Disney Vacation Club member sales now underway for Disney's Riviera Resort

Mar 27, 2019 in "Disney's Riviera Resort"

New Disney Riviera Resort concept art
Posted: Wednesday March 27, 2019 10:19am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney Vacation Club has today announced that sales of the all-new Disney’s Riviera Resort are now open exclusively for Disney Vacation Club Members until April 15 2019, at which time sales will open to the general public.

Planned to open on December 16 2019, the 300 unit Disney's Riviera Resort is the 15th Disney Vacation Club property and the first all-new, stand-alone Disney Vacation Club property at Walt Disney World since 2004.

“Not only will Disney’s Riviera Resort delight families with its gorgeous architectural details and wide range of accommodations, but members and guests will simply fall in love with the sights, sounds and flavors of Europe around every corner,” said Terri Schultz, senior vice president and general manager, Disney Vacation Club. “This new resort will pay tribute to Walt and Lillian Disney’s amazing European travels, connecting Disney artistry and storytelling to this region’s renowned art heritage and inspiration. Our team can’t wait to welcome families to this relaxing destination inspired by the world-famous sun drenched Mediterranean Coastline.”

Disney’s Riviera Resort will include deluxe studios, one- and two-bedroom villas, grand villas, that sleep up to 12 guests each, and a new, unique accommodation, Tower Studios.

Located in its own tower of the resort, Tower Studios will provide an upscale studio experience that maximizes efficiency, inclusive of a queen-sized bed housed in a built-in wall unit that is pulled down for sleeping and tucked away to reveal a comfortable lounge-worthy space. This elegant area will include a sofa, quaint writing nook, a beverage center and microwave, plentiful storage and bright and modern bathroom.

Throughout the resort and inside the accommodations, guests will experience a variety of art including Disney concept art with European settings, posters of Disney films as released in Europe, archival photograpy of Walt Disney’s travels thoughout the region and book titles Walt Disney gathered on his journeys. Additionally, there will be more than 40 signature art pieces created for Disney’s Riviera Resort featuring unique Disney character art inspired by the renowned artistic heritage found along the shores of the European Riviera.

This all-new resort designed in early 20th-century elegance reflected throughout Europe and the Mediterranean coastline will boast a palm tree-lined boulevard with a striking façade featuring grand archways, porticos, cascading water features, and towers and terraces. The pools of Disney’s Riviera Resort will continue this theming with a focus on showcasing a Southern European coast inspiration.

The feature pool, Riviera Pool, will offer lounge chairs and colorful sun umbrellas, with a winding stone turret slide, giving the feel of swimming and playing along the Mediteranean coast. For those traveling with young guests, an interactive water play area, S’il Vous Play, is the perfect place to splash and have fun in a whimsical fountain featuring several beloved characters from Disney “Fantasia,” drawing inspiration from the grand public fountains seen throughout Europe with a patina and limestone-inspired design. For guests looking for a more leisurely poolside experience, the Beau Soleil leisure pool will feature a natural, lush-green wall surrounding the tranquil area, creating a semi-private pool experience, perfect for enjoying the sun or resting beneath the shaded seating area in a grove of tropical palm trees.

Guests at the resort will have a new way to travel to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios via Disney Skyliner. Disney Skyliner will not only efficiently move guests to their location, it will also offer a whole new way to experience Walt Disney World Resort with amazing views only available from the sky — with great photo opportunities. Passing through a tunnel archway with sparkling water features, Disney’s Riviera Resort guests will be connected to a dedicated station where they can hop aboard a Disney Skyliner gondola. When operating later this fall, some cabins will feature graphics based on Disney films, attractions and characters. Once aboard, guests can take a European-inspired ride through the sky to Epcot International Gateway or Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Disney’s Riviera Resort will offer restaurants from signature dining experiences to quick service options within the resort and poolside. Topolino’s Terrace — Flavors of the Riviera, perched on the rooftop, will feature authentic dishes infused with French and Italian flavors, with an onstage kitchen featuring a wood burning grill showcasing finely prepared meats and seafood. The culinary team will be handcrafting artisanal pastas tossed with fresh pressed olive oil. A gourmet selection of cheeses from France and Italy will also be featured. This restaurant will also have an impressive collection of wines sourced throughout the South of France and Coastal Italy.

Stepping into Topolino’s Terrace — Flavors of the Riviera, guests will be surrounded by stunning visual aesthetics of modern interpretations of Italian and French textures, colors, and carvings mingled with stonework that harkens to what can be found in ancient European villages along the coastline. And while dining, guests may then step out onto the terrace for a grand view of the resort’s stunning vistas, and possibly even enjoy the nighttime spectaculars of nearby Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Plus, guests looking to start their morning off with a breakfast experience can visit Topolino’s Terrace — Flavors of the Riviera for special Disney character dining, with exclusive character experiences, inspired by the Riviera.

For those wishing to dine closer to the pools, at Bar Riva, an open-air pool bar with a seaside décor, guests will encounter a relaxed European coast vibe with hospitality that will extend poolside. Those looking for that European café touch, Le Petit Café, taking its name from the classic Disney film, “The Arisotcats,” will have the feel of a modern French patisserie that will be a charming coffee bar by day, and transform into a stylish wine bar by night. With its modern design stylized with a traditional feel, and views of the lawns and the Riviera pool through the large windows framed by beautiful arches, for guests looking to share a casual meal or quick snack, Primo Piatto will feel like dining on along a Riviera promenade.

For Disney Vacation Club Members ready to purchase vacation points at Disney’s Riviera Resort, there is a special introductory offer available at DisneyVacationClub.com/RivieraWelcomeOffer, or by calling 855-883-0181. Guests can contact 407-W-Disney (934-7639) to make reservations for the new Disney’s Riviera Resort.

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pdude81Mar 29, 2021

You likely found the right spot. I actually appreciate not having a giant, open lobby with a huge and unnecessary service counter. This is more useful at a combination resort where half of the guests are cash only. Even then, more are using online check-in to skip the counter. The bigger and grander that space is, the more we have to pay for upkeep and cooling costs each year. Just my opinion

Nubs70Mar 29, 2021

Stopped by last week. Maybe I was in a secondary lobby but what I saw was a bit underwhelming.

KkarMar 29, 2021

We had a similar experience: We had reservations at Topolino, but went early to look around and have a pre-dinner cocktail. We asked a Cast member in the lobby if there was a lounge, and they pointed us down the hall. There was a small lounge, but it only had coffee and quick-service items. So we made our way up to the top floor and found the bar on our own. The bartender was really good, but the entire space just felt like a large convention room with a bar stuck on one side of it. Very open, not intimate and just felt utilitarian in design. Food was decent, but as we prefer places with great food, service AND ambience, we won't go back.

techgeekJan 04, 2021

They don't. 'Flow' isn't a concern in todays WDW. The GF and Poly didn't used to feel close at all with a large amount of undeveloped shoreline in between them... again, recent land use choices changing originally intended design.

castlecake2.0Jan 04, 2021

I got lunch, toured the rooms, and walked the grounds today. I do like the resort. It’s definitely more adult oriented and has some DCL vibes that I like. Maybe this has been answered way back, but why was it put where it was? Is there a reason (other than cost) that it wasn’t built at the other end of CBR where the pirate rooms are? It could have been on its own lagoon, have the skyliner hub attached, and almost be it’s own little resort area instead of just being dumped in the middle of Caribbean. Could it have fit/worked there or was there just not enough space? also was there a reason not to make it a Caribbean themed tower? I like both resorts, they just don’t seem to flow together. But same could also be said of GF and Poly. thoughts?

Little Green MenDec 20, 2020

I enjoyed it. The pool could be better themed def but it was nice and quiet. I would stay again

Miss BellaDec 19, 2020

We stayed in a one bedroom in August. The rooms are gorgeous, It's an apartment not a hotel room. I wouldn't try to compare it to a tiny European room, Customer service was great. I loved the skyliner. The pool was blah, but were not big pool people. I would stay there again for the right price.

HeppenheimerDec 19, 2020

Everything I read about this resort reminds me of those Olive Garden commercials from about 20 years ago. Take a bland, textureless, mass-produced, fully homegenized and Americanized off-the-shelf product that maybe shares a hint of distant roots with its European inspiration. Then pretend you're giving the public a premium and faithful facsimile of that inspiration. But at lesst Olive Garden prices their cheap product accordingly. I daresay Disney's Riviera resort may even be more expensive than some of the actual classic French and Italian riviera hotels it claims (unconvincingly) to be based on.

FlynnwriterDec 19, 2020

Ironically, the lego model took longer to construct and had a larger budget than the original resort.

TrainsOfDisneyDec 19, 2020

I’m not sure if it’s currently opened but yes this is a lovely spot with a decent amount of charm. Lots of pieces from Walt’s travel on display. Certainly a better suggestion than the pool bar! Ha

Lil Copter CapDec 19, 2020

I’m saddened to hear of your experiences at the Riviera. I had a lovely time during my stay pre-COVID and resort hop frequently for the fresh food at Primo Piatto. It’s a stellar quick service restaurant for all meal times! The evening “bar” alternative here is at Voyageurs’ Lounge where Le Petit Café serves alcohol beverages and light snacks. You must try the Caffé Amaro if you’re an espresso fan—one of the best cocktails I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying on property! Riviera’s charm for me is all in the cozy and quaint environment. This, of course, is a problem with the amount of people flowing in and out of the resort at any one time. But overall it’s a resort that may not tick all (or none) of the boxes for some folks. And that’s okay too. I’m sorry you didn’t have the best time—I urge you to try again if the chance arises!

Chupaca BruhDec 19, 2020

I think because it is a DVC and not a “real” hotel. Disney has this “class system” fir the resorts and the try not to stray from the program.... even if it is detrimental to the bottom line.

castlecake2.0Dec 19, 2020

I feel like a lot of things could be solved if they had made the main floor all public area, expand the lobby, shops, add a lounge, more seating areas, etc. Everything just feels so crammed, I don’t get it.

BocabearDec 18, 2020

I think Forgettable is about the kindest thing you could say about the decor at Topolinos... They were handed a theme full of wonderous possibilities...The images the name conjures are astounding....and then they built that. I agree the fountains in the walkway are very beautiful but when one rather small detail is the only thing anyone remembers about a luxury resort, I would say they failed miserably... It's not horrible... It's nice... but at the rates of a DVC and premium resort designation at Walt Disney World, it should be more...a lot more. And when is TDO going to get it that there are adults that spend a lot of money visiting the resort and would like a nice lounge to sit back and chill...They built Top Of The World, but most of the other resorts have very lackluster lounges..