Pros and Cons of the Riviera Tower Studio

Unique to Riviera are the Tower Studios.  At 255 square feet, these studios are smaller than the usual Deluxe Studios and sleep up to 2 adults plus a child under the age of 3.  Let’s take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of staying in a Tower Studio.  

Pros

Low Points

At the Riviera, the Tower Studio is the room type that costs the least amount of points.  It can be as low as 10 points per night during the cheapest travel period (September) and goes up to 27 points per night during the most expensive travel period (around Christmas and Easter).  With fewer points per night, you can book a longer stay.  

Large Bathroom

The bathroom is beautiful and extremely spacious given the size of the Tower Studio.  In fact, it probably makes up half of the room’s square footage.  The large shower has a rainfall shower head, and there is lots of counter space by the sink.

Nice Views

As implied by the name, all of the Tower Studios are located in the tower, which is in the West Wing of the resort.  Each floor has 3 Tower Studios.  Some face more towards the Skyliner and Caribbean Beach while others face Hollywood Studios and EPCOT.

Plenty of Storage

While the Tower Studio is compact, it doesn’t skimp on storage.  Within the Tower Studio, you’ll find shelves above the desk, cabinets, and a good size closet in the bathroom.  You can also open the ottomans and use them as additional storage.  The table under the TV even makes for a great spot to stow away carry-on size suitcases. 

Cons

Low Availability

There are only 24 Tower Studios at Riviera.  In addition to this low inventory, they book quickly as the cheapest room category at the resort.  Even for those who own DVC points at Riviera, Tower Studios can be challenging to reserve.  

Limited Space in the Main Room

With the bathroom being so large, the living area is quite small in comparison.  Also, since the Murphy bed is the only bed in the room, you can’t have access to both the bed and couch at the same time.  There is a desk chair, and you could sit on the ottomans, but they are not as comfortable as a couch.  

Not the Best Value for Points

Despite being the least amount of points per night compared to any other accommodation at Riviera, the Tower Studios may not be the best deal when compared to rooms at other resorts.  Oftentimes, the points needed for a Tower Studio are comparable to those for a Deluxe Studio at resorts like Old Key West, BoardWalk, Beach Club, Boulder Ridge, Copper Creek, Saratoga Springs, and Animal Kingdom Lodge.  Those Deluxe Studios can sleep more guests and offer more space.

Interested in owning points at the Riviera?  Browse the resale contract listings, or learn more about buying and selling with DVC Resale Market.