Disney’s Riviera Resort | Review for Families
Disney’s Riviera Resort at Walt Disney World offers a unique blend of European charm and Disney magic. This resort is a fantastic choice for Disney fans looking for a deluxe resort to use as their home base! With beautiful design, it creates an inviting environment that feels both luxurious and comfortable.
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This resort has excellent dining options that are perfect for families! Whether you want a quick bite or a fine dining experience, Riviera Resort is also a great resort to just stop by for a visit! The resort’s proximity to the theme parks makes it an easy stop to get to via the Disney Skyliner.
Overview of Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disney’s Riviera Resort is a deluxe Disney Vacation Club resort inspired by the elegance of the European Riviera, offering sophisticated decor, top tier dining, and convenient access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios via the Disney Skyliner. We loved our stay here, and while it isn’t a resort we have stayed at a number of times, it is also a resort that we visit often for dining.
With its charming ambiance, spacious villas, and stunning rooftop views, it provides a luxurious yet family friendly retreat if you’re looking to experience Disney in style. It makes a wonderful spot to enjoy a character breakfast or an afternoon outing, even if you aren’t staying at the resort!
Accommodations at Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disney’s Riviera Resort offers a range of accommodations with a majority being great options for families. You can choose from different room types depending on your party size.
Disney’s Riviera Resort Room Types
There are several options for room types at the Riviera Resort. With the smallest option being a Tower Studio that works best for couples, the other room sizes are spacious enough for both small families and large families alike!
Tower Studio Rooms at Riviera Resort
The Tower Studio room is perfect for couples, offering a cozy space with a queen bed and a convenient kitchenette.
These are a smaller room type that will not be the best fit for most families, but work well for a quick couple’s trip!
Deluxe Studio Room at Riviera Resort
If you need more space, consider the Deluxe Studio, which includes a king bed, a queen-size pull-down Murphy bed, and a kitchenette. Read our full review on the Deluxe Studio room option.
We stayed in a Deluxe Studio room on an all adult girls’ trip, and it had the perfect amount of space for our group! We enjoyed the split bathroom design, and it was nice having the small entry way to store suitcases!
One-Bedroom Villa at Riviera Resort
During our family trip, we stayed in a one-bedroom villa. It had plenty of space for our family of four and we loved the finishing touches. We also loved having our own bedroom, while the kids had beds in the main living space.
One of my girls preferred the pull down Murphy bed, and the other one liked the additional under TV pull down bed, so it was a great amount of space for our family.
The one-bedroom villas at Disney’s Riviera Resort offer spacious accommodations with a separate bedroom, a full kitchen, a living area with a pull-down Murphy bed, and a luxurious bathroom with a soaking tub and walk-in shower.
They also feature a private balcony, in-room washer and dryer, and elegant European-inspired decor, making them a comfortable and upscale option for families or longer stays. Our balcony overlooked the pool area and looked out onto the Disney Skyliner, which was fun to watch for a relaxing moment in the mornings.
Two-Bedroom Villa at Riviera Resort
For larger groups, there’s also the Two-Bedroom Villa provide extra room and full amenities. These villas come with a living area, a dining space, and a fully equipped kitchen, making them perfect for families.
If you’re planning a big gathering, the Grand Villa can accommodate up to 12 guests. It features multiple bedrooms, spacious common areas, and all the comforts of home.
Amenities and Comfort
Staying at Riviera Resort is comfortable, like being a home right in the middle of Disney World! We loved the calm surroundings and since these are all Villa rooms, there are extra amenities like a small kitchen area. The kitchenettes in the studios and villas allow you to prepare light meals or snacks. We especially liked having a larger refrigerator in our one bedroom to store leftovers.
Besides the comfortable beds and spacious living areas, you can also enjoy the resort’s top notch pools and recreational facilities. There are lots of thoughtful touches throughout the resort that make this a convenient and elegant stay.
Resort Amenities and Dining Experience
Disney’s Riviera Resort has some of our favorite dining locations at all of Walt Disney World! These are fun to stop by, even if you aren’t staying at the resort.
Exceptional Dining Options
Riviera Resort is home to several dining choices that cater to various tastes. Topolino’s Terrace offers stunning views and French-Italian cuisine. Breakfast features a popular character dining experience, where you can meet Disney friends while enjoying a delicious meal.
This is one of our favorite character dining experiences on property and we love this option for families! This is the only place you’ll find the classic characters in their artist outfits. So I highly recommend this character breakfast, even if you don’t end up staying at Disney’s Riviera Resort for your lodging.
Primo Piatto is a quick-service restaurant with a diverse menu. You can choose from savory flatbreads, fresh salads, and tasty sandwiches. This is another great place that I’ve stopped in for lunch before, even when I wasn’t staying the resort!
Out of all of the resorts, this is one of my top picks if you’re wanting to just visit a new resort during the day. There is lots to see and tons of great photo opportunities as well!
If you want a lighter meal or snack, visit Bar Riva. This poolside bar serves refreshing beverages and light bites. There’s also the La Petit Cafe inside near the lobby, which serves delicious pastries and coffee.
Dining at Disney’s Riviera Resort is top notch and it is one of my personal favorite resorts for dining options.
Relaxation and Recreation
Unwind at the main pool, which is on the smaller side but never felt crowded since this is a smaller resort.
The pool area includes a fun waterslide, perfect for kids and adults. It is also situated near the lake area, where you can watch the Disney Skyliner line in the distance.
Inside the lobby, artwork and decor create a welcoming atmosphere. If you’re looking for a quiet moment, cozy spots with coffee makers are available. There are lots of great seating areas to enjoy a few moments to sip your favorite drink while enjoying the surroundings.
The resort also features various recreational activities, like a large chessboard on the lawn!
Pricing and Value of Riviera Resort
Disney’s Riviera Resort is a Deluxe resort, which means it comes with a higher price tag compared to moderate or value resorts at Walt Disney World. Standard room rates typically start around $400–$500+ per night, with preferred views and larger villas reaching $1,000+ per night, especially during peak seasons.
While the resort offers luxurious accommodations, top tier dining, and convenient Skyliner access, the value depends on what you prioritize. This isn’t something we would choose for every trip, but for specific trips Riviera Resort is a great fit!
We also have really loved our stays at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and it is also located on the Disney Skyliner route.
If you’re looking for a quieter, elegant atmosphere with upscale amenities, it may be worth the splurge at stay at Riviera Resort. However, for families who plan to spend most of their time in the parks, a more budget friendly resort may offer better value without sacrificing Disney magic.
Would I Stay at Riviera Resort Again?
Disney’s Riviera Resort is a stunning and elegant destination at Walt Disney World, and we truly enjoyed our stay. While its higher price point makes it a resort we don’t visit often for accommodations, we love returning for its outstanding dining options and beautiful atmosphere.
Other resorts would be our personal preference when we are considering stays at this price point, however having a kitchen area is not a necessity for our trips. If this resort is within your budget and the atmosphere seems like it would best appeal to your family, we recommend giving this one a try!
Take into account if you’re planning on spending a good amount of time at either EPCOT or Hollywood Studios, as this is a convenient resort to get to both of those theme parks. We rate this one in the middle of the pack for our Deluxe Resort Ranking, however it is also the only Villa Resort that we will rate against full Deluxe Resorts! So I think that says a lot about its offerings!
Want to compare other resorts to this one? Check our rankings of Value, Moderate, and Deluxe Resorts for families!
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