Disney Riviera Resort Coming to Disney World
The 15th DVC property will be Disney’s Riviera Resort, which will be added to Walt Disney World’s new Skyliner gondola line, adjacent to Caribbean Beach, a Moderate tier hotel. This new Disney Vacation Club property is currently being built, and work appears ahead of schedule. (Last updated April 26, 2019.)
With Disney’s Riviera Resort slated to open in December 2019, a lot of work remains to be done both inside and outside the resort. However, we were able to see the finished rooms in April 2019, and share the experience in our new Photo Tour of Disney’s Riviera Resort Rooms from our walk-through of the studio and 1-bedroom units. Suffice to say, these rooms look better in person than Disney’s concept art.
The other big news is that Disney’s Riviera Resort is now accepting bookings for December 2019! As you can see in our New Details & Reservation Info for Disney’s Riviera Resort, images of the guest rooms, lobby, and rooftop restaurant have all been released. Walt Disney World has released a ton of new info and images, so be sure to check out that post! We also discuss the resort’s style (similar to Four Seasons Orlando), price points, and new category of rooms exclusive to the Rivera Resort.
For more on the current status of the project, check out our latest construction update of Disney’s Riviera Resort. Our Re-Imagined Caribbean Beach Resort post is also a good look at how the “sister” hotel to Disney’s Riviera Resort has improved its amenities.
You can also take a look at our Disney Skyliner Gondola Update, which shows how the Riviera’s biggest selling point–gondola transportation to Disney’s Hollywood Studios–is coming along. Now, for the official details that have been announced about Disney’s Riviera Resort…
Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, announced the next planned development during the D23 Expo, and shared a few details and concept art for the project. The main detail he shared was that the resort would feature a rooftop restaurant with views of both Epcot’s and Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ nighttime spectaculars.
Since then, Disney has announced that the Riviera is inspired by the European grandeur Walt Disney experienced in his travels along Europe’s Mediterranean coastline. Disney Riviera Resort is slated to open in Fall 2019, with approximately 300 units spread across a variety of accommodation types.
My Reaction
In case it was not clear, this is the rumored Caribbean Beach Resort Disney Vacation Club development. The one that work began on in the spring. I was a bit surprised to see this name, because I always assumed this would be called “something at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.”
My guess would be that the association of a Disney Vacation Club resort with a Moderate Resort would not sit well with a lot of DVC Members, and Disney knows this. Caribbean Beach Resort won’t be a Moderate Resort when this is all finished, and Disney Riviera Resort is likely to share at least some facilities with Caribbean Beach, but I guess it’s all about the marketing pitch.
It will be interesting to see what efforts are made to make Disney Riviera Resort and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort distinct from one another, and where they’ll share facilities–or at least encourage use of those at their “sister resort.” Previously, my assumption was that this resort would lack a feature pool on par with Fuentes del Morro Pool, and likely wouldn’t have a slate of dining options like Caribbean Beach, either.
My assumption was that this was at least partly motivating the huge refurbishments to give Caribbean Beach a more upscale waterfront area. The other part of the motivation is unquestionably the Skyliner, which will instantly elevate all of the resorts it connects in status. (This is why Caribbean Beach Resort and Pop Century are both receiving upgrades.)
As for Disney Riviera Resort itself? Eh, it’s difficult to judge on a single piece of concept art, but that art to me looks no different from what you might see for a Homewood Suites or something of that sort. It does not scream “themed” to me. Heck, it does not even whisper “themed” to me.
I worry that this is the direction Disney Vacation Club is heading, and recent room refurbishments have reflected a trend towards more generic styles. I’m not at all a fan of the changes at the Beach Club Villas, and the Boardwalk Villas have a similar problem with looking too generic for my tastes.
To be honest, I don’t know whether these generic styles are a more crowd-pleasing design as Disney Vacation Club tries to appeal to a more mainstream audience that may not necessarily care about theme in their hotel room–or are fine with light character touches and hidden Mickeys. I don’t want to generalize too much, but for some newer Disney fans, it seems that throwing a Mickey print in a picture frame makes a room themed.
Alternatively, maybe theme does matter to the bulk of Disney Vacation Club members, but these new room styles are the path of least resistance. Easier, cheaper, and without as much need for frequent updates to keep them fresh.
My bet would be that the reality is somewhere in the middle. I think Disney got a bit heavy-handed with room interior themes in the mid-2000s (the rooms at Wilderness Lodge were garish–the redesign a couple of years ago is a much better balance), and what we are now seeing is an over-correction based on guest feedback. I think a new round of guest feedback will reveal it’s now too subdued. At least, that’s my hope.
As this related to Disney Riviera Resort…it’s really too early to tell. Again, it’s just a single piece of concept art. From that and the trends in interior design, I think there are some things we can safely infer, but I’m willing to reserve further judgment until Disney Vacation Club releases more information about Disney Riviera Resort. I’m hopeful that it is themed…and themed in a way that is complimentary to its sister resort across the water.
If you’re considering joining DVC, first be sure to read our Ultimate Guide to Disney Vacation Club. If you still can’t decide whether membership is right for you, “try before you buy” and rent points from DVC Rental Store. If you are convinced a membership is for you, check out the discounted options at DVC Resale Market.
Your Thoughts
What are your thoughts about Disney Riviera Resort? Are you cautiously optimistic, disappointed, or is it too early to tell? What, if anything, do you think this new resort will share with Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort? Any questions about this new DVC development? Hearing from you is half the fun, so please share your thoughts in the comments below!
How did you know who to contact? At different hotels/restaurants. I have asked a couple times and they just give me the manager that is on at the time.
Good point and I do agree with you all as well. Disney has to remember we as DVC members could have purchased many other places, but we chose Disney because they are a step above the rest. Once you decide to look like Marriott then folks will consider owning at Marriott. Disney must always bring the magic even if it adds a little more to the cost.
I disagree with the author on one point. He said that at one time Disney went overboard on the theming. No such thing. The reason we go to Disney in the first place is to step into another world; tobkeave reality as we know it for a few days. The more theming the more the more this was accomplished and the more they were differentiated from other hotels. Want something middle of the road? Orlando has a plenty. I want to step into a fairytale or another land when I stay in property. If they can’t or stop delivering the experience, then it will be time to just get a bed and bath off property and save the expense.
I couldn’t agree with you more! I was just going to say the same thing.
The older I get the more dramatic theming I want. Why the heck go to a Disney park and expect anything less in one of their resorts.
This is terrible. Looks like a cheaply built resort without any Disney Magic.
As an owner at Kidani and Copper Creek, this does not excite me. I agree it looks like a Marriott. If I wanted to stay at a Marriott, I’d stay in one of the hotels off property over by Disney Springs. I stayed at Beach in 2017 in a renovated room and the trip was a sh$t show. The desk clerk couldn’t tell me where my room was, they didn’t have a map and it took really insisting to get any kind of direction whatsoever. As you know Beach/Yacht is a rat warren of confusing corridors so it isn’t just “get in the elevator, get off on 6 and turn left”. I had no idea where the DVC Villas were. Once I got to my room there was a hole in the wall, only 4 wire hangers, someone else’s food in the cupboard, no sheets on the bed, etc. I made an iPad slide show and sat down with the manager the next day. It took me 3 calls before I could get them to credit the difference in Kidani points to Beach points back to my account. Now I’ve never had an issue at Kidani and will be visiting CC for the first time at the end of March. I certainly hope this isn’t a trend. This isn’t what I pay for. If I didn’t live in CA, I would attend the Board meetings.
My husband and I have been waiting a long time to become DVC members and now that we finally have the opportunity I have to say I am disappointed that the Riviera will be the building for sale. Not only do I think it lacks that Disney magic (on paper anyway), but we recently stayed at the Caribbean and the new food court is absolutely awful and I cannot see paying top dollar for mediocre dining amenities?? Thoughts on whether they will have any independent dining other than roof top eating???
Also, any idea of how many people Studios will hold? Copper Creek was only four and we need to hold five???
Sitting poolside in Martinique at the Caribbean Beach at this very moment. The sights and sounds of the Riviera hotel construction is just over my shoulder. Love seeing the new progress here are Disney and looking forward to visiting the finished property. Saw the Grand Floridian going up back in ‘87 too!
We arrived at the Caribbean Beach two days prior to the Grand Opening and have to say that the place looks amazing! They’ve done a great job with theming around the resort as well as in the rooms. The staff upgraded us to a preferred room as we asked for something a bit closer to the main lobby. They’re currently changing the names of the building ‘villages’ and I believe Trinidad north and south will now be simply Trinidad and Martinique will now be Barbados.
They’re still working out the bugs in the recreation department and the marina is not yet fully operational, however the main pool is beautiful and in full swing as is the Banana Cabana poolside bar and restaurant. When we inquired about bike rentals they told us that although they don’t have that area fully ready to go, they would ‘make it work’. We decided to give it a go and a staff member gave us two fat tire bikes to use on property for a full day free of charge. Great customer service!
The only downside, as far as I see it, is the bus situation. We’ve seen similar at other moderate resorts but it does seem that they need to add additional buses to the route here. Uber has been a Solid choice for us a few times already on this trip!
I’m a DVC member @ Boardwalk, but I love, well used to love, Old Key West. I loved the charm of it. They have since refurbished and it genuinely looks horrible. The ambiance of Old Key West is gone. It looks like they went to Home Depot and got the cheapest cabinets. The tiles are a dark green and the new stuff doesn’t match. Very disappointed.
The image looks like a giant radison….
Although I am not a DVC member, I have stayed at WDW numerous times in the last few years. I have stayed in the Caribbean Beach, Beach Club & Yacht Club before and after refurbishments. I too am very disappointed in the quality and decor of the refurbishments. One main reason I stay on property is due to the uniqueness of the rooms and resorts. Now, I feel as if I have stepped into a room at a Marriott or Wyndham and the joy is very much diminished. I am sad that staying ‘on property’ is now becoming no different than staying off property in one of the classic hotel chains. I thought perhaps charging for parking and requiring purchase of park hoppers if free Disney Dining is purchased was an attempt to slow the growth of the crowds of guests, but now I may have to admit the Disney is focusing more on the dollar and not on the guest. It will no longer feel like “welcome home” to walk into a sterile, modern, and unimaginative room. I realize the Contemporary hotel is designed to be Contemporary but the rest of the resorts were built with fun and imagination that appears to be slowly evaporating.
My wife and I became DVC members in 2007. Living about a 2 hour drive from Disney World, we use DVC for mostly weekend getaways. So far, the 2 of us have logged 90 nights (see http://www.timcraig.com/disney) owning at Saratoga Springs and Bay Lake. I must say we’ve noticed a difference over the years.
Unlike some members, we don’t hesitate to notify Disney when we see or experience something that’s not up to what we think Disney standards should be because we are owners. They DO listen! We’ve received phone calls wanting to know specifics. We’ve met managers of various resorts, one in particular, gave us his cell phone number and wants us to let him know anytime we plan a stay in his resort. We’ve actually called him a couple times just to say we’d be in for the weekend. One of those weekends, he even planned a special surprise for us which we loved.
We’ve also let management know when food or service wasn’t up to what we thought it should be in a couple different resorts. They went as far as to reimburse us for the meals.
So OWNERS, be sure you speak up! After all, they work for us and heaven only knows, we are paying for those comforts and the best of treatment. Remember, as the old saying goes, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” If you say nothing, they will think all is ok.
How did you know who to contact? At different hotels/restaurants. I have asked a couple times and they just give me the manager that is on at the time.
I fully agree with this post. I have grown up vacationing with my family of DVC Members, since 2000. My expectations of quality have grown also since being a pre-teen, and I have to say that I have long ago noticed the decline in detail, and the shift being toward quantity over quality. I think it’s important to note the that numbers at the resorts have only grown since the late 90’s and early 2000’s, and maybe it just simply doesn’t pay to invest in quality when you constantly have a barn of folks. My family’s home property is Boardwalk, and I haven’t been pleased with the upkeep of it since Spoodles was a thing, and one could still purchase an oversized chocolate donut at the bakery, and there were McDonalds fry stands galore, and MGM was still MGM. Obviously, I am referring to a long ago time, but I havent cared to actually use my points in DW since 2009 or so. I noticed decline in upkeep and detail of OKW, SS, AK Kidani, & Boardwalk. I also don’t think it’s necessary to throw in a ratty sofa and a pillow with a horse from Mulan in every room. Thousands of dollars were not invested to retreat to Rooms To Go, no offense. So I am interested to see, but also am not interested to see at the same time.
It seems to me that the trend of dvc is for the mass, rather than as an upscale resort. This is rather disappointing, and is not what I expect when joining the club. I agree that for refurbishment done at Boardwalk is rather disappointment. To me, it looks like that it has not been remodeled for a while. They should have also refurbished the bathroom as well in the remodeling, but they did not.
It breaks my heart to see what they have done to Caribbean beach resort… it was one of our favorites for the kids. Great main pool, plenty of quite pools of it was too busy and an amazing playground. Now there is a huge eyesore that takes away from the amazing ambience that resort had. I’m guessing we won’t be able to sit and watch the fireworks out of our room anymore being that the DVC resort is going to be blocking it.
I agree with you. I have been a DVC member since 2001. This is not the quality and service I signed up for. I have spent the last two Christmas at the Boardwalk since the remodel. This is not a complete remodel, done on the cheap. I expect a remodel not to leave old dirty tile, put a new top on old coffee table, etc. We have stayed on the 5th and 2nd floors. Both had hallway carpets stained with bleach. No more quality control for cleaning staff. No more tips from me. It is time for DVC members to show up in force for association meetings.
It seems that ‘someone’ feels that the minimal-istic approach to designing/decorating is the way to go. I see this in many new hotels. It is very sterile and lacks any warmth or theming. At the Disneyland Resort, the Disneyland Hotel Lobby looks this way to me. I’ve also seen it at Marriott Hotels. It seems to be the new trend and I hope it goes away soon.
The concept art indicates it would be an upscale resort, which I would be very interested in. I’m rather disappointed to think it will be a middle of the road hotel.