Ready to buy, push me over the edge

[CastAStone]

...but looks nothing like any other Disney hotel. Hence the criticism.

amorphous “Italian” theme...portofino bay with less amenities.

topolino had decent food. But looks like an 80’s wedding factory. I bet most don’t even realize the “observation deck” is on the wrong side? It looks at caribbean.

the Guady RR sign in lights is a nice touch too

minor details.

it’s got a “what New Yorkers want...we think?” Kinda feel to it. Like a place in Naples (Fl) or Central Park south. Couldn’t shake that.

rooms seemed to be larger than recent DVC...bland...but an improvement there.

I said about 2 years ago I would wait to pass judgement on the construction. Now I’ve seen it.

the idea was awful...as is the price and the restrictive policy torpedoing the longterm value of it. But I wasn’t gonna comment more till I gave it a shot. Not likely to stay there. If the points were equivalent with the moderate grounds it was built on...then maybe. But the amenities aren’t there.

But I tend to be an optimist

I do happen to like the design of the hotel. But even if I didn’t, “theme” is mostly irrelevant to me. Other than Animal Kingdom, I really don’t like the theming at any Disney resort. The worst, IMO, are Beach Club (pastel Holiday Inn with the blandest smallest rooms), BLT (90’s small city apartment building with tiny cheap feeling rooms), Grand Floridian (feels like someone tried to add superficial elegance on top of a Marriott).

To me, Riviera is a very nice hotel, large well appointed rooms, beautiful artwork through out, with inspiration and touches from Europe. I certainly don’t “feel like I’m in the French Riviera”... but I don’t “feel like I’m in Hawaii at the Poly” either, just feels like a Disney hotel with some Hawaiian decoration. (Though I do like Poly... if they had 1-2 bedrooms and it was the same price as Riviera, then I might have purchased at Poly.)

To each their own. I’m going to see Riviera in person in 2 weeks but I’ll never own there because of the point chart. The value isn’t there for me. If you love it, and are ok with all of the financial things, good for you. My neighbor owns an Infiniti that I think is overpriced and ugly but I’m sure he’s thrilled with his purchase and I’m not going to tell him he’s wrong.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

To each their own. I’m going to see Riviera in person in 2 weeks but I’ll never own there because of the point chart.

That's how I feel about the Poly. That points chart is terrifying. Nobody has enough points for the Bungalows so everyone is competing for a single room type. And if Disney ever decided to attempt to balance the demand by shifting points around, those studio nights could end up even more expensive than they already are.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

*whispers*
go to aulani

still with that?

obsessing about “Disney’s Oahu” is a cute schtick...I’ll give you that

can’t wait to see your new suit on Friday...by the way

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

That's how I feel about the Poly. That points chart is terrifying. Nobody has enough points for the Bungalows so everyone is competing for a single room type. And if Disney ever decided to attempt to balance the demand by shifting points around, those studio nights could end up even more expensive than they already are.

poly is “an experiment”...the bungalows weren’t meant to stay in...just flood the point pool and sell contracts. The studios were easy to rent.

points are still too high...but bay lake plowed the road there.
Don’t love the retrofit of 1970 built hotels...but that’s just me.

I fully believe the old internet rumors that they were gonna build a tower behind the TTC for the 1s and 2s...

the renovations to the ceremonial house do nothing to deter me from that belief still.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I do happen to like the design of the hotel. But even if I didn’t, “theme” is mostly irrelevant to me. Other than Animal Kingdom, I really don’t like the theming at any Disney resort. The worst, IMO, are Beach Club (pastel Holiday Inn with the blandest smallest rooms), BLT (90’s small city apartment building with tiny cheap feeling rooms), Grand Floridian (feels like someone tried to add superficial elegance on top of a Marriott).

To me, Riviera is a very nice hotel, large well appointed rooms, beautiful artwork through out, with inspiration and touches from Europe. I certainly don’t “feel like I’m in the French Riviera”... but I don’t “feel like I’m in Hawaii at the Poly” either, just feels like a Disney hotel with some Hawaiian decoration. (Though I do like Poly... if they had 1-2 bedrooms and it was the same price as Riviera, then I might have purchased at Poly.)

to each their own...

but what you’re supporting is what Disney has been doing with wilderness lodge deux and riviera: upscale chain.

its ok...the Loews universal hotels are much the same...they are nice. But not the same feel.

Royal pacific reminded me of riviera: not very pacific but very Marriott. Can’t compare to DAKL. Or wilderness...where the lobby is still amazing after 28 years...and the courtyard...then you run into a hard stop in the north/east wing. “Best of both worlds” to an accountant in Anaheim.

again...times change. I wouldn’t have bought Saratoga...but beach club was out and it was a year before DAK and Bay Lake were announced.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I'm with you on Riviera, but I have to say.... having just spent a week at Caribbean Beach, the Skyliner is freaking awesome. I can see that being a huge selling point for many people. But yeah, it feels like the kind of place you go because it's what your rich mother-in-law likes and she's paying for the trip so you have no choice.

oh I do like skyliner...it doesn’t change that riviera is built on the customs house (where I worked in the GM office...hint: I know where the bodies are buried)...but I do like the skyliner.

we stayed at AoA for two nights (for my daughter...first time.) and boardwalk for a week. That’s why I spent a decent amount of time snooping around riviera.

it’s a nice hotel. But that’s all it is. It felt more like a cruise ship clientele than the Disney “old timers” at boardwalk or old key west.

it wasn’t “broke”...but you can break it.

 

[havoc315]

*whispers*
go to aulani

that’s actually my plan summer 2022 of I can get 7 month availability. 2-3 nights Aulani, 5-6 nights in Maui.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

still with that?

obsessing about “Disney’s Oahu” is a cute schtick...I’ll give you that

I love it so much. The way some people feel about Tokyo DisneySea, Disney Cruise Line, or the 1982 version of Epcot, that's how I feel about Aulani. And it bums me out that so few people get to experience it because they're afraid of the scary-long (and scary-expensive) flight.

can’t wait to see your new suit on Friday...by the way

I don't get it.

that’s actually my plan summer 2022 of I can get 7 month availability. 2-3 nights Aulani, 5-6 nights in Maui.

People reeeeally don't like paying for the view at Aulani, which strikes me as silly because it's one resort where the premium view really makes a difference. If you have the points for Ocean View, you shouldn't have any trouble with availability. Even Island Garden and Poolside Garden views should be fine if you only need 2-3 nights.

 

[havoc315]

To each their own. I’m going to see Riviera in person in 2 weeks but I’ll never own there because of the point chart. The value isn’t there for me. If you love it, and are ok with all of the financial things, good for you. My neighbor owns an Infiniti that I think is overpriced and ugly but I’m sure he’s thrilled with his purchase and I’m not going to tell him he’s wrong.

Point chart is slightly better than Grand Floridian and Poly.
But the thing to remember, "point chart" is really just "price."
Yes -- BWV has the "best point chart" in the sense that it is 1 of the cheapest. It's also 1 of the cheapest resorts. Points are giving you a similar value whether you stay at BWV, GFV or Riviera... Just cheaper resorts also have lower point charts.
When you break it down in terms of a per point value, it becomes pretty similar across resorts. (the bigger difference becomes room type).

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don't get it.

I’ll talk to you on Saturday

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Point chart is slightly better than Grand Floridian and Poly.
But the thing to remember, "point chart" is really just "price."
Yes -- BWV has the "best point chart" in the sense that it is 1 of the cheapest. It's also 1 of the cheapest resorts. Points are giving you a similar value whether you stay at BWV, GFV or Riviera... Just cheaper resorts also have lower point charts.
When you break it down in terms of a per point value, it becomes pretty similar across resorts. (the bigger difference becomes room type).

Boardwalk is by far the best value in terms of points-cost-per-night-per-dollar-of-rack-rate. Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek are the worst. Everything else is sort of clumped up in the middle.

I don't have enough data to factor Riviera into the same analysis yet.

 

[havoc315]

to each their own...

but what you’re supporting is what Disney has been doing with wilderness lodge deux and riviera: upscale chain.

What I'm supporting? It's not a political position. I'm "supporting" what I like. I prefer upscale over shtick.
Though I don't find Riviera to be "upscale chain" at all. I do find it to be a moderately upscale Disney-ish hotel.

its ok...the Loews universal hotels are much the same...they are nice. But not the same feel.

Royal pacific reminded me of riviera: not very pacific but very Marriott. Can’t compare to DAKL. Or wilderness...where the lobby is still amazing after 28 years...

From what I've seen, I love the lobbies at WL and AKV, but the beauty of the lobby is pretty low on my list of priorities.
Location crosses both WL and AKV off my list.
AKV: studio sizes 365 sf. CCV: studios only 338 sf.
Riviera: studio -- 423 sf.
So room size trumps the lobby.. Spend a lot more time in the room than in the lobby.

Location: AKV, buses every where. CCV - buses to most locations, boat to MK.
Riviera: Skyliner to 2 parks and to Boardwalk area. I'll take the Riviera.

Dining: Animal Kingdom wins, Riviera second. But I dislike all the dining at Wilderness Lodge. I liked the old Artist's Point, before it became a character meal.

And throw in my wife's perspective -- She hates dark wood decor, theming, etc. So she vetoes Animal Kingdom and Wilderness Lodge. (She also would have vetoed Poly for that reason).

Honestly, Riviera has so many strengths, so many advantages over most if not all other resorts, and it has a lot of huge fans..
But then there is this segment that seems to have an irrational hate for it, triggered by the semi-generic architecture and re-sale restrictions. To me, the theming of BLT is far far worse, but it doesn't seem to trigger the same type of hatred.

and the courtyard...then you run into a hard stop in the north/east wing. “Best of both worlds” to an accountant in Anaheim.

again...times change. I wouldn’t have bought Saratoga...but beach club was out and it was a year before DAK and Bay Lake were announced.

If those were the options -- SSR, BCV, DAK and BLT... I just wouldn't have purchased DVC. SSR has zero appeal to me.
BCV is a great location, but I'd only stay there with kids of a certain age (7-12ish) for the pool. The other problem is they stuck the DVC is the least desirable part of the property -- You really don't have any rooms with great views.
DAK -- I wouldn't mind staying there on occasion but the location knocks it off my list for ownership. (and my wife would veto it for the dark wood).
BLT -- location is the ONLY good thing about it. And even that -- there are some standard rooms at Riviera that have a better view than the BLT theme park view rooms. A premium theme park view that is primarily parking lot!?!?! Pools are awful. No dining really at BLT, everything is across the way at the Contemporary. Rooms are tiny and cheap feeling. I might stay at BLT for a short MK focused trip, but solely due to the location.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Spend a lot more time in the room than in the lobby.

Really? Awake time?

Though I'll add, in Riviera's defense, the "lobby" is functionally the courtyard out back, not the ACTUAL lobby itself.

 

[havoc315]

Boardwalk is by far the best value in terms of points-cost-per-night-per-dollar-of-rack-rate. Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek are the worst. Everything else is sort of clumped up in the middle.

I don't have enough data to factor Riviera into the same analysis yet.

It's not that easy to always calculate. Especially at some resorts don't really have DVC units you can easily book for cash, while others do.

But I did just run a test for the dates of my next trip, 8/14-8/22:
Cash, BWV standard 1BR: 6414
Cash Riviera: standard 1BR: 7477
Cash GFV:
BWV points: 242 -- $26.50 per point
Riviera: 338 points -- $22.12 per point

So it appears you are correct, getting slightly better per night value out of Boardwalk.

What still makes this difficult, is differential discounts when they are released. (Boardwalk sometimes discounted more than some other resorts).

 

[havoc315]

Really? Awake time?

Though I'll add, in Riviera's defense, the "lobby" is functionally the courtyard out back, not the ACTUAL lobby itself.

Yes, awake time. I never spend any time in the hotel lobby except when I'm checking in. And now with mobile check-in, lobbies are just for passing through.

Criticizing the lobby at Riviera while also criticizing the theming is actually funny -- a small lobby is one of the most European-authentic things about Riviera, lol.

But in honesty, I like the Riviera lobby. It's attractive, functional.
Not saying I "love" the lobby... it's fine. It's not a negative to me.
If I was spending hours hanging out in lobbies, there is no question that the WL and AKL lobbies would be preferable.
But other than when passing in and out of the building, I honestly never spend any time in the lobby.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

What I'm supporting? It's not a political position. I'm "supporting" what I like. I prefer upscale over shtick.
Though I don't find Riviera to be "upscale chain" at all. I do find it to be a moderately upscale Disney-ish hotel.




From what I've seen, I love the lobbies at WL and AKV, but the beauty of the lobby is pretty low on my list of priorities.
Location crosses both WL and AKV off my list.
AKV: studio sizes 365 sf. CCV: studios only 338 sf.
Riviera: studio -- 423 sf.
So room size trumps the lobby.. Spend a lot more time in the room than in the lobby.

Location: AKV, buses every where. CCV - buses to most locations, boat to MK.
Riviera: Skyliner to 2 parks and to Boardwalk area. I'll take the Riviera.

Dining: Animal Kingdom wins, Riviera second. But I dislike all the dining at Wilderness Lodge. I liked the old Artist's Point, before it became a character meal.

And throw in my wife's perspective -- She hates dark wood decor, theming, etc. So she vetoes Animal Kingdom and Wilderness Lodge. (She also would have vetoed Poly for that reason).

Honestly, Riviera has so many strengths, so many advantages over most if not all other resorts, and it has a lot of huge fans..
But then there is this segment that seems to have an irrational hate for it, triggered by the semi-generic architecture and re-sale restrictions. To me, the theming of BLT is far far worse, but it doesn't seem to trigger the same type of hatred.



If those were the options -- SSR, BCV, DAK and BLT... I just wouldn't have purchased DVC. SSR has zero appeal to me.
BCV is a great location, but I'd only stay there with kids of a certain age (7-12ish) for the pool. The other problem is they stuck the DVC is the least desirable part of the property -- You really don't have any rooms with great views.
DAK -- I wouldn't mind staying there on occasion but the location knocks it off my list for ownership. (and my wife would veto it for the dark wood).
BLT -- location is the ONLY good thing about it. And even that -- there are some standard rooms at Riviera that have a better view than the BLT theme park view rooms. A premium theme park view that is primarily parking lot!?!?! Pools are awful. No dining really at BLT, everything is across the way at the Contemporary. Rooms are tiny and cheap feeling. I might stay at BLT for a short MK focused trip, but solely due to the location.

To each their own...but you’re in your own echo chamber here...

the criticisms - not just by me on this thread - are out there.

I wonder how many people with experience with Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt in a business setting would share my opinion? Or yours?

 

[havoc315]

To each their own...but you’re in your own echo chamber here...

the criticisms - not just by me on this thread - are out there.

I wonder how many people with experience with Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt in a business setting would share my opinion? Or yours?

I know the criticisms aren’t yours alone — but recognize you’re in an echo chamber.

There are tons of people who love Riviera as well.

Yes, I’ve done Marriott and Hyatt for both business and pleasure. I’ve done authentic European hotels, I’ve done small inns and large mega resorts.
Riviera certainly isn’t my favorite resort in the universe, but it’s my favorite at Disney World.

Tell me... how many nights have you actually stayed at Riviera?

 

[CastAStone]

Point chart is slightly better than Grand Floridian and Poly.

I also wouldn’t buy those. I have my analyses done. I know what I’m interested in. What’s great is that we can disagree and there’s something for us all.

 

[havoc315]

I also wouldn’t buy those. I have my analyses done. I know what I’m interested in. What’s great is that we can disagree and there’s something for us all.

Yup..... there is no universally "right" or "wrong" resort, or everyone would be buying the same one!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Yup..... there is no universally "right" or "wrong" resort, or everyone would be buying the same one!

Except for Beach Club, those people are insane. Who's with me!?