera Resort Celebrates First Anniversary, Unveils LEGO Model

To help mark the resort’s first anniversary, Disney Vacation Club commissioned The LEGO Group to create a spectacular model of Disney’s Riviera Resort, created in consultation with Disney Imagineers who helped bring the resort to life.

disneyparks.disney.go.com

Very cool so glad we added this property to our portfolio we love it. The Lego model is too cool

 

[RSoxNo1]

View attachment 519165

"To help mark the resort’s first anniversary, Disney Vacation Club commissioned The LEGO Group to create a spectacular model of Disney’s Riviera Resort, created in consultation with Disney Imagineers who helped bring the resort to life.

LEGO Master Model Builders spent more than 300 hours designing and assembling the intricately detailed model, which weighs in at 100 pounds and contains more than 45,000 LEGO elements. The model includes many of the resort’s most distinctive features, including miniature recreations of the Disney Skyliner transportation system, the resort’s feature pool and waterslide, and its signature “RR” monogram.

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse were among the first to admire the model’s faithful details (even seeing themselves depicted outside the Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera rooftop restaurant) when the 84-inch-by-66-inch sculpture made a brief appearance at Disney’s Riviera Resort. "

View attachment 519166

Disney’s Riviera Resort Celebrates First Anniversary, Unveils LEGO Model

To help mark the resort’s first anniversary, Disney Vacation Club commissioned The LEGO Group to create a spectacular model of Disney’s Riviera Resort, created in consultation with Disney Imagineers who helped bring the resort to life.

disneyparks.disney.go.com

There were more Skyliner gondolas, but there was an incident.