A little bit fancy yet lovely and relaxing. When people ask us where to stay at Walt Disney World, our answer comes out before they've even finished the question: Disney's Riviera Resort. It's our DVC home resort, so we're hardly impartial. But we bought in here for a reason, and every stay since has reminded us why. Here's the funny part. The first time we came to Walt Disney World back in 2023, we'd ride the Skyliner home from EPCOT, glide past Riviera, and giggle to each other, "that's where the posh people stay." Little did we know that by the end of that very year, Riviera would be our home resort.
The Riviera resort was inspired by Walt and Lillian Disney's travels through the south of France and the Italian coast. You feel it the moment you arrive: the warm tones, the tilework, the photographs of Walt and Lillian dotted through the public areas. It's one of the more grown-up, bougie resorts on property, but it never tips over into stuffy.
Getting around — the Skyliner
The big draw for us is the Skyliner. Riviera has its own dedicated station, which means a gentle gondola glide straight to EPCOT's International Gateway and over to Disney's Hollywood Studios, with a hop at the Caribbean Beach hub. No queuing for a bus, no standing in the Florida heat. You're up in the air with a view in minutes.
Don't rush past the walk out to the station, either. There are beautiful mosaic displays to admire on your way through, including the floating lanterns from Tangled and Peter Pan soaring over Big Ben. They're the sort of detail that's so easy to stride past when you're park-bound, but they reward a proper look.
The rooms
We stay in a Deluxe Studio, and it's everything we need: comfortable, beautifully finished, and very much in keeping with that Riviera feel. Over our stays we've had rooms looking out over both the pools and across the resort, and one tip worth knowing is that some rooms have a view of Luminous over at EPCOT. Watching the fireworks from your own balcony, drink in hand, never gets old. It's worth requesting a preferred view if that matters to you, though it isn't guaranteed.
Dining
For a resort its size, Riviera punches well above its weight on food.
Topolino's Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera is the jewel in the crown. Topolino is Italian for Mickey Mouse, and the character breakfast up on the rooftop is great fun, proper good fun, with a stunning view right out over Walt Disney World. It's the one we'd send everyone to first.
Primo Piatto is the quick-service spot: Italian-inspired, a real cut above a standard resort food court, and handy for grab-and-go. It's got the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines, so if you've got a refillable mug this is your refill stop.
Bar Riva is the open-air pool bar with a lovely Mediterranean feel, and Le Petit Café in the lobby is coffee and pastries by day, turning into a wine bar by night.
Pools, characters & recreation
There are two pools at Riviera: the feature pool (Beau Soleil) and a quieter one. We're firmly team quiet pool. It's our pick over the family pool every time when we want a bit of calm.
Keep an eye out for characters, too. They visit the resort daily, so watch for the Disney character bus pulling in and you might catch a meet without ever leaving your home base. We've seen it arrive plenty of times and have the photos to prove it. There's also a full schedule of activities laid on, which changes month to month, so there's always something fresh going on if you fancy joining in.
And for anyone who likes to keep up their fitness regime while they're away, Riviera has its own gym, so you don't have to let the holiday undo all your hard work.
La Boutique & shopping
La Boutique covers your gift-shop essentials: snacks, sundries, Disney bits, and the odd Riviera-exclusive treat. You can also find some DVC specific items within the store, a small Pandora charm cabinet and a kiosk where you can order for home some of the fabulous artwork that you see while walking around the resort.
Final Thoughts
Riviera is classed as being a deluxe resort so isn't the cheapest way to stay on property, and we won't pretend otherwise. The Skyliner on the doorstep is an added bonus as this is such a fun way to travel. We always look forward to staying at this resort. The food options although slightly limited, the portion sizes are good and we always find something tasty to eat, especially the signature Riviera Cookies, and there's a grown-up European feel you don't get everywhere.
One key point to mention: you don't have to be a DVC member to stay here, either. Riviera takes regular cash bookings just like any other Disney resort, so anyone can experience it for a trip without buying into Disney Vacation Club. You get all the same theming, the same Skyliner, the same Topolino's breakfast.
For us we just happen to call it home.
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