There are so many amazing Disney Vacation Club resorts to choose from. It can be hard to decide where to buy. Your home resort is important but it isn’t everything. Depending on your vacation style, you can think through your strategy and find a great match. Do you want to stay near your favorite park? Are the restaurants at your home resort important to you? Sometimes weighing the pros and cons can help you decide what’s right for you. We’re taking a broad approach and considering the location, aesthetics and layout of the property and more along with some of the restrictions on Riviera DVC resale.
The Pros and Cons of Disney’s Riviera Resort DVC Resale
Pros of Disney’s Riviera Resort
The positives of Disney’s Riviera Resort far outweigh the negatives. Also, these pros are really good. Disney’s Riviera Resort opened just a few years ago in 2019. It’s one of the newer resorts at Disney World.
Disney’s Riviera Resort has beautiful grounds and a classic theme.
There are so many different themes to choose from in Disney’s hotels. At Riviera, guests are enchanted by decor inspired by Walt Disney’s travels to Europe. There’s a hallway off of the lobby with a gallery wall dedicated to vintage photos of Walt Disney himself. Travel played a big role in Walt’s life. Some of his best ideas came while he was traveling or after he got back from the kind of break only a vacation can provide.
On the first floor, guests will find Disney movie posters adorning the walls in different languages. A subtle yet magical touch, reminding passersby of the international reach Disney movie magic has. The crisp, bright halls with dainty touches channel simplicity and elegance. The dining options really bring the theme to life though. Enjoy something Italian, French or Mediterranean during your meals.
This lakeside retreat has beautiful sunset views and green, manicured landscaping. The resort is u-shaped and surrounds a large, sparkling pool.
Riviera has awesome Disney transportation options.
Disney’s Riviera Resort is one of the resorts on the Disney Skyliner. Guests are able to hop on board and head to Epcot in just one stop! You can also take it to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and other resorts, if you transfer at the main hub. You will be thrilled when you experience a quick ride from Disney’s Riviera Resort to the International Gateway back entrance at Epcot. The views from the Skyliner are fantastic and it moves quickly, getting you where you need to go with less hassle.
The restaurants at Disney’s Riviera Resort are top tier.
The Disney’s Riviera Resort restaurants are some of the best you’ll find at Disney World. You’ll love:
- Topolino’s Terrace
- Bar Riva
- Primo Piatto
- Le Petit Cafe
Riviera has the honor of hosting one of the character meals at Disney resorts. Topolino’s Terrace has a one of a kind breakfast with Mickey and his pals in their artsiest attire.
Bar Riva is a pool bar with style. This indoor, outdoor setting has Mediterranean blues and finer furniture than you’d expect from a pool bar. The menu has American favorites but also a taste of Europe with menu items like arancini, vegetable skewers and a greek salad.
The rooms at Riviera are.. really nice.
The rooms at Disney’s Riviera Resort have a fair amount of Disney in them but done in a tasteful way. You’ll see different art styles represented, giving the decor European flair, and nods to varying fine art styles. The finishings are also very nice with lots of bright whites and neutrals adorned with glitz.
Cons of Disney’s Riviera Resort
There will probably be some downside to any resort. Sometimes things are out of your control like if a renovation ends up feeling like a down grade.
There are booking restrictions on Riviera DVC resale.
Riviera was the first resort to introduce more strict booking restrictions on resale DVC contracts. Here is what you need to know about owning Riviera DVC resale:
- DVC resale owners at Disney’s Riviera Resort can only use their points to book stays at their home resort.
- If you own resale anywhere but Riviera, you can not use your points to book a stay there.
This won’t be a big deal for everyone. If you’re excited to stay at other resorts, though, Disney’s Riviera Resort might not be the best home resort option for you with resale. This could affect the resale value or number of interested buyers if you choose to sell your DVC contract later on. However, there are always people with particular interests, Riviera is gorgeous and it has one of the longest contracts at this time. The restriction on booking doesn’t mean someone won’t buy resale there.
The lobby at Riviera isn’t so grand.
The entrance at Disney’s Riviera Resort is lovely. There’s a great drive up, beautiful fountains outside and a welcoming porte cochere. When you enter the lobby, the view far out through the window ahead is nice. However, compared to other deluxe resorts, like Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, the Riviera lobby feels a bit small and simple.
Riviera doesn’t have a spa or salon.
While Disney’s Riviera Resort does have beautiful amenities, a spa is not one of them. For many vacationers, luxury hotels must check certain boxes. For some, the opportunity to get a massage, manicure, pedicure, hair cut or time in the steam room might be an important part of the trip. In this case, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is probably your best option. Many of the Disney resorts did not reopen their spa or salon facilities after the pandemic. They are still there, just not open. This is not the case at Disney’s Riviera Resort. This resort never had a spa or salon to begin with.
Disney deluxe isn’t industry standard luxury. It’s really a category of its own. At deluxe Disney resort hotels, you’ll have things you can’t get anywhere else. Characters at your resort, unique themes done in a way only Disney can and firework views from your hotel room are special and rare. It’s good to consider your resort’s amenities to make sure they align with your interests.
Considering Disney’s Riviera Resort As an Option
To end on a positive note, here’s an idea for a buying strategy. Many Members buy points at more than one resort. If you love the charm and design of Riviera, you may want to get more than one contract. You could purchase at one of the original 14 DVC resorts too to get the flexibility of staying at other resorts and also be able to stay at Riviera.
As a general tip, having the same use year on your contracts makes it easier to transfer and use your points. If you have two different use years, you will have to call Member Services for assistance with that.
DVC Resorts with More Flexibility
If not being able to use your points at other resorts makes Riviera less appealing, there are other options. If you buy at any of the following resorts, you can book at any of the others in this group based on availability. You’ll always have your 11 month out home resort advantage at your one resort. However, the others are bookable 7 months out depending on what’s available. You can also use the waitlist for these properties to see if something opens up.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas
- Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
- Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort
- Disney’s Vero Beach Resort
At these newer resorts, you’ll have to really love what you pick. That’s the only place you can stay. You are not able to use resale points to book at any other property outside of your home resort. Resorts that have the more strict booking requirements are:
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort
- The Villas at Disneyland Hotel
Interested in Riviera DVC resale? DVC Resale Experts Can Help
Discover the pros and cons of DVC resale in our many posts on the topic. If you have specific questions about Riviera DVC resale, you can count on an Expert to help you throughout the resale buying or selling process.
DVC Resale Experts is a licensed real estate broker with a team that specializes in resale DVC. Whether you’re adding on points, buying or selling Disney Vacation Club, the Experts can help you find the right price to place a bid with or list your contract for. Our independent, licensed real estate agents are former Disney Vacation Club Guides. They have decades of pixie dusted experience selling DVC and delight in providing excellent service to their clients. The Experts have seen it all and are happy to answer your questions throughout the process.
See our resale DVC listings listings for a look at real time availability and pricing.
Get in touch for a complimentary valuation of your specific contract for selling DVC.
