The Official Riviera Owners & Info Thread

[tobikaye]

Where is the Plaza?

Magic Kingdom, it is table service restaurant so reservations will be needed unless you can catch a spot in the walk up list.

 

[DanaVonSchweet]

Where is the Plaza?

It's in Magic Kingdom, at the end of Main Street on the right side, if you're heading toward the castle. I'm going to try it for the first time in Jan.

 

[jennypenny]

Can I jump on the fireworks query and see if anyone knows if you can view the EPCOT fireworks from a Grand Villa on the Skyliner side of the resort? Obviously not possible from the pool side of the resort but didn't know if this was feasible?

The new fireworks were visible to us in a standard/skyliner side room on the street side of the tower rooms. I suppose the GV balcony nearest the skyliner in the third en suite bedroom might have a view of the fireworks if you look hard right, but I think that's the only one. (can't recall how big that balcony is though) There aren't as many fireworks with the new show so you don't see as much. Oddly, we saw more of the new MK fireworks show than we usually do from a standard room.

I'd say for an epcot fireworks view you'd want a standard view room on the skyliner side of the resort. (RR really needs to balance out that point chart and reallocate some rooms. IMO, the 'preferred' rooms on the east-most side facing Caribbean Beach aren't good enough to be called preferred. And most standard view rooms above the 3rd floor on the west side are better than what I'd call 'standard'. They should go to a preferred/standard/value point chart.)

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FYI ... just back from a week at RR. Everything was wonderful as usual. The staff there are the best I've encountered at a Disney resort. My one complaint this trip is that if Disney expects us to get up at 7am to book genie+ and LL$ rides (and it's necessary for several rides), then they should open the coffee place *before* 7am. It seems like the least they can do.

 

[Mkaiser1]

The new fireworks were visible to us in a standard/skyliner side room on the street side of the tower rooms. I suppose the GV balcony nearest the skyliner in the third en suite bedroom might have a view of the fireworks if you look hard right, but I think that's the only one. (can't recall how big that balcony is though) There aren't as many fireworks with the new show so you don't see as much. Oddly, we saw more of the new MK fireworks show than we usually do from a standard room.

I'd say for an epcot fireworks view you'd want a standard view room on the skyliner side of the resort. (RR really needs to balance out that point chart and reallocate some rooms. IMO, the 'preferred' rooms on the east-most side facing Caribbean Beach aren't good enough to be called preferred. And most standard view rooms above the 3rd floor on the west side are better than what I'd call 'standard'. They should go to a preferred/standard/value point chart.)

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FYI ... just back from a week at RR. Everything was wonderful as usual. The staff there are the best I've encountered at a Disney resort. My one complaint this trip is that if Disney expects us to get up at 7am to book genie+ and LL$ rides (and it's necessary for several rides), then they should open the coffee place *before* 7am. It seems like the least they can do.

Thanks for that info JennyPenny
I can't explain how excited I am to be going now. We have to take COVID tests in the 3 preceding days before we're allowed to travel (quite rightly I might add), but if we get the all clear to travel I think I might cry in excitement.
We've bought blind and this will be our first stay in our new 'home' and to be doing so for Christmas would be so so magical.

 

[Thegoatfeeder]

Our first stay as members begins 2 weeks today! Just need to pass our pre-flight Covid test, but the excitement is definitely building .

 

[jamesweikamp]

Our first stay as members begins 2 weeks today! Just need to pass our pre-flight Covid test, but the excitement is definitely building .

Congrats! We will be there from Dec. 4-11 as well.

 

[mamaofsix]

Are the Christmas decorations up yet at Riviera? Would love to see some photos from those who are there...

 

[gottalovepluto]

The elves were hard at work at Riviera last night!!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Had to put it all in as screenshots, sorry folks. Dis sideways photo thing struck again

Been here a few days so can confirm it all came in last night.

 

[bigAWL]

The elves were hard at work at Riviera last night!!View attachment 623796

Ok, now is when I realize that a huge grand lobby is sorely missed at the RIV. That tree is not impressive at all.

 

[pianomanzano]

New RIV owners here! It's amazing how fast points get added on when you go direct. Have a Dec UY so received 2020 points that I was able to bank into 2021. Can't wait to book our welcome home trip!

 

[jamesweikamp]

New RIV owners here! It's amazing how fast points get added on when you go direct. Have a Dec UY so received 2020 points that I was able to bank into 2021. Can't wait to book our welcome home trip!

Welcome home!! It's nice getting those "double points." I added-on recently and got that same perk. We are using them for a 2bd preferred in a couple weeks.

 

[brazzledazzler]

Ok, now is when I realize that a huge grand lobby is sorely missed at the RIV. That tree is not impressive at all.

On the flip side, huge lobbies attract loitering resort visitors and are loud. I love the tranquil intimacy of the Riviera lobby.

 

[brazzledazzler]

New RIV owners here! It's amazing how fast points get added on when you go direct. Have a Dec UY so received 2020 points that I was able to bank into 2021. Can't wait to book our welcome home trip!

We loved getting our “double points” in July! We just started burning through them

 

[sethschroeder]

Ok, now is when I realize that a huge grand lobby is sorely missed at the RIV. That tree is not impressive at all.

Well honestly they should simply have an even larger tree on that green walkway going towards the lake/pool.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Ok, now is when I realize that a huge grand lobby is sorely missed at the RIV. That tree is not impressive at all.

I’m torn. They had to put in more effort to decorate and garland up everything with no grand tree so I still felt it was a lovely atmosphere- but it is indeed subdued for a Disney hotel at Xmas.

 

[mamaofsix]

Well honestly they should simply have an even larger tree on that green walkway going towards the lake/pool.

What a great idea. I could see them doing something with multiple large trees outside like below, in France...

 

[mamaofsix]

The tree in Monoco would also be a great one to mimic.

 

[brazzledazzler]

These outdoor trees look amazing!!

 

[Mkaiser1]

Surprised they don’t put an outdoor ice rink somewhere for Christmas.