Why DVC Members Stay at the Riviera

We know how challenging it can be to choose your next Disney vacation destination. Since all the options sound so good, analysis paralysis may overwhelm you. That’s okay, though! All you need to do is consider the positives of every resort, including one of my favorites. Here’s why DVC members stay at Disney’s Riviera Resort.

The Authentic, Reverential Theming 

Walt Disney and his older brother, Roy, loved to travel the world together. The siblings not only founded and ran a company together, but they also took family vacations. Their wives, Lillian and Edna, would join them on these trips, for which we’re all grateful. During one of Walt’s and Lillian’s European vacations, they stumbled upon a version of the monorail system that became indelibly associated with Disney theme parks. 

You may not know little historical tidbits like this, but the people who designed the Riviera sure did. They populated the entire hotel with loving tributes to Walt and Lillian Disney, with Roy and Edna thrown in for good measure. As you explore the hotel, you’ll encounter restored pictures from their family vacations. 

Art signifies a vital part of a hotel stay here. You’ll find all sorts of photo reminders of the Italian and sometimes even the French Riviera. Remarkably, you can head to La Boutique, the general store here, and purchase your favorite pictures. This shop hosts an Art on Demand kiosk, allowing you to bring the Riviera’s reverential theme home with you. 

By the way, even the hotel’s design pays tribute to a vacation on the Italian Riviera. Many of the rooms face the pool, a nod to how the region’s exotic five-star resorts face the water. 

The Marvelous Outdoor Play Areas 

Along those lines, the recreational activities at the Riviera will entertain your family throughout your stay. The Riviera Pool mimics the style of the equivalent resorts while enhancing the premise. 

Many of the resorts on the Italian Riviera are literally on the side of a mountain. A lucky few reside right by the Ligurian Sea, while the rest offer Oceanview rather than Oceanfront rooms. So, they provide tantalizing glimpses of those umbrellas by the water. 

Have you ever wondered about Disney’s stylistic choice with its pool umbrellas? That’s the explanation! However, when you stay at this hotel, you can swim in the water, unlike most Oceanview rooms on the Italian Riviera. After all, you’re at Walt Disney World, not a cliffside resort. So, Disney takes a magical aspect of a European vacation and makes it better for DVC members. 

Remarkably, that’s only part of the experience. Believe it or not, some people don’t like to hang out at the pool, especially during a Disney vacation. The Riviera leans into this by offering other aquatic entertainment, most notably S’il Vous Play. It’s a water play area that looks like a heavily fortified gazebo. Thankfully, the surface-to-air cannons here only launch water, although anyone on the receiving end of them knows they pack a wallop. This entire area is just plain fun. 

But the good times don’t stop there. You can hang out at a chessboard just outside the hotel lobby. Maneuver the giant pieces here as you see fit, but be aware! Sometimes, Donald Duck and Goofy show up and wreak chaos in your game. This area, as well as the hotel lobby, frequently hosts character greetings, which makes outdoor play here that much more entertaining.

The Relaxing European Drinking and Dining

I’ll never forget my first European vacation, as I was taken aback by some of the cultural norms. Many of them are centered on drinking and dining in centralized locations. People would grab a table at 6 PM and sit there all night, ordering the occasional refill. This isn’t unusual at all on the Italian Riviera, and Disney copied the premise at its resort.

So, when you stay at the Riviera, you should expect all the hallmarks of a European vacation. You’ll find a coffee shop, an exotic bar and lounge, and a Quick Service restaurant. Between these options, you’ll admire and appreciate a wide range of menu options, at least one of which is sure to suit your mood. 

You can start the day with coffee, savor a delicious lunch, sip an afternoon beverage, and then end the day with a magical meal at a rooftop restaurant. This is Disney’s ultimate hangout resort, designed to encourage you to sit around, relax, and savor the ambience. While you’re there, you might as well delight your taste buds, too. 

Topolino’s Terrace – Offering French & Italian Breakfasts & Dinners.

The Disney Skyliner Station

All the other reasons here factor heavily into your enjoyment during your vacation stay. However, none of them enhances the convenience of your visit. That’s why the Disney Skyliner station merits special mention.

Disney constructed the Riviera on space formerly claimed by Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. This seems like a good time to mention that the Caribbean hosts the Disney Skyliner’s main terminal. So, when you stay at the Riviera, you’re just one short gondola ride from the central hub.

From here, you can take gondolas directly to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. The Riviera station resides only a two-minute walk from the hotel lobby, and it’s legitimately a game-changer in terms of how you build a vacation itinerary. You’re no longer reliant on Disney’s mercurial bus system. Plus, the view from the Skyliner is truly breathtaking.

Explore Riviera Resort resale opportunities and discover how you can make this elegant Disney destination your home resort.

Access all available Riviera resale listings, or learn more about buying and selling with DVC Resale Market.

If you’d like to make an offer or request a free consultation about buying or adding to your DVC contract, the DVC Resale Market team is here to help!