Disney's Riviera Resort is the newest Disney Vacation Club (DVC) location in Walt Disney World. Opening December 2019, it is conveniently located between Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. For our trip in January we decided to try this new resort and loved every minute of it - here is why…
#1 - Lush architecture, landscape and decor that harkens back to Walt’s Riviera
Walt Disney enjoyed the magic of Europe and the Mediterranean. Disney’s Riviera Resort is designed to capture the Riviera that Walt fell in love with long ago. As you approach the resort you are welcomed home in a grand manner. You see influences of Europe and the Mediterranean in the archways, the majestic towers, and palm trees lining the boulevard. Faint details remind you that this is a Disney resort, like the hidden Mickeys in the ceiling of the portico and the main lobby ceiling.
The lobby furnishings are a mix of both modern and classic 20th-Century furniture. The art enthusiasts will be pleased to find an art collection highlighting Disney Characters in a style that is influenced by master artists from the European Riviera.
La Boutique, the resort's souvenir shop adjacent to the entrance, sports many items unique to the resort and its offerings. From plush figures, Loungefly bags, and shirts to pins and an on-demand print machine, the small shop has much to offer.
The Voyageur's Lounge, located off the main lobby, features decor inspired by Walt’s travels to Europe. Giving you the feeling that you are in Walt’s private den, there are a variety of books lining the walls and ample space to relax or catch up on emails.
The property surrounding the resort continues the ambiance and feel of the Riviera with beautiful landscaping and gardens, pool, majestic fountains, gym, a bocce ball court and life-size chess board.
#2 - Luxurious Styled Rooms
Disney’s Riviera Resort has a variety of room options for you to choose from - Deluxe Studios, 1-Bedroom Villas, 2-Bedroom Villas, 3-Bedroom Grand Villas, Tower Studios, and Deluxe Studios. In January, we stayed in a 1-Bedroom Villa on the 4th floor. Take a look at the video below as we navigate to and throughout our room.
What struck us was the theming in the hallways, elevator spaces, and within the room. Everywhere you looked, there was a touch of Disney with an elegant and artistic flair.
The Riviera influences were apparent in the styling of the room. There was a subtle touch of Disney too through works including Tiana, Remy, Mickey and Minnie and characters from 'Beauty and the Beast.' The color choices in the decor were soft and relaxing.
The room had all the usual amenities other DVC’s include (fully equipped kitchen, washer and dryer, separate shower and tub, etc.). However, the layout seemed more logical to us than what we had seen at Disney's Saratoga Springs (see our review of Saratoga Springs on this site).
The bathroom was luxurious and gave us the feeling that we were in a super high-end hotel.
The kitchen had stainless steel appliances, a sink, cutlery, dish-ware, coffee maker (with select Joffrey's mixes), tea, and a very comfortable bench and chair set up surrounding a wooden table.
The living room area included a Murphy bed, which, when pulled down, uncovered a painted scene from 'Peter Pan.' There were charging stations and little nooks on the sides of the pull down for storing personal items. The coffee table opened for additional storage, as did the ottomans.
The bedroom was spacious, with lots of room for storing clothes and personal items in both the dresser and closet. Again, understated touches of Disney were included, with hidden Mickeys in the headboard, Rapunzel's suns in the pillow, and 'The Aristocats' making an appearance in the painting closest to the window.
#3 - Sumptuous Dining Options
There are several onsite options for dining, with menus inspired by the Italian and French Riviera.
If you are looking for a quick bite to eat before leaving the hotel to rope drop Hollywood Studios, then Le Petit Cafe is for you. You can choose from a variety of coffees or lattes and grab a muffin, cupcake or two! The cupcake above was DELISH!
Looking for a quick service breakfast, lunch or dinner? Then Primo Piatto is a good choice. Conveniently located at the back of the resort on the first floor, this quick-service trattoria serves up hot food as well as grab-and-go options. While we ordered in person, this location offers the Mobile Order option from the My Disney Experience app. In the dining area, you'll find photographic glimpses into Walt's adventures in the Riviera adorning the walls. We took a look at these as we waited for our to-go dinner which was packaged in a special Minnie Eats + Treats bag.
The shining star of cuisine for the resort is Topolino's Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera, which offers French and Italian cuisine, along with unbelievable rooftop views. The restaurant takes its name from the Italian name for Mickey Mouse. This beautiful restaurant is on the 10th floor of the resort and offers Breakfast a la Art with Mickey & Friends (see our separate review of this dining experience on this site).
Topolino’s dinner options include fresh, delicious seafood and meat dishes, handmade pasta and desserts infused with French and Italian flavors. While we did not have dinner at Topolino's, we can imagine that the views of the nearby nighttime shows at Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios would be spectacular.
#4 - Skyliner Access
The Riviera is the first newly-constructed resort to be served by the new Disney Skyliner gondola system. The Disney Skyliner gondolas travel from select resorts to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Take a walk with us after disembarking the Skyliner, walking back to the lobby and resort store in the video tour below.
With the addition of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios and the upcoming EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival, having quick and easy access to these parks is a great perk! If nothing else, you should go see the amazing tile mosaics of 'Tangled' and 'Peter Pan' in the archway before reaching the Skyliner. It is breathtaking!
#5 - Benefits of staying at a Walt Disney World Resort
Like other resorts on property, staying a Disney’s Riviera Resort provides those magical extras like other Disney World resorts, such as Extra Magic Hours, early access to Disney's FastPass+, complimentary Resort transportation, and complimentary airport transportation.
As with all Disney resort hotels, there are plenty of activities to do at the hotel for non-park days. One we tried was a scavenger hunt throughout the resort.
The map is available at the DVC desk in the lobby. We were tasked with finding different artworks throughout the resort. This way a great way to learn more about what the resort offers and to get your bearings for traveling to and from the resort.
Returning the completed map to the DVC desk we received a print of the resort - a great memento of the trip and definitely worthy of framing!
Even waiting for the Magical Express back to the airport had an extension of the resort's theming. As we stood by the benches, sadly waiting for our motor coach to arrive and conclude our trip, we heard some of our favorite songs from various Disney films sung in French and Italian. It sure made the end of our trip special!
Overall, Disney's Riviera Resort transports you to a high-end, elegant space inspired by Walt's love of the region.
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